New article confirms closure of 3 rides

[bigb7965]

From Lake county news

GURNEE -- Six Flags Great America is scheduled to open a little earlier than normal for 2008, but it will do so without three major rides: Splashwater Falls, Space Shuttle America and Deja Vu.

The closings were announced as the park's parent company, Six Flags Inc., went public this week with plans to cut a reported $60 million in operating expenses among its 21 locations, including the shuttering of inefficient rides.

According to Great America spokeswoman Brooke Gabbert, the local rides were targeted for extinction to clear room for future construction, and because they had all been identified as moving guests too slowly through their lines.

"I want to emphasize that the reason we're taking down (the rides) is not because of any cuts in operation," Gabbert said, adding that the corporate-ordered cuts will focus primarily on advertising and are "not going to affect anything to do with the guests."

In the decision to shut down Deja Vu, Gabbert acknowledged that the ride's frequent closures for maintenance came into play along with its slow lines.

"We put over a million riders each season on our top four rides," she said, listing Raging Bull, Batman: The Ride, Superman Ultimate Flight and Vertical Velocity on the honor roll. "Deja Vu wasn't even close to that."

Deja Vu had a relatively short but troubled history. Scheduled to open in spring 2001 along with Vertical Velocity, the "suspended looping boomerang" coaster didn't open until October due to reported problems with its lift hill and with cars being stuck in mid-ride.

Though Gabbert described Space Shuttle America as a victim of "outdated technology," the motion-simulation ride opened to fanfare in 1994, touted as the park's first foray into the virtual-reality concept employed at Universal Studios Theme Parks. Among the first to break in the flight simulator was retired astronaut Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury Seven.

Gabbert said it is unclear whether or not the exact-size replica of a NASA space shuttle -- with a 75-foot wingspan and a 5-story tail -- will be in place when the park opens this spring, but the area will be closed to the public.

Splashwater Falls is the oldest of the three castaways, having opened in 1986. The water ride features a 50-foot ramp that sends a single boat into a lagoon, producing a wave that hits people exiting the ride over a bridge.

Deja Vu will be dismantled this winter and likely will be gone when the park opens on April 26, about a week earlier than usual. Meanwhile, Gabbert said concrete was poured this week for Great America's new thrill ride, a $7.5 million indoor coaster dubbed The Dark Knight, and it is scheduled to be ready on opening day.



http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article

[FRD714]

So they're aiming for TDK to open on opening day eh.

[Trailblazer Tony]

^While this was already posted in a different forum page, thanks for the post anyways, it's the "proof" most have been complaining doesn't exist.

[BrianPlencner]

Gabbert said it is unclear whether or not the exact-size replica of a NASA space shuttle -- with a 75-foot wingspan and a 5-story tail -- will be in place when the park opens this spring, but the area will be closed to the public.

So, if the area that SSA is in will be "closed to the public", then the following questions come to mind.

1) Will the park be changing the entrance to Sky Treck Tower? The entrance was in the same area as SSA. In fact, it was very close to the shuttle itself.

2) Will the park no longer be having the go-karts? Again, to get to them, you have to be in the area that SSA is in. If they do "close that area" to the public, then the public will not be able to get to the go-karts.

Comments?

--Brian

[FParker185]

also the exit for Pictorium is back next to the go karts. I'm guessing they will just either use the portable fence to wall off that specific area (tacky) or just have the ride closed normally with all the signage removed.

[Chitown]

My guess is they will just have SSA closed off because it is in a corner. The rest of the area will be open for STT, Go-karts.

[sfgam1]

1) Will the park be changing the entrance to Sky Treck Tower? The entrance was in the same area as SSA. In fact, it was very close to the shuttle itself.

They probobly would just close Sky Trek Tower down like other years when it was never open.

[FParker185]

I dont seem to remember these years.

I know last year it was down due to technical difficulties, but before that I seem to need my memory refreshed.

[ttd rox]

Well the past decade it hasn't been closed any of those times because it's a tradition for me to ride the STT every time I went there. They're most likely going to move the entrance like American Eagle's when they made Wiggles World in the giant building/tent looking thing. Sky Trek Tower wasn't closed when I went on June 21st of last year unless you mean last year as in 2006 but I also rode it that year too in July.

[rct2wizard360]

This was announced at NCC.

Yeah, old news slightly.

[ttd rox]

I hope TDK is opening on opening day because I'm going that day and will be my first year going on opening day because I got my first season pass for Christmas. Actually I bought it for a Christmas present myself. LOL!

[Bob O]

The park also wont be operating Spy Girl and will have no daily replacement for this show either.

It would be nice if the park is going to close many rides and some shows that they would redujce admission prices to compensate the guests for having less to do in the park.
And then when you add in that they will likely rarely run Yankee Clipper or both sides of AE among other rides that dont often operate at park opening it reduces the amount of attractions the guests will have.(though im sure they hope it will result in increased sales of flash passes!!).

[cycamps]

I' won't miss any of those rides, other than Vu.

[Trailblazer Tony]

The park also wont be operating Spy Girl and will have no daily replacement for this show either.

It would be nice if the park is going to close many rides and some shows that they would redujce admission prices to compensate the guests for having less to do in the park.
And then when you add in that they will likely rarely run Yankee Clipper or both sides of AE among other rides that dont often operate at park opening it reduces the amount of attractions the guests will have.(though im sure they hope it will result in increased sales of flash passes!!).

I agree with this as well!

I also think the whole section by SSA will be phased out for a bigger and better thing, why not start rerouting Sky Trek Tower and Pictorium queues now.....

[FParker185]

up until the end of 1993 Sky Trek Towers entrance used to be near the carousel, I liked it better there personally though from the looks of it I dont think that sign could survive another move

[Demon_07]

The park also wont be operating Spy Girl and will have no daily replacement for this show either.

It would be nice if the park is going to close many rides and some shows that they would redujce admission prices to compensate the guests for having less to do in the park.
And then when you add in that they will likely rarely run Yankee Clipper or both sides of AE among other rides that dont often operate at park opening it reduces the amount of attractions the guests will have.(though im sure they hope it will result in increased sales of flash passes!!).

I agree with this as well!

I also think the whole section by SSA will be phased out for a bigger and better thing, why not start rerouting Sky Trek Tower and Pictorium queues now.....

I still have a feeling they're going to expand hurricane harbor there. I'd also like to see Sky Trek's entrance by the carousel. People wouldn't miss it so easily that haven't been to the park before.

[cycamps]

^I sort of agree with you, but it's sort of hard to miss a large tower.

[Cryptkeeper]

So, with three less rides to staff in 08, that means staffing at the beginning and end of the year should be better... right?

I'm still wondering, now that Vu is gone, what coaster will take over its role as the coaster to be closed at the start and end of the year when staffing is bad. My best guess would be V2 as A) that can be a temperamental ride and B) can cost a lot to fix when something bad goes wrong.

[TwistedSTEEL666]

I can dismiss the downtime Vu had, but the several times I've actually been on it, I've really liked that ride.

Why not try to fix all the bugs in Vu?
Now I really regret not getting to SFGAm in 07'.

[Bob O]

I think the park was smart to close Vu down.
It has never operaterd in a proper manner and even though they spent alot of time/effort/money there is no reason to believe the ride would operate as realiable as it should no matter how much they spent on it.

Lets hope next time they put in a major coaster they go with a company that produces rides that arent down as often as they operate.

[Demon_07]

look, what's done is done. As far as the next ride to always be broken down, I'd agree V2 would.

[bigb7965]

i think it would be cool if they converted GD into a rotating drop style ride

it would seat more people but i dont know if it is possible to make such a conversion

[Demon_07]

i think it would be cool if they converted GD into a rotating drop style ride

it would seat more people but i dont know if it is possible to make such a conversion

It's possible but not really worth it.

[ttd rox]

^I sort of agree with you, but it's sort of hard to miss a large tower.

LOL! Well I guess some people can't see a 293ft. to over 300ft. tower near the entrance. But I have to agree it would be a lot easier and better to have the entrance up closer to the carousel/gates.

[Demon_07]

What I mean is that it will attract more people to the ride if they see the queue. STOP MAKING FUN OF ME!!!!!!