Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 5/9/2005 9:33:53 PM
Exactly. Look how CF went from Magnum to Chance Morgan hypers. the companies are very similar, although Chance Morgan is much smaller. Personally, I think that new CM hyper at SFM looks great. It took SF long enough to build the thing
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WAR2174
Posts: 1067
Registered: 3/6/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/9/2005 11:04:44 PM
Quote:
Also, you forgot to mention in your first post that BBW wasn't originally an arrow ride either |
I'm not sure where you heard that, but as far as I was ever told(from the mechanics at BGW) Big Bad Wolf was designed by Ron Toomer, the famed Arrow coaster designer. They told me that XL8-R and BBW were designed at the same time. They were the first to be designed after The Bat failed in King's Island.
Yes, I did forget Gwazi, but probably because it is wood I was was talking about steel(which I failed to clarify). Also I don't consider Journey to Atlantis a true roller coaster, but I guess some people do.
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Swimace
Posts: 5916
Registered: 8/28/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2005 7:23:51 AM
BBW was originally supposed to be a Schwarzkopf coaster. While I can see where you're coming from on JTA, I would definatly consider the California version to be a coaster
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2005 9:54:23 AM
these are the Arrow's I have ridden that I like enough to say you shouldn't miss them if you are in the park:
1 - X
2 - Magnum XL-200
3 - Desperado
4 - Tennesee Tornado
5 - Phantom's Revenge (I know it's a hybrid)
6- River King Mine Train (the best Mine Train)
7 - Road Runer Express (SFFT)
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/10/2005 1:27:00 PM
Nice list Larry.
I have only ridden one on that list, Magnum.
It's also amazing to see Desperado is still in good condition and maybe the least talked about great coaster out there. I still haven't been to the Vegas area to ride it yet, but I will once I cross the Mississippi West.
Where is River King Mine Train?
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WAR2174
Posts: 1067
Registered: 3/6/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2005 2:07:50 PM
River King Mine Train is, I believe in Six Flags St. Louis.
Desperado is a solid ride, nothing great. It is worth the side trip down to Jean, Nevada at Buffalo Bill's to ride it. Because it is so isolated, it doesn't get talked about very much.
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/10/2005 2:36:34 PM
Nothing Great? Not even that first drop that is more insane than Magnum's? And what about the fly-through the Casino?
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2005 2:44:51 PM
Here, check out the Las Vegas review that Mark posted a while back. Desperado is in there... Vegas review
I think that drops have to be experienced to get the full affect and in order to say that they are more "insane". Sorry if I'm a little picky there.
Yes, the reason that it doesn't get talked about is because it is secluded and is kind of out of place. I have heard a lot about it being overrated, so that is probably another thing. Could that be because it is an Arrow?  Just kidding.
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/10/2005 2:51:20 PM
Yeah, I read it. I still want to ride it for myself. It was one of the coasters that I did research on that got my interest 'sky high' for coasters.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2005 3:44:42 PM
yes, River King Mine Train is at SFStL.
Desperado is a coaster I rode nearly 10 years ago. I don't think the upkeep is as great as it could be due to its isolation, but was a real good ride when I rode it. Since I haven't been back I can only go by my experience, but would not be surprised if it declined. That first immense drop into the tunnel was insane.
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WAR2174
Posts: 1067
Registered: 3/6/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/10/2005 4:13:39 PM
It does have a pretty good drop. I was a little drunk when I rode it so maybe the full effect wasn't felt. It probably should have made it worse. I wasn't too thrilled with the repetive bunny hills on the back side of the ride and a rather weak helix. I saw the log flume and wanted to ride that more.
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Godsentone
Posts: 521
Registered: 3/31/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/11/2005 11:09:39 AM
Yeah, you were drunk, lol, if you wanted to ride the log flume more. What about the Casino fly-through? How was this experience? I can see them playing Poker or Roulette and a coaster come flying through there. Talk about a 'What was that?' experience.
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WAR2174
Posts: 1067
Registered: 3/6/2003
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/11/2005 2:27:24 PM
^ Oh how I wish it were true. It doesn't have a "flythru". It goes over the casino for about 1 second and then up it's lift hill. The next time you are in the casino you are getting off.
And you are right about the log flume. Although it is interactive (its a shooting gallery and log flume) it is really corny and not really exciting. The idea has defintie potential though.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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5/12/2005 4:48:05 PM
Good to see all these good memorys of likeable Arrow coasters.
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viking78
Posts: 162
Registered: 6/16/2005
Rank: Bronze Critic
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3/1/2006 7:13:17 PM
I have to disagree with many things said here.
First of all to the guy who wrote the long explanation of DF's fate, where did you get your information? The park manager? Sounds like a public relations story NOT THE TRUTH. In fact I have heard that EXACT story by many park supervisors over the years. I happen to live in the city of Williamsburg VA and we know a different explanation. A truthful one.
First of all the ride NEVER had low ridership as you all have heard till the virtual remake of it when they started tinkering.
Were their complaints about DF being a bit rough? Yes, a few but nothing major as many of you have been led to believe. The answer to this riddle is simple, LAWSUIT. In the Williamsburg area it is fairly common knowledge that Busch settled a NASTY law suit over this coaster. Immidately following, the ride was shut down and redone with some stupid removals. When it reopened this once terrific beast was never the same. This caused low ridership so the park decided to sell. Problem is nobody is buying a coaster that has paid out on lawsuits. That led to the murder of this once proud coaster.
Having ridden this monster somewhere in the tripple digits I can tell you that the rougness you have heard about was mild and overly exaterted by people NOT IN THE KNOW.
Go ask any higer up employee at BGW what happened to Drachen Fire and you will get the same lame story you have read here. Problem is that is all fiction. If you want the truth speak to longtime lower level employees of the park and residents of Williamsburg and you will learn what I just typed, the truth.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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3/1/2006 11:09:49 PM
A lawsuit? I believe it. However, I think that would go into the complaints category. I would like to know the specifics of that lawsuit.
Also, I'm sure there was low ridership. Any report from someone that I have heard is that there was rarely a line for the ride, while other attractions had hour waits. One problem was that the ride was secluded from the rest of the park and there was only a small walkway to get to it. The train was originally supposed to have a stop near the ride to give people another way to get to it. That plan was never acted on. I have heard people say that when they were at the park and on the train that they would hear people say "What ride is that?" The ride was so out of place that people didn't even know about it. So, between the people that rode it and hated it and the people that didn't even know about it, it was kind of hard for this ride to stay alive. Maybe the ride would still be up today if guests had a better way of accessing the ride? Who knows.
I may have never ridden the ride, but I would love to have the chance to. I am a skeptic as to how rough this thing was. I like rough rides anyway. I'm sure that it is probably blown out of proportion, I am not disputing that, but I am giving the logical reasons that this ride was put down and I feel that your "truthful" explanation plays off of my reasons anyway. I'm sure they all work together.
And one last thing, try showing some respect. My feelings aren't hurt or anything, but stop coming on here thinking that you know it all. A little bit of common respect would have been nice instead of telling us that we are all idiots.
--------------------
"I could never design another ride like Hercules." - Curtis Summers
Message updated 3/1/2006 11:10:56 PM by Hercules
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viking78
Posts: 162
Registered: 6/16/2005
Rank: Bronze Critic
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3/2/2006 12:27:58 AM
Quote:
Hercules said:
And one last thing, try showing some respect. My feelings aren't hurt or anything, but stop coming on here thinking that you know it all. A little bit of common respect would have been nice instead of telling us that we are all idiots. |
Whaaaaa!? I didn't call anyone an idiot. I may have been a little abrupt but I probably have more real knowledge of the situation than anyone else here. I mean I look at Apollos Chariot from my office window everyday!
Anyways the ride had some pretty darn good lines untill the first closing. And it was located right next to Fest Haus in Germany one of the busiest places in the park. Occasionaly people were stumped on where it was because of the trees blocking the view but it really never was a problem. Atleast not untill after the lawsuit and they shut the ride down for a while. People didn't start hating on the ride till it reopened, then the lines for it were nonexistant. If anyone feels disrespected by me, sorry, not my intentions.
Message updated 3/2/2006 12:31:01 AM by viking78
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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3/2/2006 5:35:10 PM
viking78 thanksk for sheading some extra light on this. I had heard once of a law suit but never anything concreate.
Though I have to backup Hurc on one thing the ocaste was extreamly out of place. I'm sure many visiters had trouble finding the coaster.
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RCGenius
Posts: 1180
Registered: 12/23/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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3/11/2006 6:49:06 AM
I haven't been to BGW b/f, let alone riding the Drachen Fire myself, but my dad said that he rode Drachen Fire when him & his wife went with their friends to BGW back in 1998. He said that Drachen Fire was the most painful coaster he has ever been on & he never went back for a re-ride. I wish I would've rode Drachen Fire b/c it might've been a painful coaster, but that ride had some unique elements like the drop after the 1/2 corkscrew which would've made the whole experience fun & different.
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coasterwom
Posts: 1446
Registered: 3/23/2001
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/20/2006 3:26:16 AM
I recently visited BGW and I was very pleased with there coasters but I would like to see a few more added to the park. I never got to ride Drachen Fire but from what I've seen and heard it was a very good coaster but people got hurt on it. The cost to fix it wasn't worth hurting there reputation so they scrapped it. They have also done this with other coasters in the past and I feel it's probably the best thing to do for safety reasons and insurance reasons.
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mrceagle
Posts: 13804
Registered: 6/9/2001
Rank: TPC News Minister
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4/20/2006 11:51:19 AM
if the ride had been built by B&M it woudl ahve beena fantastic ride. But I agree BGW needs a few more coaster.
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