Zonga?

Wow. It's only what, two years old?

See what I get for not getting to SFMW sooner...or even to SFAW in time...

Bummer! Seeing people CHEERING the demise of an Anton only makes me wonder WHAT they are thinking. Sure, Wieland has been a destructive force to the old man's work, but still....no one makes Antons ANY MORE... :(

It's been there for three years, having opened in April of 2003. From what I understand the State of California does not consider a portable coaster to be earthquake proof and therefore will not allow them to operate it at the park. I'm not sure how it managed to operate for one year.

As far as I know there are no buyers for it. Amusement Today Editor and ACE member Gary Slade tried to line up buyers for it, but all the deals fell through. No one wants to invest a large amount of money in a 20 year old coaster. I don't know what SF plans to do with it.

I'm glad I got to ride it when it was at AstroWorld, but I almost wish they would have left it in Germany. There it would probably continue to run for a long time.

It was one of the most exciting steel coasters I have ever ridden. It really pains me to see it being taken apart, knowing it may never get reassembled.

*** Edited 5/9/2006 10:01:31 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***

Thats a shame, thats something I always wanted to ride, especially since I went to octoberfest when I used to live in germany when I was really young. (Im only 19 so I dont think I was there when it was but, just having been there for some reason made me want to ride this and everying saying how good it used to be) I heard Dick Knoebel was looking at Magnum Force (was that ever true, that would be an excellent addition) I wonder if he ever even thought of this one.

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GoliathKills said:
It's interesting to know it was so rough through the first two loops because as Zonga that was definately the most enjoyable part of the ride. Although the loop-screw was definately another favorite part of mine. :)

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The reason for this is because SF brought in premier to alter the first two loops before opening in MW. If you compare pictures it looks like they enlarged the loops between AW and MW.

I was lucky enough to get to ride it with only lapbars. It was intense but to date still one of my favorites.

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Jeffrey Seifert said:
It's been there for three years, having opened in April of 2003. From what I understand the State of California does not consider a portable coaster to be earthquake proof and therefore will not allow them to operate it at the park. I'm not sure how it managed to operate for one year.

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Seems like Marine World doesn't exactly do their homework before erecting a coaster. Lest we forget the V2 incident.

Well part of the problem is the fact that the former regime gave SFMW no options in what coasters went into the park. V2, Medusa and Zonga were corperate decisions based purely on economics rather than what was best for the park. That's why Medusa sits on a parking lot, V2 had to be redisigned to meet height requirements, and Zonga was basically plopped down there after the chain couldn't find another place to put it. They could've cared less what condition the ride opened in.

Obviously Shapiro took one look at it and wanted it removed. Hopefully whatever replaces it will fit what the park needs. Such a shame.

You're right DWeaver. That was how SF operated under the old regime. The head office decided everything, from the name of the new fast food stall to what new ride, where it is, name, colors, etc.

I'm shocked that no one has mentioned that the other rides on the ad are the old LV MGM Theme Park rides.

I had always wondered what had happened to those rides. Please someone buy the 250" Sky Coaster, I got the chance to ride it a few years back.