To answer your question
@rvadude85, from what I understand, a major maintenance issue arose and getting parts (likely entirely custom manufactured) would have been too costly/too difficult to justify given the ride's age, popularity, future reliability prognosis, existing operational difficulties, etc. Everything I've heard says that they had every intention of reopening the ride until they learned they couldn't.
HARD disagree. Just because you can't all the time doesn't mean you shouldn't when you can.
My counter is it sets a bad precedent for when they can’t do it like here. Because on the flip, we do know of times that an older ride has been saved by others of its type going down and having parts that are useful.
I mean, the only recent closure in the area I feel was unjustly closed with no fanfare was DarKastle. Otherwise:
Davinci’s Cradle - Parts issue
BfE - COVID
Volcano - Parts issue
Crypt - Parts issue
Additionally - IMO - publishing that its service life means soon to be closed has the potential of being a PR
nightmare given the way the media covers parks. I can see places running with articles about rides being shutdown due to being unsafe, don’t ride older rides, and the like.
1-2 months out? Yea I can see “last chance” announcements. Especially if it’s still running.
I guess my long story short is, yea while it would be nice, I don’t feel it’s owed.
Edit: And maybe I’m on an island feeling this way. And that’s fine with me.
And maybe this is just a feeling of some reactions in general (and this is more social commentary than ParkFans) that for some reason disagreements always tend to have to end with a right/wrong. I’ve long respected the way you disagree because you do it in a way that makes me feel ok about having a differing opinion.
But back to this, the reason I don’t feel it’s owed is because the unexpected can happen (which is my point) that can cause something to reach the end of its service life much sooner than anticipated.
Like I would hate knowing Pompeii is ending it’s service life, so I spend time enjoying it one last summer, then suddenly something unrepairable on Nessie happens and I feel like I didn’t get enough goes.
To me, not knowing what may soon comes out is what gets me to ride as many as I can and appreciate every ride I have on something.