New ride for 2016

[JaminOut]

For the record, I was being sarcastic...


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[RollingCoasting]

when was the last time Great America received a used coaster? Oh wait - They haven't. Every coaster we have or have had in the entire history of the park, has been made for the park or brand new regardless of being a clone.

Rolling Thunder?

[midwestcoastergal]

Hi all! New to the forum as poster, but have closely followed in the past during the announcement ramp-up time.

Being a Midwestern girl my whole life (and growing up in Indiana) means I've always been torn by the battle of the parks - Six Flags Great America or Cedar Point. Since Great America is so close to "America's Roller Coast", I feel Six Flags tends to sink money into this park to keep up with the competition. They've actually been beating CP to the punch (i.e. Adding X-Flight before CP added Gatekeeper, Building Goliath - CP has yet to do a similar coaster). With these points being made, I would be sorely disappointed to see Great America do anything as a "follow park" this upcoming year instead of keeping up their trend-set status. There is a lot at stake here - particularly with CP doing a major coaster revamp this season and an upcoming major new coaster announcement for 2016.

This is also a big year for Great America - As previous posters have mentioned, Eagle turns 35! Since they didn't do anything major to celebrate 40th season, perhaps it is due to the fact they're planning something huge for 2016 (40 years).

Those who are so fond of the Eagle... I get it. It's an icon. People are sad to see the classics go. What we're NOT sad about, however, is the bruising from a neglected old wooden coaster, the major headaches that accompany the after-ride effect, and the all around discomfort of riding it to begin with. I have only been on two times this season (I live in the immediate area and frequent the park), and both times I couldn't enjoy the ride at all due to all the discomfort of the rough ride itself. It was horrendous- not to mention it looks HORRID. I saw lots of people avoiding it this season, and the lines were pretty much non-existent even on double ride dates. Eagle is no longer a draw, even on the busiest of days. I guess no parent wants to risk their small children getting concussions on a dilapidated old coaster that has definitely seen MUCH better days. The classics need to go eventually when they're past their prime to make room for better machines. Look at the auto industry - Ford didn't refuse to nix a design to make way for the new and keep up with an ever changing world!

Hoping for something new, different, and innovative that will continue to blow the competition out of the water!

[RollingCoasting]

Welcome to SFGAMWorld!

the major headaches that accompany the after-ride effect, and the all around discomfort of riding it to begin with. I have only been on two times this season (I live in the immediate area and frequent the park), and both times I couldn't enjoy the ride at all due to all the discomfort of the rough ride itself.

But please explain "major headaches?" American Eagle? It's not rough at all. Red side is a little jerky from the helix onward, but still.

[JaminOut]

Yeah, it's hard to get a headache on something you can't bang your head on...

But welcome to the forum!


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[midwestcoastergal]

After visiting with some out of town friends this summer, one that had her hands up during the Eagle blue side ended up with bruises all over her side from being slammed around!! Her daughter had such a bad headache from the rattling that it ended our day prematurely. This was only about 3 weeks ago... I had to be coaxed into riding as I had already sworn it off after a rough ride this season.


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[JaminOut]

Odd. I've never had an experience close to what you have!


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[RollingCoasting]

After visiting with some out of town friends this summer, one that had her hands up during the Eagle blue side ended up with bruises all over her side from being slammed around!! Her daughter had such a bad headache from the rattling that it ended our day prematurely. This was only about 3 weeks ago... I had to be coaxed into riding as I had already sworn it off after a rough ride this season.


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Just asking, but have you ever rode Demon?

[JaminOut]

^Or Batman? It gives me aftershock...


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[midwestcoastergal]

I've ridden it a ton in the past, as have my family members and friends. Because we are so close, we go even multiple times a week with other locals (Gurnee and surrounding). I can say it's not just me and my friend from this experience that have noticed. Locals who have lived here their whole lives that we go with frequently have refused to ride the 2nd half of summer saying it's just too rough.


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[midwestcoastergal]

I refuse to ride Demon!!! Lol I can stomach Batman but only once per visit


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[midwestcoastergal]

But what can you really expect from Batman when you pull back into the station and see very blatant numerous cans of WD 40 littering the area?


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[JaminOut]

Yeah, the cans kinda bug me...


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[RollingCoasting]

Well, Demon is much rougher than AE. So if AE gave you major headaches, I suggest you don't ride it. (Not trying to be rude here)

Batman isn't bad at all. You might feel a little dizzy if you're not use to the layout.

[JaminOut]

After riding it 10+ times, I'm still getting dizzy. But I like it, it's almost part of the experience for me...


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[CoastsToCoasters]

when was the last time Great America received a used coaster? Oh wait - They haven't. Every coaster we have or have had in the entire history of the park, has been made for the park or brand new regardless of being a clone.

Rolling Thunder?

Don't question it, you're correct & I was wrong! well that was 1989. So one coaster in the 80s in the entirety of the park, not counting the rescue of LD. Not bad & look, that didn't work out well for us now did it? Lol

[midwestcoastergal]

Just to correct here so I don't give a wrong impression- I've been on every coaster at Great America. I don't ride Demon because i definitely don't find it enjoyable! I've actually been hoping they were going to nix that ride since 2012 when we moved here and got passes.
Batman is fun! I just get dizzy with all the inversions and rolls so I only go once per visit to park! I'm not as steel stomached as I used to be!
Eagle needs at the very least a facelift- I could see them restoring it and it could once again be an awesome ride! I just wish they'd put the effort into it, or if they're going to continually neglect it, nix it to make room for a newer ride that has a better draw. We walked right on 3 weeks ago when everything else was an hour wait or more.. And we could have ridden again without exiting due to no line, but of course chose not to.


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[JaminOut]

I hope they don't remove Demon soon. It was my first coaster. I would hate to see it go...


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[RollingCoasting]

Just to correct here so I don't give a wrong impression- I've been on every coaster at Great America. I don't ride Demon because i definitely don't find it enjoyable! I've actually been hoping they were going to nix that ride since 2012 when we moved here and got passes.


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Ok, Gotcha. Sorry wasn't clear if you rode or not the first time.

when was the last time Great America received a used coaster? Oh wait - They haven't. Every coaster we have or have had in the entire history of the park, has been made for the park or brand new regardless of being a clone.

Rolling Thunder?

Don't question it, you're correct & I was wrong! well that was 1989. So one coaster in the 80s in the entirety of the park, not counting the rescue of LD. Not bad & look, that didn't work out well for us now did it? Lol

True, but that doesn't mean one won't work out now. The GP wouldn't even know

[midwestcoastergal]

No worries! Just wanted to clarify! I've been going to SFGAM since 1999


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[CoastsToCoasters]

It doesn't matter that the GP won't know. The park does, it sounds like a nightmare to work on a coaster that already has 10+ years on it passing it off as new. I honestly do not understand how "Iron Wolf" will age at SFAm. I don't understand why parks do this at all but it seems to work out for many parks across the nation but I have no damn idea.

In my opinion, SFGAm deserves better than a used coaster. Yet you're wanting an old one just cause it's something we don't have? Let alone one that in all reality, isn't pushing our park with surrounding competition - & what we've received not only the last couple years but in the past, this particular coaster makes no sense. If it's a full circuit launch coaster SFGAm is after, a Full Throttle like coaster could make perfect headlines. Small footprint, big stats, simple layout packs a punch. I can't imagine it costing much more especially when the maintence on an old coaster would be costly with upkeep.

I've been on Potergeist & it's fun. But I'd rather it stay right where it's at in Texas.

[CoasterCale]

Wasn't it a similar situation at SFGAd until they got Chang and opened it as Green Lantern? I'm not saying we don't deserve the coaster we have gotten, but we were slated to get Chang. That means we're not immune from getting hand-me-downs. I prefer Joker's Jinx over Poltergeist but both are great coasters. Both are better than FoF because the MCBR isn't used. Either way, I'd be fine with Poltergeist staying at SFFT or coming here.

[Jacklw6499]

I think everyone would love to see a full circuit launch coaster.. Whether it's Poltergeist or a brand new launch coaster built from the ground up! Hopefully, that's something we can all agree on!

[anewman35]

I just people aren't getting too ahead of themselves and setting themselves up for disappointment... I still think the Justice League dark ride is the most likely ride, and a lot of the "clues" we're seeing probably aren't really clues at all. It's fun to talk about, but try not to get mad when we don't get the coaster of your dreams.

[Coaster Justin]

What is happening here? This is making my head numb reading this BS. SFGAm getting an old launched coaster after building two world class coasters no one else has or has received in the entire chain?! Besides saving Little Dipper, when was the last time Great America received a used coaster? Oh wait - They haven't. Every coaster we have or have had in the entire history of the park, has been made for the park or brand new regardless of being a clone.
...

Rolling Thunder came from Great Adventure.