Volcano Valley debuts at Kennywood Park

I like the new themeing on the Enterprise, I believe they did a very nice job with that. Im just wondering what the "real" reason for the removal of the Roll-O-Plane is. Any guesses? Capacity, reliability, operations?

I don't know, but I'd never get on the thing because I find it odd they had to close it every day for maintenance. I'm not comfortable with things that can't run on their own for long periods of time!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

Seems strange to me that one of the more "traditional" parks decided to create a themed area. Not that I'm complaining, of course. ;)

I rode roll-o-plane last season for the first time with my daughter. It was the single most terrifying experience I've ever had on an amusement park ride - for all the wrong reasons.

The thing just didn't feel "right" - it seemed to be struggling, hard. Also if I remember correctly, there was a small piece of rope used to hold the door shut.

Hilarious fun, but it was the last ride I was truly scared on.

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www.coasterimage.com

that site never works for me, does anyone have any suggestions, or the same problems? i can get to the main page, but when i click on a link it just comes up wif the page outline/ background a pop up message, and one line saying gallery v1.0

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Colossus [1]
Nemesis: Inferno [6]

Did you follow the directions I posted on the front page?

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Joe Cernelli
Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
Phantom's Revenge Count: 104

It is funny that basic, traditional kennywood is becoming themed, while Paramount continues to de-theme their once well-themed parks.

Lord Gonchar, that wasnt a piece of rope holding the door shut. On a Roll-O-Plane, the seat belt is attached to both ends of the lap bar. The lap bar extends through the ladder rungs in the door. The door is latched with a spring-loaded catch. Once the door is closed, an Eyerly Door Key is inserted into the hole 3/8" from the end of the lap bar. So the Eyerly Door Key prevents the door from opening if the latch should fail, and the door itself serves as the lap bar latching mechanism.

The Eyerly Door Key looks like a very large R-key, but it is made out of a spring steel.

The Eyerly Door Key is attached to the outside of the door (when not inserted into the end of the lap bar) by a short length of rope.

I suspect that Kennywood opted to get rid of the ride because it has lousy capacity, it is a mediocre ride experience, and it is difficult and costly to maintain. It's good, but it can't carry enough riders to pay for its own operation. As for the daily shut-down...that's one of those rides that has to be re-lubricated after every eight hours of operation. That's probably at least part of the reason for the daily shut-down in the afternoon.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Old Kennywood has been around for a while, and it is themed. The theme is "traditional amusement park", but it is very deliberate, as opposed to the rest of the park, which just happens to be a traditional amusement park. :)

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

Thanks, Dave. I just have vague memories of the door and rope. Yikes!

Great fun, like I said, but man it sure was something to ride.

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www.coasterimage.com

The ROP had ultra-low capacity, and it still never had a line. Add to that that it had to be perfectly balanced, was a maintenance nightmare, and was painful to ride and that spells g-o-o-d-b-y-e.

It's for sale, by the way, if you'd really like it.

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If a double-decker bus crashes in to us... to die by your side, the pleasure the privlege is mine. -- The Smiths

Yeah, Joel, what do you think it'll go for? Im in the market for a Loop O Plane, not a Roll O Plane, though! :)

Nice Smiths' reference, BTW!

Find kpjb in this picture and win a dollar!*

*note: actual dollar not available at this time.

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If a double-decker bus crashes in to us... to die by your side, the pleasure the privlege is mine. -- The Smiths

On the right in the Volcano queue?

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Joe Cernelli
Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
Phantom's Revenge Count: 104

I'm a little curious as to how often you visit the park, because judging by the crowds, Kennywood isn't "in desperate need" of anything. As for your comment on theming the rides, I think the general public is smart enough to realize that Volcano is just the Enterprise with theming, but it does help regenerate some interest in the ride. Besides, when you theme any ride, it's still the same ride, yet people seem to like the theming.

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Joe Cernelli
Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
Phantom's Revenge Count: 106

Yes, those old coasters suck. Everyone hates the Thunder-thingy and the Jackelope, or whatever they are. What they really need is anything new... like a nice Vekoma Boomerang. That'll get the crowds in.

If themeing the Enterprise to the Volcano isn't gonna fool anyone, tell that to all the people in line. I've never seen enterprise lines like that on slow days. People like flying through the fog and rising out of the volcano... and the FX aren't even done yet.

"Duh."

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If a double-decker bus crashes in to us... to die by your side, the pleasure the privlege is mine. -- The Smiths

I was quite impressed with the theming done on King Kahuna and Volcano.

I hope Volcano will have lights on it soon, as it didn't on opening day. I also understand more is to be done surrounding King Kahunna as far as water effects and lighting. Otherwise, the new area looks great and fits in very well!

Didn't Steel Phantom also go down daily in the afternoons for maintenance?

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

yep. to oil the wheels.

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If a double-decker bus crashes in to us... to die by your side, the pleasure the privlege is mine. -- The Smiths