Starliner?? - CoasterBuzz

Just wondering if anyone knows the most recent fate of the Starliner (Miracle Strip, Panama City Beach, FL). I'm wondering if it survived Ivan, and if there's still talk of somehow including it in the condos (yeah, right) or if some fine park has decided to buy it. My own opinion is that Disney should buy it and call it the Classic Woody (as in Toy Story).

Also, this is my first post. Hi, I'm Anita in TN and I ride coasters.

Thanks!

Hi Anita...Welcome to CBuzz. I was at Miracle Strip on closing night (as Hurricane Frances was closing in), and Starliner was running crazy good...especially in the front seat. The dragon tunnel bunny hop made The Raven's tunnel feel like a kiddie ride. I'm also curious as to how it weathered Ivan. It's a coaster well worth preserving.

I survived a Japanese typhoon and the Togo flat ride of death!!!!!!

So what's the deal? Can someone in the PCB area let us know if Starliner is still standing, being dismantled, or what. Thanks.

I survived a Japanese typhoon and the Togo flat ride of death!!!!!!

Maybe Knoebel's is saving it... Didn't Dick say something at PPP about saving a coaster? ;)

I've often wondered from time to time, how to write good poetry- and make it all... Work.

Thanks for answering!

That would be wonderful if Knoebel's saved it, even though I'm miles and miles from there. It's on my list of "places to go."

It makes me sad to see old parks close, but I don't really know what can be done about it.

Anita

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but it won't be going to Knoebels. There are possible new homes for the ride but none of them are in the Elysburg area.

Rob: I read the Dick Knoebel comment in a PPP trip report as well re "saving another coaster." My first thought was "What's up with Screechin' Eagle?" Huh? Huh?

In his On-Ride Central interview, he wouldn't either confirm NOR (more importantly) deny that Whirlwind was going. Any speculation on whether or not the comment is legit? C'mon. What's the WCFC know?

Why would we know anything? It's a STEEL coaster? ;)

But seriously... I don't know anything aside from the popular rumors that are going around regarding the removal of the Whirlwind and what will be replacing it. All that I do know is that there is a 99% chance the next coaster won't be another relocated wood ride.

Too bad. Knoebels and wood go together like, well, like two things that really go good together!

You must remember that both Screechin' Eagle and Starliner are out and back coasters that require a long streach of fairly flat land to reconstruct. Although I would not mind seeing either of these coming to my home park, I have no idea where they could shoehorn in either of those rides.

As for Whirlwind, I think I might be the only person who will miss that coaster, but I like the split corkscrews. Whirlwind was great when it first come to Knoebels, and still great that you never have to wait more than a cycle to get on. (Who knows, with Shockwave sitting in a field next to SFGam, maybe Dick and the gang will find a way to squeeze it in that spot...but lets hope he is smarter than that)

Knoebels and wood goes together as good as Richard Simmons and little pink tights. *** Edited 10/18/2004 10:08:33 PM UTC by L. Kris Allen***

To those people that tell me that "You Ohio State fans think your better than everyone." It's because we are. :)

Like they say, the Phoenix Phlies, the Twister Twists, and the Whirlwind Bl**s. It's amazing how much bodily damage can be inflicted on a ride that lasts about 32 seconds.

Knoebel's and wood go together like chocolate and peanut butter.... oops wrong park.

What's the latest word on Starliner? Is it still standing? If so, I still find it hard to believe no park has shown interest in relocating this classic and great woodie.

I survived a Japanese typhoon and the Togo flat ride of death!!!!!!

Good question! I've been looking for news about Starliner and the park in general ever since that final night, and have found nothing so far.

I agree that it would be tragic if no one stepped up and bought this excellent coaster.

It would be a good candidate for a small, independant park to step up and save.

The large corporate parks certainly have the money and resources to do this as well, although unfortunately they don't have much of a history of saving wood in the past. I would certainly enjoy riding the Starliner more than 99.9 % of the high-tech, expensive, often "gimicky" steel coasters that the corporate themers could install.

I'm hoping for the best but prepared for the worse. It saddens me that we could lose the Starliner.

On a personal note, Starliner was my 3rd woodie ever ridden when I rode it for the first time at the age of 5. My first 2 woodies were the PB Zephyr Jr. and Zephyr, which I sadly lost in 1983 when the Beach closed. I've been extremely partial to wood ever since those early night rides on the PB Zephyr at age 3!

My 4th woodie, the John Allen Tornado at Petticoat Junction, also in Panama City, is also defunct. My 5th woodie ever ridden, GASM at SFOG, is thankfully still rolling.

In hindsight, I am really happy I altered my travel schedule this past year to include 9 nights at Miracle Strip (scattered throughout the season), to say goodbye to the park and the Starliner, just in case those last rides on Sunday night, September 4, were truly the last...

Frontrider *** Edited 1/16/2005 5:31:16 PM UTC by Frontrider*** *** Edited 1/16/2005 5:34:45 PM UTC by Frontrider***

I wonder not only what is happening to the Starliner right now, but what is going on within the park? What has been removed, and are there any photos....

There was at least one interested party but since I haven't heard anything, I'm getting the feeling that the relocation plans fell through. My fingers are crossed but I'm finding it hard to remain optimistic.

Rob [or anyone] - an idea how it fared through the hurricane? I know there was a high tidal surge.

I heard that the coaster was okay, although that was never really confirmed with pictures, just word-of-mouth.

Mamoosh said:
Rob [or anyone] - an idea how it fared through the hurricane? I know there was a high tidal surge.

The PCB area wasn't really hit by the high surge (it was on the wrong side of the hurricane / or the right side depending on how you look at it).

Starliner is still there, along with the S&S turbo drop, log flume, several kiddie rides and almost all the buildings. The light poles are down, the roof's off the entrance building, but it basically just looks like a neglected park now. 2 semi trailers in the parking lot were the only signs of activity on Saturday.

http://www.acesoutheast.org/MSAP/2005/index.html

Hmmm...I could have sworn I read about a zoo in the Panama City area being flooded with the high surge and lots of animals drowning but perhaps I'm wrong. Good to hear some of the park still remains.