Hercules Remembered

Thanks DorneyDante for the link to the pics of Hercules (and Talon). Some great shots in there!

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Nashville needs a theme park!

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(SF)Great American said:
...On, the other hand, there are a heck of a lot more footers for a wood coaster than a steel one. I'll bet they get taken out.

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They will probably only take out the ones that are in the way of the new coaster, and bury the rest. Why go to the extra expense or removing the footers.

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Ask yourself; When was the last time YOU visited Conneaut Lake Park?

On one account I think they may take all the footers out because what if they wanted to use the land that some of those footers occupy for another attraction in the future? On the other hand, its like why do more work than you need to. Also, after they take those footers out they will need to put earth back in where the old footers were and give it some time to let nature do its course before they put any new footers in. Anyone knwo what they are doing with the wood from hercules. There are no plans to resell or rebuild it, so what else could they do w it? Your welcome for the pics thrillerman!
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This space will forever be dedicated to Hercules-R.I.P. 1989-2003
*** This post was edited by DorneyDante 9/9/2003 9:18:45 AM ***

Also, after they take those footers out they will need to put earth back in where the old footers were and give it some time to let nature do its course before they put any new footers in.

WTF are you talking about?

mOOSH

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It would take a lot longer than a few months to "let nature do its course"... that is, if there was anything for nature to do in the first place.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

They would have to fill the ground back in with earth.

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This space will forever be dedicated to Hercules-R.I.P. 1989-2003

That doesn't take a few months... besides, why would they fill in the holes that were left behind from Hercules before they dig everything up for the new coaster? When you demolish an old house to build a new one, you don't wait a few months, so why would you do that when replacing an old coaster with a new one?

I would imagine that Hercules' structure will be dismantled this fall/winter and the footers will remain until ground prep starts for the new coaster, which I would imagine would be next summer.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

hhmm, never implied that I thought it would take a great deal of time. I said that they would need to fill the holes in the ground back in from the previous footers with earth and let nature take its course. I guess it came out wrong, but thats what I meant. I was never saying it would take a long time before they could reuse that land. Speaking from an architectural POV (I haven't graduated quite yet). The land left over by a previous structure is soft and immature. Thats what I meant by "letting nature take its course;" the new land settling in w/the old land.

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This space will forever be dedicated to Hercules-R.I.P. 1989-2003

I'm not sure if "soft" soil would matter with such a structure (I was originally going to major in architecture but instead went into Business Administration.) I am sure that the footers for a coaster would have to go a lot deeper into the ground than for a normal building structure, so I don't know if it matters or not. I'm also not sure if a few months' time would be enough for soil to "harden."

I'm not convinced that all of Herc's old footers will be removed... I'm willing to bet that most are broken off at the top so that they can be covered with soil.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Nobody likes a ride closure. Nobody likes a ride closure where the no one gets a chance to give the ride a last ride. It is certainly sad that Hercules is closing, but I the old adage "every good thing comes to an end" applies here. I'm saddened, somewhat upset, and maybe even a little mad. I'm not mad at the fact Hercules is closing, I'm mad at how Hercules was closed. An ad in the paper four days before closing? No chance for the park staff or anyone to get a last ride? That's not the way to close a ride, especially a roller coaster. Hercules certainly has some signifigance in a lot of people's minds. Of all the coasters i've been on, Hercules is one of my favorites. I've spent more than my fair share of rides on that coaster. As for all those who are upset at how Dorney Park handled the closure of Hercules, I will certainly join you all in that opinion. The park could have done a better job closing as great a ride as Hercules as they did. For those of you who are angry at the demise of Hercules, perhaps you should contact Dorney Park and voice your opinions. In the past, i've learned that bashing people's opinions in forums doesn't really solve anything. So for those of us who are clearly upset at the closure of Hercules, let Dorney Park know!
*** This post was edited by krazy pete 9/14/2003 10:06:17 PM ***

Can't we all just get along?

Why don't we all just remember the good things in life? Remember all the fun you had riding Hercules. All the idiots that ask "Is Hercules a wooden coaster?" (when they're standing there staring at it), or "Does Hercules go really fast?." Another good one: "Does Hercules have any loops?" All the head-aches you've gotten. All that bone-jarring woodie-action you get from dropping 15 stories outta the sky and hitting a hair pin turn two seconds later. All the people who complain of head aches when they get off the ride. All the idiots that complain that Hercules sucks because it isn't as smooth as Steel force. All the first timer's who get sucked into riding Hercules and actually discover they actually like riding these things. The friends you made with the operating staff. Don't depress yourselves on the bad stuff...

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You know, they make the lift hill that slow on purpose...

Krazy pete, I'm glad to see others who appreciated Herc. I too am more pissed (more than I am about anything else) at how they closed the ride. It was so selfish and dirty the way they did it. O, and believe me I wrote dorney twice already. In my first email I said great way to treat the ride that put your park on the map. I also went on commenting how they were replacing the only record breaking coaster they've ever had with a steel eyesore. The person who answered obviously didn't understand what I meant because they replied that a coaster doesn't have to be record breaking to be great. My point was totally missed. What I meant was that Hercules held a significant place in Dorney's history and development and now they were destroying that noble monument rather than trying to find a resolution to the problem. My 2nd email was about why they didn't announce its closing earlier so those who wanted to, could have gotten some last rides in. I got absolutely no reply.........................

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This space will forever be dedicated to Hercules-R.I.P. 1989-2003
*** This post was edited by DorneyDante 9/20/2003 11:24:18 PM ***

You think they care what you think Dante? You email them, all full of piss and vinagar over this? In that kind of tone? Perhaps you need a girlfriend, job, or heck how about reality to keep you occupied.

I would not have replied to your email either. To me this is like *****ing to general Motors because they quit making the Chevette.

You never cease to amaze me with your idiocy.

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If I was part of a coaster, I would be an upstop pad on an Arrow Mine Train.
MAGNUM HAD MY BABY!

*** This post was edited by MagnumForce 9/14/2003 11:34:45 PM ***

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DorneyDante said:
The person who answered obviously didn't understand what I meant because they replied that a coaster doesn't have to be record breaking to be great.

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Um...that sounds right to me. Seriously if you are this pissed about Herc closing, maybe you should re-evaluate your priorities in life!

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

"I also went on commenting how they were replacing the only record breaking coaster they've ever had with a steel eyesore."

Oooh, good one! I bet they cancelled that contract with B&M right after they realized you insulted them. I have to agree with Peabody...you really seem to be taking this much too personally.

mOOSH

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Ummm, they put up a sign in front of Hercules regarding the 2005 coaster.

I just wanted to contribute ;)

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 17

That sign says, to an extent, that Hercules wasn't exciting, or am I reading between the lines. ;)

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-Parker
www.SFMWZone.com

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MagnumForce said:
You email them, all full of piss and vinagar over this? In that kind of tone? Perhaps you need a girlfriend, job, or heck how about reality to keep you occupied.You never cease to amaze me with your idiocy.

YOU never cease to amaze me with the way you bash me in every post. You don't even know me, how can you call the names that you call me. FYI, I have all of the above that you mentioned I lack. I work at a little architecture firm in CC Philadelphia called Ewing Cole. Ya know, the ones who designed the new Citizens Bank Phillies Ballpark. Not to mention the fact that I'm just 21 and a senior at drexel. You?

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This space will forever be dedicated to Hercules-R.I.P. 1989-2003

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DorneyDante, no offense, but being from drexel i would think you would have written a more thought out and intelligent letter to them. granted, i havent read the exact text of your letters, but the lines you posted were really childish.

perhaps next time you can explain your disapointment to the park, and that you wished they would have allowed their guests a final ride?

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http://www.eightdotthree.net

DorneyDante said:

I work at a little architecture firm in CC Philadelphia called Ewing Cole.

So does the president of that firm... so does the person who sweeps the floors at night... so does every other employee there in between those two positions. Your point?

And then DorneyDante went on to say...

Not to mention the fact that I'm just 21 and a senior at drexel.

This statement in combination with the reaction to both Hercules' closing and the response (and lack there of) that Dorney Park gave when emailed really makes me wonder something... If this is how a 21 year old college student handles something as insignificant (in the grand scheme of things) as a roller coaster closing, I am truely worried about the state of the education system in our country.

Looks like it is time to ressurect my old signature...

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Never expect an objective opinion from a person with a park or coaster name as part of their screen name.