Texas SF parks opening earlier than normal?

SFOT opens this weekend, Feb 13th

SFFT opens in a couple weeks, Feb 26th

Just seems earlier than previous opening days. These parks since they have Holiday in the park are almost open year round now.

SFOT is opening this weekend because the NBA All-Star game is here. I think this is a trial run for Super bowl weekend next year. The regular season starts on March 6, which is pretty typical.

February 26th weekend is early for Fiesta however, and I wonder if that is a misprint.

Besides opening dates for SFOT, have there been any new specifics with the rebuilding of Giant?

Since the Texas Giant isn't scheduled to open until the 2011 season, it seems to be pretty much off the radar right now.

Giant details are revealed little by little and usually raise more questions than they answer. It's like watching episodes of Lost. The latest detail they released is that guests would begin the experience from the moment they enter the queue and would continue until they exit the ramp.

Texas Giant will *apparently* may be using the newer method for assembling the track/bed on-site...this is the method being utilized for the re-build of Puyallup's Coaster Thrill Ride. It is a compromise solution of sorts between the decades-old stacked 2x6s with rail attached later and the newer laminated trackbed method employed by Intamin on El Toro (and several other rides). The trains will be the next-gen Gerstlauers - which we've heard (a few) positive reviews from those who've ridden in them. For a pic of the new trains, go here (Mammut): http://www.rcdb.com/4065.htm?p=21644

signed, a Giant fan (actually only 5'10", hehe)

Well, if Giant gets an El Toro treatment and theming like Terminator Salvation, it sounds like we have a winner on our hands.

Great Adventure is opening earlier this year too, March 27nd. The last time they opened in March was in 2006 on March 31st.

I think a lot of parks are trying to get in on the spring break crowds.

I know that this is prime time for disney, so the other parks may be on to something.

Looks like the website is in error. According to the information phone line Fiesta Texas opens on March 6, the same as SFOT. That's more in line with the typical opening date. Spring Break in Texas is a huge business time.

I think SFGAd is opening early because Easter is earlier in April this year, and NY and Philly schools are off that week. Granted, Easter can be earlier, but I think if it is too early, SFGAd doesn't attempt to open. The first week in April seems to be right around the threshold.

Gator, that was one of the proposals for the Giant from Cordes. But Cordes was not awarded the bid. They've told us us the new track will utilize a system that we have not seen before and that it will be patented.

Like I said, all we get are mysterious tidbits...

Chitown said:
Well, if Giant gets an El Toro treatment and theming like Terminator Salvation, it sounds like we have a winner on our hands.

El Gianator?

^^Thanks for the update/correction. This thing just keeps getting more mysterious. Do you happen to know who DID end up getting the bid?

If this was Hercules, I wouldn't have even been that curious... ;)

So does that make Bill, an average sized giant Giant fan?

Rocky Mountain Amusements of Idaho will be handling the Giant renovation. This is the same company that built (assembled?) El Toro.

Idaho, huh? Do you, or anyone else, know if there's any connection to that coastercat guy (i.e., Jeff Hammersley)?

I don't know about anyone else, but I tried to get to the park on Sat. and it was closed for inclement weather even though it was warmer than Holiday in the Park usually is and all the rides were cycling (I assume they couldn't get all their testing in because of the snow on Thursday and Friday). I tried again on Monday and was told the park had closed due to inclement weather (again, warmer than Holiday in the Park) and noticed the parking lot only had about 100 cars in it (I assume they just didn't have enough people on a Monday to stay profitable so they closed an blamed it on the weather).

They stayed closed on Saturday to finish cleaning up the damage from the heavy snow. They had a number of collapsed awnings and shade structures and fallen trees.

We tried to go on Monday, but the phone message said the park closed at 1:30 p.m.