Regarding Thunderhead's testing/opening....
Wasn't Shivering Timbers not only tested and inspected, but even physically completed the day it opened? Or was that day just a preview for the ACE event? And didn't a similar situation occur with Hercules's opening? It was still being worked on just up until it opened? I seem to recall reading that in ACE News and RollerCoaster.
Anyway, can't wait to hear how it turned out. Hopefully it will start out with a bang and not slowly improve to greatness like Ozark Wildcat. It seemed that initial reports of the Wildcat indicated no airtime, but when I rode it in July, it was packed full of airtime.
Char
Let the Thunder RROOLLLL!!!
The Thunderhead
The Wildest Ride in the Woods!
Matt Scott said:
Regarding Thunderhead's testing/opening....
Wasn't Shivering Timbers not only tested and inspected, but even physically completed the day it opened?
This is true. ACE was supposed to have ERT on the coaster that morning but it was canceled as the ride was getting finishing touches. Heck, the helix was still being built. A group of ACE members (including myself) decided to wait it out and see what happend.
The wait was a long one (six hours) and it was worth it. We not only got to see the park putting the finishing touches to the helix, but we also got to see the first test runs. We also watched the state inspector walk the entire track before giving it a thumbs up.
When we were allowed to ride, the first train was filled with contest winners. Some of us were allowed to fill any any other seats. The ride was so new that the sawdust hadn't been blown away so with every dive you took through the structure, the sawdust would fall down on you.
To this day, I believe Shivering Timbers was the first wooden coaster that I had ridden that proved to me that wooden coasters can be just as fun as a steel coaster. Previously, I never cared much for woodies.
Getting back on topic, I think there is a chance Dollywood's ride will be open soon enough. When the park announced that March 26th was going to be a media preview /ACE event, there were quite a few people that thought it wouldn't happen and it was planned too early.
I am glad Dollywood and GCI decided to take their time instead of rushing the progress of the coaster so they could get it done. While a few days might not seem like that big of a deal to some people, it could have easily made a good ride, even better. You never know.
-Sean
Joe
Pardon our dust...Signature is building for your future enjoyment!
Let the Thunder RROOLLLL!!!
The Thunderhead
The Wildest Ride in the Woods!
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