I've been looking all over for this, but for some reason I can't find it; how much did Superman cost the park to build?
Attraction Superman Ultimate Flight
- Thread starter Furyous Baco 325
- Start date
I don't think Six Flags ever mentioned in the press releases for their three Superman B&M Flyers but I was told from industry friends that it cost around $12-$15 million for each one. The company got a package deal for them.
This is probably an insane question to ask, but I'm gonna do it anyway because I can't be the only person wondering...
Is there any world in which we need to start being concerned about Ultimate Flight's future? Literally like all of its neighbors at this point are dead now—stranding Ultimate Flight basically out in the middle of a sea of construction sites and the parking lot. It's getting up there in age and I don't know that redesigning the entire area around it's continued, long-term existence makes a ton of sense to me, you know?
Just wanted to get that out there—it has been rolling around in my mind a lot lately.
Is there any world in which we need to start being concerned about Ultimate Flight's future? Literally like all of its neighbors at this point are dead now—stranding Ultimate Flight basically out in the middle of a sea of construction sites and the parking lot. It's getting up there in age and I don't know that redesigning the entire area around it's continued, long-term existence makes a ton of sense to me, you know?
Just wanted to get that out there—it has been rolling around in my mind a lot lately.
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I'm thinking the same thing. I personally love this ride and would hate to see it go. But gosh, 3 coasters gone in one year would be quite an unspeakable blow! I feel even the GP would be like, what the actual F is happening here?
I feel like it can't possibly die this year but... 2026 alongside the addition of the new coaster...? I feel like that isn't impossible...
I really enjoy the Ultimate Flight clones too and definitely don't want this to happen—but it doesn't actually seem like an impossibility based on what we've been seeing, right...?
I really enjoy the Ultimate Flight clones too and definitely don't want this to happen—but it doesn't actually seem like an impossibility based on what we've been seeing, right...?
I think it’s a valid question. While it’s usually one of the longer waits in the park, that’s mostly due to the lack of capacity that comes with B&M flyers.
My parents and brother are following this closely too, and we were actually talking about an hour ago about the possibility of Superman being SBNO this season or a temporary reroute to it. I don’t think the Boardwalk section will open this season, and especially now that I’ve remembered the paintball building finally got demoed a while back, it would be incredibly easy to wall it off.
The issue I see with relocation would be cost of operation. I don’t see a large park in the chain wanting a 22 year old used coaster with low capacity, and I don’t know that a smaller park could justify it.
My parents and brother are following this closely too, and we were actually talking about an hour ago about the possibility of Superman being SBNO this season or a temporary reroute to it. I don’t think the Boardwalk section will open this season, and especially now that I’ve remembered the paintball building finally got demoed a while back, it would be incredibly easy to wall it off.
The issue I see with relocation would be cost of operation. I don’t see a large park in the chain wanting a 22 year old used coaster with low capacity, and I don’t know that a smaller park could justify it.
B&M Flyers are surprisingly rare in the US, it'd be sad if one of the five closed suddenly. (I think Great America's clone is better than Great Adventures, though)
I agree. Superman is now the only ride that completely sticks out into the parking lot. I could see them giving it till the end of 2025 and then tearing it down in the offseason before the 2026 new coaster opens. Seems like Six Flags is going to invest in a whole new land with the new coaster in 2026. Would not be surprised if they then take out Superman and redo that whole boardwalk area while also redoing the entire entrance as their next big project post-2026.
It all looks bleak now, but the more they take out from this area now, the better I feel about future plans. Instead of patchwork, they could be fixing this park the right way with substantial changes.
I’m curious to see the full 2026 coaster announcement next summer (probably) and see how they are redoing the Golden Kingdom while also seeing if Superman is in the animation. That project will be very telling for the plan Six Flags has for this park moving forwards.
It all looks bleak now, but the more they take out from this area now, the better I feel about future plans. Instead of patchwork, they could be fixing this park the right way with substantial changes.
I’m curious to see the full 2026 coaster announcement next summer (probably) and see how they are redoing the Golden Kingdom while also seeing if Superman is in the animation. That project will be very telling for the plan Six Flags has for this park moving forwards.
It’s a real contender for moving to another park with its compact size and relatively flat plot— St Louis, Fiesta Texas, Over Texas are all in markets where it would be a novelty.
I hope not, would not care for the closest B&M Flyer to Virginia becoming……SFOGs Superman which is twice the drive. I wish more of these were built in the US especially after I rode Tatsu in 2023. Just an epic epic ride.
SFA says just build a long, winding path out to it. No problem!
GAdv also did that with the drop tower which likely hurt its popularity.
I am not a big fan of Superman. I especially dislike the brakerun and switch track platform where you are suspended over other people's ABC gun and spit puddles, sometimes vomit, yuck. However, as already stated its a good people eater which the park will need more than ever this season with at least 8 rides now removed.
A thought came to me and not a good one. If Superman is removed along with slingshot and the go carts, what need if any does SF have to rebuild and reopen the Boardwalk area? If they remove everything it may be more cost effective to amputate that section.
I prefer Batwing by a good bit, but this is fun too. I would not like it to go *poof*. Plus, who knows if Batwing will be around much longer....
There would be something to be said for making it parking lot, it's closer to the entrance, although would reduce incentive to pay for Preferred parking. Then take more of the lot further from the entrance for the park and hotel.
They could be waiting to take down Superman in a couple years. I hate it, but the track seems good condition even if the trains look worn.
Would this really be bad at all?
In my opinion, aside from Superman, there's absolutely nothing worth saving in that whole area past the games—and I'd argue the games area is in need of a massive reimagining too.
When you look at the park's layout in its totality, that whole dead end jutting into the parking lot is a big guest flow problem and, frankly, there's nothing there worth structuring the future of the park around in my opinion.
Great Adventure isn't land poor. There are many, many expansion opportunities that don't involve worsening the parking lot situation, further constraining the entrance area, etc. I'd much rather Great Adventure pursue those than for this glorified parking lot area of the park to continue to exist.
GAdv in generally is a messy point to point layout instead of the more typically loop or wagon wheel park layouts. Despite owning so much land, the park itself is fairly boxed in with the parking lot on the north side, the safari on the east side, Switlick Lake to the south, and a massive backstage complex to the west. It looks like there is some land the park could expand in the southeast between the lake and safari, though its likely to be marshy and may run into NJ wetland restrictions. Its not surprising the park choose to sacrifice parking lot for park expansion in the past as it was probably the cheapest route.
The future of the Boardwalk likely depends on what the KK replacement coasters layout will be. However, if it is removed for preferred parking of some kind, it will limit future growth of the park. The Boardwalk arm once contained several attractions and could be home for several future ones. This is assuming CF really wants to grow GAdv and not just blowing wind to placate concerned enthusiasts.
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Just keep in mind that the reason why the Parachute, Scream Machine, SUF, Green Lantern were there was to draw people into the Boardwalk and past all the games where they would literally throw their money away. With games being more decentralized, there's less need to add big draws onto the dead end there.
That is true but also remember that big draws generally need lots of room, plus the end of the Boardwalk really showcases those rides to guests pulling into the parking lot creating a positive first impression. Its also nice leveled, pre tree cleared land for easy construction. Only other place to expand besides the marshes between the lake and safari is sacrificing garden of eating for more room which I don'tsee happening, but who knows with CF in charge now? Nitro already protrudes into the backstage complex so that avenue is out. I doubt they would ever build a huge pier or manmade pensiua into the lake for expansion. Sadly I can see them cutting part of the safari for expansion.
On the flip side, if the entrance for the KK replacement coaster is located in the Boardwalk, then the back half of GK could be ripped out. A lot depends on the location and layout of the 2026 coaster. Of course this is all academic anyway.
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