The State of the Park Going Forward

[rceracreations]

I suppose I'm one of those folks that pines for SFGA to become something of it;s former ambitions while knowing full well this is merely a pipe dream. Granted, there are many things to be excited by with a collection of world class coasters and promising new attractions, however anyone will admit that this park is in a constant tumultuous state that begs to "find itself'. A cohesive lack of creative vision may be something we just won't ever see under current SF management as ticket sales depend largely on the next thrill attraction versus creating and maintaining themes. I think of the Golden Kingdom and it's rather ambitious theming for a SF park. While it seemed like this area could have marked a turn for a greater vision for GADV, we've watched as year after year rides, attractions, shows, structures age poorly, are removed, replaced or altogether abandoned.  My thought, or question for a new topic is, were there budget to do so how would you "Tie this place all together", get rid of dead weight, fix or embellish on lackluster areas? Bring back entertainment or provide more interesting experiences for all rather than just thrill seekers? How might you imagine SFGADV becoming something of its original promise as a travel destination?

Edited September 18, 2017 by Yoshi
Edited all capitals thread title

[Medusa42]

New Jersey going forward, but I wouldn't mind the park being annexed by Pennsylvania so they can get rid of some of the rules imposed on the park by New Jersey.

 

Seriously, if money was no object, I would build a train going around the park to tie everything together.  I always thought it was odd that the park doesn't have a train.

[RC98]

If money really didn't matter, I'd finish redoing the rest of the park to have the level of theming that the Kingda Ka and El Toro areas have, rounding out our ride collection and adding shows along the way.  Finally, I'd finish it off with a top level coaster (face it, we haven't gotten a standout one in a while) and add a hotel with transportation systems to accommodate the park becoming a resort.  This would pretty much give the park the rides of Cedar Point with the theming of Busch Gardens, with the accommodations to attract travelers from around the country.

 

 

[Viper26]

19 hours ago, Medusa42 said:

New Jersey going forward, but I wouldn't mind the park being annexed by Pennsylvania so they can get rid of some of the rules imposed on the park by New Jersey.

But then there will be a height limit of 200'. 

[ericthewanderer]

I wish Great Adv. -and SF in general-would renovate the parks like what they did to the area around SFA's Wild One.That area was a dead end with basically a classic coaster,a so-so drop tower and lame themeing.Now it has a cool new theme,more rides,an adult beverage area and has an alternate route to Gotham.

Great Adv. could do the same,in most cases just by altering paint schemes and ride names.I think they should start by making Old Country and Movie Town into one section called "Warner Bros. Studios" and having some sort of live music show in the theater.Another do-over would be the whole Boardwalk area:I think it should get an Oceanside/Jersey Shore retheme with S:UF being renamed the Jersey Devil and Green Lantern getting sit-down trains and a shark theme and being renamed The Jersey Maneater.And the motion simulator theater could be renovated into a "flying theater" that showed custom films during different seasons.

And as far as hotels go I think Great Adv. should get their own franchise-like a Best Western or Comfort Inn,and it should have on-site restaurant(s) and nightclub(s),with the possibility of adding casino space. 

[Mrpq]

If money was? no object  Id pay Cedar Fair to buy the park lol  they could use a nice big north east coast presence

[Lemur]

1 hour ago, Mrpq said:

If money was? no object  Id pay Cedar Fair to buy the park lol  they could use a nice big north east coast presence

 

That's provided CF decides to take you on as a client.  If money truly is no object, I'd buy CF *and* the park.  But, corporate buyouts and M&A is a pain to deal with.  

 

That said, I'd scrap all of the theming, especially since I wouldn't have access to the DC licensing anymore (not a bad thing, as most of their movies sucked except for Wonder Woman).  Re-theme to be more local, like Eric said - I really like the idea of the Jersey Devil and the Matawan Maneater coasters.  Get rid of the Mine Train (I have a vendetta against it).  Buy Keansburg's old Spook House and finish it's restoration, install it in the Old Country area with some other classic flats or Euro fair rides.  Bring in another flight sim (as Soarin' has proven rather popular), expand Skull Mountain's footprint and size by 3x, pump up the speed and add an inversion or three, bring in a classic or repo woody.  Scrap the Big Wheel and bring in one with swing cars.  Take the speed caps off the bumper cars and grease the pad (if you ever road the pre-Sandy Keansburg cars, you know what this is about).  Basically, a really good mix of classic amusement park stuff that's on the wane and bad@ss coasters and flats.  Also, I'd improve the food offerings because aside from Best of the West and the funnel cake sundaes, most of the food is miserable.

[Pineracer]

18 hours ago, Viper26 said:

But then there will be a height limit of 200'. 

Then you loose the star of the show (I think Nitro can get Grandfathered in).

[Mrpq]

I wouldn't scrap the big wheel,  its a nice relaxing ride.  not to mention the views are great

[Lemur]

10 minutes ago, Mrpq said:

I wouldn't scrap the big wheel,  its a nice relaxing ride.  not to mention the views are great

 

I would replace it with a wheel with inside swing cars as well as stationary outer cars.  Double the fun.  

 

(I've ridden the Wonder Wheel in Coney several times and I have yet to ride in a stationary car.)

[Mrpq]

just add it,  get the ride count up lol

 

Every time I have gone to ride the Wonder wheel it was closed so I gave up  lol

[Viper26]

6 hours ago, Pineracer said:

Then you loose the star of the show (I think Nitro can get Grandfathered in).

The state allowed the grandfathering of the Hershey's Kissing Tower and Kennywood's former drop tower, both of which are over 200' in height because they were built before the restriction was added. It just sucks that PA would make a law like that as Hersheypark wouldn't really be able to add a decent Star Flyer like ride which could round out their flat ride collection.

[Matt Kaiser]

I thought the height restriction is from Derry Township, not the state of PA.

[Mrpq]

Using Hershey as an example....  What is that height measured from?  The ground the coaster is actually built on or the lowest point in the park?   That could work to their advantage in some cases I guess.  The drop tower being at the top of a hill makes it seem higher than it really is when your up at the top

[Viper26]

21 hours ago, Matt Kaiser said:

I thought the height restriction is from Derry Township, not the state of PA.

Dorney Park has the same restriction. Steel force and Dominator are exactly 200'.

 

8 hours ago, Mrpq said:

Using Hershey as an example....  What is that height measured from?  The ground the coaster is actually built on or the lowest point in the park?   That could work to their advantage in some cases I guess.  The drop tower being at the top of a hill makes it seem higher than it really is when your up at the top

The height is measured from the ground the ride is built on. This is how the Hershey Tower even though its 9 feet shorter in height than Skyrush gives the feeling the tower is taller.

[dougdrummer]

Here's something I wish they would do that is relatively cheap.  Rip up all the walkways in the older areas and replace with something that is consistent and aeshetic.  This is especially true in the Main Street, Boardwalk and Frontier Adventues areas.  This would also help with the theming, as done with the walkways in the Golden Kingdom area.  I think Movie Town is just asphalt, and the Justice League area has a lot of new concrete.  This project would also allow them to rip up remnants of old and unused building foundations and posts that are an eyesore.  While they are at it, they can get rid of the areas outside of the sewer tunnels in the old stunt show theater.  They could probably also so something with the walkways in the main entrance to make the park look more inviting.

[Lemur]

AND REPAVE THE PARKING LOT!

 

Seriously, it's amazing what a little fresh asphalt can do.  

[Matt Kaiser]

20 minutes ago, Lemur said:

AND REPAVE THE PARKING LOT!

 

Seriously, it's amazing what a little fresh asphalt can do.  

 

They are currently in year 2 of the 3 year plan to repave the lot. A lot of it has already been paved.

[scott]

1 hour ago, Matt Kaiser said:

 

They are currently in year 2 of the 3 year plan to repave the lot. A lot of it has already been paved.

 

I haven't parked in much more than the first 5 or 6 rows of the non preferred parking area but I think that was the worst area of the lot. That area  has been repaved and it is a pleasure to park over there.

[Lemur]

26 minutes ago, scott said:

 

I haven't parked in much more than the first 5 or 6 rows of the non preferred parking area but I think that was the worst area of the lot. That area  has been repaved and it is a pleasure to park over there.

I've parked in the preferred area, which isn't bad.  I did a Chevy test drive in the area behind GL and Supes and it was terrible.  If I'd been driving a Corvette or a Camaro, I would have been pissed. 

[scott]

1 hour ago, Lemur said:

I've parked in the preferred area, which isn't bad.  I did a Chevy test drive in the area behind GL and Supes and it was terrible.  If I'd been driving a Corvette or a Camaro, I would have been pissed. 

 

LOL In the first few rows, near the picnic area, you couldn't drive a Vet or anything low because of the size of the holes. I have a Fusion and would go around them if I could. I don't think that any other place in the lot was ever as bad as over there. It was almost dangerous to walk LOL