Project 2022: Pantheon

[Murphy]

Okay, I've collected my thoughts and decided to try to write them down.

I've only ridden twice (once during the day and once during the night, both Sunday). Overall, a superbly fun experience, that definitely fills a modern coaster gap in the BGW lineup. But the whole time I couldn't shake the feeling of how un-BGW-like this ride feels. Certainly BGW is allowed to have high thrill rides! They already have some of my favorites--but I simply can't get past how naked this coaster is, and both in terms of theme and landscape, it just feels like a sore thumb in the middle of a park I value a great deal for it's beauty.

In terms of a sheer thrill ride, it's a blast, and the night rides are incredible. I'm not sure it's beyond a Velocicoaster for me (again, theming may be playing into that), but there's no denying I had a blast riding it. But a lot of BGW doesn't feel like it could be anywhere else, and Pantheon does. Hopefully that improves with time.

This very much sums up my feelings on it as well. I haven't had a night ride on it yet, but I imagine those will be spectacular. Perhaps it will fit in just a little better once we see some of that green growing around it like we did in the summer of last year? The views from the top hat and outer bank turn will be something special in the summer and holiday events.

Very excited to get another opportunity to ride again in the future.

 

[AIR]

Pantheon was a walk-on yesterday evening, running 2 trains. It was wonderful.

 

[Thomas]

Trees, columns, and crumbling archways around the field would do wonders to make this ride look less bad. Sadly it seems that banners are the extent of the “theming” that BGW is willing to do.

 

[Nicole]

There is a difference between theming and decorations.

 

[Diamond Dave]

Pantheon was a walk-on yesterday evening, running 2 trains. It was wonderful.

Had the chance to ride for the first time yesterday evening. Short line but operations were probably 30% slower than they could have been. Probably cracks my top three at the park? Would be higher if the plaza and queue weren't so damn ugly. I'll let Invadr's queue with brown walls slide because you could argue it's theme-appropriate...but the same walls but dark teal instead?

 

[horsesboy]

Trees, columns, and crumbling archways around the field would do wonders to make this ride look less bad. Sadly it seems that banners are the extent of the “theming” that BGW is willing to do.

That is not true the borrowed or stole pieces from Pompeii and Roman Rapids to place around the plaza that is the best they are willing to do

 

[madmax]

Had the chance to ride for the first time yesterday evening. Short line but operations were probably 30% slower than they could have been. Probably cracks my top three at the park? Would be higher if the plaza and queue weren't so damn ugly. I'll let Invadr's queue with brown walls slide because you could argue it's theme-appropriate...but the same walls but dark teal instead?

Putting Apollo or Alp above it is spicy considering Apollo is hit or miss with airtime and Alp comes to almost a halt on the mcbr

 

[Diamond Dave]

I've done more thinking and figured it out. I absolutely loathe the entrance to this ride. I think they should have built up the earth to eliminate the need for stairs on both sides of the entrance. Do that, add a nicely decorated structure over the entrance such as the gatehouse to Killarney.
And also remove the ugly fences surrounding the queue line.

Putting Apollo or Alp above it is spicy considering Apollo is hit or miss with airtime and Alp comes to almost a halt on the mcbr

Damn, busted. Alp #1 Apollo #2 Panth #3. Just my tastes

 

[andyb]

Aaand Pantheon is down at park open today.

 

[lightninlady]

Can anyone report the status of Pantheon at this point of the day? I’m just leaving from Richmond to Va Beach and wanted to swing by to ride it, but obviously not gonna do that if it’s been closed all day.

 

[andyb]

Can anyone report the status of Pantheon at this point of the day? I’m just leaving from Richmond to Va Beach and wanted to swing by to ride it, but obviously not gonna do that if it’s been closed all day.

it has been closed all day. As of about 15 minutes ago, from the top of invader, I didn’t see any trains running on it

 

[RollyCoaster]

There’s been a train stuck half way on the first launch since about 11am :/

 

[I64 Trekker]

There’s been a train stuck half way on the first launch since about 11am :/

I am starting to think it was a good thing for SEAS to let Pantheon sit for two years. It has at least gotten me used to seeing it and not being able to ride it.

 

[RollyCoaster]

They have announced that it is closed all day now. Guest services openly saying they are waiting for a part from universal to be overnighted.

 

[Nicole]

Guest Relations is doing an April Fools prank?

 

[CoasterAuditor]

If they’re waiting for a part I feel like it’s down all weekend right?

 

[Dogface]

I’m 6’ 2”, 260lb., and 38 waistline. Fellow large people, should I be concerned for these seats? I’ll have my gf push my harness down first before she pulls her own down lol. Gonna be real messed up if it’s down all tomorrow

 

[Zachary]

If you're worried about fitting, push down on the lapbar from the metal bars on the left and right while, simultaneously, using that to hoist yourself upright to get the narrowest portion of your body in contact with the lapbar. This video explains it well. You can practice this trick with the test seat next to the lockers to get a feel of where you should aim for. My guess is that you should be fine, but everyone is proportioned differently so it's best to know the trick just in case!

 

[I64 Trekker]

They have announced that it is closed all day now. Guest services openly saying they are waiting for a part from universal to be overnighted.

Perhaps they could ask Universal to overnight a little themeing while they are at it?

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

I am starting to think it was a good thing for SEAS to let Pantheon sit for two years. It has at least gotten me used to seeing it and not being able to ride it.

The irony of this is that I honestly wonder how much the ride sitting idle contributed to the issues. Certainly there are typical Intamin teething issues but one thing true with a lot of mechanics is that they don't like to sit...... Anyone who has parked a car for a year knows what I'm talking about.