Alpengeist
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
I can't see Alpengeist getting a full retrack. Didn't Hulk get a lot rougher after the rebuild? It seems like I remember talk of that, but it was closed when I was down there in 2024, so I can't personally say.
TheCoasterNerd
HAPPY PRIDE! Have I told y'all I'm nonbinary?
I never rode the old version but the new one was buttersmooth last year
I'm just some guy, so I don't have any insights into how they're planning or budgeting for anything.
Nessie is a beloved legacy ride from a long-defunct manufacturer (yes, S&S owns the IP and whatever leftover assets from Arrow but are otherwise not factored into the conversation), and its loops are a literal icon of the park.
Alpie is an amazing and forceful ride with good theming integration, but I'd argue nowhere near as beloved and iconic as Nessie is.
I would love for it to stick around forever. But I also know in business terms it's a depreciating asset. And unlike Nessie, I believe it's got far more complex (expensive) infrastructure that keeps it running.
There's also some known areas for improvement a simple retracking may not be able to accomplish - notably, removing the need for the elevator floor in the station and toning down forces in some areas that are overstressing the track and/or supports.
Based on what I understand about grandfather rules for the RPA buffer, JCC permitting approvals (including for the track being really close to Kingsmill) and the relative difficulty and expense of fully removing the ride that would add a lot of extra time and expense to completely replace the ride with a different attraction in that space are maybe the most compelling reasons why a retracking would be possible.
Nessie is a beloved legacy ride from a long-defunct manufacturer (yes, S&S owns the IP and whatever leftover assets from Arrow but are otherwise not factored into the conversation), and its loops are a literal icon of the park.
Alpie is an amazing and forceful ride with good theming integration, but I'd argue nowhere near as beloved and iconic as Nessie is.
I would love for it to stick around forever. But I also know in business terms it's a depreciating asset. And unlike Nessie, I believe it's got far more complex (expensive) infrastructure that keeps it running.
There's also some known areas for improvement a simple retracking may not be able to accomplish - notably, removing the need for the elevator floor in the station and toning down forces in some areas that are overstressing the track and/or supports.
Based on what I understand about grandfather rules for the RPA buffer, JCC permitting approvals (including for the track being really close to Kingsmill) and the relative difficulty and expense of fully removing the ride that would add a lot of extra time and expense to completely replace the ride with a different attraction in that space are maybe the most compelling reasons why a retracking would be possible.
My understanding of the situation is that much like Nessie there is an extremely low probability that any new ride would be able to get approval for that location. An to be clear that has to do with changing environmental regulations not Kings Mill.
Really hard to stat that. I dont think aplie has any marathon returners like say fury does. Fury has 3 or 4 people that are very famous at the park and have 8000-13k rides total.
Most ive done alpen in a day is like 12
Last edited:
Attachments
Wow, that old school 90's era computer animated ride POV. So crazy to see it again.
This ride has so much history, hard to fully appreciate what an undertaking this was for 1996-1997.
I posted one of the clearing here with some vertical construction of the lift.
BGW Everything Else - A Passage in Time
Here's another blast from the past! Taken mid-October 1998! Almost 15 years ago! WOW !
parkfans.net
Last edited:
Again, I don't have access to the budget or anything, but I believe there's extra complexities in ride systems due to the ride being much more modern than Nessie, so things such as train hardware (yes, Nessie is running newer Vekoma trains, but they are much simpler than Alpie trains), ride computer including sensors and wiring, and the specialized personnel and equipment required to access much of the structure considering Nessie is built with a catwalk along the track spine. All of these things, plus possible others, IMO would make Alpie's infrastructure much more complex and thus more expensive.
I'm happy to be proven wrong, of course.
The ride complexity comparing between Nessie and Alpie is pretty much the same. They both have drives, motors, sensors and computers. Nessie does not have Vekoma trains. Busch does not have any Vekoma products. The new trains are from the Arrow division of S&S. Nessie has its catwalk along the track to assist in track weld inspections. Every coaster gets them, not just Nessie.
The only real difference I can think of between the two, from a structure standpoint, is the foundations for the ride have driven piles under the concrete to support the ride columns. Nessie does not. The trains on Nessie are arguably simpler with less parts whereas more modern rides like B&M have wheel assemblies that grip the track.
The only real difference I can think of between the two, from a structure standpoint, is the foundations for the ride have driven piles under the concrete to support the ride columns. Nessie does not. The trains on Nessie are arguably simpler with less parts whereas more modern rides like B&M have wheel assemblies that grip the track.