RE: Project Madrid: New Hamlet? Giga Coaster? 315' Tower?
What's the marked off area, and do we know it's specifically earmarked as compensation for tree removal elsewhere? I may have missed that earlier. Interested.
Waterfront areas are typically so beautiful at BGW... removing foliage specifically near the water's edge seems like a big loss, even if a forest is allowed to stand elsewhere. Maybe a double-edged sword, since tree removal can also mean more water access (a dubious notion since Madrid, if it is indeed in the works, is about as dead center in Spain is a city could possibly be -- and the Rhine isn't likely to become the Manzanares). But I can't argue with logic that says putting in a big ride will necessitate toppling some poplars! Part of the deal.
I wonder if the animal pens can be relocated to the boneyard. Maybe it's not workable for any of several potential reasons. Distance, terrain, space. It would be peaceful back there, though. No thrill rides winging overhead or nearby.
I did check out that 25 year concept. Looks familiar, as I think we all would love to see another river span. At some point, expansion would/will make BGW into an almost mandatory 2-day experience. For the meticulous guest on an average day, it already is IMO, and two new hamlets would tip the scales (of awesomeness). That certainly must have been part of the vision for the hotel concept a handful of years back: people will patronize a hotel on the property because seeing everything requires staying somewhere overnight.
To your note about other parks' ride placement decisions, I'll say that Six Flags America has made some of the more bizarre attraction placement decisions I've seen. The park is basically 3 big dead-end spokes, with an entryway and one minor jug-handle accommodation beneath Wild One. And that's just the dry-ride portion of the park. I can remember when it was essentially a field with a couple of flats, pre-Wild One, and they had all the opportunity in the world to devise a solid 30-year plan with only minor terrain related difficulties. If not a plan, then at least a coherent long-term aspirational map on a napkin. Total lost opportunity there, in execution if not in planning. So I'm repeating myself at this point, but I tend to expect better from Busch Gardens' planning. Surely they know dead ends are no bueno and can plan accordingly.
I like to think BGW was trying to strike an interesting balance in the early 90s with Drachen Fire, utilizing that corner plot for a major attraction and, effectively, expansion while attempting to avoid a full-on dead end experience within a dead end space. The balance may have worked out better if the station house were much closer to the Festhaus end of Festhaus Park. (To say nothing of DF's other issues.) I enjoyed the stroll to the far end of the DF plot, but it certainly produced an unmistakable "nothin' else back here" vibe. Guests tend to associate a ride's location with the location of its queue and station for obvious reasons, and a shorter schlep probably would have tied the ride more strongly to the rest of the park. It will be interesting to see what happens back there over time, with "Madrid" or whatever else they decide to do.
What's the marked off area, and do we know it's specifically earmarked as compensation for tree removal elsewhere? I may have missed that earlier. Interested.
Waterfront areas are typically so beautiful at BGW... removing foliage specifically near the water's edge seems like a big loss, even if a forest is allowed to stand elsewhere. Maybe a double-edged sword, since tree removal can also mean more water access (a dubious notion since Madrid, if it is indeed in the works, is about as dead center in Spain is a city could possibly be -- and the Rhine isn't likely to become the Manzanares). But I can't argue with logic that says putting in a big ride will necessitate toppling some poplars! Part of the deal.
I wonder if the animal pens can be relocated to the boneyard. Maybe it's not workable for any of several potential reasons. Distance, terrain, space. It would be peaceful back there, though. No thrill rides winging overhead or nearby.
I did check out that 25 year concept. Looks familiar, as I think we all would love to see another river span. At some point, expansion would/will make BGW into an almost mandatory 2-day experience. For the meticulous guest on an average day, it already is IMO, and two new hamlets would tip the scales (of awesomeness). That certainly must have been part of the vision for the hotel concept a handful of years back: people will patronize a hotel on the property because seeing everything requires staying somewhere overnight.
To your note about other parks' ride placement decisions, I'll say that Six Flags America has made some of the more bizarre attraction placement decisions I've seen. The park is basically 3 big dead-end spokes, with an entryway and one minor jug-handle accommodation beneath Wild One. And that's just the dry-ride portion of the park. I can remember when it was essentially a field with a couple of flats, pre-Wild One, and they had all the opportunity in the world to devise a solid 30-year plan with only minor terrain related difficulties. If not a plan, then at least a coherent long-term aspirational map on a napkin. Total lost opportunity there, in execution if not in planning. So I'm repeating myself at this point, but I tend to expect better from Busch Gardens' planning. Surely they know dead ends are no bueno and can plan accordingly.
I like to think BGW was trying to strike an interesting balance in the early 90s with Drachen Fire, utilizing that corner plot for a major attraction and, effectively, expansion while attempting to avoid a full-on dead end experience within a dead end space. The balance may have worked out better if the station house were much closer to the Festhaus end of Festhaus Park. (To say nothing of DF's other issues.) I enjoyed the stroll to the far end of the DF plot, but it certainly produced an unmistakable "nothin' else back here" vibe. Guests tend to associate a ride's location with the location of its queue and station for obvious reasons, and a shorter schlep probably would have tied the ride more strongly to the rest of the park. It will be interesting to see what happens back there over time, with "Madrid" or whatever else they decide to do.
