Yeah, most likely it would have to be made ADA compliant which would be very expensive.
Project 2025/Caldera: Rapterra (Launched B&M Wing Coaster)
- Thread starter horsesboy
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I'm wondering this also. After going through the plans extensively I still only see three new buildings for Rapterra. Could the station building really cost 800K? Possibly. It's obviously way more involved and larger than the electrical and maintence buildings, which includes a second floor for dispatch AND an underground tunnel to get to the left side of the station. Even if that is the 800K building (which I'm just not sure), that doesn't explain the 4th listing.
Could the 4th building actually be a structural renovation on an existing building in the park? If that's the case, could it refer to any of the following:
- Research Center (old Volcano gift shop)?. This is being used as the new exit/gift shop for Rapterra, but I believe that structural changes to this are minimal, if at all.
- Cactus Grove Burrito? Could this listing include building changes to the former Taco Shack-converted-to-Cactus Grove Burrito? I believe that new restaurant might be opening today.
- Chicken Shack? There were rumors a year ago from some filings that Chicken Shack was going to be the next restaurant to be renovated. Perhaps not to the extent of Firehouse or Victorias, but possible kitchen upgrades, which would make sense given its location near Rapterra next year.
- Former Border Burrito facility? All signs lead to Border Burrito's former space needing extensive renovation structurally, which is why it's moving to Cactus Grove. Could that renovation be included in these 4 buildings? I know the park was really stressing on a tight timeline in fixing that up and reusing the space in time for the 50th next year. Is it possible that they will actual demo Border Burrito's building and build a new building in its place for next year?
If it’s just a renovation of an existing building it’s listed as an alteration, like in this picture
While it is still speculation I just find it hard to believe that it could cost 808k for the station even given everything, I mean 800k is a lot of money and yeah the station is bigger but it’s mostly empty space and doesn’t even have a back wall.
Even if it does happen to be the 800k one there’s still the mystery building at least somewhere in Jungle X I would imagine since it was approved at the same time as the others. Maybe it could be something for backlot or 305, or potentially some theming for rapterra, maybe like a caldera remnant of the volcano (the corkscrew does line up rather well with where that connection piece between Mount Kilimanjaro and the volcano was).
Impossible to say what it will be until they announce more but it definitely is intriguing to think what it could be.
Could it be a potentially, albeit lately planned, preshow building, maybe? Just a thought. If not, maybe a new set of bathrooms? Jungle X desperately needs another set toward the back.
I feel like the preshow is gone for good, the most recent plans dated December 18th even had spots for the arches and ruins by the launch
A bathroom is possible but it just feels strange to submit a bathroom with the Rapterra stuff and I feel like they would just use someone else for the bathroom since they already have different construction companies working on different projects.
Honestly the more I think about it, it just makes more sense for it to be something Rapterra related since they submitted it with the Rapterra buildings. I mean this is their centerpiece attraction to Jungle X I doubt they’ll just leave the reptilian exit cave just unfinished on the top and side, they gotta hide the big cinderblock air compressor building, even in the render there’s just no theming until the back of the queue or the beginning of the launch. Why make a mile long queue unless you plan to theme it more?
The trees just feel like placeholders, especially since that first circle in the queue is exactly where the volcano’s opening was, but there’s just the fact that the part where the mountain once was is the exact part unthemed that just makes me wonder what they could be cooking up. Like they submitted this with things like the damn station this just seems important. I mean I wouldn’t expect a whole mountain but with 800k you could do a bit and it would add some near misses to the layout
Also lets not forget the pass perk from last month with “falling volcanic rock”
I’m referring to an actual preshow—I.e. in the line, not on the ride. That would require its own separate building. Not saying it’s happening, but just something I thought of.
Maybe it’s a facade to cover the ugly station and FoF building
I had actually thought about that too, I mean one of the classic alien conspiracy theories is that the aliens go to volcanoes/near volcanic activity to use the geothermal energy to recharge/refuel
Finally got to see this in person with the track complete. The area is gonna look really good once its done with theming and what not.
So right now per Captaincoaster.net, Thunderbird sits at 92.1% compared with other coasters and it’s the 14th best B&M in the US (there are soooooo many B&Ms in the US). I feel like Rapterra assuming it rides as smooth as Thunderbird should be right up there. I do think a lot of thoosies will subtract the near miss element from their perception but it really just depends how the ride experience delivers overall.
I only rode Thunderbird twice when I went and loved it but was far too distracted by a certain wooden coaster next to it for more laps. It definitely had the best pacing of the 4 domestic wings. So it feels like ceiling wise the best B&M in VA or comparable, floor still better than Dominator? I can’t wait to take this thing for a spin in March.
I only rode Thunderbird twice when I went and loved it but was far too distracted by a certain wooden coaster next to it for more laps. It definitely had the best pacing of the 4 domestic wings. So it feels like ceiling wise the best B&M in VA or comparable, floor still better than Dominator? I can’t wait to take this thing for a spin in March.
Absolutely loved Thunderbird riding it for the first time this year. It was my 2nd favorite at the park, I take it over both Legend and Raven. Did 5-6 laps in front and back rows on both sides and grayed out multiple times. The launch punched pretty hard too. It’s right up there in my rankings with some of the other big boy B&M loopers I’ve done like Hulk, Kumba, Montu and Alpie. Surprised it took a decade for B&M to do another large scale launched wing but I’m so happy it’s going to KD. It really is the absolute perfect fit for the park.
I may very well be alone on my ranking of Thunderbird, but I honestly was not that impressed riding it this past summer. (And I wonder how many of my frustrations with it may carry over to Rapterra.)
Though I would definitely rank Thunderbird in Holiday World's top 3 (behind the Voyage and the Legend woodies), I found it to be just an "okay" B&M. Sure the launch was good, along with one or two elements. But main frustrations with it are:
As for Rapterra, though I'm certainly looking forward to a experiencing a few of its elements (specifically dive loop, corkscrew and heartline roll), what I'm most looking forward to is its theming.
The park did a great job on Tumbili: theming of the maintenance building; theming on the queue on the temple side; theming of the tunnel from the temple side; theming of the landscape beds, on all the stone structures; and even the lift hill audio.
So on Rapterra, even if they're only able to "match" that same level of theming (let alone surpass it), I will be absolutely thrilled -- and I will be easily able to overlook any/all of my frustrations with Thunderbird
, given that most will likely carry over to Rapterra.
Though I would definitely rank Thunderbird in Holiday World's top 3 (behind the Voyage and the Legend woodies), I found it to be just an "okay" B&M. Sure the launch was good, along with one or two elements. But main frustrations with it are:
- Short-ish ride time - 1:18, vs other B&M wings (with traditional lift hills) like GateKeeper at 2:40 and Wild Eagle at 2:22 - and not getting a proper 'payoff' from an extended wait time (even if that extra time is spent on the lift, admiring the view).
- Slow moving lines, where each train load would only move the line in small increments... where granted, I'm used to wings like GateKeeper - of its 32 passenger/train capacity, vs Thunderbird and its 20.
- Inefficient loading of each train, due to the (small-ish) storage cubbies located on the loading platform itself
- Though this is an annoyance I have from most B&M wings, I like how "other" wings like X2, have the storage/lockers outside of the loading area. Heck, even Tumbili (which can be technically classified as a wing) has a better solution than Thunderbird. (But not sure if the Tumbili solution will work for Rapterra.)
- The OTS restraints on Thunderbird kept tightening on me, where by the final block, it was far from comfortable. (Note, even my wife and kids reported a similar issue, but our problem may be that we're on the small/thin side.)
As for Rapterra, though I'm certainly looking forward to a experiencing a few of its elements (specifically dive loop, corkscrew and heartline roll), what I'm most looking forward to is its theming.
The park did a great job on Tumbili: theming of the maintenance building; theming on the queue on the temple side; theming of the tunnel from the temple side; theming of the landscape beds, on all the stone structures; and even the lift hill audio.
So on Rapterra, even if they're only able to "match" that same level of theming (let alone surpass it), I will be absolutely thrilled -- and I will be easily able to overlook any/all of my frustrations with Thunderbird
, given that most will likely carry over to Rapterra.
Here's a wide shot of Rapterra from the line of Tumbili. It's super cool to finally see this in person!
I have a feeling night rides on this will be amazing
In the spirit of it being almost November, I’d like to share something I’m thankful for: I’m thankful this ride isn’t going to be called “Volcano: The Blast Coaster’s Revenge”
“Volcano: The Blast Coaster: Volcanos Angry Revenge Bird”
are we talking about this red bird:
or this red bird:
because one of them will be the mascot of the ride lol
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