Project 2022: Pantheon

[Zachary]

@MadridBot is massively oversimplifying all of this.

Animals are cycled in an out of the pasture outside the railroad loop as needed. It's not "home" to any specific animal(s) as far as I know.

Frankly, the pasture outside the railroad loop is basically just a field with a lean-to to give the animals some cover. It lacks any and all infrastructure required to actually care for animals. Without the main pasture complex, it is entirely useless.

Additionally, they park can't just have one or even two pastures. They currently have five and, because of the size and scope of their collection, that's needed.

The pasture problem is a very real issue—one that can't be solved by just tossing the new animals into a pen outside the railroad loop.

Thankfully, considering the recent expansion of zoo's livestock collection, unless this is an spectacular demonstration of departments failing to communicate inside the park, it seems like BGW must already have a plan.

I, for one, would love to see sections of the colonial pipeline clearing inside the train loop utilized as pastures. It's one of the few ways BGW is allowed to use that land now and it could turn what currently amounts to an eyesore into an interesting view for guests.

 

[warfelg]

On the pastures and the animals homes, I do know that the park owns the space between them and the Kingsmill Woods golf course (through research at least). I guess a 'dream' for the park would for them to be having a fully separate area like HP has with ZooAmerica. If not they could at least use that area for pastures. I also feel like they could use the old DF area if they really wanted to.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

FHP could also be used for animal pastures.

 

[GrandpaD]

This plan and subsequent discussion of the pastures makes me wonder if they're not considering elimination of the pastured animals. I'm sure they've done a cost-benefit analysis of the zoological areas. Perhaps turning the pastures (and the costs of maintaining the animals) into a revenue generating area makes sense to the cash-strapped Sea World. So then you have to wonder, if the pastured "citizens" depart, how would the Highland Stables be used?

 

[Nicole]

On the pastures and the animals homes, I do know that the park owns the space between them and the Kingsmill Woods golf course (through research at least). I guess a 'dream' for the park would for them to be having a fully separate area like HP has with ZooAmerica.

I actually completely disagree. In my opinion, the animals are an intrinsic part of BGW’s identity:

1. They are a central piece of the corporate conservation mission. Segregating them into some cheap zoo add-on would eliminate the sense that SEAS and Busch are focused on rescuing and caring for animals.

2. They are also a core component of the theming at all SEAS parks. I will admit that Williamsburg probably relies less on their indigenous species to define their hamlets; but especially the stables and wolf haven are integral to their areas.

Adding a zoo to a more traditional amusement park like Hershey is great, but removing the animals from a SEAS property would simply cheapen it for me.

 

[warfelg]

I actually completely disagree. In my opinion, the animals are an intrinsic part of BGW’s identity:

1. They are a central piece of the corporate conservation mission. Segregating them into some cheap zoo add-on would eliminate the sense that SEAS and Busch are focused on rescuing and caring for animals.

2. They are also a core component of the theming at all SEAS parks. I will admit that Williamsburg probably relies less on their indigenous species to define their hamlets; but especially the stables and wolf haven are integral to their areas.

Adding a zoo to a more traditional amusement park like Hershey is great, but removing the animals from a SEAS property would simply cheapen it for me.

To be fair to Hershey (and I know this from years of being a camp counselor) they do a good amount of conservation. They do have a big educational program and area.

But, I wasn't referring more to making a full on zoo like that (which I hate TBH); but one centralized area with all of it, separated from bulk of the park so they don't do something like they did 2 years ago where they get rid of habitats for the sake of.....well I don't know what they did with that area. But I would love a quiet area to take in the animals, and have all the conservation and education, in an area that's low risk of being removed for something newer and grander.

Basically ignore what I said, I really do get your point there, I just want to see all their animals in a safe place what has little chance of any park expansion disrupting their area.

 

[Unagi]

I actually completely disagree. In my opinion, the animals are an intrinsic part of BGW’s identity:

1. They are a central piece of the corporate conservation mission. Segregating them into some cheap zoo add-on would eliminate the sense that SEAS and Busch are focused on rescuing and caring for animals.

2. They are also a core component of the theming at all SEAS parks. I will admit that Williamsburg probably relies less on their indigenous species to define their hamlets; but especially the stables and wolf haven are integral to their areas.

Adding a zoo to a more traditional amusement park like Hershey is great, but removing the animals from a SEAS property would simply cheapen it for me.

Totally agree with all this. The park has always had animal attractions throughout the park without the need for a separate area. Besides, there are zoos in Richmond and Norfolk. Williamsburg doesn't need it. It works at Hersheypark because that's the only zoo in the Harrisburg area.

 

[FoozMuz]

One interperetation of the footers.

 

[Icer]

I don't care how accurate that is, that is just cool to see what a giga could possibly look like in BGW in all its enormousness

 

[sjduane19]

One interperetation of the footers.

View attachment 12363

That's pretty cool, thanks for drawing that! Just curious, do you think the drop will be on that side? Based of the footers, I would've guessed so, especially after comparing the river turn with Skyrush's first drop (the increasing radius which straightens out). However, I also plugged in the exact coordinates from the permit into a coordinate finder, and it put the 315 mark on the left side, a few feet below the small building on the service road. Any thoughts?

 

[warfelg]

The actual location of the peak height is a bit in question as the times it’s been marked and the coordinates don’t all match and all have a slightly different location.

As for the animal thing: just do right by them and keep plenty of space!! But hopefully where we might still be able to spot them.

 

[FoozMuz]

I'd think they might want to put it on that side for the dropping train to be visible from the bridge.

 

[Zachary]

Just gonna leave this nice view showing the shaping of Skyrush's drop and first turn here...

Image Source

 

[Luke]

Here's what Dylon came up with.

 

[Thomas]

Didn't even draw the reflection. Sad.

 

[b.mac]

I have a gut feeling this thing is going to be an S&S project.

 

[warfelg]

Just gonna leave this nice view showing the shaping of Skyrush's drop and first turn here...

Image Source

And for those who haven’t seen it in person Skyrush is very photogenic. The turn at the end of the drop is amazing. Ride experience is somewhere between the forces of I305 and the airtime of Apollo. Still ranks as my number one....even over Fury.

 

[Luke]

Didn't even draw the reflection. Sad.

You're a reflection.

 

[madmax]

I have a gut feeling this thing is going to be an S&S project.

Maybe but they don’t have experience with mega-type coasters.

 

[Gavin]

Chance does. (Well technically D.H. Morgan)