Black Diamond @ Knoebels

The other day I was looking at what Knoebels had to offer for coasters. My 15 year old cousin confessed to me a few weeks ago that she loves coasters. I was going to treat her to a day out at the park, but saw that two new coasters are slated for 2010 and thought I should probably wait until next year. While clicking the links on Roller Coaster Database I saw one of those rides coming in 2010 is called Black Diamond. Apparently the Black Diamond is the old Golden Nugget from Dinosaur Beach in Wildwood, NJ. Now I'm totally dying to go ride this.

When I was just a young kid my grandparents used to take my brother and I to Wildwood every year and I'd make my grandfather ride this ride over and over every time. My grandfather passed away a few years ago, but I said in another post a few months ago I'd give anything to ride it with him one more time. Well, I can't make that happen, but I'm just as excited to get on this ride again. It would probably be fitting for my cousin to go too since she got to go to Wildwood with my grandparents a time or two as well when she was just a girl.

Just curious while I'm on this topic, does anyone know if they're doing anything to this ride like updating it?

I think that I heard that the park was going to do a total retheme. I think that all the park bought was the ride system, and not the building or theming elements.

Regardless of whether you wait until next year or not is up to you. You and your cousin will love Knoebels regardless. :) If you can swing it this year I would try to plan a trip, especially in the fall around Phunfest time.There is nothing like riding Phoenix at night in the fog. :)

There's a ton of stuff to see and do at the park. The coasters and rides are just a nice bonus. :) Does she like flat rides as well?

I also look forward to Black Diamond as well as the Turns. I rode the GN a few times in the mid to late 90's. It will be cool to see it again at a new home. :)

-Tina

Apparently the park has stressed that they won't start working on Black Diamond until the Turns is finished, which at this rate appears to be 2027, so I wouldn't get my hopes up any time soon.

^I was going to mention something like that. ;) I have always joked and said it will be the first coaster in history to need trackwork before the public has a chance to ride it. ;)

-Tina

^^ Re: "until the Turns are finished"

When is it time to admit that perhaps an idea, as noble as it may be, just isn't a good one, isn't do-able, and it's time to cut your losses and move on?

The ride is going to be set to a mining theme in honor of the coal mining industry in PA. It is going to be located next the to mining museum where the bald eagles are currently located. (Behind the International Foo Court) I have no idea where the eagles are getting relocated to.

Awesome. It already had a mining theme as it was with the caves and all, but it was more of a western overtone. Can't wait to check it out no matter what they do.

If the ride's dark ride elements are half as creative as the park's Haunted Mansion, I think we'd have something really special.

It's a very good idea for them not to rush Black Diamond to be open. They need to concentrate on Flying Turns, and get that thing operational before starting on anything else. Plus, it makes better economical sense to space new coasters apart at least a year, so that some people will have a reason to go to the park ("I need to go to Knoebels and ride their new coaster!")

PRWagner said:
The other day I was looking at what Knoebels had to offer for coasters. My 15 year old cousin confessed to me a few weeks ago that she loves coasters. I was going to treat her to a day out at the park, but saw that two new coasters are slated for 2010 and thought I should probably wait until next year.

I don't know how far away you are, but if the drive isn't an issue, you can just buy tickets at Knoebels and pay for the rides you ride. And they'll be good the next time you go. The only down side is, it's much too easy to get there on an uncrowded day and end up wanting to spend more on tickets than you would've on an armband, because the rides are that much fun. (If you go on a weekend, they don't even offer armbands except for special occasions, so they can maximize their profit. But except for special occasions, the lines are still relatively short because everything is run efficiently.)

I'm probably building it up in my mind better than it was, but the GN was awesome.I rode it incesantly as a kid. Hunts pier was the shizznit back in the day.

I read somewhere that Knoebels has the original plans for the building and an architecht bringing them up to code. I hope they can integrate some stunts similar to the original.

Do coaster afficinados consider even this thing a coaster? Or a dark ride? Or is it a hybrid kinda deal

http://www.rcdb.com/400.htm

I wasnt sure because from what I remember it seems like it does more braking than coasting LOL.

SLFAKE said:
^^ Re: "until the Turns are finished"

When is it time to admit that perhaps an idea, as noble as it may be, just isn't a good one, isn't do-able, and it's time to cut your losses and move on?

I didnt know Knoebles was having problems with 'Turns. I was wondering why there was such a delay inthe opening.

Knoebels has ZERO interest in the building. It was left behind, and demolished. End of story. Project Black Diamond will only use sections of exisiting track, and the trains. Lift hill systems and brakes will be upgraded.

There will be a need to build a support structure, a loading station, and of course scenery, and a building if the ride will be enclosed. It will be quite a project, and if the ride is half as good as when the GN debuted in 1960, Black Diamond will be just fine.

The building was riddled with abstebstos, of course they didnt want it.

They have the plans for the original building getting brought up to today's codes. I read somewhere that Dick Knoebel himself mentioned it at PPP

Knoebels never had an interest in the building, even as far back as 1999 when Morey's first listed the ride for sale. 3 other parks had an interest, but only 1 park was ready to consider even moving the building.

Yes, it had an acceptable amount of abstebstos, but the building itself was built for one location, Hunt's Pier. The best thing for the GN is for a steel framed pre-fab building to go up over the ride, and eliminate any openings. The GN will be around for many generations to come.

njbill said:
The building was riddled with abstebstos, of course they didnt want it.

They have the plans for the original building getting brought up to today's codes. I read somewhere that Dick Knoebel himself mentioned it at PPP

Ooh! ooh, ooh, ooh! (doing my best Arnold Horshack imitation)

I said it in the Phunfest TR thread. Dick said an architect is reviewing the original building plans, and making the necessary revisions so the new building complies with current building codes (structural, fire, accessibility, etc.). Pennsylvania adopted the Uniform Construction Code in 2004.

Thanks for that, RGB. I was unable to get out to PPP(kid had a playoff football game) and have been eagerly awaiting some update on the project.