Kings Dominion will remove Volcano: The Blast Coaster

Ooooops. Thaaaank yeeeewwww.

The launch of the coaster was a great experience, but the meandering around the mountain with the brake run after the drop were all anti-climatic. The track structure around the mountain was absolutely hideous.

It would be nice if they keep the mountain for a future attraction. It is a big part of the KD landscape and would be a great opportunity for a world class dark ride like they originally had there.

I'd be shocked if the mountain is in serviceable condition. I'd expect it to be in bad shape simply because of its age, and i'm sure they turned it into Swiss cheese when they put in the track and supports for Volcano.

Hope they keep the mountain lol BYE FELICIA

So, I had a thought (as I also hope they keep the mountain).

Cedar Fair is on the dive-coaster train lately. How about a nicely-themed diver that climbs the mountain and drops you in? You're on some type of Volcano expedition. Fog up at the top of the hole and dive right in.

Fun would be had, the coaster line-up restored, and it would be slightly more reliable.

A dive coaster would be pretty cool.

August Mueller said:

Hope they keep the mountain lol BYE FELICIA

You’re a little #200AndLate there buddy.

Based on Zimmerman's comments about spacing out major coaster CapEx, and Kings Dominion's track record, I think it could be years or even a decade before we see a major new coaster replacing Volcano at that park.

A dive coaster into the volcano is a great idea! Wow! A few inversions inside later in the ride would be really cool too. Dang, my imagination is going to run wild with this.

I was under the impression that the mountain was heavily modified (compromised?) when Volcano was constructed. I can't imagine the coaster being removed and the mountain remaining intact for something else. If KD wants to build a dive coaster with a drop into a volcano (no idea if they do), it would make sense to start from scratch.

Out of curiosity, how is a fake mountain compromised, exactly? It's a facade...held up by a structure from the inside. That said, I'm 100% ignorant to any changes that were made from pre-Volcano to Volcano mountain status, but from my own personal hands-on experience from being there, it seems pretty intact with a fair amount of theming already in place should the current coaster be replaced by something else. Other than the boarding station and the launch out of the hole, Volcano took place outside of the mountain, yes?

But I am no expert on building big fake rocks with a big hole on top. Enlighten me.

The first launch was inside, the wide banked turn was outside, and the second launch was inside again blasting up and out. The rolls took place around the top and the final dive hit the brake run which was also inside. Those three indoor elements likely take up a fair amount of low-lying interior space

I also don’t know much about engineering but it’s clear that the supports for the high stretches occasionally make their way down through the mountain’s skin. I reckon the park considered this final incarnation would be the last for the famed mountain and would last forever. Which makes me think enough damage has been done and the job of overlaying another big coaster, especially with extra wide track, would be a daunting task. At any rate, it’s a pretty sure thing that somewhere around last July the park didn’t suddenly make the decision to pull the plug and then get to work on a dive coaster for ‘20. Or even ‘21.

I’d be in favor of the iconic mountain staying, though. Maybe eventually in a newer, grander scale that would include one whopping attraction or better yet, several fun rides like in the original concept.

Yeah, I could see a case for scrapping the mountain as much as I can see one for keeping it, but "compromised" isn't a term I'd associate with the modification of the original structure to house an Intamin launch coaster. It's not much more than a steel substructure covered in concrete.

If anyone happens to be at KD this weekend, Volcano is officially being dismantled, so I suppose we will know very soon whether or not the mountain will be spared.

Come to think of it, the entire mountain would make for a great designated smoking area. The effect of second-hand smoke rising from the top would be cost-free theming.

A friend of mine is there and posted a photo, the track has been removed from the first turn and it looked like part of the mountain facade was being removed. He thinks the whole thing is coming down.