Cedar Point '07 Project
I've heard rumor after rumor and caught a brief glimpse of a newspaper clipping describing a possible Intamin terrain-rocket, similar to Storm Runner, for the proposed expansion of Kennywood. If these prove to be true, do you think it could be that this new Intamin at Cedar Point is going to be a similar ride, say, a hyper-rocket with a more traditional layout, including several inversions, built as a countermeasure to the alledged rocket going up in nearby Pittsburgh? I, for one, wouldn't mind in the slightest if a more complete, well-balanced big rocket went up at Cedar Point to bolster the already unique and diverse lineup.
Remember rides like this take years and years of planning.
On the possibility of a Kennywood rocket: Man, I'd sure hope so. I've felt slightly cheated with the lack of inversions due to the demise of the old Steel Phantom, however mixed opinions may be on those inversions. :) Even amongst the outstanding traditional coasters, I think a big steel looper would be a welcome addition, provided Kennywood kept with their MO of conforming their rides to the terrain. Ah, the possibilities for the near future...
Demopoulator said:
the alledged rocket going up in nearby Pittsburgh?
What chu talkin bout Willis?
*** Edited 7/26/2006 4:28:06 AM UTC by Neuski***
Demopoulator said:
Mostly speculation on my part. I did catch a glimpse of a proposal for an Intamin terrain-rocket at Kennywood. I couldn't give you the gory details of the article offhand, but I could certainly find it again, if you give me a day or so to look. I know nothing concrete on the matter, but the thought alone makes me fiercely anticipative.
Yes, I would also be interested in that article. Wonder what the date is on that. This is the first I've heard of a rumor for a Rocket at KW. Plus, that expansion still has years to go.
That said, I'm trying to figure out the layout of the '07 coaster and I simply can't yet. It's exciting!
2002/2003
KW Team Member
THEY JUST BUILT ONE!!
*** Edited 7/26/2006 2:59:55 PM UTC by Mamoosh***
Mamoosh said:
Intamin is not the only manufacturer who makes launched coasters
WHAT?!?!? You mean there are OTHER companies out there that build launch coasters? ;)
FWIW, PowderKeg is one of the most reliable launched coasters I have ever seen. The only downtime that it experiences is due to those stupid restraints. :)
Kennywood announces plans for expansion starting in 2008.
Park planning for 2 new coasters, 7 more rides, hotel and indoor water park on 45 new acres.
By Jerry Dolan
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WEST MIFFLIN, PA - Kennywood park announced its $60 million expansion plan to the public yesterday afternoon at a small press conference inside the park. Since last May when Kennywood announced it had bought property in the neighboring borough of Duquesne, the park has spent $2 million planning the expansion. "The planning process took us around ten months to complete," said Harry Henniger, Jr., president of Kennywood Entertainment. "We contacted several firms, some ride-based, some landscaping-based, and some architecture-based and came to agreements with several of them."
The ride companies include the Swiss company Intamin, AG, The Gravity Group, LLC, S&S Sports Power, Huss, and Zamperala. The company that will handle the architecture will be HOK, Inc. of Kansas City, MO, the same company that designed PNC Park for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This is the first time that Kennywood has worked with HOK; however, Kennywood has worked with all but one of the ride companies in the past. "We have a good working relationship with Intamin, Huss, S&S, and Zamperala and are looking very much forward to working with the very talented and creative engineers at the Gravity Group," said Henniger.
The Gravity Group will construct a brand new, state-of-the-art wooden coaster for the park, set to open in 2008. In classic Kennywood fashion, the new wooden coaster will take advantage of a huge natural ravine on the new property. "We've designed it so that the ride flows with the grade and travels deeper and deeper into the ravine as the ride goes along, allowing the ride to actually gain momentum instead of losing it," commented Henniger. In addition to being the biggest of Kennywood's wooden coasters, the ride will be the longest of the wooden coasters at an expected length of over one mile. The Gravity Group opened its second coaster this spring called the Voyage at Holiday World Park in Indiana. That coaster is over 6,000 feet long and has received several acclamations. A Gravity Group spokesperson commented that Kennywood and the Gravity Group have come up with a design that will "out-do" the Group's first two projects. "As a new company, we feel that we need each project to be better than the previous, and in working with Kennywood, that is what we feel we have done here." The new wooden coaster will cost approximately $5 million and will open for the 2008 season.
Builders of the 1997 Pitt Fall and the 1985 Raging Rapids, Intamin, AG will again be called for a major Kennywood project, only this time it will be for a roller coaster. Intamin will construct what they call a "rocket coaster," or a coaster that is launched instead of pulled up a hill by a chain. Such rides include Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster and Hersheypark's Storm Runner. Two big differences between previous rocket coasters and the one planned for Kennywood are the length and the terrain. Kennywood plans on taking advantage of the ravine in order to increase both the total drop and total length of their new steel coaster. "By using the terrain, we can keep adding momentum to the train throughout the course, allowing for a longer layout, let alone a huge drop," commented Henniger. The new steel coaster is to boast five inversions, a 177 foot tall "top hat" element with a total drop of 272 feet, an 80 mph launch in 2.8 seconds, a top speed of 93 mph, and more than 4,000 feet of track. "We wanted something that will capture the riders, scare them, flip them, dominate them, while still keeping them safe," said Henniger. This will also be the third attempt at a looping coaster for Kennywood, the first since the Steel Phantom, which was modified in 2001. In addition to being Kennywood's single greatest ride investment at $21 million, this will be Intamin's most extensive rocket coaster project ever at over 4000 feet and five inversions.
With the largest expansion in park history, Kennywood has announced that ticket prices will increase from $28.95 to $32.95 starting in 2008; however, for the first time ever, Kennywood will offer a two-day pass for $59.95, along with an optional room package at Kennywood's new hotel/indoor water park, to be built as part of this expansion. Two-day passes will be valid for both Kennywood and Sandcastle to accomodate guests who may prefer an outdoor water park experience, according to Harry Henniger. In addition, Henniger nor any park spokesperson would comment on whether or not Kennywood plans on offering a season pass to guests.
"I am truly excited about this entire project, not only for the Kennywood family, but for everyone in the Pittsburgh area, and everyone who chooses to visit us in the next few years," said Henniger. "I think thousands more feel the same way." ---
I apologize for any errors I may have made and for the length of the post, but I have no other immediate means of sharing the information, so hand-typing it as a forum-post was necessary to share the news. As I said before, if anyone would like verification, I would be more than happy to email the image file of the scanned newspaper clipping to anyone here. Email kingdemop@yahoo.com requesting the article on the expansion and I'll send it right along as an attachment. :) *** Edited 7/27/2006 8:04:04 AM UTC by Demopoulator***
what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.
Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it.
I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Crazy horse: I don't think Geauga Lake will react all that much. Kennywood has almost always been a better park in my opinion, and GL still draws a crowd nonetheless. Besides, they don't quite have the terrain to build anything nearly comparable to the above mentioned Intamin. You never know though...As always, we must play the wonderful waiting game. *** Edited 7/27/2006 12:08:00 PM UTC by Demopoulator***
Back to Cedar Point...
P18 said:
After all of this, will the park be still considered a "traditional" park? I thought a traditional park was built with no particular plan in mind or something.
If thats the case then there is no such thing as a traditional park anymore. Every park has short term and long term plans.
Closed topic.
