Americana, what will happen?

Does anyone know what's going to happen to Americana? Or it's Screechin Eagle?

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

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I'm not sure, but I think I heard that they want to extend some highway right through it. Again, not sure.

I hope they open it. I've never been there, but the Screechin' Eagle looks cool and the reviews make me want to ride it even more.

Jerry Couch didn't know what the heck he was doing. I fear we may never see Screechin' Eagle again.

As of today, there is no reason to believe that Mr. Couch has any intention of opening the park. If I remember correctly, the piece of land Eagle sits on is fairly flat. Hopefully this ride can be sold to an independent park who knows how to take care of it... I'd even accept PKI.

I just hope it doesn't get trashed.

Jacob
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http://www.PKIGuide.com

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Jacob said:
I'd even accept PKI

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Whats that supposed to mean? If you are dissing PKI, then why do you have a site about PKI?

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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den

I'm not "dissing" PKI, I think everybody knows that PKI is my favorite and home park.

What I meant by that statement was PKI has alot to deal with in such a large park, and it's taken alot for them to get to the point where they are as far as management and ride maintenance. That's what comes of being a top-tier park.

The independent parks, however, tend to keep focus on specific projects. I believe that a ride relocation is likely to go better when being done by a smaller independent - that they're the parks who are most capable of giving it their complete attention.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jacob
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http://www.PKIGuide.com

I'd love to see it at PKI. PKI is the only major ohio park with out an old style out n' back. GL has Big D and CP has Blue Streak. I think the Racer was the fisrt "new" style out n' back.

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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT

I'm hoping that the Eagle will at least find a new home if Americana doesn't open again, which by the way things look it won't.

I don't think a major theme park will be interested in a small out and back coaster. The Eagle would benefit more at an independent park. Someone give Knoebel's a call.

X Factor
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SFWoA: An Unofficial Guide
http://sfohio.tripod.com *** This post was edited by X Factor on 7/14/2001. ***

Im my opinion (which means little) very few - and probably no corporate - parks would run the Eagle without substantial changes - either retracking (especialliy of the first drop after the turnaround) or restraints (last it ran, it had a single position lap bar + seat belt). The air you get on some of the drops is literally frightening, and on the infamous hill after the turnaround you usually end up landing on the person next to you. I mean, you almost need shoulder harnesses on that thing. For those who haven't been on it, the only thing I can compare it to is the double-dip in Kennywood's Jack Rabbit, except MUCH more violent, or maybe the first drop from the back seat on Rampage (with no lap bars). Ain't no way a CP or PKI would let that continue ...

Sounds like it would be redone. Was SE the one the girl fell from? I like some violent air, and I love the forementioned lap bar setup, but they are "dangerous". Air is good, but not when you're tugging your loved ones back into the car. It's sad, single ratching whatever those new things are, but, IMO, much safer. I loved the violent air until two weeks ago, my wife literally almost flew out of the Swamp Fox, it has one of those real nice land on the person next to you short hills after a tall hill, and she has bruises well below the knees, because it had never been so violent, unpredictable. There's no video or on-quee instruction for proper old-school wioodie riding:(.

Unfortunately, I have to say that when I went by the park on the 4th, it looked as though nothing had been done to it. I am afraid it is being left to die.

When I learned I had driven past on my way to CP, I was heart broken, I felt like I should have made it a point to pass by, it was night and all, but still.......

Oaks Park in Portland,OR could use a coaster like Screechin' Eagle.Perhaps if all of us Coasterbuzzers e-mail Oaks Park(www.oakspark.com)we could have a decent coaster in Oregon again.R.I.P. Jantzen Beach Dipper 1928-1970

I remember that the Beast had those old fashoned lap bars. That was great. When those were on, the Beast actually got airtime. It was great.

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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den

I lived in Oxford, OH for a couple of years while I was going to Miami University. My husband and I drove through Middletown a few times on our way to other places (although it's not something we made a habit out of -- frankly, it's a depressing town) and on one occasion we noticed this little sign pointing off down a cross street which said "Americana Amusement Park." Now, I'd probably lived in nearby Oxford for a year and a half by the time we saw this, and it was the first I'd ever heard of it. "An amusement park? In Middletown? What?! It can't be a REAL park, can it?" I pictured something with maybe a go-kart track and some mini-golf... Having never seen one bit of advertising for it, I had no way of knowing it might actually be worth visiting. Of course, this is before I started reading sites like Coasterbuzz. :) This would've been during the second-to-last year the park operated.

We never went, but now that I've read up on Americana I really regret not going when I had the chance. I wish I'd gotten to ride the Screechin' Eagle, and also some of those vintage flat rides they had (The Whip, etc.). If they reopened the park now I would certainly make the trip, even though I no longer live in the area.

Those old school lap bars are good for airtime. Watch the movie Rollercoaster, that cop floats on Rebel Yell like no other, unfortunately, a better way of letting us float in there should be devised for some of the rides. A single lap bar, seatbelt on certain rides, you'd just have to hold on the entire time, IMO. I wish there was a better way, I love the lapbar, but it can't really be all that safe. BTW, Americana would have been my father's home park, he never went because he was afraid of the SE, somebody had told him about it.

Was Americana sold to somebody that's keeping it closed? I remember reading a headline along the lines of Americana not to open in 2001, is it something with new ownership or old?

Don't worry Six Flags will buy it.

p_c_r:

Both the Raging Wolf Bobs and Big Dipper at WoA have just the old style lapbars, you get standing air on Big Dipper, that coaster is an awesome ACE coaster classic.
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"Villain-Once You Drop, The Fun Don't Stop!"~SFWoA Rules In 2001~X Marks The Spot In 2001(SFWoA)~With SFWoA ANYTHING Is Possible!

I went to Americana in 99 and I remember thinkng how little it looked, I thought it would be just some boring roller coaster. When I went on it I was scared to death, you feel like you are going to fly right out of the car. IMO it is one of my favorite roller coasters. I hope that I get to ride it again and that it isnt taken down, it would be sweet if PKI got it, but i doubt that will happen.

p_c_r,

Americana was sold to an RV dealer named Jerry Couch. You can read about transformation of Americana from operating to defuct in these articles (read them in order.)

http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/01/07/loc_americana_park_ends.html

http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/03/22/fin_investor_hopes_to.html

http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/05/26/loc_americana_to_reopen.html

http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/07/26/loc_americana_to_reopen.html

http://enquirer.com/editions/2001/03/01/loc_americana_closed_for.html

So it doesn't look like it's coming back without a miracle or better.

Jacob
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http://www.PKIGuide.com