Coasters closed for "unusual" reasons

Openning day at Geauga Lake (05) I was smacked in the face with a bumble bee. It left a hudge make on face. We were on Dominator in the front row, right before we hit the corba roll.

At the beging of each yaer they have a lot of bees at PKI.

I recall last year for opening day at BGW the bees were really bad.

There is no such thing as a terrible Coaster just ones that haven't been taken care of

Hudge make? WTF is that?

Huge mark....get wit' da lingo! ;)

Charles Nungester said:
Heck, I was expecting to come face to face with a Gator or something on that flume.
Only flume I had to duck into the log to go through the tunnel of weeds.

Rumors are there will be a Gator inhabiting the log flume next year, right Bill? ;-)

I couldn't ride the log flume because of those weeds....too much poison ivy! :-0

Thanksfully the area looks MUCH better now.

-Tina

At GL, they've shut down The Villian a few times due to bees and hornets on the platform. All that wood makes for nice hives.

Great Lakes Brewery Patron...

-Mark

What about the Coney Island Cyclone closing because a woman's wig got caught in the wheels?

http://coasterbuzz.com/2004-153-832171.htm

Other debris like stuffed animals can cause similar failures.

Ok, so I've seen a few replies that say this whole bee/hornet/wasp thing on the lift hill isn't unique, which then begs the question, WHY on the lift hill?? Anybody have any insight as to what it is about a lift hill makes it so attractive for stinging insects? All that CO2 from girls screaming unnecessarily?

P.S. Moosh... remind me to smack you this weekend ;)

Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line. www.TiggerMan.com

I'd rather be spanked, Skip ;)

IIRC, the Blue Streak at Conneaut Lake Park some years back because of a skunk problem.

"Sorry, the rollercoaster is closed."

"Darn, that stinks."

"Exactly."

Of course JJ closes for FF due to noise concerns but most folks probably know that.

I've noticed that certain rides at PKD are prone to insect swarms,such as Ricochet & DZ...they've got signs posted at the rides about it but I've never seen either one shut down due to insect swarms hanging around.

As a person who is allergic to bee stings I will tell you it's a nice thing that they close the rides to protect themselves from frivolous law suits. Yes I would call a lawsuit over a bee sting frivolous. I mean go to first aid get the shot you need and suck it up. It is part the person getting stungs fault cause most people try to swat a bee when it comes near them. Let the insect go by and do what it wants to do and 90% of the time it won't go near you.

A hive on the track is another thing since it would be shaken like crazy as the train went past it. Then you better close the ride.

As kids I remember a friend of mine, who was also allergic to stings, hit a stop sign that unknowingly had a hive in the ground below it. Well out came the swarm. We ran like crazy and I got away but he got like 50 stings. Needless to say he was not in good shape for a few days. So never mess with the hive unless you know what you are doing or have the right sprays.

Watch the tram car please....

^I guess the bees enjoy the wood. :-) I have seen birds' nests in wooden coasters as well. Now THAT is scary!

-Tina

It's not just the wood, though, as the 2 coasters that started this thread (Medusa and Nitro) are not wood. :)

As for why lift hills as opposed to other parts of the track? Well, lift hills aren't shaken near as much when the trains go by.. plus they have phone boxes, electrical boxes, and other would-be shelters from the elements for insectoid americans.

"Life's What You Make It, So Let's Make It Rock!"

I know they close down Fury of the Nile at WOF because snakes get in the boats occasionally.

Granted, FOTN is not a coaster...but the snake discussion earlier made me think of it. Personally, I do NOT like snakes...and would be rather creeped out by a snake in the raft.

Fever I really enjoy the Simpsons. It's just a shame that I am starting to LOOK like Homer.

dannerman said:
"...insectoid americans."

Zorak pwns joo!

*** Edited 10/4/2005 7:52:19 PM UTC by rollergator***

I've been in line for Kingda Ka once when the ride closed due to a Queue-Bot being on the launch section. The sensors must have picked it up and shut down the ride because at first it had the mechanics scratching their heads as to why the ride wasn't working. Then when they walked the launch and returned with the ejected Queue-Bot, they let out a rather stern reminder that there would be no loose articles on the ride before quickly reopening.

Superman at SFA was down for a while opening year when the lift chain broke not once, but twice. That was rather frustrating. *** Edited 10/4/2005 7:54:34 PM UTC by Coaster Lover***

If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.

dragonoffrost said:
As a person who is allergic to bee stings I will tell you it's a nice thing that they close the rides to protect themselves from frivolous law suits. Yes I would call a lawsuit over a bee sting frivolous. I mean go to first aid get the shot you need and suck it up. It is part the person getting stungs fault cause most people try to swat a bee when it comes near them.

Some people don't have the luxury of "just sucking it up and going to first aid". They don't make epi-pens so people can at their leisure inject themselves with epinephrine. For a park to restrain someone who is allergic then take them right through a danger hot spot is not right or safe, which is what it boils down to, not a frivolous lawsuit.

Welcome to Six Flags Great America, home of the fastlane and delay-ja vu! We have now officially been deemed the world-wide wait!

The Canadian Mindbender closed for a few hours on my last visit due to a raccoon in the station. I did not believe them (I'm cynical of all excuses for ride shut-downs), but I ended up seeing an animal control van by the station.

P.S. Can anybody beat a raccoon? I'm looking for lions, tigers and bears...etc :-)

*** Edited 10/4/2005 10:37:21 PM UTC by Jeffrey R Smith***

My family and I got caught in a small hornet swarm last year at SFGadv around Rolling Thunder's queue, and then again while waiting for Nitro. It was like a battlefield. So I can see why they would close the rides for that reason.

Carowinds actually added some rather humorous signs last year that say "During the fall season, this attraction features bees and wasps at high elevations." I think it's kind of funny that they use the word "features," as if the ride is highlighting getting attacked by bees.

Anyways, before the signs I saw Drop Zone closed a few times for the bees, but since they put up the signs, they just run the ride and enjoy their lack of legal liability :).