Hercules to be replaced by B&M floorless at Dorney

I have a great idea for the wood, give it to campers to use as firewood....

I can easily see why the park decided to remove it. If a ride ends up to be a maintence nightmare, and lose popularity, then it makes a smart move to remove something like that. However, while most people may not have loved the ride, it was the favorite of at least a few people. Those are the people I feel bad for. I know it has to suck losing a favorite ride.

While Hercules wasn't one of my favorites, I did have at least one good ride on it to understand it did have potential at times. The park decided to take it out and replace it with something that should be very relaible, have excellent capacity, and will bring the crowds in. I think going with B&M was a very smart move as Talon did very well for them.

If the park decided to spend a butt-load of cash and fix it up once again how could they re-market the ride to make the public take notice? The whole "new and improved" usually only works on very few rides in the least and if a ride has lost popularity because of a poor ride experience, people will take note and not want to give it another try. I know of a few coasters out there that suffer from this. What's that saying? You can't polish a......? (As bad as that sounds. No offense to Hercules)

Remember, as bad as this news may sound to some, remember that there was a good reason for this ride to be removed. It may sound like a bad choice but if you look at it from the park's side, then it may make more sense.

Also, I know of at least one other "modern" woodie that has already been dismantled. RaceWorld's Thunder Eagle, and pretty recently.

-Sean (who knows he will be back to Dorney in 2005 and can't wait!)

TalonJosh, bedtime already, bedtime!

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

maybe Valleyfair will get remove Excalibur and get one!! hehe j/k I rode Herc once. good ride. TRUE woodie. I hope Mean Streak follows!

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The guy on Convoy at VF told me a 750ft coaster come in 2004 j/k

Why is the B&M going to take so long to put in?

Medusa west goes below ground level 5 times too! :)

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-Parker
www.SFMWZone.com*** This post was edited by GoliathKills 9/4/2003 10:34:34 PM ***

Sean, One differance between Thunder Eagle and Hercules. Thunder Eagle is being relocated to Canada.

Out of all of Dorneys options I think they are doing the best one for the park. Hercules was costing them too much money to maintain and it wasn't very popular. Why put the money into somthing that isn't drawing a crowd.

I'm bummed out were losing a wood coaster here in PA but out of my choices I would have pick Hercules too. I would have loved to see Hercules replaced by a GCI terrain coaster. I'll take what we get though. I'm just thankful Thunderhawk is not going anywhere!

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Signature will be closed today. Sorry for the inconveinance.

OMG I am just astounded Dorney Park made this move! I rode Hercules this year and it gave a great ride, and i rode it three times. But it was kind of dull after the first drop and turn, so I am looking forward to this new B&M Floorless. I thought Dorney would build an Intamin launched ride, but I guess I was wrong. I'm going to be sad though that I can't ride Hercules next year, but hey, maybe Supeman at GADV won't have a long line because of Hershey's new rocket coaster (whats is name now?). I do like the character of a wooden ride, but if you need wooden rides, I'll go to Hershey or Knoebels. I think this new floorless will be custom, otherwise I won't be as enthused if it's a clone of Medusa.

They definitely have to build a good woodie after 2005.

How long before people talk about how cool it must've been, a la Drachen Fire?

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

Jeff: I would give it a week.

Johnathon: Don't forget that CF:LP started S&S towers at WoF and then proceeded to add one to every park but MiA.

Moosh: Read my thoughts exactly, things change.

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SWOOSH
MidwestInfoGuide.COM

"Worlds of Fun 2004 - Prepare to SQUEAK with Delight!"

DorneyDante - Knott's Windjammer was also very photogenic and beautiful (the theming and detail was unmatchable). Apparently, that's not good enough of a reason for a park to spend millions in maintaining unpopular and costly rides - such as Hercules.

"I love the whole structure and general idea and concept of Hercules (which may live on to be another Drachen Fire),..."

I don't think it will take this one long to be recognized by enthusiasts, in the vein of Drachen Fire and The Bat's popularity, who had not ridden. I think all three have to do with how cool the ride *looks*. Many who have ridden any of the three will tell you the opposite of what you might want to hear (which could be a good think if it lowers interest in you finding a time machine to take you back to that point). I feel bad for the fans of Hercules as well, which this news item proves there are some. Knott's lost an especially bad steel coaster a few years ago that had a few fans as well. In addition, Shockwave and King Cobra are still floating in the air...

-Danny
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Coaster Insomniacs- Coastin' the Night Away

I think they shouldof at least kept it Opened for Halloweekends!

On a side note. The dull parts of the ride out numbered the good parts. I remember literally leaning onto the person next to me because the turn was banked yet the train was going so slow it was as if it where going to stall out. Also the trim brakes messed with the speed of the first drop, but it still was not too bad. Imagine what it was like trimless.

Although I don't like seeing any coaster go, I'll forget about Hercules as soon as I get a lap on that snappy new Beemer. If it actually drew riders, then it could justify the millions of dollars in maintenance. What it all comes down to is cash management, and since it wasn't delivering a positive response, it didn't make sense to maintain. Hercules served it's purpose by making the world notice Dorney Park, but it's time to move on. I'm looking forward to visiting the park next year and watching the deconstruction/construction process.

Someone mentioned that they are surprised that a 'second tier' Cedar Fair park would be getting a floorless before Cedar Point. I'm thinking this solidifies my theory that Dorney is the #2 park in the chain in terms of priority, if nothing else. It is the only one, other than CP, with both a hyper and an invert; and now a floorless is on the way.

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Eastcoaster
Rideworld

Jeff said: "Gator: The Canadians spent some quality time on Mean Streak, and dare I say that a crappy ride will remain a crappy ride. They did a really nice job on Blue Streak though."

If I'm not mistaken, those same Canadians *salvaged* Gwazi too...On Tuesday, I'll get to re-evaluate, but the ONE trip to BGT this year (spent more time at *several* out of state parks, LOL) made me eat my words that GCI should "dis-own" the ride, a la CCI and Cannonball Run.

I knwo Herc was "only 14", and that he wasn't well-liked, or easy to maintain, etc., but it was a WOODEN coaster....I rarely complain too much about steel coasters going bye-bye (save for KC), but I have a VERY soft spot in my heart for even my most-despised wood...Herc fit that bill...

As mOOSH noted, below grade does NOT necessarily mean a tunnel....as someone who's ridden Montu MORE than my fair share (and Tremors *still* not enough), the difference is HUGE...to quickly summarize: Trenches meh, tunnels yummmm!

edit: of course, I'm the one who suggested that SFoG's flyer would have been *infinitely* better with a longer (misted!) tunnel, and perhaps some strobes...

*** This post was edited by rollergator 9/5/2003 9:10:57 AM ***

screw what up?

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

CHERNABOG (Maddie): Actually, you are right about one parent being a god... but not Hera. According to Britanica on Line, Hercules was the son of the god Zeuse and mortal Alcmene... and hated by the godess Hera... it was Hera who sent two serpants to kill the baby Hercules in his crib, but he promptly strangled them (not bad for a baby).

Not sure exactly on how to read the "demigod" deffinition... more power than mortal, but less than a god. Hercules was in fact a very powerful (strength wise)... but does the word power in the deffinition refer to physical strength or "supernatural" (for lack of a better term) strength? While he had the physical, I don't think he had any "supernatural" powers.

Another question... in ancient Greek mythology... is a person who's one parent a god still a mortal?

This concludes today's lesson in Greek Mythology... now back to your regular coaster programming.

As to why Dorney did not announce the closing? Who knows... maybe they didn't want the huge rush of fans to the park to get in one last ride (like Kennywood experienced with Steel Phantom's announced demise). Then again... 3 more people in line wouldn't have been that huge of a rush... so that probably wasn't the reason.

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Half of the people surveyed agree, half disagree and another half are unsure.*** This post was edited by SLFAKE 9/5/2003 9:18:18 AM ****** This post was edited by SLFAKE 9/5/2003 9:29:59 AM ***

While I believe that Hercules will get somewhat of a "wish it was back" feel, I don't think that it will approach the level of DF or the Bat. With DF, you lost two elements that have yet to re-appear (elevated corkscrew-first hill and the cutback), and with the Bat you lost the first of its kind. Hercules has no unique distinction of this magnitude.

Personally, I'll wish I could've gotten a ride, as we all yearn for "the one that got away".

Later,
EV
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"Everybody has desperate days of quiet questioning.
Everybody has times when they feel like they don't fit in."
- Color Theory, So Many Ways, 2001

Why do you people keep referring to Hercules as a "he"?! I worked there all summer, and there is NO WAY that Herc is a he! Just because the name of the ride is more masculine than feminine doesn't mean a thing. Everybody who works at the park calls it a she. Herc's personality is just like a womans(no offense). I worked there, I would know how she acts, and I doubt that most of you know how she acts..

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Dorney Junkie
Hercules Crew Member and proud of it!

RIP Herc!

With DF, you lost two elements that have yet to re-appear (elevated corkscrew-first hill and the cutback...

Eric - FYI, Disneyland Paris' Space Mountain has a cutback inversion.

mOOSH

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