Cedar Point announces Shoot The Rapids for 2010
Posted
[Ed. note: The following is an unedited press release. -J]
Grab your paddles and climb aboard the newest river-ride adventure this side of the Appalachians! Shoot the Rapids, an all-new family water ride, will rise above Cedar Point’s rustic Frontier Trail when it makes a splash on Opening Day 2010.
During the 2,100-foot-long journey, adventurers will travel through a wooded area and around an illegal still used for brewing sweet-tasting elixir, all while encountering surprise water elements and special effects. Guests will navigate the waters aboard a 10-passenger boat. Riders will be seated in five rows of two and will be secured by individual over-the-head lap bars.
The excitement builds when the boats ascend one of two lift hills. The first and largest hill will be 85 feet tall and will drop riders down onto Millennium Island at a 45-degree angle. The second hill will be 49 feet tall and will end with a dramatic “shoot” through water rapids and rockwork.
Guests on the Frontier Trail can keep their feet planted on dry land and watch as riders complete their wet and wild trek down the final drop.
“Shoot the Rapids will instantly become a family favorite,” said John Hildebrandt, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “Our guests wanted another option to cool off on warm summer days. We listened, and Shoot the Rapids will deliver the perfect combination of refreshment, thrills and new memories at Cedar Point.”
Shoot the Rapids will cost more than $10.5 million to build and will be the most expensive water ride ever built at Cedar Point. It will have a capacity of approximately 1,200 riders per hour. The ride will last three minutes. A rider height requirement has not yet been determined and will be released at a later date. The ride was designed and manufactured by IntaRide LLC of Glen Burnie, Md., the same company that built the Maverick, Top Thrill Dragster and Millennium Force roller coasters and the Thunder Canyon river-rafting ride.
Visit the official Cedar Point site.
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They could have done so much more, but before I say I am disappointed I should have known better to not expect anything out of the ordinary. With all the effort and build up I was expecting something spectacular but got an average log flume with lap bars.
It looks like you can get in line for it near Snake River falls though so that's really cool. You can go from one wet ride to the next of you want.
I never rode the last one they took out and I never missed it. Hopefully it won't be too long till this one gets nixed for a ride that has more than a 10 minute wait after its first season.
Not trying to be negative here but I am really surprised a ride like this would cost more than 10.5 million! I guess with the updated technology and all it is to be expected. Looks like a fun ride in a nice location of the park.
Collin Aynes
My one and only complaint. The seats are kinda kanoodle-proof.
I think the restraints are over the head lap bars, and they seem visible in the vid.
I agree. The marketing for this ride was over the top and unnecessary. It doesn't break any records or do anything special. The way they were marketing it it seemed like it was going to be something big and spectacular. They need to fit their marketing to the attraction. This is a family ride and families aren't paying attention to the marketing they were doing. I think it looks like a good ride though and I'll ride it the next time I make it out there.
Da Bears
I , for one, am excited by this, I like the way they used the old name for a new ride. The STR that ran from 1967 to 1981 was a lot of fun. The double drop always got me soaked.
I am surprised by some negativity towards the announcement. We knew it wasn't going to be a coaster and probably a water ride. People complain about WWL being removed and now their is a new flume they complain again.
My only concern is that it is Intamin and that usually means a lot of down time early on. But I am pretty pleased overall with the announcement.
I think the marketing was fine.....it was everyone else that went into overdrive and hyped it up to be more than it was, then found out and was let down. Even CF realizes it's families that bring in the $$$. If you really feel like protesting the park that bad then don't go...it's that simple.
I've known about this for quite awhile, and the reaction is exactly what I expected. Enthusiasts can be too predictable.
I wouldn't make too many generalizations about the group here based on a couple of comments from the kids. I'd imagine a majority here welcome this news. A large park building a flume? Very cool.
Let me be the first to ask (and done in my very best "park guest" voice of utter cluelessness starring directly at the new ride):
"Will we get wet on this ride?!?!?!"
I think StR is cool and am sure the video doesn't show all the details of theme elements. I wasn't expecting Splash Mountain but I am hoping for something to keep guests attention during the slow parts of the ride to make it more of an immersive experience. Maybe I am a fool to hope for that, don't know.
If I have one disappointment it would be that it doesn't keep true to the history of Shoot-the-Rapids at Cedar Point, that being a double-down fall on one of the hills which would not only be major fun but also totally unique to the park.
*Yawn*
Regardless on who overhyped this ride, Cedar Point has established a reputation for building attractions with layouts and thrills of a certain quality, (this includes family attractions). This is not an acceptable ride to meet the standards of CP's large fanbase, (as evident by previous posts). No wonder Tony & Tyler have been pressing these hints and updates, because this ride certainly won't sell itself.
Oh and one other thought...since the decade began with an Intamin and we are ending the decade with an Intamin...Dick can we move on to some of the other unique ride products available out there now?? Gravity Group comes to mind....just saying. Thanks.
I believe the theming may not look like much on the animation or in the renderings, but that is most likely because the people who did the renderings did not know what was currently there. There is quite some theming from the paddle wheel excursions there already, and my guess is they'll build onto that. It seems like frontier trail/ frontier town is where cedar point really likes to incorporate theming into their rides and attractions. (Maverick, all the frontier shops, etc.) I think this will be a nice addition, ever since they promised a replacement for WWL.
"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us."
-Joseph Campbell
Haha that would be nice if they were done with Intamin rides for a long time after this coming year.
Da Bears
F2006 said:
If you really feel like protesting the park that bad then don't go...it's that simple.
Why not complain online? The 14 regulars of WWL would not shut up about it being removed and now we have this.
STR is a great addition to the ride lineup. Its a modern flume, and that is what Cedar Point was lacking since the removal of WWL and Mill Race, which, where extremely popular during hot days.
WWL, with a capactiy of 1750/hr, easily had 2 hour waits before Snake River Falls was built. However, SNF, and Thunder Canyon do not appeal to everyone, since the 'drench' factor is in play.
Cedar Point does not need to build a $20 million coaster every year. They are an entity unto themselves, and this ride will suit the masses much better than TTD, or some other less than stellar investments.
Excellent news to see the company building a flume instead of retiring one. I am a bit surprised to see the first lift larger than the second.
I do think they went a bit over board with all the Whyte Lightning stuff. First they had us near Carowinds thinking our former shuttle loop's name was returning after a 20 year absence then they had some believing they were going to use it on the new CP flume.
I personally believe they should've re used the name this season instead of naming Carowinds' new ride Carolina Cobra. That ride is located right across the midway from the original and does the same forward/backward trick. Locals would've gone nuts over it.
The Wild West/Old West/Frontier theme is the easiest theme to pull off. That's why so many parks have a western-ish section. This ride looks like a solid addition to me.
Agent -
The only thing that I have a problem with is the "drench" factor is still very much in play this addition. The waterfall and the second drop look as if you will get very wet on this ride. If that is the case, then I would argue the the hole in the lineup has not been filled. I know I probably won't ride it since I don't like to walk around drenched.
That said, I'm sure it will be very popular, and the setting looks great.
Thank you Cedar Point! I think it is a great choice. I like flumes, I think every park needs one. Cedar Point had three down to zero and now have a flume of the modern day which will be interesting to say the least.
Strange note- Does anyone else think it will be strange to embark on a flume ride with ten riders rather than the standard two to four people? It will definetly change the expieriance a bit. Kind of like floating in a Disaster Transport car.
I'm sheriff of this here rollercoaster.
Closed topic.
