Midwest Tornadoes: Any parks?

With all of the tornadoes recently in the midwest, I've been wondering if any parks have been hit. Immediately Worlds of Fun comes to mind being in Kansas City, but what other parks have been hit by tornadoes if any?

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

WOF had an F4 pass a few miles away from of it last night when that huge system moved through. The park wasn't hit but I guess a few neighborhoods were flattened and some people died. Sad news.

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SW:):)SH
midwestinfoguide.com

I remember hearing something about a tornado hitting Cedar Point and ripping out all of the trees that needed to be removed to build Gemini. I think Ron Toomer told the story at Coaster Mania when it was Magnum's 10th anniversary.
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-Matt in Iowa
195 coasters ridden -- Faves: Shivering Timbers, Ghostrider, Twister, Hershey Wildcat, Lightning Racer

If that bit about Cedar Point is true that sure made the installation of Gemini easier!

I thought that Michigan's Adventure had a similar occurence, though it may not have been a tornado.

Oh and that macroburst at Kennywood. WOW.

Over in my neck of the woods there is a little park called Cresthill Park (which is closing at the end of this season) and they had a tornado within a few miles from there.....If anyone remembers the Plainfield, IL tornado. Yes that is the one that started the Doppler Radar revolution. It actually also tore through the airport next to the college I went to which is down the street from Cresthill Park.

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My website - currently down due to an upcoming move and revamp.
*** This post was edited by beast7369 5/5/2003 3:26:32 PM ***

I knew WOF was in a state of danger yesterday when I called Ameristar Casino to make a hotel reservation (it's just a minute or two from WOF). The girl told me on the phone they were evacuating the casino and she couldn't make my reservation. I told her to run for cover.

I knew if the casino was evacuating people, it had to bad.

My thoughts and prayers to those that were tragically affected yesterday.

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Fever

I really enjoy the Simpsons. It's just a shame that I am starting to LOOK like Homer.

Yea that Tornado came within blocks of my house. It just missed me to the north. I was taking cover inside my house. It was a very scary moment for me.

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Chris Knight
Be sure to download my latest NL Wooden Looping Coaster creation Dream Blast. Updated for NL 1.3!

Chris,
you should have stayed in Branson :)
the sun popped out in the early evening and we had blue skies the rest of the night.
Glad hear you and your family are all OK.

Jim Wolgamuth
*** This post was edited by JWolg 5/5/2003 5:02:35 PM ***

That's pretty scary, I"m glad your ok. That's too bad whos families died though.......
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CCI Lives On!
-Patrick

Yeah, it was a little frightening. It passed about 5 mi. from my house. Only a few people died, there was quite a bit of notice, in fact, all day, the meteorologists were saying that tornadoes were possible, even likely. I'm not sure how many died in MO, but only 1 confirmed death here in KS. It was kind of scary, a few houses in my school district were flattened or damaged.

Glad to hear everyone else and WoF is okay.

I'm glad to hear WoF is okay too. I thought it was coming towards my house (KC, KS) but it went northeast across the border to Parkville, MO and kept on going. I heard on TV that the tornado was where WoF was at and I was like "Oh no. . ." Thank goodness it was untouched but man, so many lost their homes. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

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When was the last time you drove 251 km/h (156 mph)?

My best friends house was completely demolished. and the twister came within about half a mile from my house. I have a lot of house debris in my yard. Everything from a towel to a HUGE chunk of aluminum roofing.
It was scarry. SDC and CC were not touched during the storms.

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Do you bleed Blue?

This makes me think of another question: How well would a coaster hold up in a tornado? We'll use WOF as an example. A wooden coaster like Timberwolf I'm almost certain would be demolished. How would a coaster like Mamba hold up? It's got huge supports and is made of steel. Then there's the slightly smaller steel coaster, aka Boomerang. Would it hold up or not? Wheres rideman when we need him? ;)

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

That's what I was thinking too. Timber Wolf gone, Orient Express (gone, due to all the trees in area), Boomerang (same). Mamba, well I think all the debris would have bent at least the lift hill boxed supports since they are "thinner" and easier to have stuff in them. As far as the huge thick steel supports, well, I don't know. . .

Anybody at WoF the day of the tornado (yesterday/Sunday)? Evacuation of the park?

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When was the last time you drove 251 km/h (156 mph)?

Nope WOF closed at it's regular time. The F4 was well north of the park. Now as for Pierce City, that's a whole 'nother story. I hear their entire downtown was leveled.

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SW:):)SH
midwestinfoguide.com

If a large tornado from an F-3 to an F-5 would of hit a roller coaster or any large ride it would be destroyed, especially an F-5, very few things can survive something of this magnitude.

Pierce City and Stocton Missouri's downtowns have been completely leveled. And my whole area is under a "state of emergency" I just thank God that I survived 5 - 4 - 03
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Do you bleed Blue?

You'll live on to ride another coaster, CoasterBill, you'll live on...... :)

Just curious (I've been kind of out of it lately), but how far north are these tornados getting?

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Im cold......

Jim, I heard there was Tornado Warnings for Branson Tonight. I hope Celebration City and Silver Dollar City is OK. IT would be a huge shame if a tornado did hit the Ozark Wildcat. It has certainly became my favorite wooden coaster there is around.

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Chris Knight
Be sure to download my latest NL Wooden Looping Coaster creation Dream Blast. Updated for NL 1.3!

Chris, I would not worry about the Ozark Wildcat getting hit as there are several trailer parks around the area and tornados have a fondness for wiping out those over anything else ;) (just a lame joke people, do not get offended just trying to add some levity)

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Jim Wolgamuth

There are some pretty bad storms here in the midwest again tonight! I live near St. Louis, and there are storms all around us, but mainly to the southwest of St. Louis. (Which is where SFSTL is) I don't think a tornado would ever hit SFSTL though because it is in a valley with large hills on just about every side of it. Tornadoes are so scary...

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