What to do with Holiday Worlds Roundhouse site...

Ride of Steel said:
Whats the difference between a breakdance and a remix?

A Breakdance has 3, 4, or 5 spinning turntables each with 4 free spinning cars. Portable ones are normally on a tilt to enhance the spinning, and to make it look more impressive. MOST of the non-trailor mounted versions are flat.

The Remix is a totally different ride with totally different sensations. While it may look similar, the actual cars are not free spinning, and Remix can go MUCH faster than a Breakdance. Remix also has hydrolics on each arm that tilt each hub out for a pretty strong positive g filled experience.

Also, Super7, other people besides Marineland have Huss Magics. There are 3 (at least) traveling in Europe.

People are talking about Disk-o's and how they potentially too extreme?

Brian, who wonders if there was anyone else who felt Roundups were just Gravitron Jrs. *stifles barf*

Homey G. said:
People are talking about Disk-o's and how they potentially too extreme?
Brian, who wonders if there was anyone else who felt Roundups were just Gravitron Jrs. *stifles barf*

Thing is, Would people even be talking about the Disk-O's if they weren't extreme?

Trekker, this is Holiday World we're talking about here, not Kennywood. Kennywood has the facilities and experience to maintain their old rides because they've been doing it from the start--it would be extremely difficult for HW to just start making parts that were developed during the early 1900's. Restoration of a Tumble Bug would be even *worse* because many of the parts would need to be replaced completely, which is not the same thing as just fixing them when they break.

Second, Holiday World has been experiencing such growth because they've been adding rides that are highly marketable--I'm sorry, but I don't see myself driving from out of town just because the park added a restored ride that goes around in a circle.

Lastly, what makes you the maintenance expert? The Turtle burns out several motors when an op needs to stop the ride on an emergency basis, Octopus and Paratrooper do not (this occurred when a patron was on the platform when the ride was in motion). The Turtle breaks down if the operator tries to park it when it is moving backwards, Octopus and Paratrooper do not (directly from two operators of the ride). Each ride presents its own challenges, but parks with Octopus and Paratrooper rides don't have the problem that the Turtle does when parts need replaced--they aren't the only one in the country! *** Edited 9/2/2004 2:16:55 AM UTC by PhantomTails***

I don't want to go too far off topic here, but I'll back Trekker on this: the Tumble Bug is one of the most reliable/maintenance free rides that we run. When we burnt up those motors because of the incident mentioned above, it was still up and running a couple days later if I'm not mistaken. When a call comes in for the Turtle, everyone is surprised.

Conneaut has many problems. I know the problems with the Bug there, and without going in to detail on someone else's problem, I honestly wouldn't expect it to run again. Ever. That's just a result of their financial situation (compounded by having to lay their maintenance staff off every winter.) At a park like HW or KW, the problem would've been nipped in the bud and never snowballed to this point.

Holiday World takes exceptional care of their rides. I'd rate their coaster maintenance second only to mine. ( :) ) They'd do a fine job keeping the ride going.

To concede, though, for as large a footprint as that ride has, it's not enough of a draw. Holiday World, at its present rate, is going to have one hell of an overcrowding/capacity issue. They need rides that churn people through. It is also true that with the exception of a few history buffs and enthusiasts, no one will care if the park adds a Turtle.

They need a ride that will both boost attendance and not hinder capacity. The Bug resolves neither of those issues.

Hi

Disk-O! Disk-O! Disk-O!

mOOSH ;)

Trekker Park said:
There are obviously ways to maintain Tumble Bug / Turtle rides because parks do it.

Parks? As in more than one? How many parks in the U.S. do you know of that maintain Tumble Bugs? I know of one.

This is America. We may have exported thousands of jobs lately and closed lots of mills, but we still have several million gifted machinists with the equipment to make things. If a park needs a piece of equipment, it can find someone to make it, and it won't bankrupt them, either. Indiana has little shops everywhere --- it's the land of the 500, remember --- and some of those machinists would do it.

Sure those machinists would do it. For a price. Machining parts like that is an expensive proposition and I don't see any park making an effort to do that for a Tumble Bug. If it made sense to machine parts to bring a Tumble Bug back into service, you can bet that Knoebels would have already done it.

Don't get me wrong- I would LOVE to see a park install and operate a Tumble Bug! I'm not down on the idea at all. But as much as I love the idea of preservation, I can't blame a park for not wanting to get involved with a Tumble Bug.

*** Edited 9/2/2004 6:17:18 AM UTC by Rob Ascough***

There 'Moosh goes again proving gay guys like Disco.. ;) (sorry, bub, it was too easy post not to tease you about... )

Straight guys like Disco too. I'm just not one of them ;)

You're not straight, Rob? ;)

mOOSH [he'll get me for that one]

I'd like to say I'll get you for that one but seeing how my last comment was taken out-of-context I can only imagine the fun you'd have with that one!

Im not gay, but my boyfriend is!

When this thread was still on topic (a-hem!), a question was posted asking why the Roundhouse is being removed.

I guess I wasn't 100% clear in my earlier post, sorry. The ride was manufactured in 1958 and it's time to retire it. Replacement parts are not readily available; therefore the ride has been down much of the season.

We're not looking to replace it with a "marquee attraction"; we just need capacity.

Thanks, Paula

Paula Werne
Holiday World

Charles, my post was to say that even the ROUNDUP was too extreme for me. ;)

1958? The year of Christine, Stephen King's homocidal Plymoth Fury, I think.

Bill, why are you looking in Paula's mouth at her teeth?

I know a Zipper is probably the wrong 'fit' for Holiday World but would one fit in the location?

Well, it doesn't look like I'm going to convince many members that a Turtle / Tumble Bug would be a good idea. (Every time I go to Kennywood or any of the other parks that have one, I have to wait in line to ride it, but admittedly it isn't going to draw someone from Cincinnati to drive out just for it.

So. What would draw people in but still have high throughout?

What about a large Ferris Wheel? The ones at IB, KK and CP seem to push a long line through pretty quickly.

What about a really nice Carousel? It might appeal to families, and the ones at KW and CP can push large crowds through fast.

What about one of the circle rides? A Musik Express, or Himalayan, etc ? They seem pretty popular and push large crowds through fast.

One of the problems is that spot isn't big enough for many of the more spectacular rides. I don't think a Disco would fit.

I like the idea of a ferris wheel. Its something that the park would probably benefit from, considering how it is geared towards families. But its not going to be a ferris wheel...

Wow, Holiday World continues to give free stuff away to guests!

I couldn't hardly believe it after reading this site:http://absolutelyreliable.com/2004_08_29_rumorarchive.html#109388642114714598)

Nicotine Patches....

That definitely would keep some of those lurkers off the pavement that disobey the signs, but, if someone is use to a cigarrette, I'm afraid they may not want to use the patch.

I've also heard rumors that there are some complications if someone has a patch on and decide to go sit and take a smoke in the designated smoking areas.. something like twice the nicotine. *** Edited 9/3/2004 4:00:12 AM UTC by spraker@yahoo.com***

Brian S. http://www.vtdj.com

Not entirely sure whether you're joking or not....ARN&R is amazingly funny *satire*, not exactly what I'd call a "credible source for accurate reporting on the affairs of the industry".

bill, obviously trying to get the byline, someday...not satisfied with my fifteen minutes as "The Guy Near Hulk"...;)

You still have Zoidberg.... You ALL have Zoidberg! (V) (;,,;) (V)

I would love to see a Ferris Wheel in that location, From the top, I be the waterpark/Raft ride and surrounding area around the bottom of the park would be 200+ Feet bellow a Giant wheel. Now Im not talking a CP sized but one of the large ones that other smaller parks seem able to afford. (Knoebels/IB/Bessimer)

IM not sure what the future holds for HW. I know Will and the gang will do everything they can to make it more enjoyable but on some recent visits the un-enjoyable part has be directly from the parks success and is no fault of thier own. (Crowds)

Theres a fine line between profitablility and being succesfull. HW needs to expand. Perhaps add a Splashing Safari parking area and entrance. I can easily see a new coaster, Even a steel looper or mine train and several other rides added as well as more waterpark improvements and additions. The question is, How to do it? How quickly to grow and still be profitable in the process.

I think they have the right man for the job. Honestly I don't think hes made a wrong move yet other than perhaps underestamating the success of his actions and that isn't neccessaraly a bad thing :)

You go HW!

Chuck