Stealth being moved to Carowinds, Paramount's Great America to put water park in its place

I'm perplexed as to why they would remove Stealth, their star attraction, when that POS Grizzley is there... God, I hate that ride. Now their "star attractions" consist of two very short, kind of rough B&Ms, and a Vekoma Invertigo... Wow. IMO, PGA's coaster lineup wasn't spectacular enough to be getting rid of not just one, but two of their best coasters in two years, but that's just me. They kind of screwed PGA goers, but hey, they'll make more money... I don't think that I'll be planning another trip there anytime soon.

I really don't give a damn if it is used or not. It's a new ride to the park, something that is unique for Carowinds, or the Carolinas. I would be happy that the Park is finally getting a new Thrill Ride so that all you "Hyper Coaster in --?" freaks won't be able to complain that Paramount has fogotten about Carowinds. While I don't like the Stearnwheeler being perminantly docked (or several other park actions), I think this ride will really be a positive move for the park.

I also strongly disgree that Carowinds needs more Thrill Rides-12 Coasters is good enough for me. (Not that I wouldn't enjoy a Top Spin or Frisbee)

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"The Mountain Slidewinder. Voted The #1 Non-Rollercoaster Ride in America Amusement Business Magazine, 1991"

As a local, I'll shed no tears for Stealth's departure. Was fun the first few times, then once the novelty/gimmick wore off, just another rough unreliable low capacity Vekoma POS maintenance nightmare. To tell you the truth, I'm still more pissed that the classic train and awesome Tidal Wave were removed for . . . nothing!

I also think PGA gets the shaft of the chain. TopGunKen is right, Hypersonic was suppose to go to PGA, they even removed the train ride and Hometown Square train station to make room for it. Then yanked it away for a trim braked Arrow mouse (would've been nice to at least have gotten an expanded Mack Mouse like PKD and PC).

Last year, 2 cheap flat rides (where's our Huss Giant Rides?). This year, kiddie rides, and instead of a new family invert, they just repaint an old existing coaster and rename it Runaway Reptar, try to market it as new. And next year, second hand water slides (you just know they'll be PKI's hand me downs).

I could care less about Stealth leaving, but PGA just has too long of a history of going on the cheap for me to keep coming back. I'll continue to patronize SFMW where they deliver the goods year after year.

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"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"

Draco, well put! EXACTLY! I bought a V.I.P. season pass for the two parks (Bonfante Gardens) for the price of one, taking a good friend to experience both with their bring a friend free weeks for both parks. Gonna give Stealth my last rides today, before it heads for 'Carolina, and we get P.K.I's old water park. Next year a Six Flags pass for Magic Mountain (which P.G.A. will never come close to), Hurricane Harbor (which will be better than P.K.I's old water rides), and Six Flags Marine World in addition to the whole Six Flags chain if you can afford the travel...it's a no brainer. Out west if you want thrills, Six Flags is the answer.

SFMW should really take advantage of this and add a Superman Ultimate Flight clone soon.

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JOHN
RCT INSOMNIACS
KIMBERLY LAKE INC.

Hmm, I just realized that Jeff was talking about Top Gun and Vortex at PGA. Doh.

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Jonathan Hawkins
Starcoasters.com | ThrillSpot
Carowinds Connection - Unofficial Carowinds Site

What a shame, even more of the original Carolina theming of Carowinds ripped out. The last family transportation ride in the park is now removed for a second rate, poor preforming coaster at best. Paramount is the expert on how to de-theme a good them park. Its shame the original Taft mgmt doesnt still exist.

Sigh. Two things are assured every year at this time. One - some Carowinds enthusiasts will whine about not getting a hyper, and claim we get "screwed over" by Paramount. Second, we'll get whining about removing or retheming something 30 years old, and hear how Paramount has "screwed over" Carowinds.

They may want to go back to the "good ole' days" of KECO during the '80s which is when the theming actually went generic, most of the flat rides were removed, and the park didn't see a coaster of any kind for 12 years. I certainly don't. I'm not 100% happy with everything Paramount does, but it's a far, far better park than it was in '91. "Screw me over" with rides like Top Gun as often as possible.

Whatever we get in 2005, I can guarantee we'll have this SAME "discussion" yet again around this time....

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Ken

You're locked and ready to fly!*** This post was edited by TopGunKen 8/22/2003 11:27:58 AM ***

I'm with Ken and Jonathan. I'm sick of people complaining about not getting what they want. Remember people, Paramount could have done NOTHING for Caro and you wouldn't have anything new for 2004. I like ALL coasters and yes, some are better than others but I will ride them all if given chance because I love them period. Bring on "Stealth". I will love every inch of it and enjoy it.

BTW - What does everyone think it should be renamed too?

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"It's always better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it" - ME

Seriously Folks they can't take the wests only flying coaster! The east already has like all of them. This is rediculous!

Why would PGA remove their signature coaster? And move to PC. Yes i agree Silver Star the East has too many fliers.

Because they took our swings!

Exactly. You take our wave swinger and you pay the price. But yeah, I don't see how anyone at Carowinds can complain about this now that Canada's Wonderland has announced a Zamperla Volare.

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Jonathan Hawkins
Starcoasters.com | ThrillSpot
Carowinds Connection - Unofficial Carowinds Site

I was wondering where that busted up raggedy old faded wave swinger came from, PGA didn't even bother giving it a new coat of paint or anything!

The only reason I can think of for Paramount to make this move is because they now know what a certain small world class family theme park 20 miles south of PGA has up their sleeves with their 600 acres to expand on. After 4 years, there's no guarantee Paramount's contract to manage Bonfante Gardens will be renewed. Perhaps this is an attempt to make PGA more family oriented for when that little family park expands into a MUCH bigger world class family theme park.

And long before this announcement, I heard rumors of a S:UF clone coming to SFMW next year. Now it makes even more sense for SFMW to do this, capitalize on the fact that they will now have the only flyer on the West Coast, and a popular ride type with the GP that will be missing from PGA's offerings next year.

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"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"

SFMW just got Zonga,unlike SFMM that gets a coaster every year they probably won't get an S:UF clone till 05,especially if the rumors of SF not adding any rides to any parks in 04 are true.

But Draco, by their own admission, SFMW already *has* the world's first "flying" coaster, it's called Medusa. ;)

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Tease Alert!

*Something* wicked this way comes...to the west coast in 2004!

whoa, whoa, whoa...Super 7, i hate to burst your bubble...but Paramount does an excellent job in themeing. look at PKI and PKD's congo sections...and the themeing in their movie based rides...you wanna see an example of themeing gone bad? check out this neat little amusement park in Sandusky Bay...i seem to remember a wonderful Intamin bobsled ride that was inclosed to a space theme...now its like flying thru the wonderful world of cobwebs:)....and those wonderful colours on wildcat's structure and gemini's station really strike terror into the hearts of riders....:)

nah, Paramount does a great job with themeing. as does Six Flags in some cases (see Southwest Territory at SFGam..) the award for pitiful themeing goes to Cedar Fair....k im done:)

let the flaming commence:)

Tim...i vigorously defend my beloved paramount:)

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"Happiness is the City of Hudson!!"

Michigan r0x0rs! :)

Your right DWeaver! Even this past season, SFMW was still claiming Medusa as the world's first flyer. Interesting to see what spin they'll use when and if it does happen.

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"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"

I'm yet another person who thinks this is a really dumb move. For Carowinds, it's okay. They need a new coaster. But not if it means docking their paddlewheel ride. That I don't agree with at all, if that's the case. (Do we know that for sure?)

But for PGA, it makes no sense at all. Park's coaster counts are supposed to go UP over time, not down! And to take a decent ride out when you don't have many to begin with (and a popular one at that!) for a small water park? I'm scratching my head big time at that.

Well, here's a note to PGA. I head up north on a regular basis and I used to be a regular visitor to that park. And while I have made the trek up north for both Bonfante and SFMW (not to mention SCBB!), I haven't stopped at PGA since they took out the shuttle loop. And now, I have even less of a reason to go. In fact, I really have no desire to go back there at all now. I like Top Gun, and Demon, but 2 decent coasters are not enough of a reason for me.

They will have to build something really spectacular to get me back through those gates. And quite possibly, it'll take more then one new ride.

(This post brought to you by Coasterbuf. My name isn't showing above for some reason!)

*** This post was edited by 8/23/2003 4:21:10 AM ***

Umm...for those of you touting that SFMW delivers new rides year after year, let's look at the history books.

2002 - castrated impulse
2003 - Astroworld hand me down

It's not like SFMW is pulling out any major rides here.

In terms of PGA's Top Gun (was there yesterday, one trip in the front) I really like it. It is intense as all heck (B:TR levels), has a nice pop of air before the cork, and the helix out over the water is quite nice. The theming is actually rather decent as well.

Vortex is also pretty intense, but it's too short and not really interesting in any way. It gets the patented "cold fries bad" from me.

Stealth was the worst of the flyers I've ridden (XF, BW, S:UF GAdv.). First off, it was only running one train and they had a sign already made to indicate that (which leads me to believe it happens on a regular basis). The trains were fine (I've never had a problem with Vekoma flyer trains) and the layout was pretty good, but the in-lines and the helix are far superior to the corks. Stealth's one saving grace is that it had a pretty amazing face chopper moment after the turn after the loop. More flyers need face choppers, but it wasn't enough to make Stealth worth the 1.5 hr wait.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff