The real "What is Holiday World up to?" thread

Chuck I think you meant baby harp seal.

Country music rules!

But back to HW, I certainly don't want to burst any bubbles (especially yours Paula), but I will be extremely dissappointed if that $12million doesn't include a rollercoaster. I know there is more to a theme park than just great coasters, but the roller coasters are really the only thing that deserve this much hype. I sure hope HW doesn't let me down after getting me all built up!!!

Ok guys and gals, Roadkill is out for the stew.

Chuck

John,
I know that there is no way that we will be disappointed in HW's use of the $13.5 million. I have full faith that Paula, Will, Mrs. Koch, and all the gang have plans that will not let us down. They know what they are doing. They have proven it year after year after year!

Andy

Andy where did you get the $13.5 million figure? How much did Hades costs? Can a steel structured woodie taller than 160', longer than 5500' be built for less than $8 million with a 2 or 3 train operation??

Why do we need a taller or longer structure? I would love to have another ride akin to Raven or Legend, mostly to take some of the ridership of those rides, and ,of course, supplement them.

Anyone want to summarize what we know so far. Sorry it is getting confusing figuring out all the stuff with 666 posts. I think the rumor is that it is going to be a new wooden coaster at Holliday World in 2006.

I have some thoughts. It should be a good ride if it is that. I think it will be the Gravity Group because of their past relationship, but GCII would be fine also. It might be similar in size to Legend or a little bigger. The announcement can not be too far away.

David *** Edited 6/4/2005 4:09:26 PM UTC by Beast Fan***

GCII has some former CCI people as well, but I agree that GG is more likely.

I have it figured out! HW is going to spend $3.5 million on a new wooden "splash down" coaster and use the other $10 million to fill the splash down area with stew. You thought that walking around the park wet after riding raging rapids was fun. Just wait until you experiance the joy of wandering through the Halloween section covered in beef, potatoes, and pork fat. I can't wait! (Paula, If I make a suggestion. Please forbid stew covered guests from riding hallowswings. The flinging effect could get messy and small children could get hurt. The very thought of airborn baby carrots and falling mutton frightens me. I am going to stay on the howler all day)

If Holiday World is indeed building a coaster, I personally would love to see a hybrid layout of sorts. The first half would be the "out" and would feature huge, perfectly engineered floater hills a la Shivering Timbers. The "back" half would be more akin to the terrain layouts of Raven or Legend and would crossover countless times while rampaging through some of the wooded area out there. I think something like this would nicely accentuate the two awesome coasters they already have.

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Pink Floyd Fanatic said:
Andy where did you get the $13.5 million figure?

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Check the Holiblog! http://www.holidayworld.com/holiblog/holiblog.html

I got a message relayed from RRR last night that people are saying this coaster is gonna take the longest record from the Beast. And that it is a Gravity Group woodie.

Just saying what was said by a bunch of people.

Katie

I hope it is not the longest wooden coaster in the world. I know the amusement park industry is a competetive business, but that would be a slap in the face to the Beast and Paramount Kings Island.

Rides like Raven or Legend are inspired by the Beast. The idea of having a wooden coaster speed through a dark forest, with tunnels is what made the Beast famous and found on both Legend and Raven. Legend even had a tunnled helix, which is another feature the Beast is famous for.

So it is one thing to build rides inspired by a true Legend (The Beast). However it is another thing to take away a record that has held for like 26 years. When Paramount Kings Island built the Son of Beast, they likely made sure that the length did not exceed the Beast, so they stopped at 7000 or so.

I probably will not go to Holiday World if it is the longest wooden coaster. I rather have a ride be 7300 feet of track, then 7500 and be the longest wooden coaster.

David *** Edited 6/5/2005 12:28:47 PM UTC by Beast Fan***

Aren't records made to be broken? I don't think it would be a slap in the face. I think it would be a competitive move on Holiday World's part, especially given their proximity to PKI. I am not saying the Beast should not be respected. But why is it that just because it has held the record for so long nothing else should be able to surpass it? So IF HW would make a coaster longer and better than the Beast, then other parks should strive to make one bigger and better. I am not saying that bigger is better though. BTW I think SOB was made as a marketing ploy and probably stopped at 7000 or so because of budget.

I definately think it is a slap on the face. Certain records are made to be broken, but for what the Beast has ment to the industry, that would be disrespecting it. Also there are several issues I see with building a coaster that big.

Holiday World is not that big of a park and does not have the resources or money of a park like paramount Kings Island. They can maintain two medium sized wooden coasters and do a great job with that. However lets see how easy it is to maintain a 7000 foot long wooden coaster.

There is a reason Paramount Kings Island is the only part with two wooden coasters over 7000 feet of track. They are probably the only park that has the resources and the top notch wood coaster maintance to handle it. Holiday World has no idea what they are getting themselves into. If the cost is 13.5 million that is more than what most major parks are putting in. You might want to get more than 2 million guest before you put in 10 million plus attractions.

What is wrong with a good sized wooden coaster, around 5000 feet long, thought the woods. Bigger is not better, and trying to top the Beast does not always work (See Son of Beast). Let the major parks put in the big wooden coasters and let holiday world stick to the more medium sized ones. Raven and Legend are both top ranked rides. I know I won't be there in 2006 if it is the longest and I hope others do the same.

David *** Edited 6/5/2005 2:19:34 PM UTC by Beast Fan***

Do you actually think that PKI has TOP NOTCH coaster maintenance? I think not. If they did those beautiful eye candies, wouldn't hurt like hell. And wouldn't be trimmed to death. If Holiday world built the big one, then hey im all for it. Especially seeing that they CAN take care of their coasters. And keep them running as they should be.

Katie

CoatinKatie:

I was a ride operator on the Beast and know some of the wood coaster manintance people that worked there. I don't think there are better people then Chris or Bub. They love their rides and take the best care of them possible.

I think what you are missing the point is that they have the most wooden coaster track of any park and probably two of the hardest wooden coasters to maintain. They are the best at what they do and I am sure Holiday World's wood coaster maintance knows that and ask them questions. Just ask Paula she might know.

The reason for trims on the Beast, has nothing to do with the expertise of wood coaster maintance at PKI. The Beast trains are not that great at taking curves, and to perserve the track and structure for many years to come, it is needed. When they did not have the magnetic brake on the first drop in 2002, the Beast was running much rougher than normal. The turn after the first drop had to be completely retracked, and they added a magnetic brake on the first drop around late August that year.

Son of Beast, I don't think any park could maintain. PKI does there best, but it is a work in progress. If any park can make it smooth they can. Don't say I told you so, when in 3 years the new wooden at Holiday World is rough. *** Edited 6/5/2005 2:37:29 PM UTC by Beast Fan***

Wood coasters aren't supposed to be smooth. They are supposed to be rough. But not un-bearable.

Ok, thought you were knocking HW's maintence crew. Sorry about that ;-).

Well if the beast cars aren't tracking well, why don't they just get new trains that can run they way that coaster should? Doesn't that make sense?

SOB, I hear they pour money into that thing like water to a glass. They can't keep up with it. I agree a work in progress. I understand they wanted to build another big woodie. But they were too big for their pants, and I think they are just starting to realize that, because a lot of their money is going down the drain, for a coaster, that will never honestly, in my opinion be top tier.

Katie

CoasterKatie:

New Coaster Car cost around 500,000 to a 1 million. Not that cheap to just get rid of 3 perfectly fine trains, and buy 3 new ones. Maybe eventually the Beast will get new trains but not anytime soon.

Really why shoud it? It is consistantly ranked in the top 10 wooden coasters. The ride is loved by coaster enthusiasts and the general public. I rode it last night front seat, and it was great. Still my number 1, with Legend second, and Knobels Twister 3.

I don't know why people perfer the Raven to Legend. Legend is a much superior ride. It is much longer, has much more interesting layout, a helix, more tunnels. All Raven has is a little more airtime. What is so great about airtime anyway. I never come off the Beast saying that sucks, it had no airtime. I guess I like laterals. interesting layouts, tunnels, and not just bunny hills.

David *** Edited 6/5/2005 2:47:13 PM UTC by Beast Fan***

If you honestly think PKI has the best wooden coaster maint. staff, you need a check up...from the neck up. I have never been hurt as bad as I was by the PKI woodies last Wednesday. If a wooden coaster ride is supposed to feel like you are going ober chug holes at excessive speeds, count me out.