Wildfire - CoasterBuzz

Who's ridden Wildfire and how is it? I was looking at some pics on rcdb and it looks pretty sweet. But when I looked at the price it seemed unbelievable! 14 million dollars for a smaller B&M! You could get an outrageously sized CCI for that amount and probably get a better outcome from it!

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There isn't a problem that can't be solved.

Suicide is NOT a solution!

Ahhh Wildfire...the 'lost' coaster of 2001;)

. said:
Ahhh Wildfire...the 'lost' coaster of 2001

I totally agree. WildFire is simply amazing. It might be a small B&M but it still gives an astounding ride.

Fourteen million dollars is pricey, but you get what you pay for. And SDC got a wonderful coaster. B&M sure know how to build quality rides!

Is it the best B&M ride I have been on? No. Is it the largest, wildest, or strongest? No. Is it a good ride? YOU BETCHA! B&M managed to create a ride that will thrill coaster fans, but also made sure Wildfire is not too intimidating (or rough) to scare off guests less accustomed to "big" coasters.

When I talked to some of the managers of SDC, they seemed very happy with Wildfire. It was the parks biggest investment to date, but they seemed to think it was well worth the cost. (And I agree!)

I also think it has some of the most unique themeing of any coaster. I just loved to sit in line and talk to the Doctor!

If you are interested in more pictures:

http://www.coastergallery.com/2001/SDC11.html

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Joel Rogers
CoasterGallery.com
http://www.CoasterGallery.com

Wildfire really is the forgotten coaster of 2001, no one talks about it even though it is pretty unique considering there are only two other B&M sitdowns in the world. Maybe its because of its location since SDC is really in the middle of nowhere and does not have huge attendance. I hope next year I will get to visit SDC and ride what looks to be a great "mid-size" B&M.

sethman said:
Wildfire really is the forgotten coaster of 2001, no one talks about it even though it is pretty unique considering there are only two other B&M sitdowns in the world.

I totally agree that Wildfire is the lost coaster of 2001. I haven't yet experienced it, but it's high on my list of "must-ride" coasters. However, I must correct you on your statement about the number of other sitdown B&M's out there. I count 4 actually: Incredible Hulk, Dragon Kahn, Kumba and Wildfire. Personally I was hoping the SFNE coaster is a sitdown instead of floorless. ;) We need more sitdown B&M's in the world! :)

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Maybe its because of its location since SDC is really in the middle of nowhere and does not have huge attendance.

Yes, the park is in the middle of nowhere. But, the park does have very good attendance. In fact, it beats most of the parks in the region when it comes to attendance. As of Aug. 26, the park has seen over 1.1 million visitors. That's a record for the park (as it's an 8% increase from last season). Since the park is open for the holidays and the Old Time Christmas Festival is VERY popular, the attendance will most likely reach almost, if not more, than 2 million.

As for Wildfire, I love it. It has the best first drop of any coaster I've ridden (better than Titan and Mamba) and the Dive Loop is loads of fun. I too have also had my conversations with Doc Harris. He's perfect for the job.

Matt Laskowski

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yeah, I forgot to count Dragon Khan. I am really surprised that there are not more B&M sitdowns, considering how amazing Kumba was six years ago and the all the recogition that the hulk gets. I guess it is because of the huge sensation around B:TR and the B&M inverts. Tons of parks went after an B&M invert and so I guess you could say that the sitdowns were forgotten. Funny how there are two B&M sitdowns about 2 hours apart, thats the nice thing about Florida coastering.

Wildfire may have a higher price tag due to its location. It is built on a hillside. The view of Table Rock Lake from the lift hill is awesome. The first drop is great and rest of the ride while short is fast paced and intense. Rode Wildfire two sundays ago in the dark along with ThuNderaTion as the park is open from 1pm to 10pm and the coasters run as long as the temp is above 40 F. Both coasters are great in the dark.
As far as attendance, the park draws right around 2 million a year as it is open from April thru December. The park is in the middle of nowhere but is close to Branson which is why it has the high attendance it has. A large percentage of the park patrons are older retired folk there for the shows, food, and scenery so during the fall and winter the rides have short lines
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Jim Wolgamuth
Running for Mayor of Silver Dollar City, please vote for me.

*** This post was edited by JWolg on 11/27/2001. ***

as of now its the only coaster with a sitdown immelman. is superman in spain complete?

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NITRO!

Wildfire is, without a doubt, the BEST looping coaster I have ridden.

If someone came up to me this minute and said, drop what you are doing and lets go ride Wildfire... I probably could not pass it up.
Aside from the Superdooperlooper at Hersheypark, it is IMO the most under-rated coaster in existance.

*** This post was edited by Shaggy on 11/27/2001. ***

SFGAMDie HARD said:
"Who's ridden Wildfire and how is it? I was looking at some pics on rcdb and it looks pretty sweet. But when I looked at the price it seemed unbelievable! 14 million dollars for a smaller B&M! You could get an outrageously sized CCI for that amount and probably get a better outcome from it!
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There isn't a problem that can't be solved.
Suicide is NOT a solution!"

you could get at least too huge CCI's for that amount.

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"It's always great for us to put the newest and the best rides into the roller coaster capitol of the world" Sandor Kernacs 11/20/01

CaptainJoel said:
"B&M managed to create a ride that will thrill coaster fans, but also made sure Wildfire is not too intimidating (or rough) to scare off guests less accustomed to "big" coasters."

WOW! Sounds a lot like Great Bear at HersheyPark.

Anyway, likely the only reason there arent more "sitdown" B&Ms is because the floorless model rides almost exactly the same and is more visually stunning (think: advertising).
ciao,
moi
--My baby's got a secret...

I have not experienced Wildfire yet, but I know SDC, they would not build a disappointing ride. Plus with the rollercoaster GODS (B&M) building it. It should be a pretty sweet ride.
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So many coasters, so little time!

Does anyone have any pics of the layout? It is confusing me because of those Coaster Gallery pics.

Wildfire was simply my surprise coaster of 2001. In fact, SDC was my surprise park of 2001. Wildfire is prolly one of the better B&M's I've ridden, mainly because I'm not a big inversion fan.

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Jeremy Murphy
www.lonestarthrills.com

The first drop itself is almost worth the $14m price tag. A sweet ride. I suggest you drop what you are doing and head for my favorite park, SDC (It's open until Dec. 30 or something like that).
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Sit back, hold on tight, because Mamba is about to strike! Enjoy Your Ride!

Wildfire was easily one of the biggest surprises for me this year. I was expecting it to be good, but not that good. When Dollywood put in Tennesse Tornado in a couple of years ago, I had heard about a B&M coming to SDC. Having seen what Arrow did for Dollywood, I could not wait to see what B&M could do for SDC.

Wildfire has a awesome layout which provides a quite intense ride, and THE best B&M first drop I have gone down (out of all the B&M coasters in this country I have ridden. I am only missing two right now). Everything about the coaster is amazing.

-Sean

Wildfire...was fantastic! When I went this past June, I got in over 50 rides in two days! Its first drop is about equal to Titan's in my opinion, but that dive loop is absolutely awesome. Also, the helix at the end provided some surprisingly forceful Gs! I think if SDC landscapes the coaster, adds some trees in the track area, this would be an even better ride (especially at night!).
Now all SDC needs is that CCI woodie...
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"There ain't nothing worse'n when a woman gets pushy." -Ferris Layman, The Diviners

*** This post was edited by HyperManiac on 11/27/2001. ***

Wildfire has to be the best B&M looper in the Midwest... It packs a heck of a punch even though it's only around 3,000 feet. I have some photos in my Yahoo briefcase of my trip in August including videos...

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/cgodsey/lst?.dir=/Silver+Dollar+City&.order=&.view=l&.src=bc&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/cgodsey/lst%3f.dir=/Silver%2bDollar%2bCity%26.src=bc%26.view=l

When I saw the plans in late 1999, I knew it was going to be a wonderful coaster. SDC is in a perfect setting for all of their coasters to be wonderful terrain masterpieces. Just think of what a B&M hyper could do in that valley terrain below... :)

Just wait till you see what Dollywood has worked up for 2003!

CHRIS

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