SFGAm announces Rip Tide Bay

[monsterfan99]

^If I'm not mistaken the sign was taken out when the area was fenced off/cleared for Chang. That would have been somewhere around mid-May, so it might have been up earlier in the season.

[DejaVu2001]

And for the sign, are you sure, I could swear I saw it last year, just to be sure I'm talking about the 15 or so foot tall one right at the entrance of the ride covered in non and barely-functional neon?

I've got a picture I took on opening day last year of the three post stumps in the ground that the sign used to be mounted on. It was gone all year.

gallery/image_page.php?album_id=26&image_id=23

[FParker185]

Well that kinda blows, I probably didn't notice since I only made it to the park once last year before fright fest. Hopefully they are fixing it up, but somehow I doubt that.

[Necropolis]

Well that kinda blows, I probably didn't notice since I only made it to the park once last year before fright fest. Hopefully they are fixing it up, but somehow I doubt that.

HA!! I'm not wrong. I didn't even have to look it up. What I meant in my earlier post was that the park needs to make the advertising for Sky Trek Tower more eye-catching to the public. You know so pretty much it will be hard NOT to notice the sign for it every time someone walks by it. I mean you can clearly see STT from afar obviously , but the way I put it I can see where you're coming from. I mean SFGAm needs to lure more people to STT. Make the ads and signs for it really stand out. It's an under-appreciated attraction. :\

[FParker185]

Yeah, it seemed like you were getting at people were oblivious to a 330 foot tall blue tower with a 25 foot flag pole on top of it. I didn't doubt you, I just didn't go often enough to see for myself that the sign was gone and was hoping to see a pic that was provided. I think if they had the original sign, rehabbed and shining bright on the main midway it will attract more people, rather than having a hidden entrance on a secondary midway, in 1994 it may have been good but for the past 5 years of so, it's entrance was pretty well hidden away from where the GP normally go. Even back in like 1992/3 Sky Trek with it's original entrance would have a good half full queue on a busy day if not more, after the entrance was moved, it's popularity seemed to plummet.

[Necropolis]

Oh yeah...I don't really understand what SFGAm is trying to say on their site, but this may be be a stupid question but when you go to their website and first see the main ad for the Riptide Bay, they mention its the only place to surf on Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan?? SFGAm is not located at or on Lake Michigan. I don't understand what they are trying to say. Can anyone clarify this??

[RobSFGAm]

I noticed that too a while a back. Actually there are a few groups in Northern IL that due surf (as much as possible on a lake) on Lake Michigan, but Great Americas line is strange at best.
I still cannot believe that they have no update on the progress of the construction. StStl even has one for their new Sky Screamer.

[BigTopSkyCoaster91]

If Great America wanted to increase STT's popularity, they could easily use the old "Speedway" sign over the midway to draw people considering tower will be the only attraction accessible by that route.

[monsterfan99]

^^On the update, it is still 2 plus months until Hurricane Harbor opens and even longer until it goes daily. It would be wise to wait until after opening weekend to attack on that front.

^STT doesn't seem to have ridership issues despite the fact there is never a line. The queue tends to be ride the next time it loads, but it is a full cabin. It could be like the Sea World Orlando version of STT. It cost $4 to ride (free to SP holders) and never has more than 4-5 people on it.

[acquaz10]

GAm update the site with more news on Riptide Bay!!



Hang-10 at Surf Rider, race a friend on twin versions of Dive Bomber & Mega Wedgie, slide on a raft with your family on Wipeout or kick back and relax at Monsoon Lagoon. Riptide Bay is great for the whole family!

Don't forget to heck out High Tide — Riptide Bay's retail store featuring swimming apparel, gifts, souvenirs and more. And take a load off at 5 O'Clock Phil's — a tiki-inspired snack bar featuring an outdoor seating area, tropical drinks and snacks.

More at: http://www.sixflags.com/greatAmerica/ri ... deBay.aspx

[FParker185]

The Hyperbole is physically hurting me to read

First off the slides are not looping, the technical drawings from Proslide along with their artwork posted right on that page show that the "loop" is in fact a fairly flat helix.

There have been many straight drop speed slides with a trap door, first one that comes to mind is Dive Bomber at Wet n Wild in Orlando which I've ridden, and let me tell you Wedgie is only half the story on those slides.

And the Tantrum slide is nowhere near the first of it's kind, even outdoors

Outside of all that, it should be a really nice expansion for the waterpark.

[monsterfan99]

^No good PR department has ever let the facts get in the way.

[DejaVuGurl1203]

You know, when I first read all that on the website, I truly believed we were getting a looping water slide or two. The artwork confused me a little though, but I still believed it. Then I saw FParker's post and thought, oh. I got really excited about a looping water slide. Not really liking that false advertising there.

Still excited for this year though.

[6Flags4Evr]

I to was confused interpriting the art work weather it would be an actual looping slide or not. Should be fun anyway looping or not.

[Necropolis]

All the names of the new attractions with descriptions of Hurricane Harbor are under the rides tab on SFGAm's official website.

[rcoaster]

I'm just glad that they're getting rid of that dead space by the Pictorium by adding some colorful and themed water attractions. I'm very excited to go to Hurricane Harbor this season to try these new slides/attractions out.

[boilermaker4life]

The slides are referred to as looping because that is how pro-slide describes them

[Goku1910]

I'm just glad that they're getting rid of that dead space by the Pictorium by adding some colorful and themed water attractions. I'm very excited to go to Hurricane Harbor this season to try these new slides/attractions out.

You should see the dead space at Great adventure that green Lantern created......

[FParker185]

http://www.riptidebay.com/webcam.html

SFGAm is getting moving now on the new stuff. You can see the "loops" on the 2 slides. Tantrum is looking good as well.

[6Flags4Evr]

To be entirely honest, I thought they would be farther on construction than they currently are even though the water park doesn't open until memorial day weekend. Is it just me or do they seem to be a bit behind schedule?

[monsterfan99]

^Water rides can go up and be opened ultra fast.

[T.K.]

Wow guys check the webcam... Thats huge dif. between today and yesterday. Looks like they are working on the new children Lagoon. I think they will be done before the park opens.

[Necropolis]

http://www.riptidebay.com/webcam.html

SFGAm is getting moving now on the new stuff. You can see the "loops" on the 2 slides. Tantrum is looking good as well.

WOW. How did you manage to find a webcam for that? Thats pretty cool!

And I think they have to complete it before the park opens. It would look kind of weird and not inviting if the public sees big machines and loud sounds and construction while the park is open for the season.

[Coaster Justin]

Does anyone else hope the Entrance for Hurricane Harbor is relocated to By Sky-Trek-Tower?

[6Flags4Evr]

^I for one sure hope they do. It would be cool if they just put STT que back to its original location and use the former midway just for a HH entrance. It's not like STT ever really has a full que. I can easily imagine a gaint HH sign where the speedway sign now sits. However I think it would be a smart idea to keep the other entrance in southwest as well as an alternative entrance for when the crowds get really crazy.