Fright Fest 2008

[Jackluver18]

He was there when I first went through Necro in 06 but he may have been there before then

[BrianPlencner]

Lets see if I can help answer onyxhotel08 questions.

Fright Fest first opened at Great America on Saturday, October 5, 1991. Like now, the park was open on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays, with the close of the season being on Sunday, November 3, 1991.

From what I remember, our park was not the "first" to have Fright Fest. Rather, it was something that the chain tried out at a few parks that year. I believe it was also done at Six Flags Over Texas, and (then named) Six Flags Over Mid-America. I could be wrong on the other parks.....but, I do know that it the event was held at other parks in the chain.

As we all know, the event was a big success for the parks that did it. In 1992 and the years after, Six Flags added Fright Fest to the rest of the parks in the chain.

While I cannot comment on how long it takes to take down all the decorations and other Fright Fest items at the park after Fright Fest, I did work a few weeks in the off-season back in 1988 to help the park get ready for winter. I was 15 at the time, so I did not do a whole lot. What I did was to help move all the garbage cans from each section of the park into the midway, so that the park could hose them out. This included any from the ride lines, shops, food places, etc. Once hosed out, we then moved them into different places in the park for winter storage. One of these areas was the queue for Hay Bayler, as it had a cover over it. Ru-Le-Dodge was another ride queue that we used. In Picnic Grove, all of the picnic tables would be stacked up under the pavilions to help keep them somewhat protected for the winter.

All of the trains from each of the coasters are removed from the rides, and put into storage. Depending on the ride, and the rotation cycle for the trains, either general maintenance would be performed, or a full "take each car apart down to the nuts and bolts, inspect / clean / paint it all, and re-build" would take place. Other rides, like East River Crawler, Triple Play, etc would minimally have the seats or ride cabins removed. Again, like the coaster trains, if it was the year for a full overhaul of the ride, that would be done as well. I know in most recent years, this was done to East River Crawler, as well as the swings. For the flats that are not in full overhaul mode, they did cover specific parts of the ride to protect them from the weather. They would also winterize the ride as well (drain out the fluids, and put anti-freeze in to keep them from freezing).

Another thing that the park does with the coasters is to remove the lift chain, and store it.

As far as time, a lot of this work will happen very quickly, with the season ending in November. Before 1991, the park had the full month of October to do this. So, while we all love Fright Fest, it does give the park less time to prepare the park for winter.

Finally, all of the stores and food places have all of the items removed at the end of the season, and are either stored in the warehouses, or shipped to other parks. The buildings are then winterized.

--Brian

[SfGaMownz]

That's quite the interesting list of facts there. Speaking of when Fright Fest was the best in terms of actually attempting to be scary that would be the mid to late 1990's ever since then it has become not even half in what it was in terms of any sort of scares. I mean they went from the Boo- Line, to Pig-Man, to the Scooby-Doo Mystery Train to nothing, that explains it all....

[Mr. D.T.]

I miss Boo Line. Pig Man was beyond DUD. Scooby Doo was decent half the way.

[tp41190]

I think its cool how Whirligig just collapses for the off season.

One thing I always wondered was for STT and Giant Drop, do they keep the same cables on? I know they raise all the cars so there are not exposed but is there ever a time when cables need to be replaced?

Also, when they drain the blood pools is there ever any stains that need to be cleaned up?

[DejaVu2001]

^ Cables are replaced as necessary. Giant Drop had all of its cables replaced in 2006. As for the dye staining the ponds/fountains, I know in 2005, the Hurricane Harbor entrance fountain was stained. This year, it looked like the King Chaos fountain was stained.

[BP317]

The same cables are the same on all rides (including Condor). Theyre made to last a long time with proper maintenence, and are replaced when they show signs of needing to be replaced.

[monsterfan99]

I think its cool how Whirligig just collapses for the off season.

One thing I always wondered was for STT and Giant Drop, do they keep the same cables on? I know they raise all the cars so there are not exposed but is there ever a time when cables need to be replaced?

Also, when they drain the blood pools is there ever any stains that need to be cleaned up?

The 2nd to last weekend, King Chaos had no blood in it and looked fine.

[Demon_07]

Sunday, they dyed it again.

[onyxhotel08]

Lets see if I can help answer onyxhotel08 questions.

Fright Fest first opened at Great America on Saturday, October 5, 1991. Like now, the park was open on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays, with the close of the season being on Sunday, November 3, 1991.

From what I remember, our park was not the "first" to have Fright Fest. Rather, it was something that the chain tried out at a few parks that year. I believe it was also done at Six Flags Over Texas, and (then named) Six Flags Over Mid-America. I could be wrong on the other parks.....but, I do know that it the event was held at other parks in the chain.

As we all know, the event was a big success for the parks that did it. In 1992 and the years after, Six Flags added Fright Fest to the rest of the parks in the chain.

While I cannot comment on how long it takes to take down all the decorations and other Fright Fest items at the park after Fright Fest, I did work a few weeks in the off-season back in 1988 to help the park get ready for winter. I was 15 at the time, so I did not do a whole lot. What I did was to help move all the garbage cans from each section of the park into the midway, so that the park could hose them out. This included any from the ride lines, shops, food places, etc. Once hosed out, we then moved them into different places in the park for winter storage. One of these areas was the queue for Hay Bayler, as it had a cover over it. Ru-Le-Dodge was another ride queue that we used. In Picnic Grove, all of the picnic tables would be stacked up under the pavilions to help keep them somewhat protected for the winter.

All of the trains from each of the coasters are removed from the rides, and put into storage. Depending on the ride, and the rotation cycle for the trains, either general maintenance would be performed, or a full "take each car apart down to the nuts and bolts, inspect / clean / paint it all, and re-build" would take place. Other rides, like East River Crawler, Triple Play, etc would minimally have the seats or ride cabins removed. Again, like the coaster trains, if it was the year for a full overhaul of the ride, that would be done as well. I know in most recent years, this was done to East River Crawler, as well as the swings. For the flats that are not in full overhaul mode, they did cover specific parts of the ride to protect them from the weather. They would also winterize the ride as well (drain out the fluids, and put anti-freeze in to keep them from freezing).

Another thing that the park does with the coasters is to remove the lift chain, and store it.

As far as time, a lot of this work will happen very quickly, with the season ending in November. Before 1991, the park had the full month of October to do this. So, while we all love Fright Fest, it does give the park less time to prepare the park for winter.

Finally, all of the stores and food places have all of the items removed at the end of the season, and are either stored in the warehouses, or shipped to other parks. The buildings are then winterized.

--Brian

Dude, that was an awesome answer! I ALWAYS wanted to know everything about off-season goings-on. Thanks!