It is with great sadness to report that "Tiny the Spider" was found dead yesterday at Six Flags Great America.
OBITUARY Tiny the Spider, 21, was found deflated and unresponsive at Six Flags Great America on Monday, September 17, 2012. Determined that Tiny simply could not hold on any longer, she perished beside the American Eagle roller coaster after attempting her 22nd annual march to her post alongside the toll way. Considered the icon of Fright Fest, Tiny will be missed by the staff and guests alike. She is survived by her three babies that will remain on the American Eagle as tribute to their mother. Tiny will be laid to rest on Six Flags grounds. Visitation and services will take place at Six Flags Great America on Saturday, September 29, 2012.
Call me skeptical, but I don't think this is the last of Tiny. The whole story was set up too perfectly. First it was "missing, and then she turns up just to be found "dead". In the real world, an inflatable is not that hard to fix. Stitch it up and replace the fan would be easy enough. In the pictures of the "crime scene" Tiny dosen't look damaged at all. And notice in the video who is putting the crime scene tape up..... does she look familiar? (*cough*cough* she's from the IgNIGHT clue videos) And advertising the "death" on the the side of the coaster seems kinda fishy too.....
Last edited by cliffhanger on September 18th, 2012, 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
cliffhanger wrote:Call me skeptical, but I don't think this is the last of Tiny. The whole story was set up too perfectly. First it was "missing, and then she turns up just. to be found "dead". In the real world, an inflatable is not that hard to fix. Stitch it up and replace the fan would be easy enough. In the pictures of the "crime scene" Tiny dosen't look damaged at all. And notice in the video who is putting the crime scene tape up..... does she look familiar? And advertising the "death" on the the side of the coaster seems kinda fishy too.....
Yep, and like I posted in the Fright Fest threat which has some concurrent conversation.....
Wonder what the real deal is, obviously this is a PR stunt, you don't just find a place called Banners in an Hour and have a banner of that size made up overnight (which may or may not violate the Village Of Gurnee sign/advertisement ordinance)
Favorite Wood Coasters: The Voyage, Ravine Flyer II, Thunderhead, Balder Favorite Steel: Voltron Nevera, Steel Vengeance, Expedition GeForce, Olympia Looping Parks visited: 232, Coasters Ridden: Steel: 894, Wood: 179, Total: 1073
cliffhanger wrote:Call me skeptical, but I don't think this is the last of Tiny. The whole story was set up too perfectly. First it was "missing, and then she turns up just to be found "dead". In the real world, an inflatable is not that hard to fix. Stitch it up and replace the fan would be easy enough. In the pictures of the "crime scene" Tiny dosen't look damaged at all. And notice in the video who is putting the crime scene tape up..... does she look familiar? And advertising the "death" on the the side of the coaster seems kinda fishy too.....
But most inflatables are set up on the ground and deflated at the end of the day, not hanging off the side of a coasters for a month straight in good and bad weather. I obviously don't know the whole set up of the spiders, but I'd guess they're a bit more complex than your average inflatable, so just some stitching might not be enough.
Obviously we won't see anything new on the side of Eagle this year, but I'd imagine she'd be replaced next year. Perhaps by the ghost of tiny or the babies father.
But most inflatables are set up on the ground and deflated at the end of the day, not hanging off the side of a coasters for a month straight in good and bad weather. I obviously don't know the whole set up of the spiders, but I'd guess they're a bit more complex than your average inflatable, so just some stitching might not be enough.
I have to assume that the spider was made especially for the park, and installation on the coaster its self. Tiny was made way before the "airblown inflatable" craze started. It's probably made by the same companys that make the giant inflatable gorillas seen at car dealerships. In other words, made to last.
cliffhanger wrote:Call me skeptical, but I don't think this is the last of Tiny. The whole story was set up too perfectly. First it was "missing, and then she turns up just to be found "dead". In the real world, an inflatable is not that hard to fix. Stitch it up and replace the fan would be easy enough. In the pictures of the "crime scene" Tiny dosen't look damaged at all. And notice in the video who is putting the crime scene tape up..... does she look familiar? (*cough*cough* she's from the IgNIGHT clue videos) And advertising the "death" on the the side of the coaster seems kinda fishy too.....
I agree. Tiny is an icon. Zombie Tiny coming at the end of the month! lol
This is yet another thing about the American Eagle. Commercial, 2 ribbons on ride, now a spider "dead". I'm still not completely convinced nothings happening. If you are a PR person, what are you going to say. Hey, we are taking down the American Eagle, and we are getting a .... show at night - in a different part of the park. That would make a ton of people mad. It's better to get people mad during the off-season than when the park is open.
This just seems so fishy. Again, maybe it's just remodeling of the American Eagle, but I don't know...
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Larry the Gorilla called me this morning, he really needs a friend right now. If any of you midwesterners get a chance at Fright Fest, give him a few words of encouragement. Tiny meant a lot to him.
Top 5 wood-5-Goliath 4-Ravine Flyer II 3-Phoenix 2-Voyage 1-El Toro Top 5 Steel- 5-Velocicoaster 4- Maverick 3- Fury 325 2-Steel Vengeance 1-X2 Coaster Count: 444
I will be at the park the 30th. I will give my regards to Larry and Tiny. I will ask around for Tiny at PR. Hopefully there will be some sort of commemorative thing that day Im going. I hope this isn't the end for you. I loved seeing you from the highway. You were the sign the Fright Fest was near and has arrived!
Ilovthevu' wrote:This is yet another thing about the American Eagle. Commercial, 2 ribbons on ride, now a spider "dead". I'm still not completely convinced nothings happening. If you are a PR person, what are you going to say. Hey, we are taking down the American Eagle, and we are getting a .... show at night - in a different part of the park. That would make a ton of people mad. It's better to get people mad during the off-season than when the park is open.
This just seems so fishy. Again, maybe it's just remodeling of the American Eagle, but I don't know...
I heard from 2 separate Six Flags Employees (not saying this is true, but, weird that exact details were given by people at 2 opposite ends of the park) that next year will be Eagle's last hurrah.
They also said that in the next 4-5 years they were told by Management that Viper would be gone as well.
Again, not saying that I believe it, but when exact details such as timing and then weird coincidences pop up perhaps there is something to the rumors I was told.
Or Ride Operators and Photo Booth people are the new Lemon Chill Guy.
Johnny.Ink wrote:Or Ride Operators and Photo Booth people are the new Lemon Chill Guy.
So that's how they're handling Dippin' Dots bankruptcy
Seriously though, Eagle and Viper both leaving, that may be the most ridiculous rumor I have ever heard.
I agree. Leaving NO wooden coaster at the park would be a boneheaded move. Plus, hell, American Eagle is synonymous with Great America. Maybe it's gonna be a CGI rebuild and make it more Voyage-like. Or a bigger Evil Knievel (I know, I know, one can dream).
if there is a kernel of truth to this at all, they would certainly be replaced. I do know the village has rules about the area there and the road, so obviously the village would be aware by now you'd gander. It will be interesting if it is true at all.
I wouldn't think that the park would get rid of Viper at all for awhile. There is no reason. It's not that old, and people really like it. It also doesn't need to be painted in my opinion. For American Eagle, if the park for a lot of the days is only running 1 side, that's a lot of people not going on it. You can look at much it would cost to paint the whole thing, and overtime how much money are they paying to replace the wood. For the new Texas Giant, it almost took them 2 years to build it at Six Flags Over Texas, so that's what I'm thinking with the Eagle. It definitely would not be a new addition for next year (That's why they wouldn't it announce it for next year). To me, I would get on Eagle as much as possible this year just in case something happens.
"I've been staring at the world, waiting. All the trouble and all the pain we're facing. Too much light to be livin' in the dark. Why waste time? We only got one life. Together we can be the CHANGE. So go and let your heart burn bright"
Ilovthevu' wrote:I wouldn't think that the park would get rid of Viper at all for awhile. There is no reason. It's not that old, and people really like it. It also doesn't need to be painted in my opinion. For American Eagle, if the park for a lot of the days is only running 1 side, that's a lot of people not going on it. You can look at much it would cost to paint the whole thing, and overtime how much money are they paying to replace the wood. For the new Texas Giant, it almost took them 2 years to build it at Six Flags Over Texas, so that's what I'm thinking with the Eagle. It definitely would not be a new addition for next year (That's why they wouldn't it announce it for next year). To me, I would get on Eagle as much as possible this year just in case something happens.
Interesting. It seems like Rocky Mountain Group and others seem to put these up pretty fast. I mean Outlaw Run started in Springtime, but...
This off-season will be interesting. Iron Rattler is Six Flags answer to Silver Dollar City's Outlaw Run. I wonder if Eagle does go away we get a bigger version of Iron Rattler or something along those lines.
Personally, if Eagle goes, give us a bigger, better, faster version of The Voyage or Evil Knievel.
I agree - and think something is a little fishy here. That banner was designed, printed, and was hung up all in less than 24 hours of the FB announcement. Also, in the video - when spray painting the chalk mark, the legs were moved so that no white paint got on them...
Ilovthevu' wrote:That would make a ton of people mad. It's better to get people mad during the off-season than when the park is open.
It would not at all be better to get people mad during the off season. If they announced it during the offseason instead of just - Eagle is leaving and we all get is a show?! - they'd then get, Eagle is leaving and you didn't even tell us so we could get a last ride?! If a ride is leaving and you don't want people to get mad, the best thing is tell them as soon as possible to provide lots of time for people to go to the park and get their last rides.
Johnny.Ink wrote: Leaving NO wooden coaster at the park would be a boneheaded move.
Little Dipper. Not a thrilling coaster, but it's still a wood coaster.
Ilovthevu' wrote: For American Eagle, if the park for a lot of the days is only running 1 side, that's a lot of people not going on it.
How does this justify it leaving? It's not like they only run one side because of low ridership.
Johnny.Ink wrote:This off-season will be interesting. Iron Rattler is Six Flags answer to Silver Dollar City's Outlaw Run. I wonder if Eagle does go away we get a bigger version of Iron Rattler or something along those lines.
Personally, if Eagle goes, give us a bigger, better, faster version of The Voyage or Evil Knievel.
If Eagle leaves, all that will come of it would be a big empty dirt pile. As has been said on the forums many times before, due to restrictions set in place after Eagle was built if Eagle gets torn down the land can't be built on again. Maybe a small flat ride or a shop, but nothing of Eagles size.
So basically, this whole rumor is absolutely ridiculous, and I can't understand why every time this discussion someone has to bring it up again.
Just think about how cool it would be. Open up the (now access road) from the block break of Demon to the Eagle. They would have to re-route the road, of course. They can throw in a tilt-a-whirl or other flat ride, andsome places for people to spend money. Put the entrance of the Eagle right by the EAGLE. Have an overflow queue under the station (there is plenty of room) or nearby.
As is, It's nearly a 5 minute walk to the ride... it's the worst walk to/from a ride that I know of. Viper is close behind... not to mention Raging Bull. Have you ever seen a person in a wheel chair struggle up those exit ramps? I helped a guy get up to Raging Bull this year, it was horrible. Pushing his chair and trying to fight past the crowds exiting (and the tight corners) was a task indeed. It's shameful how it is. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has great ground level stations with HUGE station exit areas (notice how Great America's are so crowded/disorganized) that are close/very close to the rest of the park.
I agree. I've never seen or been in a line as boring or as long as the line for American Eagle. Viper at least has some landscaping to it and the que fits the area well. I like your idea about re-routing the access road. Will it happen? Probably not. Can we dream? Of course we can.
Have a take and don't suck, it's the Jim Rome Show!
The American Eagle thing could have some truth, but I would go with the fact that they are going to remodel it or take it down later than next year. As with Viper, parks remove rides due to low ridership and maintenance problems. Does this sound like Viper to you? I have seen it broken down, but it doesn't happen all the time. Also, the line is usually quite filled pretty decently. It may not be big or seem bad, but it still is a favorite to many people, and if not a favorite, then it is usually one that most enjoy a lot.
My guess: Something is going on with Tiny, and it possibly has to do with Eagle. Tiny definitely didn't die for no reason. It almost seems as if SFGAm might be continuing their clues from the 2013 promo...I know it sounds far-fetched but didn't the coaster blueprint in the one Hometown Square video kind of look like Eagle with a sharper drop?
Then again, I probably am thinking too much into this, and i don't want to start fake rumors on accident or speculate too much. I'll just take this meaningless and be surprised if anything come of it.
