If the track layout goes over/under each other, there is plenty of room. I was referring to low to ground track layout where the track provides the majority of the elevation changes. You are confusing that with a "terrain" style coaster where the land elevation is used as well as the track itself. That style of coaster could be a low to ground track or elevated track coaster. Copperhead Strike at Carowinds is built on basically flat land. I guess the closest thing BGW has to what I was envisioning is Verbolten. Course most of that track section is indoors.
Ideal and Likely Volcano Replacement Ideas
- Thread starter CoasterAuditor
- Start date
Maverick clone and I'd be happy. But if I'm not mistaken CF has soured on building more Intamins, and I don't see them making a similar choice as SEAS by having a different company attempt to emulate something out of their wheelhouse.
However, I could see Premier or Gerstlauer come through with something decent.
That is all assuming another coaster vs. a huge flat ride expansion.
Would be hilarious if KD beats BGW to the punch for a bunch of indoor all-season attractions to go head-to-head for year-round ops. Highly doubt they will though
However, I could see Premier or Gerstlauer come through with something decent.
That is all assuming another coaster vs. a huge flat ride expansion.
Would be hilarious if KD beats BGW to the punch for a bunch of indoor all-season attractions to go head-to-head for year-round ops. Highly doubt they will though
^I don't believe we've quite seen CF itself work with Premier to build a coaster themselves yet. I always feel like CF is one of the least likely companies to expand outside of their typical manufacturers. Sometimes when they do it (TT, SV, RailBlazer) they become dissatisfied if something is slightly expensive to maintain or has any downtime. They feel like the "safest" or "most conservative" amusement park chain when it comes to new coaster investments. Also a Mack Launcher if it doesn't have a swing launch like Pantheon will seem like a completely different ride to the general public honestly.
honestly I have a hard time seeing a launch go in there unless it's something like the launched wing coaster. I just can't where a traditional launch is going to be a crowd draw in that location especially with the launch capital of the world only 45 minutes away. On top of cramming three launches into one corner of the park always seemed like an intersting choice from a power management prospective.
Considering how much power Volcano used to draw, I can't imagine adding a new launch ride would be a major issue for the former launch capital.
In that perspective then I guess Gerstlauer was a stretch, but at least FoF is a Premier ride I believe the park has recently worked with them on refurbs so it's a bit more realistic to believe they could be chosen for something.
If they really weren't worried about whatever BGW has, it'd be cool to see what they could do with an invert with a custom layout and theming...
Oh wait, I know - a new and improved Rhino Rally would fit perfectly with the overhaul of SV!
KD may still have the best single launch of anything in VA in FoF. That could be easily beat by S&S, Intamin, or Gerstlauer. In fact many have said Infinity coaster, how about a launched one?
As to that corner of the park, the power does come in over there.
I have no idea if the park will try to regain that part of its legacy though -- the other possibility is to try and avoid any comparison.
I really want the US parks to start getting crazy with Gerstlauers infinity coasters. A launched infinity coaster like Karacho would be incredible. That particular model has a small car though so probably one of the ones with more cars. I appreciate how truly customizable an “infinity coaster” can be. Alas all we have in the CF chain is Hangtime. I wouldn’t be upset if it was ultimately a B&M I just feel like they are……everywhere now and would like to see something more unique, that being said if those B&M Hyper rumors about the dinosaurs alive spot that so far as far as I personally know are only rumors I absolutely would not complain after Mako and Candymonium this year.
If I’m not mistaken, Gerstlauer infinity coasters are capable of having 8 car trains. The main reason most don’t, however, is because of the vertical lifts that Gerstlauer loves. The vertical lift can only pull a 4 row train, if I’m not mistaken.
Assuming they can do an 8 row train with a lifthill at 45 degrees, I could very well see a unique hyper coaster with inversions going in, and it’s different from anything at BGW.
Just an idea.
If they want to do a terrain coaster a Vecoma fly or an S&S like Steer Curtain would be awesome.
I still think a flat ride package is a strong possibility over the next 3-4 years. Having an mini themed area that ties to the larger themed section of the park it sets in. (Ex. Use part of the Dinosaur's Alive area for a "Country Fair" themed setting for the flat ride package. That mini theme area would fit perfectly in the Old Va section). Whether or not a flat ride package would go in the revamped Jungle X-pedition section, I am not sure.
It would have a couple family oriented flat rides, a couple thrill oriented flat rides, and maybe one "signature" flat like a Disko coaster style ride (the large version with the "hump" in the middle of the track).
KD is down 3-4 flat rides overall compared to the early years of the park. So, a flat ride package is high on the list of future attraction possibilities. My cost estimate is 12-15 million for something like this.
I'm personally not so fixated on another coaster being built on Volcano's former site. That piece of land held an attraction complex that put KD on the map for regional theme parks for over 16-18 years and it was NOT Volcano. It was "The Lost World" mountain complex.
CF and KD management have been focused over the last 7-8 years on the parks past and bringing back common theming elements to tie each section of the park back together again. Many times providing new rides and attractions with a nod to the park's past.
At this point and time, I do not rule out any possibility for that area (coaster, flat ride package, dark ride). And, whatever is going in that area, we are not going to know until almost a year to 2 years from now. The sky is the limit at this point.
It would have a couple family oriented flat rides, a couple thrill oriented flat rides, and maybe one "signature" flat like a Disko coaster style ride (the large version with the "hump" in the middle of the track).
KD is down 3-4 flat rides overall compared to the early years of the park. So, a flat ride package is high on the list of future attraction possibilities. My cost estimate is 12-15 million for something like this.
I'm personally not so fixated on another coaster being built on Volcano's former site. That piece of land held an attraction complex that put KD on the map for regional theme parks for over 16-18 years and it was NOT Volcano. It was "The Lost World" mountain complex.
CF and KD management have been focused over the last 7-8 years on the parks past and bringing back common theming elements to tie each section of the park back together again. Many times providing new rides and attractions with a nod to the park's past.
At this point and time, I do not rule out any possibility for that area (coaster, flat ride package, dark ride). And, whatever is going in that area, we are not going to know until almost a year to 2 years from now. The sky is the limit at this point.
Last edited:
Everything I've heard says coaster for the volcano site for what it's worth. As far as I know, nothing has actually been greenlit yet so things can certainly change. But yeah, KD has definitely been thinkin' about coasters.
I think a coaster is the correct route too. Kings Dominion has a major optics problem right now. I largely agree with @mwhinva when it comes to actual substance—KD's coaster lineup is actually quite healthy in my opinion and a few flats or something indoors could go a long way to making the area more well-rounded. That said, there is CERTAINLY a (sorta unfair) perception that KD keeps killing coasters as its competition is adding them at an astonishing rate and, unfortunately, popular public impressions matter. Finally seeing a new, major, ground-up coaster added to KD will do a lot to combat that feeling.
I think a coaster is the correct route too. Kings Dominion has a major optics problem right now. I largely agree with @mwhinva when it comes to actual substance—KD's coaster lineup is actually quite healthy in my opinion and a few flats or something indoors could go a long way to making the area more well-rounded. That said, there is CERTAINLY a (sorta unfair) perception that KD keeps killing coasters as its competition is adding them at an astonishing rate and, unfortunately, popular public impressions matter. Finally seeing a new, major, ground-up coaster added to KD will do a lot to combat that feeling.
They def need to put a coaster in to replace Volcano especially since Anaconda probably isn't too much longer for this world I'd reckon.
If they removed two coasters without replacing them that would definitely look bad.
If they removed two coasters without replacing them that would definitely look bad.
What lesson did they learn? That i305 has great throughput and gets steady ridership even though it's in a less than ideal location? I mean I don't disagree that it's unlikely they'd add a second coaster that's as intense as i305, but i305 was not even remotely the failure that people like to say it is and it does draw people to the park.
I'm gonna be frank here, but KD does not necessarily need anymore batsh*t intense roller coasters after I305 and Twisted Timbers. I'm not saying no to an "extreme" roller coaster but I do think a lot of people have a perception BGW has a lot of "smooth" roller coasters and KD doesn't. I've had so many non-thoosie folks explain to me both I305 and TT are "rough" also I305 is like..........the most intense roller coaster in the world (or at least in the top 5) and TT honestly is not a walk in the park for an average park goer. We have 2 Top 25s arguably Top 15s in the world at KD at this point, I feel like whatever goes in next that is large will be a "crowd pleaser" if that makes sense and if you ask me that's perfectly fine. I would love a nice re-ridable fun ride at KD like a Mack or a B&M that isn't Dominator.
Geographically, if they remove Anaconda and BSC, there's a huge amount of land that can have a theming overhaul and get some really immersive experiences - flats, coaster, kiddie coaster (mini whatever the new thing is maybe?), dark ride, you name it
Why would they remove BLSC? It’s a popular family coaster - it just needs a thematic overhaul.
I thought someone on here was mentioning there were either structural or launch component issues that would be fairly expensive to fix... In addition to all of the effects needing to be fixed (bring back the fireball and proper helicopter effects!)