Boomerang Bay Construction Tour

[coasterrz]

I arrived at around 2:15 to a park that had an almost full parking lot. Oh, well, I only want to grab a ride on The Beast and go on the construction tour of Boomerang Bay. We actually found a close parking spot, and didn`t have to park in the deep south parking lot. PKI had rented school buses to use as parking lot shuttles. I guess they were really hard pressed for employees and couldn`t spare a few to run the usual trams. It definantly looked weird seeing school buses in the tram circle.

As usual, there was a line for the metal detectors. After selecting the shortest line, we waited. Finally, I put my keys, cell phone and camera in the red basket and walked in. As usual, no alarm sounded and I went to pick up my cell phone, camera and keys. However, the lady grabs the keys out of my hand and rudely says "I need to check your keys" and then yells at someone in my group for starting to enter the metal detector because she had to check my keys. First of all, the other 26 times I`ve been through the detectors this year, they`ve never checked my keys. Secondly, she could have asked nicely to check my keys, instead of grabbing them out of my hand. Also, she could have been nicer to the other person behind me.

Once in the park, I bought a PKI Beast hoodie. A couple of years ago wasn`t all park merchandise half off on the final weekend? Well, it wasn`t and the hoodie cost $49.99, a ripoff. Luckily, I still had 37 Scooby Bucks left over from the Discovery Channel Top Ten show on The Beast and Son of Beast so it only really cost $15.

I then went to the Festhaus and waited till 3. At three Jeff Siebert explained that we would watch a video of Boomerang Bay and then go back outside to conduct the tour. The video was nice and offered great visuals of the new attractions.

After that, it was off to Boomerang Bay. We walked in the Backstage area, past the Admin offices and Jeff`s office. We then stopped by the White Water Canyon boats that are awaiting their offseason maintenance. There Jeff also pointed out an Adventure Express train also awaiting its offseason maintenance. Also the third train for SoB was sitting there. Jeff also mentioned how the person in charge of construction at PKI right now (I forget his name) used to work for Disney which is why the attention to detail and theming has increased on attractions since 1999 when he started working at the park. Jeff also hinted about a possible change to an existing attraction for an upcoming season (TR:TR????)

We then entered Boomerang Bay. Lets just say that the park has done a lot of work and research and is actually spending half of the money not on new attractions but on aesthetics and theming. Most of the attractions will be getting paint jobs and will be painted yellows, oranges, and reds. Also, Kookabura Bay is being built in what today is a giant stretch of concrete. Jeff also mentioned how they have designed the park so that you can`t see all the way into it and how they are adding more planting areas for trees and plants in the expanse of concrete. Also, he commented on how the gift shop and restaurant would be expanded. Also, the wavepool will be repainted blue and there will be a ton more funbrellas to add more shade to the park. Also, he mentioned how the funnel for Tasmanian Typhoon will point towards the Wavepool and I-71. Also, not included in the anouncement, there will be sand volleyball courts to the immediate right of the high tension tower. It seems like the park is really trying to tie the old and new sections of the waterpark together. Also, Jeff said that they will be adding pavers to the walking surface so its not all concrete. Wipeout Beach, other than its winter rehab, will return unchanged. They are also adding/upgrading the changing facilitied and restrooms in BB. Jeff indicated there might be another construction tour in the spring when there is more to see.

At the conlusion of the tour, Jeff gave us his usual teasers. He stated that Son of Beast will continue to be worked on and the each season they hope it will get a little smoother. At least they will continue to work on it, it was riding horrible towards the end of this season! He did state that there would be no new rides added to the ride park in 2004 because BB is their main focus. Although he said they do have some very exciting surprises in store for 2004 (he liked saying in store for 2004). I think one of those is a new program for TR:TR, any one else have any clues? He also said that they will be making an exciting anouncement sometime around March. A new coaster in 2005 or Winterfest for 2004, maybe??? Can`t wait to hear what they have up their sleeves. They are applying for variances to build a new sign about the same size as the old one, but a much more modern one with all sorts of bells and whistles. He also mentioned that there might be sneak previews of BB for passholders, and possibly one for just enthusiasts! He concluded that the park values the friendship, support and feedback it gets from its loyal enthusiasts and he stated the park looks forward to maintaining that friendship in the future. Thanks for the tour Jeff, it was AWESOME! I can`t wait for 2004 and to go to Boomerang Bay!!!!!

I ended my day with an hour wait for The Beast. It was running very smooth and , as usual I had a blast. Unfortunatly, I couldn`t hang out for the final ride of the year before the park put it to bed with its pillow as Jeff put it, but oh well. BTW, there were several people who took part in the tour (I`d say around 60 people or so. I know that Shaggy (John Keeter), Sean Flaharty, Scott and Carol Holmes, and Italianchef (Charles Infosino) were there among many others who I don`t know there names. I spent way too much time typing this report and I hope the offseason goes by fast!

[PKICoasterFreek]

Wow, it was long but gave me a ton of cool info to share with my friends tomorrow at school..... anyways! I bet the tour was really cool, sounded cool. I wasn't able to go to PKI today, bummer! But I really am starting to think about what PKI has up their sleaves for next March!!!

I personally can't wait!!

[AllenAmazon]

Just got back! Got to do the last morning walkback, the Boomerang Bay tour, and the final rides. All three trains got at least two consecutive rides! Glad to see so many great people. High thanks to the PKI team and Jeff Siebert. 2003 was an excellent season, 2004 is only about 5 months away (6 for Boomerang Bay).