I had a few minutes here at work this morning and my mind began to wander. Of course when my mind wanders at work it usually means I end up thinking about where I would rather be.... like PKI.
I was at the park this past Saturday and spent some time wandering and imagining. Often when I think of PKI or am at the park, I love to think of what installations they have made, or perhaps will make. Those of you that know me, know that I have had a very specific dream for PKI for years now. I haven't really posted any new topics of late, so I thought I would post my idea for PKI and see what general reactions and thoughts would be.
This isn't really a love post about PKI, and definitely not a hate post... we see way too many of those. I just want general honest, and well thought out opinions.
After falling in love with the likes of Superman Ride of Steel at SFNE, Apollo's Chariot at BGW, Nitro at SFGADV, and the Supermans at SFA and SFDL, I have dreamed that my favorite park on earth would install my favorite type of attraction.
In my dream I envision a large B&M in the Rivertown pond/Antique Car area. It doesn't have to be the tallest or fastest, rather just a great coaster with a terrific layout. I think the elements I would include would be Apollo's great double down, Raging Bull's giant mid-air turnaround, Nitro's helix and hopefully an air hum ala Superman at SFNE's 4th "hump." I also prefer the B&M hypers that have the flat straightaway off of the lift rather than an immediate drop ala Nitro. The straightaway adds air to the drop IMO, where the immediate drop stalls as the train falls off the chain.
Essentially I would enjoy either an Intamin or B&M. Intamin tends to deliver more intense elements. My favorite coaster, Superman at SFNE, is really a piece of art. And if I had to choose a perfect coaster... that would be it. The reasons I would pick a B&M over Intamin for PKI are pretty simple. B&M is IMO the cream of the crop. They seem to be extremely reliable, are well built, dependable, they look more graceful and excude "smoothness." Also B&M just seems to fit the PKI "feel" better. I would be concerned that an Intamin would resemble the other steel coasters in the park.... not to mention PKI's need for a capacity which B&M's 4-across seating provides.
So, if you were to pick the next coaster for PKI, what would your choice be? What manufacturer? What type? What elements would you encorporate? Where would you put it?
Alas, whatever PKI does in the future will be great... as they have never dissapointed me... but I do love to hope and dream. That is half the fun!
No flaming please.
Shaggy
-----------------
Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
-----------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.
Den,
Good point! Great picture taking opportunities ;-) Now that's smart enthusiast thinking. LOL
Shaggy
By the way.... I would kill to have a photo like your profile photo... alas when my parents took me to PKI in the "Bat" days... they didn't bother to take the camera. *Sigh*
-----------------
Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
I think something like Expedition Ge-Force would be really effective at PKI if some of the surrounding woods/terrain could be utilized.
-----------------
'If there's been a way to build it, there'll be a way to destroy it. Things are not all that out of control.' - Stereolab 'Crest'
That being said, I'd also think that a B&M Hyper would be a fine fit for PKI. I even like your location. The only other thing I like to see there (beating a well dead horse) is a HUSS Delerium, preferably back near the Paramount Action Theater (aint much back there anyway). But I fear that wont happen because it'd be too much like the Giant Frisbee "Delerium" that they are already installing (maybe PKD then :))
lata,
jeremy
-------------
"To get inside this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do
Shaggy -
Lucky for me, my dad did (still does) take his camera *everywhere*. I have another shot of his of the Bat from the Eiffel Tower... very nice. And another of the Racer and the giant slide from the two-armed Ferris wheel that used to be on Coney Mall.
I only wish I had a picture of *him* after I made him ride Vortex. ;)
-----------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.
-----------------
Bill Yost
"I never rode a B&M I didn't like.":)
http://www.small-business-webs.com/pkizone
You know its funny - I don't how tired most of us have been of hearing "PKI NEEDZ A GIGA CP RULEZ!!" but in the end - most of us really do want the hyper coaster, too.
Here's a question for the group: in a world where most major parks have a hyper, what does PKI do to make theirs stand out? Its not exactly PKI's style to just drop a hyper coaster somewhere and have that be it, a la CP (not that there's anything wrong with that.) To put it bluntly, for PKI, where's the gimmick?
-----------------
If the shoe fits, find another one.
After making my first visit last summer in 10 years, I saw many items making a wish list.
My Wish List: a) A second Face off intertwined with the original to improved capacity. b) Increase Top Gun by 1,000 feet and remove any tree cutting vehicles from the area. c) A large, over-sized steel coaster.
With this in mind, c) becomes the most likely to occur. I really love your location, Shaggy. Looking from the Tower, the layout would be incredible, ie Raptor down the midway at CP, with the surrounding foliage adding to the excitement. Thanks for the visuals, and cannot wait until the first weekend of November and early spring to visit again.
-----------------
There's nothing like a woodie...
-------------
Proud member of the Buzz.Con Frequent Flyer Club.
I think just about everyone wants to see something built in that unused antique car area is the only thing is, if it is too big, being so close to the eifel tower will take away from the visual appeal that you get from walking in the front gate and from the highway. I invision something there that is most likely short, not much higher than the tree line, or goes into the ground. (Possibly emerging from the lake)
The area behind the Race is a GREAT place to build another roller coaster. They have all that land behind there which was the wild animal habitat at one time. The terrain is incredible. (The access roads are blocked off at certain points, so I can't go too far while at work) I was thinking possibly just a large L-shaped out and back would go great in that area.
I've got a few other places I would like to see coasters at PKI. I think they either need to expand Top Gun to actually pass through part of Son of Beast or build another coaster that intertwines through the supports. Just the effect that you might actually hit the supports creates an awsome ride, much like entering the final helix on the Beast.
Lastly, I think another terrain woodie would go great back around the wooded queue area of White Water Canyon. There a pretty large ravine that runs through there and it is pretty densly packed full of trees. It would be another awsome ride to complement the Beast, and having two awsome terrain coasters in one park like Holiday World would rule.
On a side note, isn't B&M and Cedar Point in an agreement not to build a coaster at PKI becasue they are close rivals? I heard this somewhere and really hope it isn't true.
Okay… I had to get in the "what are your dreams for PKI?"
Well I have long dreamed that the Rivertown pond would offer something more thrilling. Although I remember wonderful memories of the ducks and feeding the Coy fish (hope I spelled it properly). Before Top Gun was created I always longed for them to add a suspended coaster over the pond. It’s something about coming through the cut in the trees that keeps me dreaming. Now I’m going to have to piggy back off the BEASTmaster and say that a customed designed B&M flyer would be absolutely the bomb in it’s place and please PKI if you are reading this. Resurrect the name "The Bat!"
To draw the crowd away from the Action Zone (always known to me as the Wild Animal Habitat) I would love to see another coaster, preferably the return of the "Screaming" Demon. We can place that right dab in the middle of the retention pond over by White Water Canyon. The green algae murky waters would make for some cool affects in my mind. Rename it the Swamp Thing. Okay maybe not that but put an Oblivion clone back there and I'm in it to win it...
Last on the coasters list would be the talked about steel Hyper/Giga that soooo many people want, but will wait a little while longer to see come to life. Place that back in the cut between FOF and the forward Racer turnaround.
Throw in about 3-5 more flat rides (2 old school flats like an Electric Floor Drop & a spinning saucer that really spins for Coney Mall). Squeeze one into the Oktoberfest area and two between Rivertown & Hanna-Barbera Land. And my dreams would have come true. Well not exactly, can we PLEASE bring back the International Street restaurant and Blue Smurf Ice Cream.
rdmc - you can still get the blue ice cream - just no smurf. Try the booth right at the entrance to H-B land, across from Taxi Jam.
Get the blue/vanilla swirl with sprinkles, yum.
-----------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.
-----------------
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
I would like to see a Large B&M similar to Montu in the Pond/Antique car area. The station (themed like a giant cave) would be where the dolphin stadium was. The approach to the lift would cross over the pathway that leads into Rivertown. The lift would run parallel to the path going back towards Rivertown. The First drop would swoop back over the pathway and under the water, similar to Anaconda, back towards the station into a vertical loop parrallel to pathway but still over the water. At some point I would have a batwing cross under the pathway similar to Top Gun at Carowinds. The ride would have lots of cave like themeing and I would name it "The Screamin' Bat". I would paint it with dark rusty colors similar to Nemesis.
Jim
First off, I'm totally in love with the idea of having a B&M flyer over the Antique Cars/Pond area. Anything to get rid of those stupid geese! When I look at the pond, I think of the interlocking loops on Nessie at BGW. A couple of inline twists, one over the other, and a few nice dives down to lake level would be awesome. My only stipulation would be to have it filled with a sound dampening material and keep as many trees as possible.
Second... since MF was put up I've always dreamed of having a long Intamin hyper/giga starting from the turnarounds of the Racer/recaR heading out toward the Little Miami River. Basically having the same concept of the Beast, this one would use a lot of terrain, even dropping down to the river, if possible. A few floater hills and some great helices would be awesome.
Last but not least, PKI please keep adding those flats! I'm totally stoked about getting a Giant Frisbee installation next year. PKI is really offering something for everyone. Plenty for the lil' kiddies, thrills for the teens, and good times for the adults. I've already told the wife, "When we have kids, you'll find me and them living out there." :)
----------------
"Is it worth it, to play that game? Is it worth it to sell your name?" -- Jack Friday
Why do you think they are the worst? Too tame? Too big? Too small? Just curious.
Shaggy
-----------------
Shaggy
R.I.P. Maestro
Phantom Theater 1992-2002
Sure, the B&M Flyer or Invert are good possibilities as well especially around the pond area, but I see at least a junior hyper coming in the near future. If anything completely rounds out a park, I think this kind of coaster does it! I would prefer a new hyper to have its station where Days of Thunder is currently at, go back to the end of Coney Mall/Flight of Fear somewhere and then return with an interesting out-and-back/twister mix layout like SROS NE, Raging Bull, etc. Adventure Express and SOB are pretty tight in that area though, so I would have to look again to make sure something like I'm thinking would fit. There are still tons of trees around SOB, so a nice headchopping helix and bunny hops would work well there! :)
Danny
You must be logged in to post