News Eleven Rides & Two Areas "Closed For Season" Without Notice

Register or Login to Hide This Ad for Free!
Nicole said:
To be clear, as a long-term resident of NOVA, I am perfectly aware of local land values. That said, those properties aren’t cheap by non-DC standards. My point was merely to introduce actual data into the conversation.
Click to expand...
You and I both. I am not far from Dulles Airport in Loudoun County, and its painful to see what has happened with the inflated values.

Six Flags would have a VERY uphill battle expanding outside of MD on land value costs alone, and MD continues to rise. Not sure what their game plan is, if they have one!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nicole
Nicole said:
To be clear, as a long-term resident of NOVA, I am perfectly aware of local land values. That said, those properties aren’t cheap by non-DC standards. My point was merely to introduce actual data into the conversation.
Click to expand...
I think my main opinion that my point relies upon is they simply shouldn't care if their land is "expensive" on the non-DC scale, simply what its value is in relation to the land around them. The DC market is a highly coveted market in the entertainment industry due to a large base of wealthy locals looking to spend their cash and the large amount of tourists the area attracts. Any business in the entertainment sphere should want in to the market, and SFA is sitting on one of the cheapest ways to get into the area without plopping down in an entirely undesirable place. They exist on a line where I feel way safer going to SFA than I do going to Landover for a football game, and I think it is important they maintain that. Personally I still am not thrilled with the area as a whole, but it could be worse.

SFA really could be a powerhouse in the SF chain if they started to shift closer to a quality experience that attracts the market they are able to access. Hell they can even tap into the Annapolis and Baltimore areas for even more wealthy customer base, but I doubt they could ever rebrand sufficiently enough to get a reputation renovation of sorts that would basically lock down the area.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bring Back Questor 87 and Nicole
warfelg said:
It may not be closed for sad reasons fwiw.
Click to expand...
My (foolish) hope is it's because they are finally building a path connecting Coyote Creek to Whistle Stop Park to eliminate one of the biggest dead ends of the park (the path to Batwing would be the biggest remaining). But, I just can't see them investing that much into the park, especially as I would imagine the rapids ride would probably need to have its layout altered somewhat so there would be enough room for the path extension. But, if they do so, that would open on a lot of room for "potential" future rides.

Edit- Instead of altering the rapids, maybe they would feel Mind Eraser's time is up. If that was the case, I can't say I'd be too brokenhearted.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SLC Headache, Ziva and Zachary
horsesboy said:
From the Q&A today Whistle Stop park is permanently closed. They are evaluating the potential for ride relocation and possible redevelopment in the future but the existing section is done for good.
Click to expand...
I imagine they didn't, but did they say anything about why it was closed permanently?
 
Crunchewy said:
I imagine they didn't, but did they say anything about why it was closed permanently?
Click to expand...
Not directly but reading between the lines from other parts of the Q&A I would say it's either reducing staffing and operating costs or infrastructure neglect related. That will make more sense when I get the time to write up a full thing on the whole Q&A.
 
horsesboy said:
Not directly but reading between the lines from other parts of the Q&A I would say it's either reducing staffing and operating costs or infrastructure neglect related. That will make more sense when I get the time to write up a full thing on the whole Q&A.
Click to expand...
I had a student that headed up finance for SFA and it's more the staffing and operating costs. Long story short it's a, basically, 2nd kids area in the park but was harder to find and pitted among thrill rides.

I wouldn't really expect it to reopen unless it's redeveloped into a new path to Superman and Batwing with more thrilling rides.

EDIT - It's kinda speaks though to the haphazard development of the back half of SFA and why SFA needs a major capex infusion despite being one of SF's lower tier parks. If they could get rid of the path to Blizzard River (or do away with it), repurpose Whistlestop Park into a more thrilling area, get some more rides, stands, and shops between Superman and Batwing, that back half could be a really really good DC themed part of the park.

If they could do a Battle for Metropolis clone between BW and SM, along with a Cyborg Cyber Spin clone, and those stands; put some thrilling flats in Whistlestop's area, get one of those Vekoma superboomerangs in there or a Sky Rocket II in there, they got something going.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SLC Headache
You must log in or register to reply here.
Consider Donating to Hide This Ad