Kentucky Kingdom announces Storm Chaser

Wow, it appears they are really keeping most of the structure if they're doing it that way. $15 million seems like a lot when they really aren't going to have to do much ground work.

CarolinaNick15 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but if you did 2 sides it would be like 30 million, which seems out of whack for KK.

Doubtful. The price would be more, for sure, but there's certain fixed costs (think of them as overhead) for any construction project that would not double if you were building both sides. I'm just speculating here but things like costs related to design, project management, systems installation, etc would not double.

Still, it would be expensive, and it was probably very easy to make a business case for only re-developing the ride with one track.

That looks like it would be a lot of fun. But, I would be worried about that barrel roll down drop. I would think that people in the very last car would get the most intense ride. Though how much speed it has when it enters that drop, might give front seat riders serious hang time. Though how much intensity there is might make or break this coaster.

I can think of only 3 other great looking coasters that bit the bullet for being to intense. Son of beast, Drachen Fire, and the Villain at geauga lake. I know the Villain still ran until the ride side of Geauga Lake closed, but my friend and I hated it. We had sore backs and necks after just one ride, and the coaster was brand new! I won't even get started on the Bobs.

You're not familiar with RMC rides, are you? They don't know how to do anything BUT intense.

Loved Villian. Enjoyed Drachen Fire. Son of Beast was just an all around not good, very bad gimmick coaster.

I love a good, rough coaster. Williams Grove Cyclone was one of my favorites in part because of how it slammed you into your seat on that last turn into the station. I've happily shown off coaster-induced bruises.

But SOB was just not enjoyable and far too rough. Riding SOB was like having an SM scene without a safe word. It went too far and you had no way to stop it....

If nothing else, they could be just keeping the footers. (for the rest of the ride, that is. It's been determined that at least *some* of the original lift/drop structure is staying, right?) That's probably a huge chunk of the cost right there, digging and pouring. And with 2 coasters worth of footers for one new ride, it probably gives them a lot of freedom. Shirley they are strong enough, as they were originally built for a dual ride structure.

I think Timber rider is confusing rough and intense.

Pure daydreamers speculation here, but what if the park was redoing Stella first, and then surprising everyone by redoing Lola a year of so afterwards?

I think Timber Rider is confusing.

LostKause said:
Pure daydreamers speculation here, but what if the park was redoing Stella first, and then surprising everyone by redoing Lola a year of so afterwards?

I had thought the same thing too.

Raven-Phile said:

Wow, it appears they are really keeping most of the structure if they're doing it that way. $15 million seems like a lot when they really aren't going to have to do much ground work.

You guys aren't comprehending what Ed Hart said. Read it again:

"Storm Chaser would normally cost as much as $15 million all-in but we’re saving money by using some of the existing superstructure from Twisted Twins."

If they started from scratch it would be $15 million, but they are using the existing structure so it costs less than $15 million.

LostKause said:

Pure daydreamers speculation here, but what if the park was redoing Stella first, and then surprising everyone by redoing Lola a year of so afterwards?

Yeah like I said we won't know if/until they tear down the other half of the structure, so it won't be that much of a surprise.

More likely they're redoing Stella since it was already the far superior ride (easier to work with/rebuild from), and scrapping Lola for being "in the way."

Could be wrong....sure hope I am!

Maybe the other half will be built in 2017 ;-)

I think I saw a picture of the lift hill on the side not being used getting torn down.

Okay. I can't hold it in much longer. No Limits? Those supports. That music. Those vocals at the end. This video has made me realize that I don't suck nearly as much as I think I do at No Limits and at recording music.

It's pretty important to not look like amateurs when marketing your business. Spend the money and hire someone who knows how to make you look good.

Being spoiled by years of POV videos announcing forthcoming rides so detailed you can practically see the riders breathing, I was a little surprised by this video.

But it does what it needs to do. Give an idea of the new coaster coming to the park.

But it was RMC that made the video, I would assume. B&M's just more skilled I guess.

I've always thought the parks commissioned the videos, not the manufacturers