Grizzly

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I was looking at Grizzly's lift hill today - though not with any great clarity, as the following photos are heavy digital crops from my phone.

But if you look close, it's kind of interesting how Gravity Group has added extra structural support on the lift hill (i.e. non wood):

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And for comparison, here is the original lift hill from a photo earlier here in March:

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So kind of just like @CoasterMac posted above - regarding the new extra supports added for the climb after the first drop - it's nice to see how Gravity Group seems to really be improving the coaster; ensuring a longer life, by giving attention to any (future) potential problem areas.
 
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While riding Twisted Timbers today, I caught a glimpse of the reconstruction of Grizzly's tunnel! I couldn't find a view of it from anywhere else. Right now, it's just the frame of the tunnel around the track; there's no walls on it yet. Great to see physical confirmation that's coming back!
 
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I'm curious. Why would the lift hill need extra structural support? That seems like it would have some of the least stress on the structure, no? Not much is happening on the way up as far as stresses, right?
 
Crunchewy said:
I'm curious. Why would the lift hill need extra structural support? That seems like it would have some of the least stress on the structure, no? Not much is happening on the way up as far as stresses, right?
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Maybe the structure just needed reinforcement? It is 40 year wood so I wouldn’t be surprised.
 
Not a structural engineer by no means. But the chain is always moving which could be causing vibrations that accumalate over time. And when the train engages the lift there is some force that will move throughout if the train falls back even in the slightest. Espcially on the sprocket at that top. The train also falls back a little bit if the train ever is stopped on the lift and those forces probably get transferred throughout the entire span of the lift.
 
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Makes me wonder if the park might be upgrading the lift chain/drive motor. The new upper chain return platform is twice as large as the previous one. If this potential new lift drive is slightly stronger/faster; that could mean re-enforcing the lift hill as well. Both the reprofiled 1st drop and a new lift drive system could have led to the metal re-enforcement beams.
 
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Intimidator325 said:
The plaza was so big back then. I hope they can put some more of that stone around the statue to make it a lil more grand, cause rn the statue kinda looks awkward.
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This photo shows the bear in its original placement when the coaster opened in the early '80's.

There was a small pond in front of it with a little stream that started in the back and ran around and down into the pond. All of this was contained around the rock base of the statue.

P.S. The plaza was large because the bear statue sat in the center of the ride concrete pad for the Jamestown Landing swing ride that used to sit on that spot. The original Grizzly entrance sign was to the far left of what was the ride's covered queue line. The queue line structure continues to the right. I thought the park converted the rest of it into 3-4 stands to sell stuff.
 
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If you look at the bear statue today, you can still see carved into it the little channel where water would have flowed from the small stream into the pond. If the park really wanted to make it a water feature again, they could.
 
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It would really be great if they tore down the gift ship (and relocated, because I'm sure they'd want to) and rebuilt something like this original plaza
 
Crunchewy said:
It would really be great if they tore down the gift ship (and relocated, because I'm sure they'd want to) and rebuilt something like this original plaza
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I can’t see the gift shop going anywhere, especially after they put all that effort into retheming it to Grizzly a few years ago.

I think a better (or at least more realistic solution) would be this: open up the side walkway that cuts behind the gift shop. It’s currently accessible via the walkway now used for the panning for gold water feature and just needs to have its little gate opened. Use the overhead sluice to mount a Grizzly entrance sign. Move the bear statue out onto the main pathway, next to the new sign.
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Boom, now you have a sort of “fake entrance” to Grizzly that gives it much more presence on the path. As a bonus, the gift shop can still be used as another way of reaching and exiting the ride, so the park doesn’t lose out on much revenue.
 
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Unagi said:
This!

I really wish everyone here who didn't get a chance to ride it before the Wayne's World Plaza expansion could've done so. Night rides were on another level.
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Personally I’m a fan of tracer lights for night rides. I’m mildly disappointed so few do it anymore.
 
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warfelg said:
Personally I’m a fan of tracer lights for night rides. I’m mildly disappointed so few do it anymore.
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They put them on Rebel Yell/Racer 75 for the 40th anniversary and stopped using them after just a few seasons. I assume they all stopped working? Really wish they’d bring them back- they added a ton of energy to Candy Apple Grove at night.
 
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