Superman Tower of Power removal

by **demon boy** on December 10th, 2007, 10:30 pm

^Um, we still have ours.....

by **cycamps** on December 10th, 2007, 10:31 pm

I'm talking about the first generation freefalls. I wasn't aware that we had one.

by **ZForce Rider** on December 11th, 2007, 1:27 am

I think the first-gen freefalls were one of the best rides made. The effect of being backed into the tower, pulled quickly to the top and then "pushed" out for the drop is something a modern tower can't match.

It's too bad Demon Drop at CP is the only one left -- and it's been for sale so I can't believe it'll be much longer before they remove it as well.

by **demon boy** on December 11th, 2007, 9:28 am

^^^^^ooohhh, you guys were talking 1st gen. My bad, i thought just fee falls in general.

by **tillenterprises** on December 13th, 2007, 12:21 am

ZForce Rider wrote:I think the first-gen freefalls were one of the best rides made. The effect of being backed into the tower, pulled quickly to the top and then "pushed" out for the drop is something a modern tower can't match.

It's too bad Demon Drop at CP is the only one left -- and it's been for sale so I can't believe it'll be much longer before they remove it as well.

I heard that CP said that they will keep it as long as it takes to find a buyer for it. I really hope that's true, but I'm being proactive on this one, and already sent them an e-mail urging them to keep Demon Drop up indefinitely. If you're a fan of first generation freefalls as I am, I urge you to let CP know your feelings about keeping DD going!

by **tillenterprises** on December 13th, 2007, 12:32 am

Oh, and back on topic... In October 2006, my 9 year old and 6 year old sons and I rode the STOP at KK, and we actually sat in the same car that the girl who was injured was sitting. It was the first time either of my boys got up the courage to ride a drop tower (my 9 year old loved it- my 6 year old hated it, BTW). It's so scary to think that that could've been us- it was only a few months after we rode it that the accident happened. Now back off topic to the Edge- I think it's ironic that the general assumption was that the newer drop towers are safer than the first generation ones like the Edge, when the first generation drops never had anything happen as horrible as the STOP tower. The incident on the Edge was nothing compared to the STOP accident.

by **Tip Top Club** on January 12th, 2008, 1:14 pm

Here's a Twist on the story.

The Plot Thickens

Apparently the operator was several feet away from her stop button. There is never a time when the operator or attendant of a gen 2 intamin freefall should be more then a few inches away from a stop button while the ride is in motion...I'm not saying it was her fault, that's such an enormous burden to bear, but, idk, i guess we'll see what the judge say[/url]

by **Trailblazer Tony** on January 20th, 2008, 10:19 pm

^That's a sad breakthrough, it's a shame to have such a burden placed on such a young girl.... :cry:

by **tp41190** on January 20th, 2008, 10:30 pm

At No Coaster Con, my friend asked about Superman to the PR person presenting. She had the most shocking look on her face and whispered something. Then she said, "uhhh..uh..uhh we have no comment on that". It was so funny.

What he should have said was, "what are you planning on doing to fill in the FOOT print of Superman Power of Tower."

by **Trailblazer Tony** on January 21st, 2008, 11:01 pm

^

A, good old morbid jokes, get me every time! Anyways, let's hope this plays out to the best possible outcome for everyone involved.

by **DominatorDude05** on February 21st, 2008, 11:43 pm

Lance received a tip (don't know the reliability) that there's cranes near S:TOP

by **cycamps** on February 22nd, 2008, 9:33 pm

^I'd say it's pretty easy to believe...

by **tillenterprises** on February 25th, 2008, 6:43 pm

I know it probably won't happen, but I think they should move the Freefall that they took down at SFOG or the one they are planning to take down at Magic Mountain to SFKK. After they remove the Superman tower, they won't have a drop tower anymore, so it would be a good replacement. It's also enough of a different ride to avoid comparisons with the Superman tower. And... before you go and say, "it's too old..." remember, they moved our old Tidal Wave, which is 30 years old over there (Greezed Lightnin). The old Freefalls didn't get as many riders as it once did, so that's another reason it should be moved to a park with lower attendance. Plus... on a selfish note, it would be closer to me to ride it!

by **FParker185** on February 25th, 2008, 8:06 pm

SFMM's freefall was cut up into small pieces. Parts are simply not available for them anymore. The company that made them has long since gone out of business.

by **cycamps** on February 25th, 2008, 9:31 pm

^So if Cedar Point needed a replacement part before they sold Demon Drop, they couldn't get it?

by **FParker185** on February 25th, 2008, 10:13 pm

it would have to be custom made or come off of whats left of our old Edge or another one if they bought parts.

by **FParker185** on March 1st, 2008, 6:23 pm

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... /802260396

Update on the girl, just had another painful sounding surgery.

by **cycamps** on March 1st, 2008, 11:32 pm

That's horrible. Her fourth surgery. She'll never want to step foot (no pun intended) in a theme park again.

by **tillenterprises** on March 2nd, 2008, 12:36 am

FParker185 wrote:SFMM's freefall was cut up into small pieces. Parts are simply not available for them anymore. The company that made them has long since gone out of business.

I'm pretty sure it was an Intamin ride, and they are obviously still in business, but obviously not supporting the 1st generation freefalls anymore. As for the Demon Drop at Cedar Point, I believe I read somewhere that they have the spare parts from our old "Edge" when they tore down Mr Hyde's Nasty Fall at Geauga Lake.

by **FParker185** on March 2nd, 2008, 1:07 am

Intamin didn't make rides til the late 90's. Before then they were just a ride broker.

The first gen freefalls were designed and built by Giovanola, which is defunct.

by **DominatorDude05** on March 2nd, 2008, 2:32 am

Yeah Mr Hydes Nasty Fall is now parts for Demon Drop.

by **cycamps** on March 2nd, 2008, 2:36 pm

^^I'm not trying to say you're wrong, but why do people call them Intamin freefalls then? According to Cedar Point's website, Intamin manufactured Demon Drop.

by **DominatorDude05** on March 2nd, 2008, 5:02 pm

^ Giovanola manufactured Intamin coasters and STILL Manufactures B&M (because Walter and Claude came from Intamin) for North America. Now I believe the US relations to Intamin is now Intra-Ride (the manufacturer of Maverick).

by **ttd rox** on March 2nd, 2008, 5:09 pm

Pretty much sums that up Dominator Dude. I always forget that B&M came from Intamin.

by **FParker185** on March 2nd, 2008, 6:53 pm

All rides from Giovanola, Schwarzkopf, various small firms, Waagner Biro and for a time Mack were all labeled as Intamin in the US. Intamin represented all these companys so when a park chose something out of their catalogue, Intamin would order it, rebrand it with their name plates and coordinate the construction and installation of the new ride.

Very similar to Morgan Hughes and his business model.

At SFGAm, The Edge, Power Dive, Rolling Thunder, Sky Trek, Space Shuttle America and Iron Wolf all were Giovanola rides.

Tidal Wave, Whizzer, Fiddlers Fling, Orbit and East River Crawler are all Schwarzkopf (but sold by intamin)

Sky Whirl was Waagner Biro.

There are others I'm sure I'm forgetting.

Only real exceptions are the Rapids Rides which have few premanufactured parts.

Unless Giovanola was absorbed by another company, they were liquidated around 2003 or so and no longer exist.

All B&M rides are now made by Southern Ohio Fabricators (though they have a new name which I forget what it is)

Superman Tower of Power removal

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