According to Katy Enrique (as posted by Iron Wolf 90-11 in the Goliath thread), the Pictorium is closed due to low attendance and will reopen for Fright Fest. I know the Pictorium has popped up here and there each year as a possibility of being the next ride to close for a new attraction. The equipment inside is not good, though it could be upgraded without putting a dent in the park's wallet, but I think the majority of people just don't find it that interesting anymore.
The outside and inside are dated and while I enjoyed Screams and Dreams (as most of us here did), I don't know what else they could put in it to bring in more guests. I think the best thing for the park to do is remove it and add a family attraction of some sort. I know Hank Salemi wants a dark ride, and this could very well be a good spot.
Pardon my horrid PhotoShop skills, but as you can see, it's a decent sized lot of land for a flat ride or dark ride of some sort in comparison to size of Ragin' Cajun's space.
I'm not necessary trying to start a 2015 rumor thread (since those often get locked this early in the year even though we are only about 2 months away from the 2015 announcement), but rather a discussion on how this area could bring in more guests. Whether that be replacing the Pictorium entirely or improving the existing building to attract more guests. Any ideas?
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
If they go the route of removing Pictorium, they actually have access to quite a bit more space than you outline. Without Pictorium, they can remove that entire path back there, and if it were to be replaced with a coaster a few years down the road, it could easily go into the space between Whizzer, the Railroad tracks, and Hometown Fun Machine. It could also go a little closer to Sky Trek Tower.
Here is the extent of the area I think would be usable for expansion if the Pictorium were removed in the future
^You're absolutely right. I never go into HH so I accidentally mistook that path that you are talking about on the map as the pathway into Hurricane Harbor. They definitely have room for something decent there as you highlighted.
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
That service road going between Whizzer and Harbor is not something I see being removed (maybe re-routed somewhat), any new ride would be designed to have that road under it. Maintenance uses that road all the time to get to Whizzer when the water park is closed.
You also have to leave room for the train. They would not modify the bridge, that would be too costly. That leaves less room than you accounted for.
EDIT: That being said, I hope they don't scrap the area for a ride. I think they could do a great overhaul with the building itself and turn it into something great. The park is really short on actual theaters since the Dark Knight moved in. They could do something similar to how Cedar Point converted their IMAX theater into an ice show. Now I definitely do not want an ice show, but perhaps they could convert it into a theater for other shows.
Last edited by untalented893 on June 13th, 2014, 1:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
DejaVu2001 wrote:^ Go over the train. I don't see the issue.
Going over the train isn't a huge issue in itself, but coasters take up a lot more ground level area than I think people think especially considering it's a tight space as is.
untalented893 wrote:That being said, I hope they don't scrap the area for a ride. I think they could do a great overhaul with the building itself and turn it into something great. The park is really short on actual theaters since the Dark Knight moved in. They could do something similar to how Cedar Point converted their IMAX theater into an ice show. Now I definitely do not want an ice show, but perhaps they could convert it into a theater for other shows.
I'm not familiar with Cedar Point's old IMAX theater as I've never gone inside it, but Pictorium really isn't suited to be converted to a live entertainment venue. It would probably be cheaper to restore Theater Royale and build an outdoor queue for The Dark Knight Coaster.
Perfect area for a Hurricane Harbor expansion (noooooo!). While I don't want a theater to leave at all I don't think Six Flags is to concerned with shows of any kind or putting the money up to continually support them where they are world-class. I say cut the losses and put something profitable in even if i's more HH.
You could fit a very nice Children/Family section in that space with updated rides and attractions similar to what ValleyFair did this season.
Another option and this is far fetched but perhaps moving the Go-karts to that area freeing up a giant plot of land for more flats or a skyscreamer or Ferris Wheel.
I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned the idea of tearing down the Pictorium and Demon and using the combined lots to build a nice new coaster. Connecting the two plots could be interesting, but I would think it would be entirely possible.
Brewersdawg828 wrote:If the viper happened to stop working for some reason they could combine those lots and then it be big enough space for a nice sized coaster
I don't see Viper going anywhere anytime soon. I can see it getting a rehab down the line.
Brewersdawg828 wrote:If the viper happened to stop working for some reason they could combine those lots and then it be big enough space for a nice sized coaster
I don't see Viper going anywhere anytime soon. I can see it getting a rehab down the line.
I was just saying IF something happened and it couldn't run
Brewersdawg828 wrote:If the viper happened to stop working for some reason they could combine those lots and then it be big enough space for a nice sized coaster
I don't see Viper going anywhere anytime soon. I can see it getting a rehab down the line.
I was just saying IF something happened and it couldn't run
If they tore down the American Eagle, X-Flight, Demon, Viper, Raging Bull, Whizzer and Hurricane Harbor, just imagine what a great big ride they could build!
sfgam-fan wrote:Not sure if SFGAM is interested in giga coasters, but if you took out Pictorium and Demon you could put in a huge out and back style coaster.
now don't bring the demon in to this you are already talking about getting rid of a Marriott building already the demon is one of the only family coasters in the park which is not lame
great america fan wrote:now don't bring the demon in to this you are already talking about getting rid of a Marriott building already the demon is one of the only family coasters in the park which is not lame
It may not be "lame", but if a ride isn't really popular because it hurts people and get's less and less riders every year, it would be a smart choice to remove.
Last edited by RollingCoasting on July 1st, 2014, 12:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
