Starliner gets new life at Cypress Gardens

If Starliner hit's 70 MPH, My names George Washington.

I keep seeing that number spouted as it's speed. Perhaps Kent's exaggerating?

Chuck, glad the coasters found a new home :)

Dude what are you talking about it says height 70 and speed 55.

The article says, The Starliner peaks out at 70 feet high and reaches speeds of 70 mph..

Now the Starliner is back, at its new home at Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven. It took $4 million to purchase and move the coaster, according to a news release from the park. The design has been changed slightly, with higher banks and a sharper curve. The Starliner peaks out at 70 feet high and reaches speeds of 70 mph.

Dude, What's that say? and I've seen it in other articles as well.

Chuck

That seems crazy expensive for a used wood coaster.

Depends on what your looking for I guess Jeff.

The coaster has a long history and low maintainence cost compared to some of the newer gen out there. Im sure feasability studies and other things added to the cost of just moving and rebuilding.

Yeah, You could build a new coaster for 6 million and probably have a better one on your hands But I think Kent was at least partially into the preservation of this ride to do it.

Chuck

Is that based on your survey of maintenance budgets for wood coasters?

Well if anything, the coaster is known in the area. So for marketing purposes. But I'm sure they could have designed a copy. But how much do original designs cost?

Still, sounds like someone designed some modifications.

Compared to voyage? Uh, Yeah. It's a out and back that probably needs a couple sections a year replaces which is normal.

I also think it's a family ride geared to a family park.

Chuck

It probably hit 70mph coming down I-75 to central florida :)

$4 million may explain why Ken is overspending in multiple areas. That is way too much for a used coaster. You could have gotten a new ride for $4 million. Sounds like an inflated figure, and a GM holding the books.

That must be a hell of a tailwind taking that train to 70mph. I was thinking like 45mph, which is still respectable. mathematically impossible. Still, its great to have a wood coaster that is a proven good ride.

Haha SixFlagsKingdaKa! You're funny, but I'm SURE thats the fastest the *Starliner has ever gone in its LIFE! lmao =o>---- And in Recent news... Raging Wolf Bob's Get a New Life at Miracle Strip Amusement Park! As Quoted, "This was a $4 million dollar investment, and year it... it goes 70 mph... have fun!" ::rolls eyes:: it would be like hearing that for some! I love it...
*** This post was edited by xX eNeRtIa Xx 7/20/2007 3:27:12 PM ***

I imagine the labor costs in dismantling and rebuilding a wood coaster far exceed those associated with a steel because of the time involved. Still, the $4,000,000 does sound like a case of exaggeration for the sake of marketing.

One thing to think about. Florida is very much a hurricane state, and moving this coaster may have involved slightly more than taking the old coaster apart and trucking it to the new location. I'm certain building codes have changed since Starliner was first built, and that may be some of the additional costs associated with the move.

Agent Johnson exactly makes my point. And furthermore, if you talk to those currently engineering wood coasters, they'll tell you that they're specifically designed to require less maintenance than they used to, especially the steel structured ones.

Its so nice to see that another wooden coaster is saved . I thinks that so cool! It looks like its a very good ride. I hope it does very well in Floridas Cypress Garderns.

I know that Cypress Gardens bulldozed their kiddieland and relocated it with a new theme to "Bugsville", I wonder if that was in the price, too, and the reporter missed it.

Didn't Ken buy a new train for Starliner, as well?

Anyway, glad to see it running again.

Trains are $90,000 - $150,000. Cypress Gardens isn't busy enough to warrant more than 2. A year round operation is not going to require 2 trains non stop every day.

Kiddieland reloacation is an 'expense', not a capital project. You can't finance 'expenses'. That can be done day to day moving kiddie rides. Most competent staffs could move 1-2 rides a day, once cement pads are cured and electric is finished. CG isn't open to the wee-hours, so they don't need to wait for dynamic lighting, etc.

Their entire capital budget for fiscal 2007-08 may be $4 million, but highly unlikely with bankruptcy settlements and finalizing insurance recovery payments.

Great to see Starliner saved. When it was at MSAP, the tunnel bunny hop was the best airtime ever conceived on a woodie outside of Knoebels. Heck yeah worth 4 mil. ;)