I Have No Name

What of the future of the Northern Star Arena and/or the Safari Off Road Adventure?

For the first, if it isn't going to be used for concerts or other events (anyone recall the last time it was actually used?); I say demolish the sucker and put up a wing coaster.

For the latter, now that the Safari is back as a drive thru again; well .... I'm not sure on this one. Maybe they use it for busy days/private events and such (because the drive thru is only open 10-4)

Yeah it's something I've been saying .... why not have indoor shows in the summer to get out of the heat for about 20-30 minutes? Ditto for HITP shows.

As for the Northern Star Arena next to Bizarro; why not have shows there again? If not a concert, why not like a Monster Truck show (though where the trucks would be stored and such is another issue altogether)

Well when I went back in July (drove up after getting off of work; Maryland to NJ about 3 hours with Saturday traffic) I was only able to hit up 3 slides before it was nearly closing time.

I'd say more staffing and single rider lines?

So I see some of the FF nights it's open until Midnight

On a somewhat related note, what the latest at night you've ever ridden a coaster?

3 hours ago, 29yrswithaGApass said:

I like that ride and I hope they don’t get rid of it. The scariest thing for me about Batwing is that you don’t really know whether all is safe with the restraints until the train flips upside down at the top of the lift and everyone’s weight is put on the devices at which point it’s too late if it fails.  

It's unique for sure. One thing I don't like about it is laying on your back when it's going up the lift hill; because of the sun you really can't open your eyes.

I do know that Vekoma no longer makes replacement parts for the Flying Dutchman model, so that could be a reason why it may go away.

So I happened to see this yesterday at Six Flags America.

Two things come to mind here:

1. With back to school happening soon, staffing issues mean some rides may not operate because of reduced staffing
2. The park is like "Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo" it, Vekoma's not making replacement parts for Flying Dutchmans anymore; we're getting rid of this coaster.

What say you all?

Assuming the Dive Coaster at FT does get cloned at Great Adventure; where you going to build it?

Do you think Safari Off Road Adventure will return in 2022 or will the drive thru return be permanent?

On 6/29/2021 at 9:15 PM, 29yrswithaGApass said:

I hope an indoor show at the Showcase Theater returns this year for both Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. 

Yeah, I saw some kind of acrobatic show there in '19. Nice to be inside getting a weather break.

And also a trail along the Wild Safari route would be cool (or a hayride to the Switlik House).

Seems like an interesting trend; removing rides that can't operate year round (Shoot The Chutes/River Rapids) in favor of rides that can operate year round (Magic Mountain getting an RMC Raptor, Over Texas getting a Power Splash).

I could see this happening in 2022 for Six Flags America:

Batwing, Penguin's Blizzard River or Shipwreck Falls reaches the end of the line

I'll be there opening weekend!

Oh and happy 42nd Great Adventure season 29yrswithaGApass!

Damn! Big crowds for sure!

Now on concert nights, was it typically 2 shows (6 & 9 pm)?

Interesting that Joker and Cyborg have height limits of 77 inches (6'5") and Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth has an 84 inch (7 feet) height limit.

When I was at Six Flags America, I actually saw someone get height checked and he was too tall for Superman: Ride of Steel (said guy was 6'6" or 6'7"). You all ever see anyone get height checked for being too tall to ride?

I seem to recall reading that during busy days; there was actually a second entrance?

And wasn't it about 20 pre-fabricated containers/trailers used for the Castle itself?

I had also read something that La Ronde will not be building Vipere (formerly Green Lanter: First Flight) in 2021.

When I was at SFA on March 7, I saw so notice that ZF was being the ride/attraction removed. It'll be surreal to see it being deconstructed.

Nice work! Six Flags America is my homepark (I live in Columbia; about 40 minute away).

I'm looking forward to Harley Quinn Crazy Spin opening up!

On 2/19/2012 at 2:21 AM, 29yrswithaGApass said:

^ Hi Dan, welcome to GAH!

 

Check out this operating calendar from Great Adventure's 1981 season. I would love it if the park stayed open until 2AM like it did in the early '80s!

 

I don't mean to reply to a post that's over 9 years old, but .... holy frick! What a find there! Heck, I was born in 1981

Why a select few days of 2 am closings? Heck, I wouldn't mind riding Nitro at Midnight!

And also I saw your signature .... wow, you've been a passholder of Great Adventure longer than I've been alive (I'll be 40 in May)!

Zoomazon Falls closing took me by surprise. I liked the setting and it seemed to get decent ridership during Hurricane Harbor season; frick it first opened up in 1982! I'm assuming maintenance issues led to it's closure.

I would have expected the ride from Six Flags America that was going to be removed would have been either Shipwreck Falls (it seems these Shoot the Chutes are gradually being removed); Batwing (well maintenance on that is a pain) or Penguin's Blizzard River (maintenance and it's just dull to me. Plus the water there stinks!).

On 11/9/2020 at 11:20 AM, The Master said:

Partly because the dispatches are so slow for El Toro. 

Yeah, the times I've ridden El Toro; the people take too long and don't follow directions by pulling the lap bar down BEFORE fastening the seat belt.

In theory, ET dispatches should be quicker because of the strictly enforced "No loose articles" policy. 

I do recall that the Blue Batman side of the ride had the higher downtime because it used more LIM's (in fact, the Batman side didn't even operate for the 2005 season).

And of course, The Chiller had those OTSR's until '01 for the Robin side and '02 for the Batman side. Perhaps if The Chiller had it's own power source at the ride (as Maverick and Wicked Twister at Cedar Point do); the operational issues wouldn't have happened. Or if a modern version of The Chiller was constructed using LSM's?

But the ride looked very cool and the soft opening in '97 with all those sets of twins was very nice.

p.s. While I know the ride was eventually scrapped by Beto Carrero World; I did recall one of the trains was refurbished for use on Mr Freeze: Reverse Blast at SFOT.

How often do the Mr. Freeze clones stall like that?

I'm just wondering (and yes I know it'll depend on how the COVID 19 pandemic goes!) when 2021 opening weekend will be.

I know under normal circumstances, it's typically the last weekend of March or first weekend of April.

Yeah, the times I've stayed overnight while going to Great Adventure, I've stayed at a hotel 12 miles away.

Now if they did build a hotel on site, would they just carve out a chunk of the parking lot?

Even with the new trains (they look like the ones used on Sky Rocket II's); it still looks like it'll be a rough ride.