Cedar Point announces Wicked Twister will close in September

Sorry, but I have to call attention to the phrase "obviate the dwarf/midget." I'm going to try to use that in a live conversation at some point.

Actually, no I'm not.

Consider also that hulk’s track was completely replaced due to metal fatigue after 16 years of constant use.

You could reasonably make the hypothesis that Wicked Twister’s train passing over the same piece of track 6 times during a ride cycle generates a lot of wear.

But given the changes in ride control systems since this ride opened, I think there is probably a significant retrofit that has come due that no longer makes sense considering ridership, overall maintenance costs, and real estate value.

There's almost zero doubt in my mind that the electrical components aren't going to last even 20 years. Don't they basically use banks of giant capacitors for that? I think the track (the horizontal pieces at least) are probably the most durable parts.

Bakeman31092 said:

Sorry, but I have to call attention to the phrase "obviate the dwarf/midget." I'm going to try to use that in a live conversation at some point.

Actually, no I'm not.

Fair.

I suppose "end of service life" also something to do with "we no longer want to put 'x' amount of dollars into this ride to keep it safe and reliable." Or that preventative maintenance lacked enough over the years to a level where it's not salvageable (Hulk 1.0?). And of course climate, geography etc.

That would explain why certain rides that are the same or similar model from the same manufacturer are gone (Big Bad Wolf, Vortex, Hulk 1.0) and others are still chugging along.

The amount of copper on the buss bars inside that control building has got to be worth scapping, but I thought scrap metal was down these days.

And yes, that control system should be replaced if its moved. Sorry Rob :-D

But as I understand it copper in general is in short supply and in high demand

Well, that was fast