SFGAm buys Little Dipper from Kiddieland

[6FlagsCitizen]

Wow, I brought this idea up about a month ago in the general talk forums, I can't belive they actually did it though! Great America has just gained a ton of respect from me. The Little Dipper was the first roller coaster I ever rode, I'm so glad it's going to open up for a 60th season! Now Demon & Whizzer don't seem so old anymore, lol.

[FParker185]

While I agree with everything that's been said, I have one question.

Why Dark Knight a coaster bigger and more impressive than Little Dipper with a lot of themeing (for Six Flags) is why do people see this as one of the worst additions that SFGAm has ever added? While Little Dipper which is 1/3'rd the size of Dark Knight and appeals mainly to children being heralded as the greatest thing SFGAm has ever done in it's 30+ year history?

I think this is a spectacular PR move, but other than that, there really isn't much difference when you put the 2 coasters head to head striping away history and personal feelings.

[monsterfan99]

^Three things

1. Local history - Was the first coaster for many people
2. Wood>Steel to enthusiast
3. The park already had a wild mouse 500 feet away.

[rb1]

Yay 4 more family coaster and were back on the record books thanks SF.

[Jerrykoala2112]

To where this coaster is gonna go....

My guess, and where I would want it to go, is in the Looney Tunes, (toons?) area. They have that jungle gym coarse, wasn't used in years, and I wouldn't mind seeing that go away. It would fit in that area, and it you look good because it would be right on the midway.

[Paradise]

Honestly, I'd rather see Chang.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Wow...Not to come off defensive but you're ignorant. Honestly a park needs balance to be a well estabalished park. Hopefully I'm not the only one who believes this. Sure I want another major coaster..hell I'm a little selfish I'd even say cause I want us to have many more but there are parks out there buddy that have 5, 6,8, or yes even only 1coaster(s). We have depending how you look at it, 13/14coasters. We are not only successful but well balanced with a great variety of not only coasters but flats. There's a lot we could improve on but we are a great park. Getting a few family rides/coasters for awhile will only set us up for further success.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[SFaddiction84]

Honestly, I'd rather see Chang.

2011 Just because we are getting Little Dipper in one of the Kiddy Area's for 2010 does not mean they decided against chang! its about time Great America gets some attention

[onyxhotel08]

So with the time needed to remove SSA, get that area set up for construction on Chang and all that when can we assume they will start? Obviously we will see lots this coming season even though Chang will not rise till April 2011 I predict.

[vprlvr456]

Ok, just because we're getting "dipper" doesn't mean we're missing Chang. The park has already said dipper will go in a kiddie section. I still think we have a 75% chance of getting chang

[rct2wizard360]

PR move is about to pay off.

NBC is running a story on it tonight.

[sfgamfan717]

I am very excited about this and it was a good move on six flags part. I rode the clone at little amerrika and it was alot of fun. On the metor we went around 2-3 times. Will six flags let it go around twice or just once?

[FParker185]

while twice would be nice, I'm sure due to the low capacity coupled with SFGAm's crowds and what is sure to be a very popular ride for what it is, one lap will probably remain the order of the day.

[Coaster Justin]

Something Even Cooler would be a Tunner and/or Forward/Backward Seats

[tp41190]

Something Even Cooler would be a Tunner and/or Forward/Backward Seats

It's a junior wooden coaster. Besides, PTC doesn't even make forward and backward seating.

[Director_Guy]

Good job on the picture on the main page Dave, good to see there is still some ounce of creativity going into this site once in awhile .

Embarrassed to admit this, but I don't get it.

[tillenterprises]

Again, I say, this is very smart move by Great America, and will score many points with people who have fond memories of Kiddieland. I rode Meteor at Little Amerrika and loved it, so I'm very happy with this addtion, too. I'm still surprised by it though- I know Six Flags is trying to add new attractions without spending a ton of money by recycling old rides, but I'm shocked that they would invest in a 60 year old coaster, which probably need some restoration and TLC on an ongoing basis, which could be more costly in terms of time and money, versus a more "maintainence-friendly" attraction. Sometimes I can't figure Six Flags out- they seem to have two distinct personalities. It's either, "lets preserve classic rides and attractions and respect their history," like with Little Dipper and the Comet, or it's "tear it all down and cut costs," like with bulldozing Astroworld, scrapping every single 1st gen freefall, and letting Z-Force/Flashback, the only space diver made, rust away and scrapping it.

[tillenterprises]

While I agree with everything that's been said, I have one question.

Why Dark Knight a coaster bigger and more impressive than Little Dipper with a lot of themeing (for Six Flags) is why do people see this as one of the worst additions that SFGAm has ever added? While Little Dipper which is 1/3'rd the size of Dark Knight and appeals mainly to children being heralded as the greatest thing SFGAm has ever done in it's 30+ year history?

I think this is a spectacular PR move, but other than that, there really isn't much difference when you put the 2 coasters head to head striping away history and personal feelings.

I understand what you're saying. Personally, I like the Dark Knight, (although I'm getting tired of having to sit through the movie each time), as I like mouse coasters, except I'm not a big fan of Ragin Cajun due to the spinning and roughness at the end. I think the (perhaps unfair) criticism that they got about Dark Knight, was due to the way it was promoted. They gave the impression that it was going to be another coaster like Rock N' Roller At DW, and I think people were disappointed. With Little Dipper, people already have fond memories of it and know what to expect.

[Chitown]

Good job on the picture on the main page Dave, good to see there is still some ounce of creativity going into this site once in awhile .

Embarrassed to admit this, but I don't get it.

Look at the guy sitting in the front seat on the left. Check the logo on his shirt.

[bobbinbop20]

^Haha I noticed that as well, its a clue!

[CoastsToCoasters]

haha nice...

So earlier in the forum someone said the wood was rotted & that track couldn't be reused. Now as I remember it, it was always a bit rundown looking. I know They're going to replace all or most of that wood right? SFGAm is not going to use bad material? so how do you preserve such a classic? the trains is that it?....is that really what SFGAm paid $33,000 for?

[traincrossing9]

Here's an interesting fact I found on RCDB about Meteor.

Purchased by Hillcrest Park in 1966 for $6,000. The ride was moved by Hillcrest Park at a cost of $66,000 and it reopened in 1967.

http://rcdb.com/327.htm
So will Six Flags end up spending $100,000 on Little Dipper?

[FParker185]

SFGAm will likely spend more than $100,000 moving it.

As for the bad wood, I'm sure when it's rebuilt any rotted wood will be replaced. There really wasn't much, though a few bents, especially near the bottom of the lift were rotted, nothing major really. The coaster as it ran at Kiddieland was in perfectly sound shape outside of a half completed paint job. As for the track, just the way wood coaster track is constructed, there is no good way to move it. The track is laminates of wood and all the joints need to be staggered for maximum strength, you cant just cut it into sections, then place the sections back on without tearing apart the laminates and re staggering everything, it's easier, less time consuming and probably around the same price to put down new track, especially on little dipper and it's 4 or so layer track. The trains were in showroom mint condition. If the park doesn't want to they wont have to spend a penny on them, though I'm guessing the park may want a new system of unlocking the lapbars rather than having the wedge going into the station unlocking the lapbars while the train is still in motion. Cheapest way is to just have the ride op unlock them manually using the same system, though I'm guessing either now or in time that will be modernized.

Main issue will be the lift, SFGAm will have to spend alittle $$ probably on a new lift chain along with 2 cogs in the motorhouse. While I'm sure they could put it together as is and get a few years of service out of it, it's so much easier to replace that kind of stuff while everything is taken apart.

[Nasty]

Can no one see the big plan here? This is what will happen in the next two years:

1. Little Dipper will open in a kiddie area in 2010
2. Glow in the Dark will open in 2010
3. Mid to late 2010 the Wizzer will close to make room for Chang floorless
4. Chang will open with a new name and theme in 2011
5. SSA buliding will be utilized in 2011/2012 for new 5D show

The Wizzer is past its time and parts are a big factor here. There is more than one Reason The Little Dipper was bought this week. This gives managment ammo to fight in a "There is no coasters for my kids to ride fight". Call me crazy but this is how it will pan out.

[DejaVu2001]

^ It really hurts your credibility when you can't even spell the ride's name correctly. Whizzer. Also, during October, they were starting some pretty extensive rehab work on Whizzer's station and queue building. Care to explain why they would be fixing up a building for a ride they were planning on tearing down?