Lots of new attractions at Cedar Fair parks next year...HMMMMM.

The only thing Michigan's Adventure needs is a bulldozer.

*rimshot*

Just kidding. I went there for the first time this year and thought it was just fine the way it was.

Also, I don't get the comments about it somehow competing with Cedar Point. Maybe I'm just not the long-drive type, but Muskegon and Sandusky aren't exactly what I'd consider close, and Michigan's Adventure doesn't seem the type to draw people from several hours away...

...well, except me, but I'm never a good example for this sort of thing.

sws said:

rollergator said:

If Minneapolis/St.Paul were moved to Nebraska,

then I'd be getting the hell out of here.

I live in Nebraska...if you want to hear crickets, move here.

I am of course being tongue in cheek with my earlier comments about MA. I agree 100% with BigBone69. (wow, that sounds creepy just saying it, haha) I believe I've said on here before about how MA reminds me of a Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 scenario where you inherit (or buy) a small, family park with a ton of open land and are charged with building it up into a major destination. I would like to see it vastly improved, but I would like to see every park everywhere improved. What can I say, keep the new rides coming. I, like others on here, seem to have actually come to terms with the fact that MA is probably considered a red headed stepchild at this point, and unfortunately, does not have much space in the annual expansion budget.

P.S. I've spent some time in Omaha and find it to be a great city.

Tommytheduck said:

I, like others on here, seem to have actually come to terms with the fact that MA is probably considered a red headed stepchild at this point

I think most people have come to terms with the fact that Cedar Fair has determined that MiA can maintain attendance and profit with little annual capital spending and that the ROI on that spending far outweighs what they could get out of a big splash, $10+ million one time addition. And "come to terms" is probably a bit strong. Most people here aren't getting real bent out of shape about the for-profit company making decisions that contribute to healthy bottom line.

I'm glad you MiA people don't have Camden Park as your home park.

Fine, fine... so "come to terms" was a little strong. In reality, it doesn't really affect me, since I live far enough away that a return visit is probably out of the question unless our travels just happen to be taking us through the area. Of course, should they build said $10 mil attraction, we might change our minds and make a special trip. But I think you all get my point. I'm totally in agreement and was more speaking against the original topic of this thread, that MA is due for a major expansion. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it, but just don't think it's gonna happen. (but for the love of god, at least put some fake skeletons around the train track!)

Rick_UK said:

Timber-Rider said:

The only reason Valley Fair is doing so well, is because of it's location near Minneapolis and the mall of America. And, Cedar Fair Closed it's park in the mall, and is now putting money into Valleyfair. So, to say that they will not neglect one park to prop up another would not be true. I would bet if they had not sold the Mall of America park, little or nothing at Valley fair would have changed.

Forgive my ignorance, but nothing was closed and they didn't own anything at MOA? They were kicked out of their management deal?

If anything, the park has flourished since CF was sidelined at MOA.

RCMAC said:

Did Timber-Rider get a new computer for Christmas or something?

Nope. Now that Christmas is over, the elves are out of a job and have a lot of free time for the next 6 months.

Was there some sort of response from Timber-Rider to Rick_UK two posts up. He quoted Ricks's post, and there's no reply. Maybe I missed Timber's words of wisdom and they were deleted before I could read them. I guess it WAS a Merry Christmas for me after all!

He didn't do it. He swears!

That blank post may be the most insightful thing he's ever said here.

BigBone69 said:

I don't understand the hatred of Michigan's Adventure on this site....

There is so much MORE potential for this park, but it feels for the past 13 or so years that not one damn has been cared.

I love Michigan's Adventure. I live in Chicago, an hour away from Great America and over three hours from MiA, and I've been to MiA far more often than Great America.

Hatred of Michigan's Adventure on Coasterbuzz? Not that I know of.

But...Michigan's Adventure isn't broken. It doesn't need to be fixed.

It seems to me that there are those who equate large-scale investments with "caring" about a park. But not every amusement park requires large-scale annual investments. Some parks are successful year after year without those investments. Michigan's Adventure is one of those parks.

It's been said here on Coasterbuzz, more than once, that MiA is the most profitable park in the chain. If that's the case, the park doesn't need substantial annual investments in order to attract guests; it's accomplishing that just as it is.

No one here hates Michigan's Adventure, they're just realistic about what it is and should be as a business. You know, those things that are supposed to make money.

But a brand-new eleventy million doller rollie coaster would bring in ALL the peeps!

Uh oh ... Somebody's gonna be mad when they hear that even more seems to be in the works at Cedar Point this off season!

Knotts just announced 3 new kiddy/family rides.

Jeff said:

No one here hates Michigan's Adventure, they're just realistic about what it is and should be as a business. You know, those things that are supposed to make money.

I live in a mostly rural area and I work at a single-floor Sears. But when I lived in Boston, I used to visit a 3-story Sears all the time for my shopping needs. My Sears has far fewer selection than the one in Boston

Michigan's Adventure is equal to a one-floor Sears. Cedar Point has a far larger selection of rides, it's the big kahuna. More people visit it. Has my point been made?

Well, they did buy that JCPenney's in Boston, just to run it into the ground and turn it into a water park.

Psht. I drive past Cedar Point to get to JCP.

I get the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality with MA, but there's just one thing that always bugs me about MA expansion topics...They built a massive wooden roller coaster in 1998 that pretty much doubled attendance to the park that season. Without Shivering Timbers, I doubt Cedar Fair would even consider buying the place. That huge investment for such a tiny park put it on the map much like Magnum did to Cedar Point back in '89. Why couldn't they repeat that success with another massive investment? I'm not saying it would work every year, but dies every 10 years seam unreasonable?

A hydro blaster for the water park would be welcomed.