CHANG WATCH: The Official Topic

[Goku1910]

That coaster looks badass in all black!

That's not black, that's grey. And it's unpainted Steel.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Thank you for postin my picture Scott2608! I couldn't do anything but the link I got that pic out of my bf's "Rollercoaster!" Magazine.

[david]

What would happen if they left the coaster unpainted besides rust and such?

[CoastsToCoasters]

...that & it'd be ugly...

[david]

Are you kidding?! Chang looks totally badass in that gray!

[scott2608]

Are you kidding?! Chang looks totally badass in that gray!

I agree that gray looks better than black.

[FParker185]

That is actually painted, thats Primer Gray. Until B&M started painting the rails on their rides, they were left primer gray. Also the fact that is was painted at SFKK rather than at the factory gives a pretty big window into why the ride could never hold paint worth a damn.

[BrianPlencner]

All:

Just a heads up that the next Regular Village Board Meeting set for June 7th does NOT have any items on the agenda from Six Flags and their new coaster.

However, SFGAm is on there, but for something different.

3. Approval of a fireworks permit for Six Flag’s July 4th event.


The meeting after this is scheduled for June 21st. I'll keep an eye out for that agenda to see if the park is on it.

Knowing how much "fun" the ZBA meeting was due to the comments made by the residents, I am really looking forward to the board meeting that SFGAm will be a part of.

--Brian

[onyxhotel08]

I realize now how long it takes for these things to come through. Some sad they could go in for the height variance in August/September. Yeah right. I still think we are on track for a August land clearing start.

[CoastsToCoasters]

I cant wait to start seein vertical construction!

This is beautiful to me....

http://www.coasterimage.com/pictures/al ... hang01.jpg

[CoasterPrince]

That is a very beautiful picture. The color is so vibrant.

I'm sorry but did that kid just say Great America is neglected. You have an amazing park with flats, thril flats, an adjacent water park, and 14 coasters!!! Gadv may have an amazing coaster selection but we don't have the flats like you guys.

[dcrusselle]

@ Brian I think its better for six flags to get the fire works done now because they have less than a month to get it done for July 4 and it makes more sense because the rollercoaster will be a year away. I still have no worrys. Im pretty sure they will have a meeting for chang on the 21st of this month. CANT WAIT!

[dcrusselle]

saw this on screamscape...

June 3, 2010

By ANGELA D. SYKORA asykora@pioneerlocal.com
A large standing roller coaster could be relocated to Great America from another Six Flags theme park. Details are few as park officials maintain "nothing is for sure," but the wheels appear to be turning.

On May 26, Great America received a unanimous favorable recommendation from the Gurnee Zoning Board of Appeals to exceed the 125-foot height restriction for the construction of a new 150-foot coaster. The ride is proposed for the park's Space Port area near the main entrance. The site was formerly home to Space Shuttle America, which closed after the 2007 season.

"This is our first major thrill ride proposed since Superman in 2003," said Hank Salemi, park president.

It's also the first time Great America has asked for a height variance since adding the 205-foot tall Raging Bull in 1999.

Park officials said they are in the very early stages of planning and there is no construction timeline. All that is known is the coaster is expected to come from another Six Flags park. The coaster's name is not known, but it was manufactured by the Swiss company B&M, creators of Batman, Superman and Raging Bull.

Great America is a huge revenue source for the Village of Gurnee. Keeping it that way benefits the community and the park, said Salemi.

"It's important we continue to freshen our product and expand and increase revenue."

"If you're not growing, you're dying," said zoning board member John Spadaro.

Zoning board president Tom Hood agreed, stating, "Bigger, better, faster is what makes or breaks Great America."

NOISE ISSUE
Not everyone was excited to hear about plans for another big coaster, though. About 20 residents who live around the park attended the public hearing to learn more.

Several homeowners spoke of how noisy the park is, especially when they're trying to sleep at night. Other concerns included excess garbage and park goers using their neighborhood as a parking lot and cutting through their yards to access the park.

"It's not so much an issue of height as location," said resident Dan Fearn, who lives on Bough Court. "It's pretty close to our property."

Salemi said the park is landlocked and the Space Port area is the only site large enough to accommodate a large coaster. The coaster will encroach on some parking spaces near the main entrance. About 90 spaces will be lost, but Salemi said additional spaces will be added elsewhere to keep the total at a more-than-sufficient 8,500 spaces.

Zoning board members said while they appreciated the public comment, the hearing was about the height variance, not noise or other nuisance issues residents had with Great America. Hood suggested the residents appeal to the village board for such issues.

[UWW-10]

Several homeowners spoke of how noisy the park is, especially when they're trying to sleep at night. Other concerns included excess garbage and park goers using their neighborhood as a parking lot and cutting through their yards to access the park.

"It's not so much an issue of height as location," said resident Dan Fearn, who lives on Bough Court. "It's pretty close to our property."

Does anyone here know how many homeowners that surrond the park are still original owners? It really sounds to me that they don't have a problem with the rides itself but more the excessive noise, garbage, and traffic. Again, I don't think that they are turning the park down because it is the largest capital gain for the area (next to Gurnee Mills)

[bizarroboy]

I can understand complaining if your the original owner, but if your a buyer after Marriots was established, that's 100% your fault. You'd think that if you were buying and you saw a pretty large theme park in the area a lighbulb would go off in your head and say "Hmm what are the major downsides of living near a theme park.". Sorry just a little rant.

[CoastsToCoasters]

That's not a rant ...I completley agree.

[BrianPlencner]

I agree. If you were there before Marriott put the park in, then you have a right to voice your concerns about the park adding more rides which COULD make things worse for you and your neighborhood.

But, if you moved into a house in that area after the fact, then you should know what you are moving into.

Its like those people that buy a house next to Ohare, and then get all pissed off due to the noise of the airplanes.

HELLO! Its an AIRPORT!!! What did you expect lands at at airport? Birds??

Most people at the meeting did say that they had lived in their residence for 30+ years. So, most of them either moved there either right before, or right after the park opened. However, I would think that, over time, you would get used to living next to it. Take the Ohare issue again, or living next to a railroad line. You get used to hearing the sounds of your surroundings, that it is just natural to hear them. In fact, there was at least one person (maybe two) that said they have gotten used to the park being there, and they are generally a good neighbor. But, it does sound like the village of Gurnee may need to step up things a bit if the complaints of the residents are true (people cutting through the area, the garbage, the parked cars, etc). That's not really something that SFGAm should fix. While the park may be a direct result of that, its not the parks job to fix it. The park and the village could work together on a plan (change hours of operation for example, or how long employee parties can run, etc). But, really the issue falls on the village.

By the way, I do not know if the issues the residents said were real or not. I know that in the times I have walked out of the park to go to McDonald's to get some lunch, I will walk on the road in the subdivision instead of walking up to Grand Ave. The few times I did that last year, I did not see any parked cars, or trash in the neighborhood. It was nice and quiet back there.

However, if there really is a hole in the fence (I don't think there is), the park would know about it, and fix it ASAP. Its a liability issue on the park if someone was to walk in after hours and either get hurt, do damage, etc. Which is why there probably is no hole in the fence. If there was at one point, it has probably been fixed by now.

--Brian

[Goku1910]

Hey Brian, can someone downsize that image so it doesn't mess up the forums? I'm having some issues reading this topic because the words are going off the side.

[david]

I'm ready to make my final choice on what the coaster's theme will be.

Chang will Red and Blue color scheme, and host a "high-tech" or "space" theme.

Since the park called the area "Space Port" I assume that they will rename the area to that name.

These are my final predictions for the coaster. After all, they've just added a new car racing midway game.

[Goku1910]

I'm ready to make my final choice on what the coaster's theme will be.

Chang will Red and Blue color scheme, and host a "high-tech" or "space" theme.

Since the park called the area "Space Port" I assume that they will rename the area to that name.

These are my final predictions for the coaster. After all, they've just added a new car racing midway game.

They called it Space Port because they wanted people to know the location.

Like other people said, all bets are on for Green Lantern/Bizzaro.

[david]

^So mister smart, you know for a fact that it's going to be Bizarro, or Green lantern? You must be really smart. Please do tell me your source.

Everyone thought EDNOR was going to be some DC comics coaster. Look at it now. It's a classic ride, with a new original theme.

[Goku1910]

^So mister smart, you know for a fact that it's going to be Bizarro, or Green lantern? You must be really smart. Please do tell me your source.

Everyone thought EDNOR was going to be some DC comics coaster. Look at it now. It's a classic ride, with a new original theme.

What everyone knows is that Six Flags has this reputation for selling merchandise that corresponds to the theme....Such as T-shirts, etc. SFNE started selling Bizzaro merchandise before the Superman re-theme to Bizzaro. I can't say for sure that this is fact or fiction....or just a weird coincidence.

BTW david, don't abuse the smilies....it makes you look like more of a child.

[SFGAmgirl]

^So mister smart, you know for a fact that it's going to be Bizarro, or Green lantern? You must be really smart. Please do tell me your source.

Everyone thought EDNOR was going to be some DC comics coaster. Look at it now. It's a classic ride, with a new original theme.

BTW david, don't abuse the smilies....it makes you look like more of a child.

Win.

[onyxhotel08]

Can we stop thinking it will be blue and red? Superman and Chang on opposite sides with the same color? Yeah right. Purple and lime/blue all the way.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Aww David :/ haha Ok how about no one jump to a conclusion...this is all part of the fun (the speculation & wonder). No more yellin at the little one Anywhoogle...

I hope its not red & blue, I really don't. A new color to the park would be nice, & as I have said PLEASE NO MORE YELLOW!