Hi everyone,
I'm going to be writing a hand-written letter to Six Flags corporate to voice my concern regarding the future of the Sky Ride as GACoaster mentioned elsewhere.
I thought I'd share my first draft here, in case anyone anyone has any suggestions for information/points to add:
"I am writing in regard to the Sky Way at Six Flags Great Adventure. While the park has yet to make any formal announcement, the attraction did not open for the 2024 season. I have seen photos of the gondolas being stored in a yard, and heard rumors from various sources that the park has no intention of opening this attraction again.
Firstly, I want to communicate my immense personal dissapointment with this rumor. As a theme park enthusiast, this attraction has massive historical value as it is one of the few remaining operating attractions from the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. It is also the last operating double Von Roll Type 101 ropeway in the world. And obviously, this attraction was an opening day attraction for Great Adventure.
Secondly, from an operational standpoint, I do not believe it is in the best interest of Six Flags to remove the Sky Way. I had the pleasure of working at the Sky Way for several years and know for a fact that it reveived some of the highest ridership in the park. Assuming it was properly mantained with enough gondolas operable, it would see its millionth rider well before the end of the shoulder season.
I also saw first-hand that families would often rely on the Sky Way as a source of transportation and to provide them relief in navigating the large footprint of the park.
I have no doubt that the Sky Way's removal would be noticed by guests and would have a negative impact on guest satisfaction.
I would like to offer a few solutions:
1. I understand that Von Roll ropeways are a rarity and must be very costly to maintain. Recently, Busch Gardens Tampa fully updated and restored their Von Roll sky ride after it suspended operation for several years. In order to offset these costs, it is now an upcharge attraction. This option would be preferable to total removal.
2. This Sky Ride has a unique advantage in that there are two sides. If the park needed to utilize parts from one side in order to keep the other operational, that would be preferable to total removal.
3. I have also seen the park limit the attraction to weekend operation, which would be an option to limit wear on the parts or if operational costs were somehow an issue.
If nothing else, I hope that the attraction can be dissassembled and stored with care, at least to some capacity, as an artifact of historical significance.
There is an entire community of fans who mirror my sentiments, and I hope this concern is taken into serious consideration so we can see our favorite attraction operational once again."
I may mention the petition that is being circulated, and sprinkle in some more emotional elements, but I thought I'd start with the more persuasive points, if you can even call it that.
I'm going to be writing a hand-written letter to Six Flags corporate to voice my concern regarding the future of the Sky Ride as GACoaster mentioned elsewhere.
I thought I'd share my first draft here, in case anyone anyone has any suggestions for information/points to add:
"I am writing in regard to the Sky Way at Six Flags Great Adventure. While the park has yet to make any formal announcement, the attraction did not open for the 2024 season. I have seen photos of the gondolas being stored in a yard, and heard rumors from various sources that the park has no intention of opening this attraction again.
Firstly, I want to communicate my immense personal dissapointment with this rumor. As a theme park enthusiast, this attraction has massive historical value as it is one of the few remaining operating attractions from the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. It is also the last operating double Von Roll Type 101 ropeway in the world. And obviously, this attraction was an opening day attraction for Great Adventure.
Secondly, from an operational standpoint, I do not believe it is in the best interest of Six Flags to remove the Sky Way. I had the pleasure of working at the Sky Way for several years and know for a fact that it reveived some of the highest ridership in the park. Assuming it was properly mantained with enough gondolas operable, it would see its millionth rider well before the end of the shoulder season.
I also saw first-hand that families would often rely on the Sky Way as a source of transportation and to provide them relief in navigating the large footprint of the park.
I have no doubt that the Sky Way's removal would be noticed by guests and would have a negative impact on guest satisfaction.
I would like to offer a few solutions:
1. I understand that Von Roll ropeways are a rarity and must be very costly to maintain. Recently, Busch Gardens Tampa fully updated and restored their Von Roll sky ride after it suspended operation for several years. In order to offset these costs, it is now an upcharge attraction. This option would be preferable to total removal.
2. This Sky Ride has a unique advantage in that there are two sides. If the park needed to utilize parts from one side in order to keep the other operational, that would be preferable to total removal.
3. I have also seen the park limit the attraction to weekend operation, which would be an option to limit wear on the parts or if operational costs were somehow an issue.
If nothing else, I hope that the attraction can be dissassembled and stored with care, at least to some capacity, as an artifact of historical significance.
There is an entire community of fans who mirror my sentiments, and I hope this concern is taken into serious consideration so we can see our favorite attraction operational once again."
I may mention the petition that is being circulated, and sprinkle in some more emotional elements, but I thought I'd start with the more persuasive points, if you can even call it that.
