Cedar Point Removing WildCat

It's because the people who really care about this are ranting over on PointBuzz and the people who are ranting here are talking about beer permits...

In all honesty, Paddlewheel is a more serious loss. The bigger issue, though, is that the ride count is -2 for the season, a direction I don't particularly happen to like. That, and because of the way it was done, no matter how carefully it was considered, this feels like a rushed, snap decision.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

GoBucks89 said:

Don't be scared! I just think somebody owes us an explanation that's all!

I don't think they OWE us an explanation, but it would be nice to have something more than what they have said. Because nothing they have said so far explains the sudden decision. At least nothing that doesn't speak of poor planning somewhere in the system.

Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky. Wildcat is dust in the wind.

Let's say the park did come forward and say that there was a problem with the ride structure (or braking system?) that necessitated the oddly-timed removal. How would the marketing department feel about this announcement? In the case of a future ride accident, I'm sure the legal department would love to have CP's words used against them. How would patrons feel about that last lap they got on WildCat, when the ride was still operating despite potential "hidden safety issues"? How is mom going to feel about chaperoning the kiddos on their next class trip to the park?

Just.not.gonna.happen.

Nonetheless, the decision to scrap and not relocate within the park, relocate to another park, or sell...is telling.

I know, it's a production-model coaster, was very old, and wasn't particularly "noteworthy" in terms of layout, setting, or use of terrain. But it does make me that much more thankful when I think of parks like SFGAm or SFoT going through the trouble to keep their Antons - all of which are quite well-worn at this point - in great running condition for another generation of riders.

Thanks, WildCat - you really were a great ride! :~)

RideMan said:

That, and because of the way it was done, no matter how carefully it was considered, this feels like a rushed, snap decision.

Speaking of a "snap" decision. From what I understand, through knowing several people who worked on the WildCat crew a couple years ago during pre-season testing for the 2008 Season, Wildcat's chain had snapped, and was replaced prior to opening day. Then, on May 16, 2008, a WildCat car traveling up a hill didn’t make it all the way as the new chain snapped, and rolled backward hitting the car behind it. The problem, however, which was never supposed to be relayed to people of the public, was management could not obtain a replacement chain from the manufacturer prior to opening for the season.

Instead, maintenance was told to buy the same size chain at a Home Improvement store nearby, which does not have the same strength/weight yeild as the former, more durable chain. As you can see from the two pictures below, the type of chain used on this ride is not like other, newer, coasters. Instead, it's a simple link chain design, easily found wherever.

http://i1068.photobucket.com/albums/u454/cevillapoizon/WCCHAIN2.jpg

http://s1068.photobucket.com/albums/u454/cevillapoizon/WCCHAIN1.jpg

I think with a new CEO and hearing about this, if the same thing happened this pretesting season, or the brakes failed to catch the car coming into the station like it did last season, causing an incident... Someone from a background of safety along the lines of Disney I am sure would have to make a decision to remove it. To be honest, I find it far past due that this ride is only leaving now!

That's an awful lot of speculation, but it's a scenario that has really been hanging over the ride for several years. Now add in last year's collision in the final brakes, and frankly there's a growing list of reasons that it's a liability.

I don't think it's too much speculation, really. The maintenance person who did night work on Wildcat also worked on Matterhorn, and between conversations over the week after the '08 incident when I was opening in the mornings and conversations with then past and current ride crew members, there were several mechanical issues that were evidently addressed to the bare minimum, like the anti-rollbacks on the cars, which the '07 crew had evidently commented on, but no action was taken. It was likely a mix of age and minimum maintenance expenditure, but it was definitely becoming a growing liability since '08.

I liked the Wildcat too. But, like others have said, I rarely went on it on a busy day because the wait was too long. Even on days when other rides, like Iron Dragon had no wait, Wildcat would still be 30 minutes. I don't think I have ever been in the park when there was no wait for the Wildcat.

I would also have rather seen Disaster Transport removed, and maybe they could have put the Wildcat there. Or maybe remove the Junior Gemini. Is that ride even still there? I haven't been to the park since Maverick was built, but, it's one of the coasters that I usually rarely think about when I am there. They have Woodstock Express, which is good enough for the kids.

I know people are going to hate me for saying this, but another ride that is past it's prime is the Mine Ride. I hate it, it's bumpy, jerky, and boring. If they took that out they would have enopugh room for Wildcat, and probably one of those wing coasters or a flying coaster.

If they ran the Wildcat with 2-car trains, like the Galaxi at Indiana beach, they could certainly boost it's capacity. I also agree with the comment someone made of relocating it to Michigan's Adventure. It would certainly be better than the Mad Mouse. I like that idea.

Timber-Rider said:

I would also have rather seen Disaster Transport removed...

I have a sneaking suspicion that you won't have to wait too much longer for that to happen.

Wildcat was a fun little ride, but it was certainly past its prime. The only odd thing about the removal is the timing of it.

CP Chris said:

Timber-Rider said:

I would also have rather seen Disaster Transport removed...

I have a sneaking suspicion that you won't have to wait too much longer for that to happen.

Didn't a halloween attraction open up in the same building as DT just 2 years ago? I would think it's going to be quite some time before the building moves

^ The recent addition of Terror Island didn't stop the park from adding dinos and moving the haunt to a new location.

Someone please post photos of the demolition. Sorry to be so morbid.

jonnytips said:

Didn't a halloween attraction open up in the same building as DT just 2 years ago? I would think it's going to be quite some time before the building moves

Yes but as was mentioned above that doesn't mean that it's safe. It could be moved to a new location pretty easy, or they could tear down the rest of the ride and save that part of the building. The part that houses the Haunt is actually pretty small in comparison to the rest of the structure.

Reading this news, combined with Paddlewheel , I was really mad. Now if it really is a big safety issue they are worried can't be resolved, I can accept it, but they are developing a serious gabbing hole in family rides.

I've wanted a focus on family (not kiddie) rides for years. In theory this year is about the family, but an upcharge and an show do not even make up for what is being lost let alone add to the experience from my perspective. Wildcat is an easier coaster to get kids on (whether or not it should be) and I know when I was growing up one of a handful of coasters, we'd actually ride for years.

Complaining about a lack of rides--regardless of type--at Cedar Point of all places is beyond me.

A case of bran muffins for Vater!

First of all, I have serious doubts about the veracity of certain details of the chain story, especially given that UST has a manufacturing operation in the City of Sandusky. I imagine they have probably sold a fair amount of chain to Cedar Point.

Thing about the Wildcat chain is, it is in sections, so that each section is light enough to be handled fairly easily. There are a number of connecting links in the chain, and the most likely reason for a chain failure on that ride is a failure of one of the connecting links. In any case, if a section of the chain failed, it is likely that only the failed section was replaced, leaving open the possibility of a failure in another section.

The dimensions of the links on that chain are critical, so I highly doubt that anyone would be buying sections of chain from just anywhere for that ride. But as you can see, another scenario involving the use of the correct replacement chain could easily result in the same repeated failure.

That said, that was 2008. Last year's collision was traced back to a software fault, was corrected, and given the way the ride ran last year, it is clear that the park was confident that it wasn't going to happen again.

Beyond the initial "gut feel" of such a sudden announcement, all the best intelligence I have found so far suggests that the last-minute (and I suspect it was at the last possible minute) decision to remove the Wildcat had very little if anything to do with the operation of the ride.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

If it had nothing to do with safety, it really is sad to lose it. There needs to be a couple smaller less intimidating coasters for non-coaster people/gateway coasters. Iron Dragon may actually not be any more intense, but it looks more intense to most people (or at least it always did to me growing up). I know it was years between the first time I went on Wildcat and Iron Dragon. This pretty much leaves Cedar Creek Mine Ride in that role now along with Woodstock Express and Disaster Transport.

RideMan said:

Beyond the initial "gut feel" of such a sudden announcement, all the best intelligence I have found so far suggests that the last-minute (and I suspect it was at the last possible minute) decision to remove the Wildcat had very little if anything to do with the operation of the ride.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Thank you. As much as some want to be in denial about this, it really boils down to Luminosity pushing it out (which I will say again based on a conversation that I just had with a full-timer, Luminosity was never intended to be as big as it has become and "somebody" got carried away.) Bottom line to this story, poor planning.

Even if that's the case, the article suggested it was coming out soon anyway.