East River Crawler Closed 2012?

[ViperFTW]

I am relatively new to this site, so I decided to check out what is on here. When I was on the ride section, I noticed that for East River Crawler it said "Status - Closed for the 2012 season." Does anyone know why it will be closed? I love going on that ride for a different feel between coasters, so I hope it wont be closed the entire 2012 season.

By the way, I did search for this topic and didn't find anything, but if there was a discussion about this that I didn't find, please direct me to it.

[DejaVu2001]

Without going into too much detail, due to an unexpected maintenance issue, it is very unlikely that East River Crawler will be able to open for this season. The goal is to have East River Crawler return for the 2013 season.

viewtopic.php?p=204909#p204909

If you look closely at TK's aerial photos, you can see that the ride had already been disassembled down to the base.

[FParker185]

That sucks, I would say that honestly puts a damper on my season, but since I'm going to Europe in Sept/Oct, I should be able to get on around a half dozen Schwarzkopf Monster III's all of which run far better than East River Crawler, I think I can deal with it

[CoasterDemon]

^Lucky!

It will put a damper on my season. But the really cool thing is that they are going to work on it instead of just junking it. Good move! Extra kudos to our home park (and the best in the chain!)

It was closed a bit near the end of last season; they were working on it when I saw it was closed. It's one of my favorite rides. Mmmm.. those old friction less Anton Schwarzkopf seats with the clicking spring bar.

[FParker185]

Yeah, I'm really glad they're fixing it too, especially since it's the only one that ever crossed the ocean that I'm aware of. Everyone and their mother has one in Europe, literally 4-8 of them traveling, then a bunch of parks have similar stripped down versions, thematically, like East River Crawler.

I guess in the meantime....

http://youtu.be/j2rwk-wKv5A

[DejaVu2001]

^^ I actually wouldn't be surprised if this is somehow related to the issues encountered during Fright Fest.

[CoasterDemon]

^^What was the Polyp at Kiddieland? A 'Monster 2' maybe? Not very up on all the flat ride models.

[FParker185]

That polyp was a bit of a mystery, it was imported to the US by Morgan Hughes, and his nameplate was on every car(below), Bumper Cars too. The manufacturer is believed to be, and is most likely Kasper Klaus out of Germany, but there is a small chance it was Baaker out of The Netherlands.

Assuming you know this, but Kiddieland's Polyp is alive and well, and running just as nicely at Lake Winnie in Georgia. Rode it 2 years ago not long after it was moved. It looked a little rough, and was missing a lot of it's lights, but it ran just as nice, even had a new compressor on it. They also bought the Chance Mushroom Ride from Kiddieland, which is kind of a rarity.

[CoasterDemon]

^That is a strange story....

I'm so glad to hear the Polyp is running at Lake Winnie. I've only been to that park once, for under 2 hours. I could easily spend the whole day there. That mouse coaster - that last curve seems a bit dangerous to me. It was extreme! But the rest of the park, and Cannonball - what a great place! The Polyp is in good company indeed..

[tp41190]

Yeah, I'm really glad they're fixing it too, especially since it's the only one that ever crossed the ocean that I'm aware of. Everyone and their mother has one in Europe, literally 4-8 of them traveling, then a bunch of parks have similar stripped down versions, thematically, like East River Crawler.

I guess in the meantime....

http://youtu.be/j2rwk-wKv5A

There actually used to be one, unless it's still there and I don't remember, at Vancouver Playland.

[FParker185]

Weird, will have to look into this, so far can't find any reference to it. All I see is that for PNE WCA brings in a Eylerly Monster now and then.

[tp41190]

It was in this movie which was released around 1999. If I can find the movie store I rented it from last ill see if I can grab a screen shot.

Awesome movie BTW. Still one of my favorites and not even because it has to do with amusement parks.

[franksilk32]

this is sad news to me. All of the rides for my kids keep closing and no sign in sight when they will open up. Last year they closed the bugs bunny area and the old fash cars and now this. guess they just get a little less money from me this season....

[DejaVu2001]

^ Honestly, while it is disappointing that Crawler won't be open this season, we should all be glad that it is getting the work it needs. If this had happened during the Shapiro era, the ride would probably be permanently removed.

Also, I can now confirm that Buzzy Beez (from Bugs Bunny National Park) will be operating in East River Crawler's location for 2012. It will not be ready for opening day though as there are still a few pieces of Crawler that need to be moved out before the installation can begin.

[RagingBull14]

and you know this how...?

[DejaVu2001]

^ Various sources within the park. That's all I can say.

[Jcoaster95]

What if it comes back as the Lobster?

[FParker185]

Well as long at it comes back, as long as it does

[CoasterDemon]

What if it comes back as the Lobster?

I've always called it Lobster; even though East River Crawler is cool, I just have Lobster stuck in my head. Then they can paint that HUGE lobster on the ground, under the ride, where it used to be. That would be cool!

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

You can see see what Coaster Demon meant with the lobster on the ground. This is a pictuire of the one in California but I'm pretty sure they looked similar.

[FParker185]

PGA got hosed with the Eylerly Monster

as an aside, the ride actually looks a lot better today than it did when it was at Great America, other than the pattern on the ground of course.

[Galvan]

East River Crawler is getting removed for Bizarro! at SFGAdv!!!!! COMING IN 2013! I cant wait!

[DejaVu2001]

Official confirmation from the park's twitter:

Yes, this is correct. The East River Crawler will be down for the 2012 season for refurbishment

https://twitter.com/#!/SFGreat_America/ ... 3381490689

[Ilovthevu']

They really should just get another one. You see a lot of these rides in Europe. Some of these flats are just getting too old. At least they should be able to find another one around. I really surprised that the Kiddieland one is still around operating at another park because even though I really liked that one (which to me is better than East River Crawler) even though it was broke multiple years. The East River Crawler company isn't even around either, Schwarzkopf. Fiddler's Fling and the Orbit are rides made by them too. Quite honestly, I rather have a Tilt-A-Whirl instead of Fiddler's Fling. At least Huss is still around, and I think it would be easier to get parts for Triple Play, Ricochet, and Condor.

[FParker185]

It's my understanding that Gerstlauer, Intamin and W. Schwarzkopf all support Anton Schwarzkopf rides.

Not that East River Crawler has ever run anywhere near it's full potential, but the new ones from W. Schwarzkopf/Gerstlauer don't feel quite right, they lack some of power. There are probably at least a dozen or more A. Schwarzkopf Monster III's in Europe, and most of them if you didn't know any better you'd swear they were brand new.

Fiddlers Fling has been left to deteriorate fairly badly, I think that's going to be the first one removed. On the other hand it's a very simple ride, like many Schwarzkopf rides which makes it easy to keep em going just about forever.