Existing Water Ride Roman Rapids

[warfelg]

You mean the Panthenini?

I hate you so much because that’s all I’ll ever call it now.

 

[horsesboy]

A generally reliable staff member told me that the park didn't get the new rafts and that tge old ones were already gone and that was why it isn't open. Can anyone shed in light on if this is true?

 

[Zachary]

I don't know if all of the new rafts are on site or not, but at least a handful certainly are (I saw them).

 

[Nibbins]

There is at least 1 raft sitting in the loading area of the ride.

 

[horsesboy]

I am hearing what appears to be fairly reliable information the Roman Rapids might be opening soon.

 

[apollo18]

Fingers crossed! Now if only they would open La Cucina at the same time...

 

[horsesboy]

Fingers crossed! Now if only they would open La Cucina at the same time...

I have no information on the restaurant but it's worth noting that food related jobs are currently one of BGW highest vacancy areas so its seems unlikely from am employment standpoint.

 

[Travis...]

I am hearing what appears to be fairly reliable information the Roman Rapids might be opening soon.

Doesn’t it need to test with the new rafts?

 

[horsesboy]

Doesn’t it need to test with the new rafts?

The information I have didn't come from anyone in ride ops so I can't say exactly what is needed on the ride side but it's appears very solid information. Sorry elbrating further would give away exactly who is talking. I will be at the park tomorrow and will try to see what I can see from public areas.

 

[ControlsEE]

Doesn’t it need to test with the new rafts?

They will definitely test them, but depending on the changes, it may not be much dedicated testing. Plus the ops will need to cycle the ride for training, so there's some testing there too.

 

[horsesboy]

Pretty decent supporting evidence of a opening in the near future.

 

[ControlsEE]

Just curious. If they aren't open yet, why open at all this year? Summer is officially half over and crowds will be waning in 4-6 weeks. Usually they close these after labor day (or close to it) so with only 6 weeks of viable operation left and the rafts still aren't in the flume, are they going to think it is worth spending the 8 ish operators there? Just theorizing.

 

[horsesboy]

Just curious. If they aren't open yet, why open at all this year? Summer is officially half over and crowds will be waning in 4-6 weeks. Usually they close these after labor day (or close to it) so with only 6 weeks of viable operation left and the rafts still aren't in the flume, are they going to think it is worth spending the 8 ish operators there? Just theorizing.

My thoughts exactly and why I was shocked and doubtful at first but the gift shop is all setup today and why go through settings that up unless you plan to open it?

 

[PantheonPlz]

My thoughts exactly and why I was shocked and doubtful at first but the gift shop is all setup today and why go through settings that up unless you plan to open it?

Unless you are planning for more foot traffic in that area due to an extended queue for a certain new rollercoaster

 

[ControlsEE]

My thoughts exactly and why I was shocked and doubtful at first but the gift shop is all setup today and why go through settings that up unless you plan to open it?

Except the gift shop doesn't have to be tied to the ride opening. Sure, the ride being open will bring a lot of foot traffic, but last I knew it only took one person to staff that location, so it's probably costing them more in lost revenue if they have the staffing than just opening.

I personally wouldn't get my hopes up until the rafts are back in the flume.

 

[horsesboy]

Except the gift shop doesn't have to be tied to the ride opening. Sure, the ride being open will bring a lot of foot traffic, but last I knew it only took one person to staff that location, so it's probably costing them more in lost revenue if they have the staffing than just opening.

I personally wouldn't get my hopes up until the rafts are back in the flume.

No rafts on the ride as viewed from Apollo but there is definitely work actively being done to the ride.

Unless you are planning for more foot traffic in that area due to an extended queue for a certain new rollercoaster

I see no evidence of that and have been specifically told that it is not opening this year.

 

[Zachary]

I wouldn't assume we're seeing shop setup happening in that photo. Isn't it more likely that that is just how the shop was winterized pre-COVID and the tarp wall was up today because Merch needed something out of there?

I'm not saying Roman Rapids in 2021 isnt gonna happen, but I do think it strikes me as pretty damn unlikely timeline-wise.

Another possibility: That area will almost certainly reopen for Howl-O-Scream so people can access the Festa Field house. If we are looking at shop prep, that seems like another good explanation.

 

[Mwe BGW]

Roman Rapids 9/25

 

[AIR]

I would absolutely love for this ride to get a modern Intamin overhaul like Infinity Falls at SeaWorld Orlando and Mystic River Falls at Silver Dollar City. Perhaps not a complete teardown, even keep the name, queue, the existing trough and rotating station. If they expanded the ride to the maze area and added a vertical lift and some up high parts with a drop and updated Roman ruins theming, it would definitely stand out locally and is a very marketable new ride taking the place of a very sub par water ride.

 

[belsaas]

That would be neat!

Personally, I would like a retheme to Romaine Rapids, and all the lettuce for the salads in the park are grown alongside the ride and get watered by splashing rafts.