Pictures of Sky Whirl removal at Six Flags Great America posted
Posted
Six Flags Great America's Sky Whirl has been removed for a new Vekoma coaster. Check the photos at this unofficial site.
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Disclosure: I love the sky whirl, and I would rather not see it (or any ride) go but, I don't disagree with why its going out.
The Sky Whirl has a good reason for its removal. First off, ***according to maintainence at the park***, the main bearing, where all three arms attatch to and pivots up and down from is badly worn. The park (before the announcement ever came) decided to remove the ride before this part went as opposed to putting tons of thousands into it. (thats why it closed early)
Add to that the regular High cost of maintainence since there are only 3 of these rides, and the low ridership that has been decreasing over the years. The park would rather replace it with a higher capacity and more popular ride in the limited space that they have.
SFGA is people, in fact a business, and the Sky Whirl just doesnt get the people in the gates. So as I will miss my beloved wheel, I understand why it has to go. Perhaps one day, we will see a new large Vekoma wheel.
As long as numbers stay high, and cost stays down, there really isnt any real reson why parks need to take out rides. I think the Whizzer is safe until it becomes a mega hassle.
Make sense?
The Sky Whirl has a good reason for its removal. First off, ***according to maintainence at the park***, the main bearing, where all three arms attatch to and pivots up and down from is badly worn. The park (before the announcement ever came) decided to remove the ride before this part went as opposed to putting tons of thousands into it. (thats why it closed early)
Add to that the regular High cost of maintainence since there are only 3 of these rides, and the low ridership that has been decreasing over the years. The park would rather replace it with a higher capacity and more popular ride in the limited space that they have.
SFGA is people, in fact a business, and the Sky Whirl just doesnt get the people in the gates. So as I will miss my beloved wheel, I understand why it has to go. Perhaps one day, we will see a new large Vekoma wheel.
As long as numbers stay high, and cost stays down, there really isnt any real reson why parks need to take out rides. I think the Whizzer is safe until it becomes a mega hassle.
Make sense?
It's amazing. All my life I've been going to Great America. I've gone on the Sky Whirl at least 15-20 times. I never thought much of it, until now. Perhaps this is because this is the first ride they've removed that I went on and enjoyed. The only ride I remember that they took out was Rolling Thunder, which sucked more than the kiddy airplanes. I am old enough now to appreciate the Sky Whirl. To find out it was made by Intamin was an even bigger surprise. It never struck me that the Sky Whirl was a triple arm ferris wheel, but now that I regard it as such, I feel it is unique and very cool. Many memories of my childhood are encased in the parts and pieces are lying around SFGA.
The photographs of its deconstruction were heartbreaking, almost like I lost a very close friend. I did. If they ever try to get rid of the Triple Play or the Whizzer, I will become suicidal. Goodbye Sky Whirl! Perhaps someone will purchase you and repair you, so that a new generation of people can enjoy you.
The photographs of its deconstruction were heartbreaking, almost like I lost a very close friend. I did. If they ever try to get rid of the Triple Play or the Whizzer, I will become suicidal. Goodbye Sky Whirl! Perhaps someone will purchase you and repair you, so that a new generation of people can enjoy you.
I would like to say that I will not miss the Sky Whirl too much since it will most likely be bought by another park anyway. I never liked it that much although I would like to see it not go to waste. I have my own webpage dedicated to SFGAM (it is my screen name) so please visit it!
*** This post was edited by user.netomia.com/coasterman/ on 12/7/2000. ***
Odd to say, but I've always felt that Sky Whirl was arguably the scariest ride at SFGAm. I find more fear in putting my life in the hands of a single chain than any roller coaster.
Sad to see it go for those few times I was actually brave enough to ride it. and of course, not having eaten recently either.
My sister ran the ride for a year, they lovingly called it the Sky Hurl because you could be assured someone would throw up every 5th time.
When I worked there in 1990-1992 there was a time when one of the motors broke down and it was rumoured to have costed over $80,000 to replace.
Sad to see it go for those few times I was actually brave enough to ride it. and of course, not having eaten recently either.
My sister ran the ride for a year, they lovingly called it the Sky Hurl because you could be assured someone would throw up every 5th time.
When I worked there in 1990-1992 there was a time when one of the motors broke down and it was rumoured to have costed over $80,000 to replace.
Raymond,
You are correct about the motor breaking down sometime during 1990-1992, since I worked there as well, I remember the one arm being being down from the middle of the summer to the end of the season. In fact, it was 1991, since that was the first year of Fright Fest. The reason I know this is that year they put all kinds of skeletons, ghouls, ect in the broken arm of Sky Whril (since people could not ride in it, but the ride did function otherwise...just the one arm did not spin).
Unfortunally, I never heard how much it did cost to fix, but what I got told by the park was the reason it was down for so long was that the part (the motor) had to COME BY BOAT to the US from Germany! That tells me that parts for the ride were getting hard to come by.
--Brian
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Brian A. Plencner
E-Mail: saurses@home.com
You are correct about the motor breaking down sometime during 1990-1992, since I worked there as well, I remember the one arm being being down from the middle of the summer to the end of the season. In fact, it was 1991, since that was the first year of Fright Fest. The reason I know this is that year they put all kinds of skeletons, ghouls, ect in the broken arm of Sky Whril (since people could not ride in it, but the ride did function otherwise...just the one arm did not spin).
Unfortunally, I never heard how much it did cost to fix, but what I got told by the park was the reason it was down for so long was that the part (the motor) had to COME BY BOAT to the US from Germany! That tells me that parts for the ride were getting hard to come by.
--Brian
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Brian A. Plencner
E-Mail: saurses@home.com
I always go to SFGA. Its the best. My favorite ride is the Raging Bull. But the new coaster should be realy cool. I can't wait. I think that the sky whirl should be put some where else or reserved. Or here is another idea. Re make it with new parts and put it in a different place. GA have used their parking space for R.B, S.W so why not do that again. Its not as big as other coasters. Thats what I think. Anyway I cant wait to ride the two new coaster!!!!
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