Hades @ Big Chiefs

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I was there today and hopefully I will have pics up soon, but looking at that track section had me confused. I think there is a slight chance that they think the hole in the supports is big enough, but it looks really tight to me. However, the hole in the tunnel where the train enters on the far side also looks tight. I am beginning to wonder if the cars will be specially made for clearance in the tunnels and stuff. (I mean high side or cages like LoCoSuMo.) Probably not, but the thought did cross my mind when I was looking at it.

Well, Obviously any ride has design clearance so even the tallest rider won't be beheaded. The question is does this include arm length? I do know certain tunneled coasters that even a not so tall person will and can hit their hands on the ceiling (Beast for one)

There are reasons for the, Keep hands and arms inside signs and messages. Unfortunately not everyone will comply.

Chuck

Well, I admit I didn't look at any of the pictures or slideshows, but I've seen this thing in person! I certainly agree that, if Hades follows the Mt Olympus woodie trend, it's gonna rock! I also hope that it was designed from the start to run two trains. As I commented in my trip report from my visit earliear this summer, my dad and I might just have to take a day next summer and hit Hades, Avalance, and Little Dipper!

"What am I doing?" "OoohwhAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" "I'm hungry like the wolf"- Iron Wolf!

Pics should show some new work on the speed hill that will enter the tunnel on the far end. There is also new work on the exit on the tunnel on that side including a nice head chopper. There are new footers being made in the woods near Zeus, but they are far from where I could stand so the pics are not so good.

Mt Olympus has changed their pricing yet again. They still don't have the spectator fee, which is good. Now they don't have the evening band, but they do have a 3 hour band for 21 and you can upgrade for 6 more. The normal band is 25. Some of those figures have 95 cents, but I don't remember which ones. I think it is all but the 6 dollar upgrade.

Timberfalls was only open till 7 yesterday and I got there at 5 for the evening band. That would have been a problem if I did not have the opportunity to ride every single train. I skipped a few for breaks, but still got all the rides I wanted by 6:30. I asked about future schedules, and they seem to be playing it by ear. Even if they are open, not all the rides may be. They will be open some after Labor Day on the weekends at least. My advice is to call ahead before you go, and ask specifically about the coaster because the girl said they may open without all the rides being open. BTW, Avalanche Rocks!

*** Edited 9/3/2004 5:59:52 PM UTC by RavenTTD*** *** Edited 9/3/2004 6:00:30 PM UTC by RavenTTD***

How is the Dive to Atlantis "water coaster"? I haven't seen any pictures of it in operation or heard anyone talk about it.

Hades is high on my list of "must-rides" in 2005. I can't believe how many *droolworthy* coasters are opening next season and I'm sure we'll be hearing about even more after Labor Day.

+Danny

http://www.themilkcarton.com/

There are all the new pics, or the ones that came out. It looks like some small hops will be incorperated right before you exit the tunnel for the big turnaround and also before the helix going thru the lift supports. Hopefully it will be enough for some air, but it is hard to tell. There are a ton of new footers, but may be hard to see. Basically a semicircle thru the woods ending at the helix, and the makings of another helix on the farther side of that semicircle.

Avalanche was running awesome, and so was Zeus. I was getting some great rides on Zeus with a lot more air than normal, especially in the front. MtOlmp changed the pricing yet again by offering 2 dollar ride tickets in addition to everything else. That is advertised as a fall special, and a real good deal. Cyclops is SBNO and the train was no where in sight. They also had some damage in the line as a fallen tree destroyed a handrail. Dive to Atlantis seems to be closed for the season.

Edit: http://photobucket.com/albums/v295/raventtd/
That is all the pics I have online and that is probably easier than the individual links.

*** Edited 9/29/2004 2:17:16 AM UTC by RavenTTD***

Oh man, those new pics got me excited about this ride again. I still can't figure out the geography of the ride. Is there a new parking lot where there was a forest previously? I am really confused about the location of that drop that ends right at the edge of a parking lot. Those exits and entrances to the tunnels look wild. Forget about Kinda-Ka. Man, I need to see the whole layout. It's driving me crazy wondering about it.

-Matt in Iowa

Danny axes: How is the Dive to Atlantis "water coaster"?

Honestly, IMHO it fails both as a flume and a coaster and with only a few boats is a capacity nightmare.

The water flows way too slowly and the flume channel is too wide, which cases the boats to meander, hitting one side and then the other instead of travelling in a straight line. It can't be more than 500 feet from the station to the lift but it took well over 5 minutes to negotiate it. That would not be a problem if there was something to see. Perhaps they plan on enclosing it and adding theming someday?

As for the coaster part, its just one small drop followed by the main drop into the splashpool, but then all flumes have that anyway, right? Not much of a coaster if you ask me...more like a flume with a coaster-like drop, and we've seen those before [Kennywood, the Splash Mountains, etc].

It was a warm day, it got us wet...that was nice. But unless the park makes some fixes I would make sure to ride when there is no line.

That's too bad Moosh. If they aren't enclosing it and adding theming and have never planned to, this may be one of those "what were they thinking?" rides. Now that I've seen more pictures, I don't know how they could have possibly thought the pre-lift section would be marginally fun or interesting. Did you include this/is it usually included as a "coaster credit" or no?

Great pictures, RavenTTD. My excitement level for this is around what it was for Thunderhead and that's the most excited I've been for a woodie since... Son of Beast. ;)

+Danny

Mamoosh said:
Danny axes: How is the Dive to Atlantis "water coaster"?
Perhaps they plan on enclosing it and adding theming someday?
It was a warm day, it got us wet...that was nice. But unless the park makes some fixes I would make sure to ride when there is no line.

Ummm, *Gator Theming and Design* administration tells me that once Wild Adventures gets done doing "WHATEVER it is they're doing with Tasmanian River Rapids" ;) that our organization will be freed up to do some consulting on other water rides that are lacking some critical water/theming elements...

Take Wild Thornberries at PKI for example....really, not much *happens* in the long meandering section in the woods....but it's still FUN, and entertaining, 'cause there's cool stuff to look at, and wet surprises galore...:)

edit : As far as COASTERS are concerned, after getting Tsunami this weekend (like I haven't seen ENOUGH water lately, LOL)....the "next big thing" as far as woodies goes should be Hades/Avalanche. The more I hear about Avalanche, the more I like, and the underground tunnels on Hades, they're sure to provide ME with the kind of *subterranean* fun that I crave...:)

gator, just plain LOVES tunnels...;)
*** Edited 10/4/2004 2:57:27 PM UTC by rollergator***

You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)

Mamoosh said:
Danny axes: How is the Dive to Atlantis "water coaster"?
It can't be more than 500 feet from the station to the lift but it took well over 5 minutes to negotiate it. That would not be a problem if there was something to see. Perhaps they plan on enclosing it and adding theming someday?

My whole time on Atlantis I was thinking precisely that. It feels like a ride designed to be entirely enclosed. As such I could see how it could be a really good dark ride (that one small dip then big drop would be great if you didn't know they were coming - and especially after an entertaining story before). But, of course, it's not. If they really never planned to enclose it and theme it then it's kind of jaw dropping that they thought it was going to be a good ride on it's own.

Having said all that, I'd just like to add that Big Chief's is one of my favorite parks in the country from my trip. The fact that Zeus and Cyclops are nowhere in the top 50 of the Golden Tickets for wood coasters shows to me their complete inadequacy as an arbiter of good wood coasters.

rdreaming.....wait until next year's Con, THEN see where Mt Olympus' coasters rank.

Personally, I trust Mitch's poll more than the others, but ALL of them seem to have a *noticeable bias* towards parks that have had EVENTS...let's face it, ridership plays a big part in ANY rankings, and the number of people who have ridden the WI coasters will jump dramatically next year....I know it'll be MY first trip to the cheese state...;)

Don't know if this will apply to BCK&C or not, but MOST parks tend to try and *show off* their park, and their rides, by having them running in tip-top condition for the big events like Con....:)

You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)

BCK&C?? Are you still living in a past you've never been to Bill? Don't you mean MtO? ;)

Looks like Hades wont be the only major addition to Mt. Olympus next year. The park announced today that it has merged with Family Land, a waterpark located next to the park. The parks are scheduled to combine prior to next season and will have a combination ticket allowing guests to visit both parks for one price. Also included in the 80 million dollar merge is the Treasure Island hotel, which is adjacent to Family Land.

All I care about are construction updates........ where've they been?

Construction!!!! We want updates!!!!

Rob - who loves whining!

And apparently the park has purchased quite a lot of flat rides to help with the transformation to theme park.

Construction updates? I got yer construction updates right here [points to crotch].

mOOSH [would like new Hades pics, too!]

The only rides announced in the press release were two water rides, a new go-kart track, and Hades. Other important stuff announced is that the park has changed it's name to Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park and will now cover 156 acres.

^^ Moosh.... did they get a Zipper? That would make me come to the park all the quicker. I really like the direction this park is going. Now, if I could just get there.

Rob - who can still dish 'em.....

The Flying Turns makes all the right people wet - Gonch

The news article stated that the lifthill will be 135' tall with a 154' drop @ 65*. If this is correct Hades will be the tallest woodie in the midwest if you don't count Ohio so there are no lies there! :-) But I'd still like to hear the length of the track, Right now Avalanche is my #2 for sure unless I ride ST again. But if Hades happens to have as much or more air than its competitor a few blocks away it would get my new #1 title!!

Wow, what a drastic overhaul from a few years ago. How long until it gets "flagged"? ;)

-Mark
Never Has Gravity Been So Uplifting.

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