Dragon Mountain a hidden gem in a bad park.
Dragon Mountain is my favorite steel coaster ever. It was in 1999, I went to Marineland near Niagra Falls on the Canada side. I thought it was going to be a bummer, but hidden in the way back of the park was Dragon Mountain. I thought it was cool that the entrance was a giant dragon head with its mouth open. I walked in to the cave that was the q-line. I walked around each corner expecting to see a huge line, but I walked right on the first time. The ride was really long, featured four inversions, tunnels, and a giant quadruple helix. The ride was great and I ended up riding over and over. Did anyone else ride Dragon Mountain or was anyone else suprised to find an awesome coaster in a crap park?
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT *** This post was edited by Coasting_Ohio on 4/17/2001. ***
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT *** This post was edited by Coasting_Ohio on 4/17/2001. ***
I thought so too. That was the first coaster with inversions that I ever rode....also a smooth arrow creation considering its been around since 83.
I can honestly say that it is one of my favorite loopers, if not #1. It truly is a hidden gem...one of the rare steel terrain coasters (that occupies acres upon acres). I haven't been on it in years and am going to visit this summer, so I'm looking forward to it.
I just wish this park would add a few more coasters. It looks like they have the space.
*** This post was edited by Martling on 4/16/2001. ***
I just wish this park would add a few more coasters. It looks like they have the space.
*** This post was edited by Martling on 4/16/2001. ***
Does anyone know where I can see photos of this coaster?
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I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters
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I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters
http://www.marinelandcanada.com/
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT
i went there a couple years ago and walked right on the ride in the first seat.There was nobody at the park.I got to ride it 5 times straight without getting off the ride!It's a first class coaster all the way!
Marineland's homepage does NOT have pictures of the coaster. Their homepage hasn't been updated in years!
Fact is fact... it is a great coaster in an otherwise... MARINE PARK, not bad park!!
There isn't much there, but that's about to change very, very soon.
Over the next 3 years, including this year... they are investing a total of over 150 million dollars in capital investments. Most of that money will go for more marine life such as a shark tank and other aquariums.
However, there will be some of that money used for capital improvements as well as new rides.
Don't sell that park short.
It's a huge park. The main, and I personally think only problem, is that there is too little inbetween. There are huge gaps of just wasted fields, hills, & woods of Marineland's park that isn't developed. They could benefit from that very much if they added a couple new coasters and many more rides while still retaining that feel of a marine park, because they have that much space.
My main gripe is that the helix in Dragon Mountain is soo ugly, it almost looks like it's unfinished! It just looks like a rusted steel skeleton of something it could have been. I wonder if that was their plan, or if there was something that was never completed.....
Either way, it's not a bad park... you just gotta keep in mind it's main theme is a marine park. It holds much more potential, however... and given time & money, it could be a force to be rekkoned with!!!
Fact is fact... it is a great coaster in an otherwise... MARINE PARK, not bad park!!
There isn't much there, but that's about to change very, very soon.
Over the next 3 years, including this year... they are investing a total of over 150 million dollars in capital investments. Most of that money will go for more marine life such as a shark tank and other aquariums.
However, there will be some of that money used for capital improvements as well as new rides.
Don't sell that park short.
It's a huge park. The main, and I personally think only problem, is that there is too little inbetween. There are huge gaps of just wasted fields, hills, & woods of Marineland's park that isn't developed. They could benefit from that very much if they added a couple new coasters and many more rides while still retaining that feel of a marine park, because they have that much space.
My main gripe is that the helix in Dragon Mountain is soo ugly, it almost looks like it's unfinished! It just looks like a rusted steel skeleton of something it could have been. I wonder if that was their plan, or if there was something that was never completed.....
Either way, it's not a bad park... you just gotta keep in mind it's main theme is a marine park. It holds much more potential, however... and given time & money, it could be a force to be rekkoned with!!!
The park really isn't that bad,they have a tank where you can pet the killer whales.They come right up to you just like the dolphins at sea world.They really could use a new coaster to attract people.Dragon mountain could use a paint job.
Dragon Mountain is uncompleted. The helix was going to be a volcano. The other part that is unfinsihed was going to were the cars went into a dragon.
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Ride with full FORCE
http://www.experiencethepoint.com
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Ride with full FORCE
http://www.experiencethepoint.com
Andrew is right. Does anyone know if that 150 million dollars will include the missing theming for Dragon Mountain?
Wish I knew, Pete...
But if I go this year (a big if... since I was there last year, and nothing is really different this year, so it's gotta be a dog day of summer for me to go!), I'd really like to inquire with one of the ride-ops or park managers, since they'd at least have some sort of clue what's going on.
That's about all the info where you're gonna get it from unless it's an official press release!
But if I go this year (a big if... since I was there last year, and nothing is really different this year, so it's gotta be a dog day of summer for me to go!), I'd really like to inquire with one of the ride-ops or park managers, since they'd at least have some sort of clue what's going on.
That's about all the info where you're gonna get it from unless it's an official press release!
Pete said:
"Andrew is right. Does anyone know if that 150 million dollars will include the missing theming for Dragon Mountain?"
I don't know what the 150 million dollars will go to, but when Dragon Mountain was built it was planned to have a scale replica of Niagara Falls in the scenary. All I can say is that would be amazing. Also, if Marineland builds another coaster I hope it is first-class just like Dragon Mountain. I'll admit that Marineland isn't that bad, and that there is tons of room for expansion and lots of potential for a mega-park. I think Marineland will keep a close eye on SFWoA to see what mistakes they make and how to combine an amusement park and a marine park because Marineland's marine park and dragon mountain are so far apart.
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www.geocities.com/coasting_ohio for Real/Defunct/mini coasters and parks for RCT
I do remember seeing an illustration of waterfalls as the themimg for Dragon Mountain (in a visitor guide). Wow, that was back in 1986!!! You think they would have finished the job by now, but I had a great time at the park. Warning, it's not a full-day park.
It all boils down to the bottom line. They had great plans for Dragon Mountain.It was to have several firsts in it.These fell by the wayside during the rapidly escalating coaster wars of the late 1980's. Speculation is that they misjudged the effect of the newly opened Canada's Wonderland would have on their business. The Coaster was part of a package deal with Arrow-Huss. If you'll notice almost all (if not all) of the major and spectacular rides there are Huss.Time will tell if Marineland will re-enter the fray.
They chose Huss because it's the only decent ride manufacture when they built those rides!!!
I don't think Zamperla was all that big (though now they got excellent rides), and Chance is just a joke for the most part.
Huss makes all the major general rides, and it isn't as much a deal as it is just a good place to shop for, for some rides!! (though, this is just speculation, not fact).
I wish I knew fact on this whole history and why no real expansion has gone on with this park for many, many years.
I only know of TWO in the past... ohh... 14+ years.
1) The addition of 3 rides.
2) The Beluga Whales & Friendship Cove/larger aquarium for the Orcas.
I don't think Zamperla was all that big (though now they got excellent rides), and Chance is just a joke for the most part.
Huss makes all the major general rides, and it isn't as much a deal as it is just a good place to shop for, for some rides!! (though, this is just speculation, not fact).
I wish I knew fact on this whole history and why no real expansion has gone on with this park for many, many years.
I only know of TWO in the past... ohh... 14+ years.
1) The addition of 3 rides.
2) The Beluga Whales & Friendship Cove/larger aquarium for the Orcas.
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