Comments on: Rocky Mountain Coasters to Build 2 New Roller Coasters

By: Dyer Hendricks

Dyer Hendricks — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 05:14:49 +0000

Son of Beast is getting torn down. Sorry to burst your bubble but Kings Island announced that in late July.

By: YummyJuice

YummyJuice — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 12:47:13 +0000

I live 3 hours from sdc!

By: RCT Pro

RCT Pro — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:51:19 +0000

All i hope is that the trains don't look like those hedious Timberliners. But I consider RMC is a wild card after the Texas Giant overhaul and i hope that a park near me gets an RMC coaster someday.

By: The Coaster Critic

The Coaster Critic — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:42:43 +0000

TF, you make some good points and as a fan of healthy eating the comparison you made is intriguing. The only issue I have is that (for reasons I don't know) parks aren't maintaining some of these woodies at the standards that would make them ride-able and enjoyable. It could be:

A) That they (Mean Streak, Son of Beast, etc) were just poorly designed and rough rides are inevitable over time
B) The proper amount of maintenance is too costly
C) Maintenance isn't necessarily too costly, but they'd rather invest in other rides

No matter the reason, the reality is these rides hurt and Rocky Mountain may start making some of them fun again. You're right though, they should focus on maintaining them so rides like Knott's Ghostrider isn't insanely rough, but they aren't.

It's like your food analogy but as if people didn't eat
anything because these rides aren't being maintained. Again, I'm an advocate for healthy meals at home, but I'd take fast food over no food if it came down to it.

Great point TF and thanks for leaving your take.

By: TF

TF — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:03:06 +0000

What you're saying makes sense, but, as an argument, I still (respectfully) don't buy it.

To me, all they're saying is: "Are you giving up on your wooden coaster? Make it a steel coaster!"

They're taking the wooden coaster's track and turning it into a (still unproven) structural part of the ride (wood track is non-structural). Rather than fix the underlying issues plaguing the rough wooden coaster – which can be done for any wooden coaster out there – they say it's not worth having a wooden coaster anymore. That's not innovative in my book. I don't think it's an accomplishment that they've "designed a way to re-fit steel track on an existing wooden coaster". It's not that technology has ever prevented it; it's just no one has had a strong desire to do it. They've just made taking an easy way out more appealing somehow. (I guess parks think that with I-box track, they've still got a wooden coaster.)

For me, it's like being excited about the invention of fast food because making healthy meals at home was just getting to be too much. Not a perfect metaphor, but it's close enough to illustrate how I view this.

By: The Coaster Critic

The Coaster Critic — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:30:21 +0000

TF, I think it's the steel track that's the exciting and 'innovative' part period. Not so much the shape of the track. I'm excited (and I think justifiably so) that a company has designed a way to re-fit steel track on an existing wooden coaster. Sure, there have been roller coasters with wooden supports and steel track, but to my knowledge there hasn't been this conversion. And that's really exciting because there are SO many rough old woodies that could benefit from a similar transformation. Maybe I incorrectly directed the attention to the 'I-Beam' track itself, but the bottom line is that it looks like Rocky Mountain's going to successfully give some older rides an injection of fun and excitement.

Make sense?

By: TF

TF — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:33:54 +0000

I see the advantages of their Topper Track in retrofitting sections of existing wooden roller coasters and maintaining the same track profile, but what is so innovative about the track on the New Texas Giant? All they did was use a different shape of steel for a steel-track ride. Not only is it not innovative, but there are more longitudinal welds in the new track, so I don't think there are any advantages in using this shape over tubular track.

What it sounds like is that people enjoy the new ride centerline on the New Texas Giant and are mistakenly thinking the track has anything to do with that.

I suppose it's exciting if they're building two new rides, but not because of the track.

By: Prof.BAM

Prof.BAM — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:20:23 +0000

It should definately be SOB. In the poll, SOB was the only coaster to have lawsuits against it. I even believe that it's the single most-sued ride in the world. Mission Space following close behind– But that's because people aren't reading the signs. SOB was just poorly engineered.

By: Prof.BAM

Prof.BAM — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:14:18 +0000

Not Mean Streak! Not yet anyway, I'm heading up there middle of next year and intend to ride all 17 coasters.

By: coasterer22

coasterer22 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:27:28 +0000

Can't wait to see what Rocky Mountain has up their sleeves for next year. I would love for them to do Mean Streak at Cedar Point, as that ride got bad over the years. The longest I've waited for that ride would have to be the 5 minutes it takes to walk up to the station, and that's too much for that bummer of a ride. I have a feeling this company will soon be rich, though. I mean, who wouldn't want to have a New Texas Giant in thier park! By the way, Merry Christmas!