RE: Replacement Project For Big Bad Wolf
I do love a good debate.. here is the method behind my reasoning; hopefully I may persuade someone to see what I see.
First thing and please understand that I am not saying they are going to reuse the concrete for Support Structures like the beams holding tracks, but there has to be a reason they are still there. And I swear to you, reinforced concrete can be removed easily. I've seen it done a hundred times at my old job as we often had to demo hotels and office buildings that were over 150ft tall. That is some serious reinforced concrete that was ripped up like paper.
I am not sure if you have seen equipment used to build (or remove) a structure like a coaster, but if they have pile drivers to put in underground supports that go 250 ft down under the Apollo's Chariot.. removing reinforced concrete (at least the part that sticks out of the ground no more than 2 feet) should be a snap in order to remove any traces of an old ride. I doubt Busch Gardens wants to keep random concrete footings just sitting around in the public view just because they did not feel like paying for the top halves to be busted up. Not possible.
It is completely possible that for some reason, they may be using the old concrete as a guide (for surveying perhaps) and plan to demo them later. Sounds reasonable.
Still, let me show you what I am talking about here... Check the metal barrier down by the water... (see pics) and the concrete near the station house. Like I said before.. they could have just smashed the concrete down below ground level. The metal Barrier unless reused should have been removed. Why keep the barrier up? For what purpose? Makes no sense I tell ya.
Busch Gardens is all about Landscaping and planting grass and flowers. The new landscaping around the area could in fact be temporary. If they do plan on building a coaster in the same general path - it would take way over a year, and leaving a demolition zone right in a main viewing area is not what BGW is about... having pretty flowers and painting the concrete is a great way to cover it up until later. Again, must be a reason behind it - just like leaving the station standing.
You may also notice they left all the drainage and erosion control structures... why leave those if they do not plan on using it as a coaster layout in the future? Why would they be so careful as not to tear down the trees if not for another terrain coaster? I heard that only about a dozen trees were removed in the demo of the coaster and that was only to get the big cranes in. Hmmmm; why be so delicate just to demo a ride when it would have been easier and more cost efficient to do otherwise?
The town demo makes sense. The town was old and needed serious repainting and repair. In fact, before the Drachen Fire was built, the town was only fronts (like a movie set). After the park opened the area behind the wolf; BGW actually had to build false backs to the buildings. Also, I have always wished the Wolf had a larger path with more building to fly around.. if they do plan on recreating a similar feel to a new coaster - this is the area I would expand and make better.
Did you also know that buildings were planned to be built the entire way before the lift hill and that there were several more "through the building" structures in the original layout? I've seen it (the conceptual drawings) At least four more structures were planned to put in place for the Wolf to fly through. Of course, I have no idea why this concept was scrapped - probably money and time is my guess.
One more thing to think about. Most modern coasters no longer have that infamous Arrow second lift hill. Anyone ever think that the coaster could start out going the opposite direction and the first major hill would be to swoop over the river? THAT would be interesting twist to the original wouldn't it?
My gut really tells me all of these clues lead somewhere; hopefully we will find out soon. Kcracken ~ oh I HAVE thought they may rebuild the Wolf but with a longer and more intricate circuit course. I would seriously pee my pants if that were the case. (Ok maybe not, but still in the same vein of excitement for sure).
