MA's Thunderhawk over water? yellow track! support color?

Well it is very obvious that the video was not taken from B-roll footage. The camera turning to look at the buddy sitting next to the person is what gives it away that it was a park visitor that filmed it.

New construction pictures....

http://miablog.markscns.net/

Michigan's Adventure's website has new construction pics posted. http://www.miadventure.com/th_con_feb.shtml

^What does that have to do with anything?

New construction pictures:

http://www.miadventure.com/th_con_feb.shtml

Is it just me, or does the ride look a lot shorter than it did at geauga lake?

The illusion is probably due to the height of the footers:

Geauga

MiA

Notice at MiA they're essentially at ground level where-as at Geauga they're at least a foot above waterlevel.

*** Edited 2/26/2008 12:25:34 AM UTC by Mamoosh***

Does anybody else also think that Michigan's Adventure could've just put in Headspin first?

Thunderhawk is a bit big of a ride for a park like Michigan's Adventure, who's annual attendance doesn't even come close to breaking 800,000.

Given the discounted cost, I'd think Thunderhawk is a good fit for the park at this time, although probably the last coaster to be added for a few years while the park fills out with flats and amenities. Do you think a boomerang coaster would be able to sustain people's interest over the intervening years? *** Edited 2/26/2008 3:24:55 AM UTC by Strijder***

I personally think this ride will draw more people to the park this summer if they hype it, of course. Also, Western MI is actually growing in population compared to the rest of the state (due to jobs not related to the auto industry) so I think the potential for more people to visit is there.

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Strijder said:
Do you think a boomerang coaster would be able to sustain people's interest over the intervening years?

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Yes, I really do believe it could.

Considering the biggest steel coaster currently at the park is a 1970's Arrow Corkscrew, a 116-foot tall forward and backwards running 3-inversion coaster would be a huge deal for Michigan's Adventure.

They already have corkscrew...why would they want another ride almost identical?

Thunderhawk is a uniqe ride for the park.

My 2cents: given the following choices, I think CF made the right decision

a) no new coaster

b) Boomerang only

c) Thunderhawk only

d) Both

Although a boomerang is certainly a more thrilling ride then the corkscrew, it would have still felt like we're getting gyped out of a real steel coaster. Choice B would have been better then A, but C is clearly better - we finally have a "real" steel coaster. And the park probably can't sustain having both.

it would have still felt like we're getting gyped out of a real steel coaster.

Next time you're at a park with a Boomerang go up to a regular non-enthusiast park guest and say to them, whilst pointing to the Boomerang, "Do you feel gyped that (insert park name) got (insert name of the Boomerang) instead of a real steel coaster?"

Then come post here and let us know the reaction.

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crazy horse said:
They already have corkscrew...why would they want another ride almost identical?

Thunderhawk is a uniqe ride for the park.

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Please enlighten me as to how a 1970's two-corkscrew coaster is identical to a 3-inversion forward-backwards running Boomerang.

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decil76 said:
My 2cents: given the following choices, I think CF made the right decision

a) no new coaster

b) Boomerang only

c) Thunderhawk only

d) Both

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Or Cedar Fair could've maximized the effectiveness by introducing Headspin first and then Thunderhawk two to three years after.

Following up an SLC with a Boomerang is very much taking a step backwards.

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Although a boomerang is certainly a more thrilling ride then the corkscrew, it would have still felt like we're getting gyped out of a real steel coaster. Choice B would have been better then A, but C is clearly better - we finally have a "real" steel coaster. And the park probably can't sustain having both.

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Way to go to think inside the box. Like moosh before me, an SLC is no more of a "real" steel coaster than a Boomerang is to the average park goer. The idea of going backwards through loops will generally be more provoking to most people than a ride that just hangs you under the track.

*** Edited 2/27/2008 2:14:46 AM UTC by kRaXLeRidAh***

Tons of great pictures at Mia Blog Online.

http://miablogonline.com/?p=29#comment-1044

Gosh I miss that place :o/.

1 side question. How tall is the sky coaster/rip cord thingy at MIA?

I'm suprised no one said anything earlier. New pictures on MiA's blog as of the 1st.