Look how they have changed...
It's amazing how a corporate firm can make or break a park. Take SFWoA for example. Not even 3 years ago, it was your below average Gaugea Lake with hardly any novelty that sat next to Sea World Ohio. Now, it's one of the largest amusement park complexes in the world. Now that SeaWorld is added onto the property as well as the FIVE (The Villain, Batman Knight Flight, Superman Ultimate Escape, X-Flight) roller coasters we've seen in just 2 years, it's just jaw dropping stuff folks.
Another example (not as dramatic) is what Cedar Fair did with Knott's Berry Farm shortly after they acquired the classic in late 1997. At that time, Knott's was still high up in the ranks of attendance out of all the parks in the U.S., with about 3.2 million visitors a year, BUT it was languishing from poor care and management and it was dying in popularity. The last thing the Knott family left at the farm was the racing Windjammer roller coaster which is ready to be ripped out any day out of this year now. From that period of mid-1998 to mid-2000, Knott's transformed from a side-trip park to a full destination resort with more in between. In that period of time about 2 1/2 years, Cedar Fair introduced these into the Knott's property -
• Supreme Scream (325 ft Turbo Drop)
• Knott's Soak City USA (Adjacent Water Park)
• Woodstock's Airmail (S&S Frog Hopper)
• Charlie Brown Raceway (Kiddie Whiplash Ride)
• Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm (Adjacent Hotel)
• GhostRider ($25 million out and back wood coaster)
• Perilous Plunge (121 ft, 77.8°, 53 mph water chute)
• Edison International ElectroBlast & Electric Nights
• WipeOut (Frisbee Flatride)
• Renovated Independance Hall Replica
Another example (not as dramatic) is what Cedar Fair did with Knott's Berry Farm shortly after they acquired the classic in late 1997. At that time, Knott's was still high up in the ranks of attendance out of all the parks in the U.S., with about 3.2 million visitors a year, BUT it was languishing from poor care and management and it was dying in popularity. The last thing the Knott family left at the farm was the racing Windjammer roller coaster which is ready to be ripped out any day out of this year now. From that period of mid-1998 to mid-2000, Knott's transformed from a side-trip park to a full destination resort with more in between. In that period of time about 2 1/2 years, Cedar Fair introduced these into the Knott's property -
• Supreme Scream (325 ft Turbo Drop)
• Knott's Soak City USA (Adjacent Water Park)
• Woodstock's Airmail (S&S Frog Hopper)
• Charlie Brown Raceway (Kiddie Whiplash Ride)
• Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm (Adjacent Hotel)
• GhostRider ($25 million out and back wood coaster)
• Perilous Plunge (121 ft, 77.8°, 53 mph water chute)
• Edison International ElectroBlast & Electric Nights
• WipeOut (Frisbee Flatride)
• Renovated Independance Hall Replica
Well, all of the above is correct. Except, Ghostrider was the last coaster that was contracted under the Knotts family. It was sort of a gift to Cedar Fair.
*** This post was edited by sfmmman2001 on 3/25/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by sfmmman2001 on 3/25/2001. ***
Everdred said:
"Are you sure Ghostride was $25 Mil? Seems a bit steep for a woodie..."
A lot of that money went into theming and restructuring of the midways around the ride.
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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.
Its fairly well documented that Ghostrider was the Knotts family's parting gift. In fact they are credited as part of the design team for GR ... Mind you we all know its not parting in the truest sense of the word as I believe the family gained shares in Cedar Fair as part of the Sale!
Supreme Scream is the first attraction that Cedar Fair was creditted with at Knotts :)
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If Lifes a Rollercoaster, I want a Flawless *** This post was edited by The Legend on 3/25/2001. ***
Supreme Scream is the first attraction that Cedar Fair was creditted with at Knotts :)
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If Lifes a Rollercoaster, I want a Flawless *** This post was edited by The Legend on 3/25/2001. ***
Although it was originally a corporate firm the whole time, Six Flags Great Adventure has had one of the greatest 10 year histories I have ever seen.
1992-Batman: The Ride, one of the worlds first inverted coasters.
1995-Viper, the first and only STANDARD coaster to execute a heartline spin.
1996-Skull Mountain, and indoor, in the dark family coaster.
1997-Batman and Robin: The Chiller, the world's first and only duel-track LIM coaster.
1999-Medusa, the world's first floorless coaster. Plus 25 new rides and attractions, one of the largest theme park expansions ever.
2000-Addition of Hurrican Harbor, the largest waterpark on the East Coast.
2001-Nitro, the single-largest attraction built by Great Adventure in its history. A 230 ft. tall hypercoaster.
Six Flags America has also had one of the greatest histories I've seen, which started as soon as Premier Parks took it over. From a tiny park that had only Wild One and Mind Eraser, the tiny little Adventure World got its name changed to Six Flags America, and over the years has obtained: The Typhoon Sea Coaster, Roar, Two Face, Joker's Jinx, and Superman: Ride of Steel, and now for 2001 Batwing.
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"When they come for me I'll be sittin at my desk, with a gun in my hand wearing a bulletproof vest!"
-Catch 22
1992-Batman: The Ride, one of the worlds first inverted coasters.
1995-Viper, the first and only STANDARD coaster to execute a heartline spin.
1996-Skull Mountain, and indoor, in the dark family coaster.
1997-Batman and Robin: The Chiller, the world's first and only duel-track LIM coaster.
1999-Medusa, the world's first floorless coaster. Plus 25 new rides and attractions, one of the largest theme park expansions ever.
2000-Addition of Hurrican Harbor, the largest waterpark on the East Coast.
2001-Nitro, the single-largest attraction built by Great Adventure in its history. A 230 ft. tall hypercoaster.
Six Flags America has also had one of the greatest histories I've seen, which started as soon as Premier Parks took it over. From a tiny park that had only Wild One and Mind Eraser, the tiny little Adventure World got its name changed to Six Flags America, and over the years has obtained: The Typhoon Sea Coaster, Roar, Two Face, Joker's Jinx, and Superman: Ride of Steel, and now for 2001 Batwing.
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"When they come for me I'll be sittin at my desk, with a gun in my hand wearing a bulletproof vest!"
-Catch 22
Everyone is leaving out michigans adventure.
they started out as a freaking petting zoo But know have a really good park. I don't know the specs on everything but it is pretty impressive managing starting out with a petting zoo and ending up with 6 rollercoaster, a waterpark and a decent sized park.
they started out as a freaking petting zoo But know have a really good park. I don't know the specs on everything but it is pretty impressive managing starting out with a petting zoo and ending up with 6 rollercoaster, a waterpark and a decent sized park.
What I like about Cedar Fair is that they never change the name of the park. I think it would be nice if Six Flags bought a park and didn't change the name.
I agree with CPgenius. Everytime SF buys a park, they always change the name to six flags this or six flags that.... My homepark was Adventure World, and I was annoyed that the name was changed to Six Flags America. I like how Cedar Fair kept the name Knotts Berry Farm. I think that the 1990's at almost every amusement park has been the biggest decade for advancements ever. SFA, SFGAd, SFMM, Michigan's Adventure,KBF just to name a few have made incredible forward strides into becoming the best amusement parks in the world. I love what the amusement parks have been doing for their fans and consumers. I can't wait to hit the parks with the new additions this year, like SFGAd's Nitro and SFA's Batwing, and PKD's Hypersonic XLC. This summer will be a blast.
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Dave
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Dave
I don't agree that Geauga Lake was below average with no novelty
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"Autobots: Transform and roll out!"
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"Autobots: Transform and roll out!"
Hey, I have an idea...Let's go further...Knott's was a jam stand!
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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.
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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.
how about SFGam it has gotten 5 roller coasters and a drop tower in 10 years plust it will add 2 more this year its quite an accomplishment. especialy when you compare it to its paramount counterpart
Six Flags over Texas has had a great history. Since 1990 they have gotten some of the best coasters ever installed at any parks.
1990: Texas Giant (still rated number one wooden coaster by many people)
1996: Runaway Mountain: Indoor Dark Roller Coaster with great air time and positive G's. Great Theming too
1997: Mr. Freeze: The first coaster to feature a true 90 degree drop
1999: Batman: The Ride: The last B:TR instalation, marked with special colors.
2001: Wile E. Coyote's Grand Canyon Blaster: Standard Kiddie Coaster
2001: Titan: What was originally labeled as a Goliath Clone has just become better. More than likely will be rated the number one steel coaster in the world, definatly the best hyper.
The three years previous also saw the addition of a Bobslead Roller Coaster and a Boomerang Roller Coaster. Between 1987 and 2001 Six Flags over Texas has seen the addition of 8 Roller Coasters. Not too shabby if i do say so myself.
1990: Texas Giant (still rated number one wooden coaster by many people)
1996: Runaway Mountain: Indoor Dark Roller Coaster with great air time and positive G's. Great Theming too
1997: Mr. Freeze: The first coaster to feature a true 90 degree drop
1999: Batman: The Ride: The last B:TR instalation, marked with special colors.
2001: Wile E. Coyote's Grand Canyon Blaster: Standard Kiddie Coaster
2001: Titan: What was originally labeled as a Goliath Clone has just become better. More than likely will be rated the number one steel coaster in the world, definatly the best hyper.
The three years previous also saw the addition of a Bobslead Roller Coaster and a Boomerang Roller Coaster. Between 1987 and 2001 Six Flags over Texas has seen the addition of 8 Roller Coasters. Not too shabby if i do say so myself.
Its nice that some of you folks are happy for the great things Cedar Fair has done for Knott's Berry Farm, but from the discussions I've had with fans of Worlds of Fun, they've been pretty frustrated (this might be an understatement) with what Cedar Fair has done to their park.
Oh, and if Jennifer Lovesee is out there here's your cue...
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
Oh, and if Jennifer Lovesee is out there here's your cue...
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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it...eventually
*** This post was edited by tricktrack on 3/27/2001. ***
kOrN4/8/00 said:
1995-Viper, the first and only STANDARD coaster to execute a heartline spin.
Thats not quite right if you count it worldwide:
The same year saw the opening of LETHAL WEAPON PURSUIT at Warner Bros. Movieworld Germany. This is an Intamin built racing coaster, which is partly enclosed and features a loop and a heartline spin. Its not agood coaster cause it rides jerky and rough. The best parts used to be a special effect which is sadly gone now: A burning car flew over the racing coaster cars which are designed to look like police cars.
The heartline spin finishes the ride and its taken quite slowly.
kOrN4/8/00 said:
"Although it was originally a corporate firm the whole time, Six Flags Great Adventure has had one of the greatest 10 year histories I have ever seen.
1992-Batman: The Ride, one of the worlds first inverted coasters."
Umm B:TR didnt hit SFGAdv until 1993 at least. In 1992 the only B:TR was at SFGAm.
lata,
jeremy
--B:TR @ SFGAm; oft imitated, never duplicated!
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