Hurricane Harbor (SFA) Construction Update

Personally, I don't see anything so impresive of a floorless coaster. I have riden so many of them and the only feeling I get riding it is the same as driving in a car to chruch. However, I will agree that by addind such a coaster, promises potential for population increase at SFA. I would like to see something innovative, high tech and I dont care if its a coaster. Visual effect whether on ride or paths would not hurt either.

Moreover, I am appreciative by the fact that SFA commenced a change.

I say, go for a tried and true design, just make it the best. No more crazy prototype coasters. No need for a tilt coaster or a launched coaster or any other first of a kind. Instead, just build a big 150' tall custom coaster that takes advantage of the terrain, the landscape, and the surroundings. Think Kumba for starters. Be it stand up, sit down, or floorless, just make sure it has a good, long, custom design. I've said before that a good long mine train coaster through the woods could be amazing...and inexpensive. Build the mine train and you could make it the worlds longest ride, but you could keep the height relatively short. That would keep down the cost allowing some extra money to be spent on themeing, landscaping, tunnels, and the likes. It could really be an increadible ride for not that much if the park was willing to make the investment. Plus, it's a proven design that would probably be able to run 3 if not 4 trains so not only would breakdowns be few if any, but it would also be a high capicity monster!

Coasterguts, I am also one other person who really wants a floorless.

I will agree with some that they are not the most absolutely intense coasters out there, but for me a floorless is like riding in a very comfortable Cadillac with a 1,000 hp engine under the hood. Fast, smooth, sleek and with wicked turning capabilities!

I honestly feel (from a new thrillride standpoint) that a B&M coaster would be one of the best options to go with based on wide public appeal. Based on the opinions of people I know or have met, there are some of the general public who won't ride Superman because its too high, too steep or too fast. Some who won't ride Joker's Jinx because they don't like launching or they think the ride is either boring or not scary enough. Some who won't ride Two Face or Batwing because they are too intense for them. But some of these people (a lot of them I work with) mention a lot of B&Ms as their favorites. They don't really know what B&M is, but I hear a lot of love for Medusa, Nitro, Batman: TR (SFGrA), Kraken, Great Bear, Dueling Dragons, and most frequently mentioned; The Hulk.

Now a lot of them love looping coasters, but some of these people really don't care for the loopers at SFA because their either too rough, too intense or don't go upside down enough.

So based on that research alone, I say bring on the Floorless!

BUT!

I would have no problem with the addition of a medium thrill coaster like a wild mouse, spinning mouse, junior sized coaster (that adults can ride with or without kids), or whatever!

And by the way, I can't freakin' wait to see our new Hurricane Harbor.

If SFA's HH is headed in the direction of SF New England's, residents who live closer to PKD than SFA may soon decide to come here instead of their local waterpark.

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coasterguts said:
Only one person is asking for a floorless. I think the rest of us would be happy to get whatever we get.

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LOL! I don't understand how this is being misinterpreted. I never said no one wants a floorless but a floorless coaster at SFA is all one individual wants at SFA and this individual willn't be happy until they get one.

So I'm not the only one who finds JJ somewhat lacking? at least it does pick up a bit after the mid course area but that spiral after the sidewinder is really the only boring part because it just slows down too much.

For me Supes is really the onlly saving grace of the park as far as steel rides offered,Batwing is good for one or two rides because of the poor capacity & techical problems,Two face is a far superior ride than the ride it replaced & both woodies are better than your average SF offerings in that department.

Now I wouldn't call a flloorless a prototype when the design has been available for 6 years now & is quite popular,now the flyer was much more of a prototype when it was installed & has far more problems as a result but the park can really use a good thrilling coaster once again after adding a family water ride & a waterpark upgrade.

SFAmerica:you may have ridden one too many floorless coasters but a majority of folks that live in this area havn't so that'd just be another reason why they should consider adding one in the near future...new comers who've never ridden such a coaster will be amazed & would probably line up in droves just to ride it.

BatwingFanSFA, I think you misinterperted what Coaster Lover said. He didn't say that a floorless is a prototype, he merely asked that the next coaster NOT be a prototype. He just wants it to be custom, which of course is different from being the first of its type.

I remember a fellow seasoned enthusiast say that he heard from some of the GP (got to love that term), that they really wanted a multiple looper at our park--think Great American Scream Machine at Great Adventure and you have a good idea of what I think they're looking for, and the floorless coaster can definitely fit the bill. I do agree that some of them aren't the most intense, but if I had to decide between Nitro and Medusa at Great Adventure, Nitro would get the wrecking ball based on intensity.

Coasterguts, I'll admit that I've gone on record (as recently as last week) saying that the park really needs a good junior coaster (clarification--which is not a kiddie coaster) or mine train. But, I wouldn't cry if they installed the floorless instead. You see, the thing is, I don't know if BatwingFanSFA has ever been on a floorless based on where he lives. So I think he has the right to want one.

I think we'll see a 4th dimension before we see a floorless. Wouldn't an X coaster draw them in more than a coaster that you can find up the road a hoot and a holler?

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Sam A. Marks said:
I think we'll see a 4th dimension before we see a floorless. Wouldn't an X coaster draw them in more than a coaster that you can find up the road a hoot and a holler?

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Dude what the heck are you talking about. SFA would never see a 4D if we were the last park on the east coast. Stick to the reality....thats what SF does best. *** Edited 3/12/2005 3:56:00 PM UTC by CoasterFreak55***

Got that right I-Fan.....if only I could get out to SFGRADV but I can't so instead of trying to get to the coaster just have hope that the coaster will come to you.

I believe Sam was just being sarcastic with his 4D comment,SF wouldn't purchase yet another one anytime soon & if they did we all know it wouldn't end up at SFA & like I-Fan stated a floorless will fit the bill nicely to satisfy(& thrill) those who want to see a coaster with more inversions at the park....I guess JJ's puny four inversion layout just doesn't cut it anymore.

Only four more weeks til opening day :) & at this point I'm still planning on going & can't wait to see the progress they're making on Hurricane Harbor,hopefully Coasterlover can get a few more pics next week to tide us over til then.

Well, I folded. I went to SFA to take some more construction pics. So instead of blabbing on, let’s get right to the pics.

In these first two, you can see that quite a few more slide pieces have arrived on site. They’ve also started to assemble small sections. You can see the three green pieces for Bahama Blast ligned up in preparation to be sealed together. There were also some small sections of Tornado that were assembled, though I don’t think you can see any of that in these first two pics:

http://www.geocities.com/terp_fan_4_life/SFA03.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/terp_fan_4_life/SFA04.JPG

This third pic is the exciting one. Well, the most exciting of the three. On this one, I’m REALLY sorry for how grainy the picture is, but hopefully it will be enough for you all until opening day. What are you looking at? That’s Mind Eraser. It’s tough to see against the light background of the sky, but they have started the priming work in preparation to repaint the ride. Can you see where? Start at the bottom of the lift and follow it up, you can see two parallel teal lines. One is the walkway, the other is the track. About half way up the top line seems to disappear. Well, it’s really just white and hard to see from the pic. The pic really doesn’t do it justice, but I can assure you that at least a portion of the lift on Mind Eraser has infact been primed:

http://www.geocities.com/terp_fan_4_life/SFA05.JPG

Once again, if you want better pics, you either need to find someone with a good zoom lense, you need to wait for opening day, you need to go see it for yourself, or you need to get someone closer to the action (btw, if anyone who “knows someone that knows someone” can get me hooked up with a construction tour, I’d be glad to take as many pics as you want). These are the best I can do with what I have.

Look for more pics next Thursday (3/17) and two weeks from Monday (3/28) weather permiting. Also, I’m not going to post more pics unless there is enough change to warrant them.

Also, if the links aren’t working, go over to my post on thrillnetwork.com where I have the same post with the same pics:

http://www.thrillnetwork.com/boards/showthread.php?p=558995#post558995

I have a video camera (with really good zoom) aswell as a regular still camera and I only live about 10-15 min from the park so hopefully I can get a video put together within the next two weeks or on opening day.

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CoasterFreak55 said: Dude what the heck are you talking about. SFA would never see a 4D if we were the last park on the east coast.

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why not? they have a 200ft clearance, they have proven that attendance can increase dramatically with the right addition, why not add something that nobody has anywhere but the west coast, and Japan later this year.

Sam, if SF were to decide to put a 4D on the east coast, I'm pretty sure SFA would not be on their hot list. They would get so much more profit by adding it to a park that has a better guest outcome. Got to remember that SF Inc is fed by profit, not the passing of basic requirements. *** Edited 3/13/2005 4:50:35 AM UTC by CoasterFreak55***

I say, wait for the one in Japan to open before even considering a 4D. If the one in Japan seems to be running well with few breakdowns, go for it, build the 4D at SFA. But the last thing we need at SFA is another ride that's always breaking down or is running at limited capacity.

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Coaster Lover said:
If the one in Japan seems to be running well with few breakdowns, go for it, build the 4D at SFA. But the last thing we need at SFA is another ride that's always breaking down or is running at limited capacity.

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That last part is just another major reason why a B&M Floorless would be a very good choice; capacity and reliability. Any type of B&M works well in these two categories. I honestly can't think any recent times where any of the 16 different B&Ms I've ridden had broken down.

Of course this reliability factor is mostly based on my experiences and those of others that I know.

Sorry if I'm coming across as such a B&M promoting whore. I can't help it! I love these rides and their worldwide appeal. *** Edited 3/13/2005 8:04:44 AM UTC by go with gravity***

I can think of several times I've seen B&M's broken down. The week after Memorial day last year when Apollo's Chariot was down, once with me sitting on the break run (the seats wouldn't unlock for the train in the station). Alpengeist was also down that day, though that was mostly because of storm the night before torched the computer running the coaster. S:KC SFFT broke down when I visited in 2003. In fact, I almost didn't get to ride it. So I wouldn't fool yourself into believing B&M's are more reliable than another coaster manufacturer.

Also, I firmly believe a floorless works well in certain settings and not so well in others. I love Kraken, but thought S:KC was so so. The tunnel with the fog at the end of Kraken is one of the reason it's a good coaster, toss the lake factor in and that's another reason it's a good coaster.

As much I would like to see a X clone at SFA, I'm with Coaster Lover, only if they fixed the problems with the prototype. Don't need another Batwing. *** Edited 3/13/2005 12:46:36 PM UTC by coasterguts***

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coasterguts said: As much I would like to see a X clone at SFA, I'm with Coaster Lover, only if they fixed the problems with the prototype.

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Who said X Clone?!?!

Great pics Coasterlover.I can easily make out the sections that've been primed & they appear to be from the 2nd or 3rd set of supports to just below the top of the lift.

Anyone notice how Iron Eagle is seen upside down in the first two pics? I take it they leave the ride inverted like that during the offseason kinda like how they leave the lift mechanism on Intamin freefalls at the top during that same time period.

From a reliability standpoint a B&M would be a good choice for their next major coaster,yes they have downtime(what coaster doesn't?)but B&M design their products to be as reliable & efficient as possible...which is why SF would probably never go with the 4-D again,which if it were improved & they did instal another one it certainy wouldn't be at SFA....SFGRADV maybe? but SFA probably not.

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BATWING FAN SFA said:

SF would probably never go with the 4-D again,which if it were improved & they did instal another one it certainy wouldn't be at SFA....SFGRADV maybe? but SFA probably not.

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and we all thought PKD would get a hyper before SFA lol!