Kennywood's Old Mill rehab rumor....

Unfortunately, I can confirm that this is no longer just a rumor, but something that is deep into the planning stages. The old mill will be transformed into Garfield and Odie in 3d for the 2004 season. Sad but true.

l. So, assuming your sources are reliable, will it be interactive or still float through and look?
2. I agree that Goldrusher is obsolete. it's not even a good example of 80s style. Laff in the Dark was better in the 50s than Goldrusher was when it opened. (Although a few of the scenes in Goldrusher came from Laff in the Dark.) I wish they'd retheme Goldrusher as the runaway mine train from Indiana Jones. Include that rolling boulder and descending wall.
3. I've been wishing for a long time they'd bring back Laff in the Dark. I'd like to see a state of the art brand new dark ride using lasers, holograms, elevation changes, etc.
Maybe do a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride from Wind in the Willows.

The Old Mill isn't the best ride at Kennywood, but it is a staple ride. If they were to turn it into some kind of 3D Garfield ride, it would be horrific.

Back in the old days, The Old Mill actually ended with a drop similar to Kennywood's Log Jammer, soaking the riders after a gentle ride through the mill. It would be really cool to see them add a new drop.

As for the Garfield ride, Kennywood recently removed their mini golf course (near The Phantom's Revenge's loading station), and it has been rumored that there will be a new attraction there. There is also a lot of space between the Phantom's lift hill and straightaway after the first drop...enough room for at least two flat rides...I haven't heard any rumors about expansion in this area but it seems to be a prime spot to consider (personally, I'd love to see Kennywood get a Chaos). I have also heard rumors that Kennywood may tear down the old Turnpike ride for a new coaster (possible inverted). Not sure where I stand on the issue...while a new coaster would be awesome, the Turnpike, while it's rather unexciting, is a ride that has been there since I started going to the park (I wasn't even 12 months old on my first visit). Perhaps they can build around and above it (there's plenty of room).

Underlying themes here: No Garfield in the Old Mill. Kennywood is destined to expand in the near future.

That ride took my Mighty Duck hat when I went back in 96. :( Hehe

I will elaborate on my original statements slightly. I really would have no problem with updating some of the inside, and making some of the things work. It's not like the scenes are the original ones. However, like everyone else has pretty much said, Garfield just doesn't fit. Somehow having an opportunity to be close to a lover just doesn't have the same effect with a fat cat.

kpjb said:
That being said, I hate Garfield. The only way I'd agree with it was if I could shoot Garfield. Shoot him a lot.

Aha! A hint! ;)

------------------
--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"What do you want, you moon-faced assassin of joy?" -- Londo Mollari, Babylon 5

How about they retheme it to "kpjb meets Garfield: A Shootout." I'm against the idea myself, although I wouldn't mind some work being done on the ride.

As for rides going inside PR's first drop, kpjb explained over on Kennywood Boulevard about why that's not likely to happen anytime soon...but damned if I can find it right now. I think it had something to do with a lot of power lines running underneath that area into the little blue building under the PR lift.

------------------
Joe Cernelli
Shedding off one more layer of skin, keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.
-Bob Dylan

Check the Ferris Wheel thread Joe. We were looking for a place to put a Wheel.

Ah, yes. I had looked in that thread but I guess I skimmed over it a little too quickly.

------------------
Joe Cernelli
Shedding off one more layer of skin, keeping one step ahead of the persecutor within.
-Bob Dylan

There was rumors on whether or not the Mill would even be open for Fright Nights because they didn't know how long the re-theming would take. Alas, it will be open but will be the only ride in its rotation.

Apparently there was/is talk of enclosing all the scenes and such and possibly moving the brake control booth. I have seen the new park GM watch the ride and the area and talking with various people about it, including once where he was describing what he wanted to do, but I couldn't hear. We shall see.

------------------
2002/2003
KWTM

I just went to the park on Friday, and it appeared everything was working in the Gold Rusher, and 95% was working in the Old mill which was good.

------------------
Assistant Webmaster,
Kennywood Boulevard

Now Disney had a cartoon called "The Old Mill" that showed what happened when a thunderstorm hits the mill. It's pretty intense. Now if Disney were to do an old mill ride based on that....

------------------
"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Recently, there was talk about the retheming of the mill....It seems that the ride will be loaded from the opposite side of the trough....dont know why yet..but i will try to find out.