Monday, August 1, 2011

Canada's Wonderland and California's Great America

Canada's Wonderland:

http://www.canadaswonderland.com/2012/

Looks like teasing has started! It seems that the announcement will be on AUGUST 18th 2011!

And apparently... (Screamscape):

2012 - New Attraction / Raptor - Rumor - (8/1/11) We may have had a slight mathematical error with the countdown on the 2012 announcement page, as it may actually be counting down to August 18th, not the day before as previously mentioned. According to a guest visiting the park, a good number of footers have been placed in the construction site at this point, many formed in small groups, sometimes extremely close to Dragon Fire.
Meanwhile CWMania has posted a zoomed in picture of a label put on a rebar formation at the park and noticed that it clearly says, ‘Giga Coaster Caps’ in one section. Hmmmm….


Hmmm... I still am holding my judgement until Canada's Wonderland announce the coaster, but I kind of doubt a giga. Supposedly, Knott's Berry Farm is building one next year. Would Cedar Fair install TWO Giga Coasters in one year? =/

However, if this is true and there are actually TWO Giga Coasters in one year (two at Cedar Fair parks that is)... I think I might faint from excitement! I loved I305 at Kings Dominion and Millennium Force at Cedar Point, and I will be so pleased if this is true!

But I'm kind of leaning towards a bigger version of iSpeed in Mirabilandia, Italy. CW already has an airtime coaster (Behemoth, B&M Hypercoaster) (not that I would oppose a Giga. As stated above, I will enjoy watching construction of this thing and drool of excitment and anticipation), and there are only two launch coasters at Canada's Wonderland... both of which are geared towards a younger audience (Backlot Stunt Coaster (though I liked the one at KD) and Thunder Run (I guess you can say its launched?)). An adult launch coaster (Intamin Blitz in this case) would do wonders! I also have this feeling that the station will be where the construction in front of Speed City is. I also think there will be a launch where the row of stakes under Dragon Fire is, a top hat by Dragon Fire's two loops, and some interactions with Dragon Fire.

Some say this may actually be a launched coaster at around the 300 ft. mark (giga coaster mark). I kind of think this is the case, which is why rumors point toward a 300 ft (or more) coaster. It could be cool (maybe they can call it a Giga Blitz ;)). But like I said, until the announcement, this is all just speculation.

California's Great America:

There might be hope for this park after all:

???? - GCI Wooden Coaster - In Limbo - (8/1/11) Remember that awesome GCI wooden coaster project that was all but approved at one point for California’s Great America before getting tangled up in a mess with a local neighbor over noise issues? There may be life in the old girl yet… as the park applied in June for a two year extension to the previously approved height-variance needed to install the ride, and was approved for it at a meeting in June. Could the park be preparing to finally deliver this great looking coaster, or are they just keeping the variance alive for a new unknown project in development? Either way, it sounds like something big may be on the way.


To tell the story... CGA was originally going to get a 2009 GCI Wooden Coaster to be built right by the park entrance (encircling the park's Star Tower). Right when the park was ready to construct it (I heard there were survey markers), the nearby office neighbors came in and complained about noise, which is an annoying factor, because the neighbors came in after the park was built. They should EXPECT noise from a park. And when the neighbors complain about the park adding things like this, little do they know they are (along with hurting the park) hurting their economy. The park attracts business, and no new rides = no business for park = no business for the neighbors.

After the noise complaints, the coaster never saw the light of day. If this ride is truly coming back to life (which hopefully it is), then it will be great for the park! Hopefully they can work out something with the neighbors. However, back when Invertigo was removed, the park said there will be something for 2012. They said it will not be the wooden coaster.

This makes me wonder about a possible 2013 opening date, and the 2012 ride being something else. My predictions:

2012: Either nothing (to save money for the 2013 coaster, if it were to open then) or a mini-WindSeeker (150-200 ft).
2013: GCI Wooden Coaster

In any case, this looks like good news for the park. Hopefully it comes to life!

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