Hades 360

Blasterboy6500, don't let fear of anyone's opinion get in your way! My friends think I'm peculiar for being a hardcore coaster enthusiast (probably because I'm in my 60's and they're in the same age group) but they can think what they like! I'm happy doing what I'm doing and sharing my experience with others. Last year I decided to ride as many coasters in the top 20 as possible and thus far I've managed to ride 12 on this site's current top 20 list. I know that a lot of people will think it odd when I tell them that I'm going to Branson, MO just to ride a roller coaster, but so be it. I'm having the time of my life!

Lord Gonchar said:Uh-oh. You're getting dangerously close to the inflated sense of self-importance that defines too many enthusiasts. Don't be that guy.

OVER THE LINE!! MARK IT ZERO!!

That's my thought, anyway. This tired old "GP vs. Enthusiasts" debate needs to die in a fire. There's no difference, except some of us are just a little more nerdy about the things we find fun.

I totally agree with the Corkscrew being a Gimmick, However, Expecially in TGG's case here. YOU CAN NOW DO INVERSION's on a big ride without cracking the 20 million dollar mark. We already know the Vertical can be done from SOB's Only redeeming quality part of the ride besides the first drop.

So add a good long woodie with a 0g roll and a couple corkscrews for under ten million. Even the mini coasters with inversions like Steel Hawg are near that price.

Thats the selling point and if its a good ride and holds up well. The GP will love it. Replacing some track every five-10 years is still a lot less than several hundred thousand dollar paint jobs every five years.

Raven-Phile said:

This tired old "GP vs. Enthusiasts" debate needs to die in a fire. There's no difference, except some of us are just a little more nerdy about the things we find fun.

If you simply watch "the GP", you'll find they're WAY smarter about rides than *we* give them credit for. Sure, they may not know that the SLC is Vekoma and the Batman is B&M....but they do know the B&M is a better ride, and they'll wait in a longer line for it (the capacity differences notwithstanding, LOL).

I know for me I wasn't saying anything about GP versus enthusiasts for "intelligence". I still cannot believe some of the ludicrous arguments we get into here. I agree that the GP would look at two similar rides and know which one they like better and that the general consensus is going to have one ride winning out over another one. My point was more along the lines of the fact that breaking records to attract more people to rides isn't that feasible right now, and I don't think some of these new rides are going to get the attention they deserve BECAUSE they're not record breakers. Until positive feedback starts to get out there, these new or redone coasters won't attract many new guests. I could be wrong, as I often am.

But before Outlaw Run, I never even heard of Silver Dollar City, and they even have a B&M. What are the odds non-enthusiasts are going to go there?

I'm not sure what you mean, Bunky. Silver Dollar City gets upwards of 2 million visitors a year. Now, the demographic is a little different there in Bransonland, many visitors there are older retirees who have more of an interest in scenery, shopping, shows, and buffets over thrill rides. However, just like sister Dollywood, the company places value on thrill rides and knows that they will draw the rest of the market that's required to make them successful as a regional park. And they're not all enthusiasts, they're families looking for a fun time.
I have a feeling that in its waning years the Texas Giant was not the big draw at SFOT. But once it closed and the announcement that a new improved ride was on the way excitement built not only amongst enthusiasts but also amongst the locals that couldn't wait to try it. It wasn't a record breaker but it drew the crowds. Iron Rattler will be marketed in the San Antonio area as a "new" exciting ride with x, y, and z features. Non enthusiasts in that area will be paying attention, will go try it, and will decide if it's better than the former ride or not.
As far as 'the argument' goes, I think enthusiasts are guilty of at least one thing, and that's a narrow view. We tend to think of ourselves as experts, and rightly so, I guess, but we also expect everyone to hold the same high values and concentrated observations that we do. I have a good friend who is a total hockey nut and can recite hockey facts and figures backwards and forwards. Then there's me who might attend a game once or twice a season. Sometimes I catch him looking down his nose at me for not knowing a particular rule or a certain player, but in the end I don't care. I still have a good time when I go, and the arena values my attendance. And I remember that hockey is his thing and amusement parks is mine.

Iron Rattle will now be exciting and thrilling, Something it wasn't most of the time in it's previous form, A Total Pierce screw just to grab a record.

RCMAC, see, this is why I say I learn something new every day. I had no idea Branson was even "on the map". *chuckle*

Well, see? There ya go. And you should see the looks I get from folks around here when I tell them I'm off to a place called Dorney. Or Knoebel's. ("ain't that No-bles?" " no, it's K-noebels")
It's a great day and age to be an enthusiast!

One of my friends moved out to the Knoebels area, and she says "Nobles". I cringe every time, but in all fairness, we don't pronounce "knife" with a hard "K", so I try and restrain myself from speaking up.

Raven-Phile said:

This tired old "GP vs. Enthusiasts" debate needs to die in a fire. There's no difference...

I was going to ask if you were new here, but I know you're not. :)

Goldrusher will clearly draw in the peeps with its amazing record. What was it? Longest covered first drop west of the Mississippi and less than 100' and made out of wood on a coaster that starts with 'G.'

Lord Gonchar said:

I was going to ask if you were new here, but I know you're not. :)

Every now and then, the people need a reminder. :-P

ApolloAndy said:

Goldrusher will clearly draw in the peeps with its amazing record. What was it? Longest covered first drop west of the Mississippi and less than 100' and made out of wood on a coaster that starts with 'G.'

They gotta pump it up somehow. The ride itself looks outstanding, and I bet that tunnel will be quite a thrill.

Newplusnotes posted some great new pictures of Hades and it's train. Particularly interesting, the are using 3 top layers of wood track (the widest layers, where the guide wheels run and the upstops catch under) instead of the standard 2. Makes sense; don't want too much of a gap between upstop and underside of track.

Edit - looking at this picture, there seem to be 9 layers of track with another 3 layers on top (the wider track). 12 layers of wood track!? That's a lot; the most I've ever seen was 11 on American Eagle (when it was still all wood track). Maybe they are thinner pieces of track to accommodate the twist in the corkscrew area?

From this video (I won't comment about the quality of the video or the youtube auto-correct, I'm sure someone can do a much better job than me) it seems they are gluing the wood layers of track together. I keep wondering if anyone has clued Mr. Nick into the fact that Hades is NOT the first all-wood looping coaster? Neither was Son of Beast...

The issues of Mt. Olympus aside, I look forward to riding this thing. Early.

Gravity Group just posted this nice little teaser on their Facebook page.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XiCrqXFWQ9A

Wow, it really doesn't slow down much at all. Unfortunately, I don't know that it's incentive enough to visit Wisconsin.

That was quick for testing a new-ish ride! Guess I know what I'll be doing either Monday or Tuesday morning.

The new trains seem to glide over the track. Looks brilliant. Not sure if anyone noticed it, but here is an off ride shot and a full POV.

I quote coastercritic.com:

"Wooden loopers are falling out the woodwork these days."

That's punny.