SFGAm buys Little Dipper from Kiddieland

[Jcoaster95]

Um, don't they have to wait for spring to put in the footers? So the ground isn't frozen?

[david]

Not necessarily. There is already cement in SWF area.

[FParker185]

Nope, concrete cures exothermically, meaning as it sets it creates heat. Concrete can be poured in just about any temperature, if it's extremely cold there are special tarps that are put over concrete to trap the heat it creates.

I'm guessing Little Dipper wont actually have individual footers, but rather a concrete pad for the entire ride. And if a level concrete pad exists already in the park they won't have to do anything. Just set it up and anchor the ride using L shaped pieces of steel anchored to the concrete and bolted to each bent. If the park want's to they could do individual footers I suppose, though none of them would have to be over 3-4 feet deep, there isn't a heck of a lot of load to support.

Also the structure for Little Dipper should go up in a matter of a week or 2, there isn't much to put up. The part that will take the longest is installing new track then the mechanical stuff for the lift. Oh and building a new station. If they install a PLC and automate it's operation I guess that could take some extra time, but there just isn't that much on the ride. That blog pic of the pieces at SFGAm appears to be basically the entire ride.

[david]

That is ALL of it?! Or All that was salvageable?

[FParker185]

should be just about all of it. The tallest bent on Little Dipper was 23 feet tall, and there were less than say 40 bents for the entire ride

[rcoaster]

I'm tempted to buy an RC Camera Helicopter and take it for a spin around Six Flags. Then we can figure out where Little Dipper is going, if there are any signs of train replacement on Iron Wolf, if our Batman retains its original color... A man can dream.

As for Little Dipper, I can't wait to ride it. It'll be the oldest coaster I've ever been on, and I regret not taking the time to ride it when it was at its original location. I'm sure it'll be re-painted white and looking as sharp as it ever was. The question is... Will SFGAm just slap it on the ground or actually take the time to somehow make the ride fit in to its new environment by designing (or assembling) the station to represent its glory days by adding a couple objects (lights, pictures, etc) to make it seem more historic and designing the queues to give some information on its history. I'm not too familiar on its history, so I don't know how much one can do with that, but I think Six Flags is due for one of those old-time classics (that sort of sounds like a paradox).

Now I'll be able to trick friends with a new trivia question: What is the oldest roller coaster at the park?

[FParker185]

Well, at the Kiddieland auction when asked, Hank Salemi said they are going to try to save the sign (Neon Letters on the station) depending on what kind of shape everything is in. LIT was out, and it was on and off for most of the second half of this year, but it's just a transformer issue the neon itself is in really good shape, so I would expect to see a station built to look pretty similar to the old one and with the Neon Letters on it.

[david]

Did Dipper have AirGates? Or was it just rush into a row?

[monsterfan99]

Did Dipper have AirGates? Or was it just rush into a row?

It was single file run to a row. Multiple times on closing day I waited for front row while parents were yelling to their kids to push me out of the way. I sincerity hope they change it to wait for rows.

[onyxhotel08]

Flash pass?

[saylorman47]

Flash pass?

Most definitely.

[david]

^ if Sprockets Rockets doesn't have a FP than Dipper won't.

[monsterfan99]

^It could. Wilie Coyote Canyon Blaster at SFOG has one. Saved me a hour wait and got front row

[sfgam1]

It might because it's kind of a classic. And it's new. My guess is it will for like the first year.

[david]

Dipper will have the same affect as Dark Knight had. They're going to go there, and then realize that it isn't a coaster, it's a 20 second run.

I waited 5 minutes for sprockets, on a busy day. Putting FP for one year will require (most likely) hiring someone new for that alone.

[monsterfan99]

^Not really. The FP entrance would be at the exit. Still only need the one employee. Also, I don't expect the FP line to be huge. The day I used a FP on the Canyon Blaster at SFOG the wait was well over an hour and we were the only people using it.

The ride will be packed due to history and it is a good ride little ride. Also, it will be used by parents as a training coaster for AE & Viper. During the summer, Sprockets always had a full queue line. I expect the Little Dipper to be just as long if not longer.

[david]

Dipper can only utilize one train right? Capacity on this thing is going to be terrible.

[DejaVu2001]

^Not really. The ride has the same number of seats as Spacely's. RCDB lists Spacely's theoretical capacity at 780 riders an hour. Although no capacity for Dipper is given, Little Dipper is only 6 seconds longer than Spacely.

[onyxhotel08]

No matter what it is it will still be a better experience than Dark Knight. Kids & families have gotten spoiled over the years at the park...

2004 Ragin Cajun
2005 Hurricane Harbor
2007 Operation Spygirl
2008 Dark Knight
2009 Buccaneer Battle
2010 Little Dipper

[david]

^ You've just realized? Families have been pampered for years. Shapiro came in saying that all we've done is thrills. Well, we haven't gotten one since 2001. We've lost 4 rides since then.

[FParker185]

Superman in 2003 was a thrill ride. I know it's not one that alot of people really like alot, but a thrill ride none the less. Also 04 with Mardi Gras saw some thrill with King Chaos, Revolution and to some extent Ragin Cajun.

Thrills cost money which Six Flags doesn't have, hence Chang's relocation, SFKK's Waterpark expansion, and rehab on Texas Giant for the chain's 50'th in 2011, not sure if anything else is known or official yet, but so far stuff is being done on the cheap. Also gotta remember that SFGAm is not short on thrills at all. The only glaring holes in our thrill ride collection is a Vertical Drop coaster of some type, Suspended Coaster who's genre is long past and large sitdown multi-looper, which if we get Chang and it gets converted to floorless, that could fill that spot.

[david]

SF could easily point out that Demon is a multi-looper, and that Wolfie is a Multi-Looper. If there is more than one loop, than it's a multi-looper. We need something BIG, and that's hard to put in at Great America. If There was no HH, and no Viper, than we could get a really nice Giga Coaster. But No space there.

[FParker185]

Well Iron Wolf if not a sitdown multi looper, and Demon is by no means a large multi looper. It's an extraordinarily dated Arrow Corkscrew and rather small in stature.

[Chitown]

SF could easily point out that Demon is a multi-looper, and that Wolfie is a Multi-Looper. If there is more than one loop, than it's a multi-looper. We need something BIG, and that's hard to put in at Great America. If There was no HH, and no Viper, than we could get a really nice Giga Coaster. But No space there.

Hurricane Harbor was a much needed addition as SFGAm at the time was the last major park in the country that didn't have one. Why would you bring up Viper? It's a great wooden coaster.

You can forget the Giga dreaming. Not as long as SF is in this much debt. I bet if Apollo management gets the go ahead to purchase Cedar Fair, you won't be seeing any more Giga's in their parks.

[david]

Can't remember where I saw this now, I'll edit if I find it but somwhere they classified Bull as:
Hyper/Giga/Strata WTF!

Back on Topic.

Anyone get out to take any pictures?