Big Dipper Sold

LostKause said:
I was really trying to be a Gonch. Miserable attempt, I know.

There can be only one.

I didn't have a problem with LK saying "that should get the ball rolling" or words to that effect. It was actually boring to read nearly an entire page of a thread where every poster was in agreement.

It's nice that these people are doing this, and like it was pointed out, it's much better that there are identifiable people finally associated with the project. Especially if they're going to be soliciting donations. But it's still at a point where we're talking about "saving" the coaster. Although it's a step forward, it still isn't a done deal by any means.

Let me start off by saying I am basically a member who lurks in the shadows and doesn't do much posting on these forums. The reason that I don't is what I call "douche-baggery"...

Pretty much anything you say on these forums someone has to have a sarcastic remark, a direct criticism, or the ever condescending emoticons, in response to whatever you said.

One thing I really like about these forums is the intellectual people who provide valuable information, insightful opinions and observations, directly address questions, and are precise in using maturity and manners.

However, there are others in here who seem to feel they are 'the bomb' for being a smart-aleck all the time, and it's becoming increasingly hard to see past.

If we all have a voice, why do we not use it in a public forum to express what we actually mean the first time, clearly, without alluding to sarcastic remarks, leaving room for question as to what you may have meant in your post?

Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the right word, and almost the right word, is the difference between lightning, and a lightning bug.”

Often times what is not said is more important than what is said.

Say what you mean, mean what you say. But don't say it mean.

Just sayin'. ;p

There's a response here that would just knock it out of the park, but it's just not solidifying for me right now.

Mark Twain also said, "I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one."

I fear I missed this opportunity for Grade A douche-baggery.

Did someone call for this?

Hey if you guys can Wahhh about trim brakes, OTSRs, and seatbelts all year long.... I'll take my one post and say something sunstancial that is truth. I have been a paying member for years and I only post every so often when it's something I feel strongly about. One wahh and been following this site since 2001... What's your number? Oh ;-)

macevhicz said:
Strange that the original poster even has to request that people don't bash her, except that he must know how much people seem to enjoy doing that around here. Perhaps the site should be renamed CoasterBash.

Clearly you're forming an opinion without the context of the conversations around the previous anonymous jerk who owned the ride. Before you judge, I'd read up on that.

xX eNeRtIa Xx said:

Pretty much anything you say on these forums someone has to have a sarcastic remark, a direct criticism, or the ever condescending emoticons, in response to whatever you said.

Over almost a decade of posting on CoasterBuzz, I have learned that you need to think of most of the responses as coming from old friends, who can say whatever they want to you, and you can say whatever you want to them too. Friends are sarcastic to each other. Don't take the personally stuff personally.

One thing I really like about these forums is the intellectual people who provide valuable information, insightful opinions and observations, directly address questions, and are precise in using maturity and manners.

Me too. Sometimes my jaw drops at the detailed and incredibly interesting information that I learn here (naming no names, specifically), but wouldn't this website be rather dull if we didn't joke around with each other, or call each other out sometimes? I come to CoasterBuzz for both the information AND the fun.

However, there are others in here who seem to feel they are 'the bomb' for being a smart-aleck all the time, and it's becoming increasingly hard to see past.

You must be mistaken about my personality, if I am the one that was directed to, because I am much more humble than that. I am in no way a smart aleck, and I don't think anyone here thinks that I am "the bomb". :)

If we all have a voice, why do we not use it in a public forum to express what we actually mean the first time, clearly, without alluding to sarcastic remarks, leaving room for question as to what you may have meant in your post?

I really do understand what you are saying, and am somewhat in agreement with it. Maybe we should take your suggestion seriously, so you'll be happy, lurking in the shadows, reading CoasterBuzz. :) :) ;) ;) lol j/k

Often times what is not said is more important than what is said.

When some people leave out the mean stuff, they have to resort to relying on the sarcasm, that you dislike, in order to get their point across.

Just sayin'. ;p

You just reminded me of something right there. I also use "the ever condescending emoticon" at the end of my posts sometimes to lighten the blow, because it's not really so important to me that I may lose overly serious online friends over. It's just a discussion. I imagine standing in a circle with my online friends, and when someone says something I disagree with, I laugh and discuss it. It's fun.

I don't mean any harm by it. "People are different". :)

eightdotthree said:
Poor roller coaster just wants to go to coaster heaven and keeps getting put on life support!

Apparently no one read the "DNR" request ;)

I am not one who wanted to see Big Dipper just be destroyed, but I think I would have been ok with someone just buying the trains and putting them on display some place. But thats just me! :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2256 :)

Someone with a lot more video-editing talent than me needs to create a Schiavo-esque video in which the coaster seems to be aware of balloons floating past its tracks.

I am the bomb. Just sayin'. ;)

Sorry to get back on topic but......

I think the Texas State Fair would be a good fit for the BD. Many still mourn the fair's loss of the Comet back in '89. They could operate just the coaster year-round for revenue.

I commend Kat for what she's doing. Hopefully it won't go the way of the Lakeside Park Shooting Star, that lay in the fields of NC for several years rotting away until the plans to rebuild it were eventually scrapped. That one still bothers me to this day....

Andy and Dave -

I figure if people like the two of you are on here, it's definitely worth my time to come get to know this forum as well!

As many of you have read and been discussing, I'm one of the new owners and have sort of been the public face for the project. I am not trying to hide any information that I feel is essential for the public to know and that is why I am getting on websites and forums, talking to TV, radio and newspaper reporters and doing everything I can to keep people informed. By the way, for the person putting my name in quotes earlier - Kat is indeed a nickname. It's short for Katherine. :)

Harold and I are just two normal people. We aren't business people. We aren't rich, we aren't famous, we aren't anything but two coaster enthusiasts that saw an opportunity to make a dream come true. Not just a dream for ourselves but a dream for the hundreds, if not thousands, of people that really love this coaster. This whole process has been absolutely mind-blowing for us. We've been in negotiations with the former owner for weeks and this project really just came together in a matter of 24 hours. It went from "maybe" to "reality" very fast and we're both sort of still catching our breath.

I want to apologize for the website. I know it is terrible! :) I had about an hour to get something tossed together when I learned that there would be a news report the next day, so it's pretty pitiful. We've got a very talented friend working his magic on it and it should be much nicer this week!

It's been difficult to be able to release any more concrete information because the sale finalized on a Thursday night. We haven't been able to really get any work done over the weekend. As we move into the business week, we are hoping to be able to get some definite figures on getting a professional inspection done of the coaster so we can get a goal set and a time line proposed for the careful removal of the coaster.

As soon as we have a company contracted to oversee the dismantling, we will be able to focus our attention on the multitude of options we have in front of us for relocation. We have probably close to a hundred different options, including other locations in the Cleveland area, moving to a relatively small distance away such as Columbus or western PA, or a huge variety of locations all over the country, such as Oregon, Texas and Florida, as well as pretty much everything in between! We will be carefully considering each proposed option to decide whether it is feasible or not and then investigating those we feel might be a true possibility.

While our goal is to keep it in northeast Ohio, our final decision will be based on where we think it would be able to run successfully. We will not consider this project a success until the coaster is reassembled in a new location and running for the public once more.

I am hoping to be able to update several forums when I have exciting new information, but because I do have other commitments in my life, I may not always have time. I encourage everyone to watch the website, where I will be keeping a blog with news, photos, and construction updates whenever I have them, just in case I am not able to post to the multiple forums.

Thank you for the clarification Kat - I wish you luck in your future endeavor.

Thank you for not trying to remain anonymous with no clue as to what to do. I wish you luck as well and applaud you for working to develop a game plan.

Great! Thank you, Kat, for being up front. It's awesome, and by posting online about your plans, I think that many coaster lovers will support you. I never liked BD at all, but since there are some who do, I wish you the best of luck.

Kat Jones said:

Harold and I are just two normal people.

...we aren't anything but two coaster enthusiasts...

Beggin' your pardon, but those are two mutually exclusive statements. ;)

Good luck... you have your work cut out for you.

Ensign Smith said:

Kat Jones said:

Harold and I are just two normal people.

...we aren't anything but two coaster enthusiasts...

Beggin' your pardon, but those are two mutually exclusive statements. ;)

Haha! I do believe you are probably right on that one. :) We are as normal as two coaster enthusiasts can be!

And hi Adam!

So now that we're quite a bit more transparent, I wanted to quote myself, and explain why I think people are treating this differently now.

I still have to wonder, does this person have the qualifications to do this, and does she and her partner have a plan? Are they able to deal with the reprecussions if no one wants the ride?

This was the 'issue' with the last owner. I won't go on and say that I think they were trying to make a buck, heck, for all we know, they were just doing all of that to get debate on an internet message board going. But the person responsible wouldn't really answer questions, just gave stock statements.

Now we have 2 new partners who have purchased the ride, and have stated that they intend to store it first (Good job there), and then persue other plans for the ride. And for that, I wish them well.

At this point, no parks have stepped up to save Big Dipper, so that tells me either they're not interested, or can't afford it.

No FECs or other properties have stepped up either, but perhaps it either wasn't on their radar, or the coaster enthusiasts who volunteered to help sell the thing didn't know what needed to be done. Has that changed with the new owners? I don't know, and really I don't care, because the new owners at least seem to have the opinion that "We're going to at least save and store it for now, and hopefully we can get it rebuilt eventually".

And that's all you could hope for.

So that's my thoughts on it all. Still not sure if there is anyone out there that wants Dipper (Even if it were free), but who knows. If there are a couple people out there that want to do this and don't hide behind words and other people, then so be it, I wish you well. Even Thunder Eagle kind of eventually got purchased, so mayhaps Dipper will ride again one day.

P.S. I want it to happen now more than ever just so Alvey has to keep his word and cut his dong off. Now that's worth the price of admission.