The Interpreter Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 This began last Thursday: Crews began dismantling the Zippin Pippin roller coaster Thursday, four years after Libertyland was closed to clear the way for Mid-South Fairgrounds redevelopment. Long known as Elvis Presley's favorite ride, the Zippin Pippin dated to 1912. Workers are taking the wooden roller coaster apart with care in hopes that parts can be preserved, said city Housing and Community Development director Robert Lipscomb.... http://www.commercia...roller-coaster/ Yet another John Miller gone. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast1979 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 This is just sad. I've been following coaster news for 3 years and in that time I've seen 2 Millers bite the dust, one of them was my #2 woodie. Sigh. If you feel bad though, imagine how Elvis feels right now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedarPointer Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 This is just sad. I've been following coaster news for 3 years and in that time I've seen 2 Millers bite the dust, one of them was my #2 woodie. Sigh. If you feel bad though, imagine how Elvis feels right now! I'm guessing he feels pretty dead. That's really sad. You'd think they'd have been able to keep it, even as a non-operational landmark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 But wait, it may be saved?: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/feb/02/zippin-pippin-may-have-buyer/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIfan1980 Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Wasn't Green Bay also rumored to be a potential location for Big Dipper from GL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 This article, which deserves to be read in full, would certainly seem to indicate that: ... A roller coaster was one of the recommendations when the city hired a consultant in 2008 to upgrade the park. The city has had its eye on a 1920s-vintage roller coaster, the location of which the owner has asked to keep confidential, Schmitt said. While studying that option, the city discovered the other antique that's for sale in Memphis.... Along with continuing negotiations with both owners, Schmitt said, the city is studying Wisconsin's amusement ride standards to see what would be involved in bringing either roller coaster up to code. The cost of either is almost irrelevant, because the purchase price is a fraction of the cost of dismantling, moving, reassembling and re-engineering, Schmitt said. The overall price tag likely will range from $2.5 million to $3 million —about half the cost of building a new one from scratch, Schmitt said. "We're confident that revenue from rides will pay for the cost of it, and we'd have a revenue source for years to come," Schmitt said. Bay Beach generates hundreds of thousands of dollars in income each year through ticket and concession sales. If a third of park visitors rode the roller coaster at $1 a ticket, it would quickly pay off the purchase debt and increase the use of the park's other attractions, Schmitt said. Bay Beach last had a roller coaster in 1936. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100206/GPG0101/2060543/1207/GPG01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast1979 Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Why not save BOTH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violakat03 Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I'd much rather see the Pippin stay in Memphis. There are several options being discussed in Memphis to rebuild it in the area, especially if it can be paired up with the historic Dentzel carousel from Libertyland. I also don't to see them 'bring it up to code'... that sounds like suspiciously similar to "computerize the braking system," "new trains without buzz bars" and other pieces of what made the Pippin such a wonderful classic. It's one of two coasters I've ridden that still had lever-operated brakes that worked (the other being Leap the Dips) and I'd hate to see it lose those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/feb/08/sold-green-bay-wants-zippin-pippin/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story/Latest-on-the-Zippin-Pippins-Possible-Move-to/s9FG5lC0AUOacc56otc6ow.cspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 11, 2010 Author Share Posted February 11, 2010 Mayor wants roller coaster operating at Bay Beach by 2011 season: ...If Schmitt gets his way, a vintage roller coaster could be operating at Bay Beach by the start of the 2011 season. That roller coaster, according to Schmitt, should be a wooden one called the Zippin Pippin. Schmitt and parks director Bill Landvatter went to Memphis, Tenn., this week to check out the Pippin. Also attending was an engineer from the Gravity Group, a Cincinnati company that specializes in wooden roller coaster design and construction.... http://www.htrnews.c...-by-2011-season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 13, 2010 Author Share Posted February 13, 2010 New details on the Zippin Pippin: ...This week crews have been taking it down the Zippin Pippin roller coaster, and getting ready for its potential move to a new home. While the coaster was coming down part of it collapsed. But Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt says that is no reason to worry. "It's really more buying the history, the name the design," said Schmitt. Schmitt says the cost of that history, name and design is less than $25,000 and someone has already committed to paying for it. The cost of essentially rebuilding the Zippin Pippin is much greater: somewhere between $2.4 and $3 million. "A couple million cheaper than starting from scratch and getting a new design," said Schmitt. The mayor hopes to have about 20% of the cost of the coaster, around a half million dollars, paid for through private donations. The majority of the funding will come through Bay Beach revenue. The mayor says if a quarter of the people who come to Bay Beach pay one dollar to ride the roller coaster, in 10 years the Zippin Pippin will be a revenue source for Bay Beach." "We're excited about that," said Schmitt. The Zippin Pippin in Green Bay is not a done deal yet.... http://www.fox11onli...e-zippin-pippin Zippin Pippin collapses during disassembly: http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=11978695 http://www.wkbt.com/....asp?S=11976886 http://www.myfoxmemp...apsed-on-ground Ownership Dispute Nippin At Purchase: http://www.commercia...-nippin-pippin/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 so wait from reading one of the articles, they will use some of the original wood to build patios? Since the wood would not be re-used, or most of it, how is that still the same ride? Why wouldnt the buyer pay for the "name and design" take the trains and just get rid of the original wood? Forgive this dumb question but do many wood coasters make the move from one park to the other with all of the original wood? Now CoasterBuzz says the rest was demolished http://coasterbuzz.com/news/11550/zippin-pippin-demolished-after-partial-collapse.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 None of them. Wood is replaced on major wooden coasters on a near daily basis. Many wooden coasters have been moved...from the Phoenix to Skyliner to the Arkansas Twister, just to name a few. And every one of them has required at least some new wood (usually a lot more than just some...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 So essentially all they are paying for is the name? (and design?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 And a great deal of the wood. As has been stated, the trains are not part of the deal in this instance. Also, as stated in one of the articles I posted, there is a dispute as to whether the seller even has the right to sell the coaster... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Oh I understand this scenario is still playing out and is different, but as you said most of the wood is replaced when a coaster is moved. If the wood is replaced why would the buyer want the original wood, or is it that the old owner does not want a bunch of old wood laying around? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 Re-engineering an existing ride is a lot easier if you have access to the site and all the pieces... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Again terp sorry for being a pain but you have to restate that so my brain can understand it. It may be because its late or because I am watching the olympics but how does having the original wood help in re-engineering it at a different site? If you are buying to rebuild a ride elsewhere wouldnt you just need the engineering plans? Not playing dumb just trying to figure this out.... Would this scenario be the same idea if a wooden roller coaster burns to the ground and the park rebuilds it? Same ride right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 14, 2010 Author Share Posted February 14, 2010 If a seller is selling you the ride, and you end up having to re-engineer it, you may well have to agree to take all the wood just to get on the site and measure everything. Not to mention that having the actual pieces makes life much easier. Blueprints help, but on old coasters, as-built may not remotely resemble the blueprints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Thank you kind sir. For some reason my brain could not grasp the original comments in your first post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violakat03 Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 It's really heartbreaking to see a coaster I thought had a hope of being saved laying in pieces on the ground, but to be honest I am not surprised. I saw the Screechin' Eagle a few days ago, and even though it's been sitting for 3 years longer than the Pippin did, it still looks in significantly better condition now than the Pippin did when it was still operating, and considering how neglected that coaster was it was only a matter of time until it partially collapsed. However, it seems like Bay Beach has really stepped up to the plate on this one. From what it's coming across as, they originally just wanted to save some money, but it's really turned into an effort to save the coaster rather than just save some money. I applaud them on this and definitely plan to donate to their efforts as well as make a concerted effort to visit often once they have it rebuilt, and I hope many others do as well. It's rare that a park honestly cares about saving a historical coaster and we should all support them in this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Park Committee Supports Roller Coaster: ...Committee Chairman Jerry Wiezbiskie said the ride could become a major attraction for Green Bay. The purchase "sounds like a no-brainer," Wiezbiskie said. The full City Council is scheduled to consider the matter March 2.... http://www.greenbayp...0509/1207/GPG01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 Panel Nixes Cutting Off Bay Beach Funding: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100224/GPG0101/2240598/1207/GPG01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 City Council Approves 7-4; Now Characterized As Buying Design and Building a New Wooden Coaster: http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=12072970 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violakat03 Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 I am so glad to hear this!! While it's not as good as having the entire coaster relocated like had originally been hoped for, this is nothing but great news. I can't wait to see the Pippin rise again and you can bet I will be among the first to visit the park to ride it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamondback96 Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 Now, if only the same could be done for Big Dipper because it's unlikely that it will ever run again. It would be awesome if we could have it, but then it would get the required CF seatbelts on it. I want to ride it how it was meant to be ridden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gigacoaster2k Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 I am so glad to hear this!! While it's not as good as having the entire coaster relocated like had originally been hoped for, this is nothing but great news. I can't wait to see the Pippin rise again and you can bet I will be among the first to visit the park to ride it!! Kat, when you ride it, please tell us if it rides just like the original or not. And please also let us know where we can make donations to the efforts to rebuild this coaster. I remember hearing you talk last summer about how great this coaster was, and based on our mutual love for wooden coasters, I can't imagine how excited you were to know it is being saved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted March 5, 2010 Author Share Posted March 5, 2010 I hope they invite Elvis to the opening, if he can get away from Burger King long enough to attend. Zippin Pippin was a dandy ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violakat03 Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Now, if only the same could be done for Big Dipper because it's unlikely that it will ever run again. It would be awesome if we could have it, but then it would get the required CF seatbelts on it. I want to ride it how it was meant to be ridden. I believe Bay Beach originally tried to get the Big Dipper, but found that getting information or buying it was next to impossible. Hopefully another park will try and the Big Dipper will ride again. Also, the Zippin Pippin had seatbelts at Libertyland. Since the train has run off to an Elvis museum somewhere, I'm hoping Bay Beach reopens it with classic style trains (buzz bars, etc) like it ran in Libertyland .. though I definitely would not mourn the loss of the seatbelts!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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