Coasters running in the rain?

Speaking of Kennywood, I was there a few weeks ago for one of the worst park days of my life. Oh, it wasn't the park's or any ride's fault. No, I got there ok, suffered the happy "thanks, I think" indignity of senior admission at the ripe old age of 57, got in a total of four rides then the sky went black. The next 3 hours were spent in the merry go round pavilion waiting to die. Sideways driving rain, no power, limbs down, lightning crashing on all sides, people running and screaming and me shouting into the storm trying to convince kids to get out from under shelter of trees. When the power was finally restored they made the announcement that Kennywood was closing its gates, and have a safe trip home. Really? While the nighty-night songs played over the p.a. (at 3:30 in the afternoon) we all looked at each other like "um, hell no, Kennywood, we ain't goin nowhere anytime soon". Finally, finally! the rain let up enough so that everyone in the park could try to get through that tunnel at the same time. What fun. Then I got to join everyone else in Pittsburgh trying to get through the Fort Pitt tunnel at the same time.
The good news was a free get-in for another time which I'll gladly hand to a younger friend, and I'll plunk down another 17 bucks outta my retirement check for the senior rate.

I know the real reason it was such a bad day. You're still ticked I had the good sense to cancel at the last minute, aren't you? I do realize the absence of me at any special occasion is enough to bring anyone down... ;)

I rode Skyhawk in the rain once and that hurt so I'm sure coasters like Dragster, especially would close.

If you want to experience a great coaster in the rain, head up to Waldameer and ride Ravine Flyer II. It only closes in thunder and lightning. Heavy rain and wind are just fine, the coaster operates as usual. Actually, we use the lift hill as an observation tower for storms coming in.

Only about a third of our "taller" rides close in thunder and lightning. Comet, is not included on this list, so it will operate in sometimes strong thunderstorms. All of the other flat rides for the most part will operate in any weather condition, no matter how heavy the rain, thunder, or lightning.

I was at an ACE convention years ago at Kings Dominion. We had nighttime ERT on Rebel Yell, it was raining, it was fun!

Well, it we are talking about roller coaster in the rain memories...

It was one of my last free evenings at Cedar Point near the end of the last seasons that I worked there. It was raining cats and dogs, but my friends and I wanted to ride Wicked Twister, and it was still open despite the downpour. I got to ride it the front seat with my riding partner.

Burned into my memory is the moving image of racing up the spiral spike, with a waterfall funneling down onto the front of the train, draining from the corkscrewed track above. Spiraling straight up into a falling waterfall was a pretty insane, and I have never experienced anything like it since!

Rode twister and Phoenix today in a fairly heavy rain. Phoenix was absolutely incredible,first trip to knoebels and the place definatly didn't disapoint,everything about the place just made me smile. They were running everything in rain and it ended up being the greatest day I've ever had at a park

In the UK, I know of only one ride that closes in the rain and that's a Fabbri spinner (horrific ride).

If rides closed due to the rain in the UK, they would rarely be open, it's just a day to day occurence (even now in August!).

It is odd that there doesn't seem to be any consistency between rides of the model/maker - makes you think it's not a manufacturer directive.

My all-time best coaster rain ride had to have been on Twister at Knoebels. It was already raining moderately when my daughter and I boarded. Then, as we approached the top of the lift hill, there came a flash of lightning. The skies opened on us in of those fantastic Biblical downpours that make motorists appreciate the value of overpasses.

We seemingly hydroplaned down the ess curves, the speediest by far I've ever experienced those. As we climbed the second lift, thunder rolled and clapped and streaks of lightning slashed between the trees. I glanced over at Ava, prepared to find my five-year-old panicked.

She was laughing.

And I do believe that was the last time she wasn't afraid of thunder. My wife's genes eventually took over and that was that. But man, oh man, what a ride...

Just got back from Knoebels. It was pouring Monday. They didnt shut anything down except for the Round Up and the Galleon, I guess both rely on a rubber tire driving against metal and the lack of friction from the rain caused the closures, because everything else was running.

Twister and Phoenix were great in the rain. The retracking on both really is noticable, in a good way.

RatherGoodBear said:

Ensign Smith said:

Is it just me or does anybody else get the song "Escape (If You Like Pina Coladas)" stuck in his head reading this thread?

Coasters make you think of making love at midnight in the dunes at the Cape?

Egad!!! That area is filled with snakes (assuming you mean't Cape Canaveral)

I have a lot of Rain memories from various parks. One of the most annoying was an all day light rain and fog at Great America, fog so thick you could not see the tops of any of the coasters, with very long lines. We rode almost every coaster with wet seats, but, Viper, Raging Bull, and Batman ran lighting fast. It was also only 59 degrees. Up near 80 and sunshine the next day.

I have also been at Cedar Point during torrential rain. I was actually on White Water Landing when the rain started, and the water was so deep in the trough I thought for sure the boat would float over the edge, and we would fall to our death, made the first drop really intense. They closed it not long afterward. By then, most everyone who was waiting in line left anyways. I mean it poured!

The worst was at Canada's Wonderland. We were on Vortex during a hailstorm. We returned to the station with red blotches all over our faces from getting pelted with hail. Shortly after that, we saw the Bat coaster get struck by lightning, and it made the loudest Crack! Hummm! you will have ever heard in your life. I don't know if the ride was running at that time, but you could see the folks scatter from that line running and screaming. It was like one of those peppy le pew cartoons! Scary and funny at the same time!

I should mention that it was a very nasty storm at Canadas Wonderland, but, it only lasted for about an hour, and it was sunny the rest of the afternoon. It was also a blessing, as the rain cleared out a good portion of the crowds, but, they came back in droves in the evening.

For Lake Compounce's Boulder Dash, Rain is 'ROIDS! :)

Man T-R, you sure do have a way with the weather, don't you?

It was technically after the rain, but I arrived at SFA once just as a storm hit. An overwhelming number of guests left the park, leaving most of the rides with no waits. Superman - Ride of Steel did not open after the storm, so seeing as I was in the Gotham City section and didn't feel like riding Batwing, I wound up going 30 laps straight in 2 hours on Joker's Jinx. That was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had at that park.

Kinda surprised they could dispatch that many trains in 2 hours at SFA. Love their rides, HATE the fact that everyone there with a microphone considers themselves a professional DJ with a ride-op side-gig. Can't count the number of times where a train was locked and loaded, but the board op decided we needed to play some sort of game before they'd press the dispatch button. (Roar especially). Dispatch the train already...argh!

Raven-Phile said:

Man T-R, you sure do have a way with the weather, don't you?

If it helps any, the last time I went to Cedar Point, the weather was perfect. I was there from open until close, and was able to ride every coaster in the park. Even Top thrill Dragster! I have also had plenty of visits to Michigan's Adventure, and Indiana Beach where the weather was beautiful.

My trips to Disney World and Bush gardens were sunny and rain free, as were my two trips to Kings Island.

I'm just glad for your sake there weren't any freak snow-storms.

Or burrito showers.