What do you think will happen to all of Magic Mountain's coasters?

I highly doubt SFDL is going to be closed, the lake, the concert venue and the fact nothing else is nearby is going to help that. Same goes for the rest of those parks with the exception of SFEG, which many considered to have died allready.

And as for all the concern about SFMM, well were coaster enthusiasts and that park happens to have the most roller coasters of any park so of course we are going to focus on that park.

Well, instead of complaining that SFDL and SFEG aren't getting enough attention in this thread, why not actually...you know - say something about them?

(Sorry, directed at BATWINGSFA of course.) *** Edited 6/24/2006 2:20:07 AM UTC by matt.***

The reason SFMM is getting all the attention here is that it's very rare to see a large park with such a large arsenal of coasters threatened with extinction. I know Astroworld was a large park but I believe it was among the smallest of the SF parks in size.

I think SFDL is in great shape as the entire package (amusement park, hotel, campground, performing arts center) is one heck of a property and would be very, very successful with the right owner who has the right vision.

Enchanted Village would also qualify as being a great property since you can't miss the opportunity for success as there are no large parks in the Seattle area. Again with the right owner with the right vision it could be rather profitable.

I never understood the move of Elitch to what appears to be a smaller site in downtown Denver (even though that was before SF came into the picture) so any kind of growth there is rather limited.

X Factor *** Edited 6/24/2006 2:58:08 AM UTC by X Factor***

I still think Elitch's issues go far beyond the size limitation of the park itself. I'm sure it doesn't *help* but surely there are other considerations going on here. Example A:

http://history.amusement-parks.com/Indiana%20Beach/Transfer/iboverview.jpg *** Edited 6/24/2006 3:06:07 AM UTC by matt.***

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BATWING FAN SFA said:
^^Yeah but havn't you heard? discovery channel doesn't produce coaster shows anymore.I guess the audience got sick & tired of seeing SFMM on each & every one of them,that & they've become obsessed with that american chopper crap lately.

Many people here seem to forget that not only is SFMM in danger of closing but 5 other parks in the chain are as well.I see absolutely nobody whining about the prospects of losing SFDL,SFEG or any of the other parks they mentioned which may be shut down but boy ohh boy when SFMM is up for grabs that's all anyone here is concerned with.

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I wasn't complaining because Magic Mountain was closing, which it isn't..yet... the topic was about the unusual terrain of the coasters and IF they could survive IF the park closes. SFDL, SFEG, and the other parks are all on flat land and IF they closed, the coasters could very easily be relocated to flat land at other parks. Magic Mountain, however is a different story.

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Touchdown said:
The fact that there has been very little outcry on this board about the possiblity of a mega coaster park closing just goes to show how much this park has alienated all facets of their targeted audience (could you imagine what would happen if CF anounced CP was closing.

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I agree, but I think any park closing is a tragic occurance, even one 50 times worse than SFMM. This isn't the park's fault, it's not even Shapiro's fault. It's the former owners who dragged this park down, possibly beyond repair.

But the park doesn't deserve this, and neither do the fans of the park.

Having witnessed a number of park closings in my lifetime (including Astroworld), if this becomes a reality soon, it's going to be an UGLY thing to see. Especially for those who grew up with the park, and carry fond memories of better days.

Luckily for So-cal enthusiasts, Knott's, Disney and an ever growing Legoland, will provide some healing. *** Edited 6/24/2006 3:33:04 AM UTC by DWeaver***

^Exactly. Unlike Houston post-SFAW, there are near by parks that people can still go to. Houstonians have to go several hours of drive time to go to a park now.

SFEG will probably become extinct. Luckily, there is a great traditional park in town. I was furious when EG left the original site and have not been fond of the new location from the get-go.

SFDL was an "ok" park. The only ride that I really liked when I was there was SROS. I found Predator rather rough as was Viper. Then the hang-and-bang was well a hang-and-bang.

SFMM was a fun park when I went, however I could not get over the amount of disrepair and jsut overall neglect that the park had. While I really liked the coasters, that was all there was. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think the future is looking to good for this park. Which really sucks because it was on my list of parks to hit when I take my Cal trip next season. :(

Touchdown, do you have inside information about the possible Dive Machine project in Williamsburg? Because the park hasn't announced any information that they are building a Dive Machine. And, they've never give a date for construction of the ride.

^ I would HATE to see the closing of SFEG, as much as the park left me underwhelmed, I would still hate it.

I think things have swung too far in the other direction, and even *enthusiasts* today speak in nothing but cold business terms when it comes to these things. I think it's a defense so that they don't *have* to actually feel anything. Then again, it's easy to speak that way when the news *isn't* about your homepark.

But first and foremost I am a coaster/park enthusiast, and proud to call myself one. While some of this totally makes sense from a business point of view, my enthusiast nature can't wrap my head around the possiblity of all these parks being bulldozed at once. It's a reality, I can't deny that, no more than I can deny that SFMM is in the toliet. But it truly saddens me that it's come to this.

Guess I'm just not jaded or grown up enough when it comes to this. :( *** Edited 6/24/2006 4:35:07 AM UTC by DWeaver***

Intamin Fan, theve gone before the Williamsburg town board for a height restrcition waver to build a new ride in the New France area, thats the fact, and for something that high its either a coaster or a drop ride.

However, the markings Ive seen on the sky ride by Le Mans proves its not going to be a drop ride :). The rumor is its a dive machine given Busch's exclusive rights but it could be any coaster at this point

Edit-Forgot about the markings
*** Edited 6/24/2006 5:28:54 AM UTC by Touchdown***

I grew up in Los Angeles and I remember Magic Mountain when it had the big costumed trolls running around and the only two roller coasters at that time were Gold Rusher, Colossus, and Revolution. Now Six Flags is poised to dispose of my favorite park like a used c_______m ????? The word APPALLING comes to mind.

I will admit the parks maintenance could use some improvement. No doubt about that. I mean what is the use of having the MOST ROLLER COASTERS (17), if not all of them are operational ?? But like a good marriage, you shouldnt bail out at the first or even moderate sign of trouble. I mean along with 4 other parks, doesnt SFMM comprise 60% of the annual revenue? Shutting it down would be like cutting off some vital organs.

Futhermore, I will miss the fact that it is one of the few Six Flags I know of that hosts a huge party every year for gays/lesbians to come at night and ride the rides. I mean sure SFGAM, SFOT, SFOG, and SFGRAD have their Gay Pride days, but Magic Mountain has the Odyssey Party which takes place from sundown til early morning. I love riding coasters in darkness and during the summer when the days are long that makes it difficult sometimes. Im quite sure other gay and lesbian coaster enthusiasts feel the exact same way. Worse yet, most of the ppl I saw at Odyssey Party '03 were in fact well over teenage years.

If the park closes I will feel as if a small part of history will be erased.

That history was erased years ago when the park began to be mismanaged and was ruined with poor operations and a horrible guest experience.

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CoasterHound said:
I mean along with 4 other parks, doesnt SFMM comprise 60% of the annual revenue?

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I agree with some of your sentiment here but with this one - I'm not so sure. If this statment is true, you're looking at SFMM probably in the 10% - 20% range (working on some big assumptions here, obviously) for the chain. However we also have no way of knowing exactly how much revenue translates into actual profit. I see what you're saying but I'd just suggest that the actual numbers are way more complicated than what we have in front of us.

And while I don't live in SoCal, as a gay man myself I can agree that losing an event like that blows but if you check out this website

http://www.gaydayswest.com/

there's actually events at just about all the major SoCal parks as well as quite a few Six Flags parks you didn't mention.

^^ Yes, when I went for the first time in 2003 I couldn't wait to get there. When I got there, 5 coasters were closed and the overall experience was poor. But I will say that erasing Magic Mountain to eliminate a minor portion of debt is quite foolish. Sell it, don't dismantle it!

Matt thank you for the URL to GayDays, but if you havent checked lately that website needs to be updated a bit =) And Marky, I dont remember suckin....er seeing you there that night. I was definitely there because I made it a point to come ride SCREAM. I think the only coasters not working were Riddlers Revenge and of course Flashback. I think everything else was in running order....EVEN X! Hopefully this year when I travel out there all will be in working order. Would be nice just in case this is the last year I get to see Magic Mountain. *** Edited 6/24/2006 4:58:38 PM UTC by CoasterHound***

Yeah, slightly outdated. ;)

It was actually the first thing I found after some quick googling, lol. *** Edited 6/24/2006 4:41:07 PM UTC by matt.***

The idea that Magic Mountain is beyond repair is ludicrous. Sure, Sharpie would have to be an idot to think he can turn the park around with a few new staff and some family friendly advertising. The fact is the park will continue to loose money until someone fixes what Six Flags broke.

It's no mystery the park needs a few new family attractions, so why aren't they doing it? My guess is new management has no plans to fix the Mountain and is looking for the most profitable route to dump the park. It would be a travesty beyond discription should they sell this land to build another stripmall or some desert bound housing project.

I find no amusement in speculating where rides will end up after this historic giant of a park gets scrapped. For people who live on the west coast this is their Ceder Point. How about a little respect, or even some anger from coaster fans seeing a park like this go down due to a company's outright incompetence.

Should Six Flags scrap Magic Mountain for their own profit, a Six Flags boycot doesn't seem out of the question.

You know...in all fairness, a lot of us have been boycotting SF for years now, and it has nothing to do with SFMM.

Well I did go to SFGAdv once last year, but for an enthusiast that's pretty damn close to boycotting, you know? ;) *** Edited 6/24/2006 5:09:43 PM UTC by matt.***

Closing Magic Mountain seems like a really bad knee jerk reaction. As bad as it has become, Magic Mountain has always been an icon in the roller coaster world. For me it started with the beginning credits of Step by Step. It would just be horrendous to close a park that has made such an impact on many of us. If Cedar Point can work the thrill park angle, why can't they? :(

delan - knee-jerk reaction? Do you really think Shapiro just woke up one morning and thought, "I hate SFMM...I think I'll sell it."

Let me tell you what will NOT be a consideration as Shapiro looks into selling SFMM:

1]How much an icon the park is in the coaster world.
2] How great the park's coaters are.
3] How great enthusiasts think the park is.
4] The fact that Tatsu just opened this year.
5] The fact that it has 17 coasters.
6] How great or little an impact the park had in how people became coaster enthisiasts.
7] How X is the only one in the states and should be saved.

Here is what WILL be considered:

1] Does it make money?
2] Does it contribute to the chain's bottom line?
3] Does it fit into the family rebranding plans?
4] If it does not fit how costly will it be to transform SFMM from a thrill park into a family-friendly park?
5] How costly will it be to market the new SFMM to a marketplace filled with people who have a bad opinion of the park?
6] Is it better in the long run to save the money needed to renovate and market and sell the park either to another party who will operate it or for the valuable land it sits on?

Remember...it was not long ago that no one expected Astroworld to close.

*** Edited 6/24/2006 6:27:21 PM UTC by Mamoosh***