Monday, July 25, 2011

So Much Canada's Wonderland 2012 Construction

Since May when construction for the supposed new coaster for next year (at Canada's Wonderland), there has been so much going on:

http://cwmania.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=46118#p46118

Footers are being poured in the main construction site and rebar is everywhere. There are also some shipping containers and site offices between Dragon Fire's brake run and lift hill.

Footers are also being poured around Dragon Fire (including a VERY big one by the service road that separates Dragon Fire and Speed City), and some clearing is occurring by the Courtyard Catering area just east of Dragon Fire. They even tore out the fence that separates Dragon Fire's two loops from the Courtyard area. There is also a LARGE amount of markers around Dragon Fire's layout as well as in the employee parking lot.

In short, it seems that this ride might be bigger than I thought. Some rumors are actually spreading that this new coaster might dwarf Behemoth in height. I kind of doubt it, but you never know. I was pretty shocked when I found out that Kings Dominion's new coaster for 2010 (which became I305) was a giga coaster.

I kind of feel that this ride will NOT be the 8-inversion Intamin coaster Screamscape reported. If this is an Intamin, I can picture this coaster being either a Wing Rider or an LSM Blitz. However, now comes the possibility of this ride being a B&M after all. From kunpc1 at CWMania:

They're bigger than the standard footers that are on the portion after Behemoth's mid-course brake run.


This makes me wonder if we will see another B&M in Canada's Wonderland. If this is a Beemer (a nickname for a B&M ;)), then I think a B&M Floorless Coaster or (preferably) a Dive Machine or Wing Coaster.

And also, if you look carefully in the last photo, there is a huge line of footers that starts in the main construction site by Speed City and goes through Dragon Fire. Could this be for a lift hill?

This is kind of confusing now, but I think there will be more news soon. We will find out soon... and supposedly there is going to be some exciting activity in the next 4 weeks, leading to a possible announcement.

And with that said, I will leave you with some music for you to ponder with:

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Wondering About California's Great America

I've been thinking about CGA recently. No news about the 49ers or the possible selling of the park, but I'm kind of convinced (I hate to admit it, but...) that the park is in trouble.

Since my last post on this subject, the old Invertigo site has been untouched, other than a garden (now named "The Green") with a stage that has been set up just recently for the Bay Area Bands. This reminds me of the time Geauga Lake closed Mr. Hyde's Nasty Fall (Intamin 1st Generation Drop) and replaced it with "Central Park." And the park (CGA) stated (when Invertigo got removed) that a new ride for 2012 will go up in that area. Now, I am aware that ride construction doesn't have to start this early (if a new coaster will go up in that area, I'm betting on an Intamin ZacSpin or a Gerstlauer Eurofighter), but it is still kind of worrisome to me. However, it has been reported that some of the things in "The Green" are temporary.

Now, before you get excited, temporary stuff in an area that is supposedly the site of a "2012 ride" doesn't necessarily mean a good thing. While it could be temporary for the new ride, it also could be temporary because of a more negative thing... for bulldozing the area once the park closes (if it happens). I hope for the former (for the new ride), but the realistic side of me thinks it will be the latter (I pray not!).

As for where the rides will go, I have changed my thoughts about some rides:

For Flight Deck, I have a strange feeling that it could go up in Valleyfair OR Kings Island. The reason why I see Kings Island as a possibility is this:

2012 - New Coaster - Rumor - (6/15/11) While I don’t have a lot of information just yet, an early rumor going around claims that Kings Island may have another steel coaster in the works for 2012. The park’s last new coaster was Diamondback, which opened back in 2009 which followed Firehawk in 2007 and Backlot Stunt Coaster in 2005. So historically speaking, the park is about due for a new one. With a fairly well rounded collection however, it’s hard to pin-point just what the park may be looking to add, so stay tuned.


Unless this is a very cheap coaster, I think for 2012, Kings Island will have two Flight Decks (Arrow Suspended and relocated B&M Invert), except the latter would probably be called Afterburn (a much cooler name than Flight Deck!). I also think it would be in front of the park somewhere (IDK where exactly).

As for Psycho Mouse, I'm going to be betting that if Knott's gets the supposed 2012 giga coaster, Psycho Mouse will go to Worlds of Fun.

And Vortex will probably go to either Valleyfair (if they don't get Flight Deck) or Michigan's Adventure. I still kind of think Worlds of Fun, but this is if Psycho Mouse goes to WoF. Both parks are overdue for a new coaster. If MIA gets Vortex, I think they will put it somewhere in the backside of the park.

But this is all just speculation, so we shall wait and see.