SFEG Halfpipe Construction Photos

I visited Six Flags Elitch Gardens today during their “Season Pass Holders’ Sneak Peak & Private Party” weekend, and took some pictures of Halfpipe under construction. The track appears to be done, but it
is in the middle of a plot of dirt; there is no pavement, queue line or station as yet. For those interested in seeing it, I have put some pictures up at http://www.pbase.com/knappk/sfeg040417.

--Kevin

-------------------------------------------
Kevin Knapp, Colorado Springs, kknappcyclone@aceonline.org
Remove "cyclone" from e-mail address to reply

Thanks for the pictures... this is the last push to get me out to Elitch after seeing the park from afar many times.

Kevin - are you going to post a trip report? If not, did you ride Twister and if so how was it running?

Thanks!

Mamoosh,

Nah... no TR. I still think the new three-bench trains for Twister II don't track as well as the old two-bench trains, but it was running a little smoother and faster this year.

--Kevin

-------------------------------------------
Kevin Knapp, Colorado Springs, kknappcyclone@aceonline.org
Remove "cyclone" from e-mail address to reply

If Half Pipe is as close to Boomerang as it looks, its too bad they couldn't have turned it another 45 degrees so that it ran under the turnaround on Boomerang. That could've been neat. Anyone know what propels this thing? LIMS?

Yep, it is a LIM coaster.

Ah, but is it a coaster? Or just an over-sized Rock-n-Tug or Disk-O?

mOOSH [have can 'o worms, will open]

*** Edited 4/18/2004 8:40:13 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

I was also there opening day and took some pictures, but it looks like Kevin covered it pretty well.

Obviously Twister II had a lot of work done on the top section and the far turnaround, which I thought resulted in a very smooth and enjoyable ride. Running two trains was also a big plus!

To me, it looks like Halfpipe still has a ways to go. There still is no station, no cars, no queue, no testing etc. It probably won’t be another month until it opens (I heard around May 24th).

Oh, by the way, the park was freakin packed for a season pass holders event. Combine that with an Avalanche game going on next door, I was forced to park in the overflow lot, which I never knew existed. On the way from the overflow lot to the park, I noticed the blue and yellow cars for Halfpipe sitting there. I can’t wait to see this thing in action!

You weren't kidding about it being crowded... Though they advertisted it as a season passholder event, there were a ton of people there for some sort of military appreciation day. In fact, when I went inside the park, I was the only person I saw using their season pass - everyone else around me had paper tickets they were given...

Yes...it was crowded today and yesterday. Our line for Kiddie Coaster was an hour wait which I have never seen before. Sure does redefine the term "Soft Opening." Sure didn't help that Mind Eraser was down.

Just a note on the pic about the Bus, they play that song every hour on the hour now!
It's really quite fun.

On the service road on the way into the park you can see the "skateboard" for halfpipe. But I havn't seen them do much work with it. I'm thinking late May as well, but I have heard Mid- May so who knows.

Halfpipe looks like a real snoozarama. I'm yawning as I type this. Why would anyone buy this one? This concept is not really exciting at all. Looks like a sit down impulse coaster w/no twists. *** Edited 4/19/2004 8:27:51 PM UTC by Dragster Freak***

Dragster Freak - you realize the cars spin while negotiating the U-shaped track, right?

Well...despite my disapointment in TFC two years ago Halfpipe still has my faith. It's Intamin, I mean come on! It can't be too bad.

Looks like there will be some interesting sensations. 0g+Rotation=Fun? I'd think so... :)

It looks like a flat-out fun ride. What is there to complain about?

No, I was not aware of that. Thanks, Moosh. Now, that sounds a little more exciting!

I think it's a perfect match for SFEG, just seems kinda tight fit but whatever works.

I am thinking a hypercoaster going around the perimeter of the park would be a much better match (I hate having to drive to Texas to get my fix in), but sadly I think the odds of Lakeside building such a ride is better than SFEG doing so... *sigh*

I think it would be awesome for that too...but sadly I agree with you on that Lakeside thing. I am already surprised to see us getting this, a hyper or even a full-size coaster would be quite the shock. I have no idea what else they could possibly do after this as far as a coaster goes besides something around the park or through the park. *** Edited 4/21/2004 1:06:08 PM UTC by RubberDucky***

What are the specs on this coaster? i.e. speed, and height?