The Ghost with the most on the West Coast, refurbed from pillar to post...

Restoration Central - GCI project.

Snippet: "As part of the construction, the mid-course brake run will be removed, allowing riders to enjoy a relentless, ride from the moment the train descends the first 108 ft. drop to the moment it returns to the station’s new, smooth magnetic brake run."

I was fortunate to have top-5 quality rides in its early years, and look forward to Ghostrider *and* Revolution being restored to their former glory...SoCal is a destination for 2016!

I just posted something about this over in news. Not too sure how I feel about the MilF trains. Wildcat sucks.

I don't understand how you make the leap that because Wildcat sucks, this will suck.

Very interested to see this refub, not only because I live in SoCal, but because this was a top 10 ride when it opened (maybe even top 5 for me). Is this the first ride with MilF's that has a straight drop? I think so. I know that was something that was never going to happen back in the day, so I'm VERY intrigued about that.

From the minimal views I've had it doesn't look like too bad of a re-profile. The areas of "improvement" were where you'd expect, redone "helix", etc.

Anything will be an improvement. The ride was unrideable in its prior condition. Even if it were Wildcat Suck (which it won't be, so not sure where that's coming from) it would be an improvement over what it was.

In my experience, the closest comparison of different trains on the same track is Roar at Six Flags America with PTC trains and Roar at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom with Millennium Flyer trains. MF is the winner hands down.

One could argue that the tracks were maintained differently. Being that both coasters are owned by the same chain lets assume they were cared for (or not cared for) equally.

Kudos to Knotts for the whole overhaul of the whole area. It seems that the roller coaster is not the only thing getting love.

The whole area is getting more interactive and they are refurbishing the chicken restaurant as well.

Cedar Fair has recently done a lot of refurbishment to the park and some of its rides. They seem to care a lot about preserving some of the most important areas such as a hotel breakers and now Ghostown which really was Knotts Berry Farm getting into the theme park game. Very cool stuff.

If they're taking the mid course brake out they're also reducing its theoretical capacity. To those more familiar with Knotts, what's a typical Ghostrider queue like?

Jeff said:
I don't understand how you make the leap that because Wildcat sucks, this will suck.

Wildcat was switched to Millennium Flyer trains and now the ride isn't very fun. Ghostrider is switching to the same trains. The ride will be different because of said trains.

Gwazi also switched to these trains, and it didn't magically become better either.

So, yeah, I'm hoping that the changing trains will not make one of my favorite wooden coasters suck. If past precedent has any indication, it may.

Awww Tek, you're such a 'glass half empty' dude. I can speak to Gwazi because rode it before and after the milflyerification. It went from back breaking hell to mild suck - so I think that's an improvement. Plus they are doing some significant reprofiling, so I'm hoping for the best.

Wildcat and Gwazi didn't run particularly well in the first place. The Ghostrider story isn't just a train swap, it's a total rehab project. I don't see any logical reason why the outcome would be the same.

Wildcat and Gwazi got rough over time. Are you not aware of Ghostrider's reputation of the same thing? Yes, Ghostrider is getting a complete retracking and some reprofiling. Which is why I stated that I wasn't sure about how I felt about the MF trains being put on it.

But (logically), based on past information of 3 coasters having switched to some form of MF trains, none of them shot to the top of the coaster enthusiast charts. Based on what information we have, logically, it is possible I may not like the ride as much with those trains.

Then there's physics. Ghostrider ran 2 bench PTC trains. It is going to feel different based on that alone, now that the trains will be different. That's totally logical. Also, they're completely tearing out the track to replace it, and they're reprofiling the coaster. They did similar things to both Thunder Road & Hurler at Carowinds. In those cases, it made those rides better, but they continued to run PTC trains.

And this isn't something against MF trains or GCI. I love those trains...on coasters that were designed for them. American Thunder & Thunderhead are 2 of my favorite coasters. I really like the majority of the coasters GCI has built, and don't hate any of them.

So, my opinion is that I hope I like it as well or better with the MF trains as I did with the PTC trains, as the ride is one of my personal favorites. But based on the information I have, my logical conclusion is that it is possible that I may not like it as much.

I don't think it will effect capacity, they only ran two trains and most of the time were not sending the next train out without a little bit of stacking at worst/just as the next train was approaching the final break run at best. They should still be able to run that way.

Tekwardo said:

But (logically), based on past information of 3 coasters having switched to some form of MF trains, none of them shot to the top of the coaster enthusiast charts.

Yeah, I get that, but those rides didn't undergo any significant refurbishment or reprofiling either.

Okay. That doesn't change the fact that it could and probably will significantly affect the ride. There's the whole part about it being different trains and how physics work, design changes, etc.

My opinion is still that there is a chance that those trains could make the ride suck. There is past precedence that changing to those trains has made a ride boring to me. Disagree all you want, but based on the information I presented, that's my opinion.

So you're saying they should keep those PTC trains on the ride? Because that worked out so well the first time?

... or just wait until the ride is finished, then ride it, then form an opinion?

In (rare*) defense of Tek, all he said was (bolded emphasis mine):

Not too sure how I feel about the MilF trains. Wildcat sucks.

I didn't read any definitive conclusion in that comment that Ghostrider will absolutely suck.

*because jerk ;)

THANK YOU! Seriously. All I said was that I WASN'T SURE how I'd feel. You know...until I actually ride the ride. There's a chance it could suck. Wildcat, which I have ridden, sucks.

And I'm not even commenting on how the ride works out from a maintenance standpoint. What I know is that on my trips to Knott's Berry Farm, I absolutely loved Ghostrider (my last trip being December 2012). It is in my top 10 coasters. Forgive me for having some mixed feelings on major changes coming to the ride. I recall many people having similar feelings when RMC first did what they did too.

I don't need to freaking ride the ride to NOT BE SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT A CHANGE YET (The implication being that I won't know until I ride it).

It was the "Wildcat Sucks" part that got the response, NOT the first part.

Because you know, Wildcat has absolutely NOTHING to do with Ghost Rider. A ride that has been majorly beat up by the California sun, heavy PTC trains, and it's own earthquake dense structure.

Jeff wasn't the only one that went "huh" on that one.

I should add, I recently took a backstage tour of the Ghostie construction site. The new MF trains aren't just for improved tracking, but also guest comfort and improved loading times, the PTC were horribly slow to load and uncomfortable.

Also bottom line, it doesn't matter what trains you put on Ghost Rider, because of it's year round conditions, it will require extensive work every 2 years, which the park is committed to.

I'm very impressed with the work Knott's is doing, especially the Ghost Ridder restoration.

This isn't an RMC conversion to a steel coaster, this will keep a classic wooden ride true to it's roots. I'm surprised all the wood coaster fans on here aren't coming out of the woodwork with praise and excitement.

It could also mean that Cedar Fair appreciates the contribution a good wooden coaster makes to the park experience and it may mean good things for other classic wooden rides in the chain. I'd love to see what GCI can do for Mean Streak with a reprofile and new MF trains.