The Big Bad Wolf
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
In other words Todd, we're going to need to know what your prices are. 
Well, since BGW owns the logo, I can't really sell them. Besides, to compensate for the time spent to make them, the prices would be higher than the market can bear. So, I'll trade them away. If you want one (or more), let me know, or just stop me if you see me at BGW. I'll make a point of carrying a few with me as long as the demand lasts. I'm sure we can negotiate a trade for something in a nearby shop or eatery.
Found a home video from 2005 Howl-O-Scream. I had quite a bit of footage of the BBW, including my last ride, which today I'm thankful for. I also have more if anyone else is interested.
Sorry about the quality, if I find a way to convert it to my pc I'll be more than happy to re-upload it.
Enjoy!
I also have more if anyone else is interested.Sorry about the quality, if I find a way to convert it to my pc I'll be more than happy to re-upload it.
Enjoy!
ToddF said:
That's a funny way to spell "Joe."
I have been to the park 4 times already this year and as some of you already know, It's been 15 years since my last visit. I cant help but say, This ride should still be here! Plain and simple. Verbolten is fun, but I already find myself skipping it(It has a vibration that seems extreme for a new coaster). I never skipped BBW on my earlier visits and I certainly would not be now. I find myself asking the question, If they had 50 million bucks to spend, How much would it have cost to establish a new 'serviceable life' for BBW? How much would it have cost to ADD to an already perfectly themed exciting coaster, to make it new and fresh. 5o million is not a number that enters my mind. Not even 10. It was a mistake removing BBW. (opinion) I almost beg for a different perspective here.
Sorry, Mazakman, I wish for both our sakes (lol) I could give you that different perspective, but I can't. Verbolten offers an intricate ride experience (for a coaster) and the park and the Vbolt designers paid lovely homage to the Wolf in many ways. I wish I didn't find Bolt so rough -- but even if it were as smooth as Apollo's Chariot, it still wouldn't be the BBW.
For me, what I preferred about the BBW was that the ride felt more visceral and real. I'd rather be outside in the elements swinging through twists and turns than inside an event building being fed a canned experience. That's just my personal preference, not even remotely any kind of absolute truth, of course, but I really feel strongly about it.
To expand what I've said before in this thread (and elsewhere, too, I'm sure!) -- I really liked the swinging of the BBW and I was able to brace against the back and headrest and get a great ride time after time with no headache or aftereffects other than a big grin on my face.
I loved rolling out of the station and around the turn to the lift hill, then rising to the clacking of the anti-rollback dogs. Then flying through the village trying to catch as many details of the buildings as I could. Then a pause and -- yay! -- another lift hill, the fun of the drop to the Rhine, and lastly the final twisting turns giving the cars incredible swing.
I wish they had added Verbolten without taking away the Big Bad Wolf, or, as you suggested, Mazakman, spent the money just extending the BBW's service life.
Verbolten offers an intricate ride experience (for a coaster) and the park and the Vbolt designers paid lovely homage to the Wolf in many ways. I wish I didn't find Bolt so rough -- but even if it were as smooth as Apollo's Chariot, it still wouldn't be the BBW. For me, what I preferred about the BBW was that the ride felt more visceral and real. I'd rather be outside in the elements swinging through twists and turns than inside an event building being fed a canned experience. That's just my personal preference, not even remotely any kind of absolute truth, of course, but I really feel strongly about it.
To expand what I've said before in this thread (and elsewhere, too, I'm sure!) -- I really liked the swinging of the BBW and I was able to brace against the back and headrest and get a great ride time after time with no headache or aftereffects other than a big grin on my face.
I loved rolling out of the station and around the turn to the lift hill, then rising to the clacking of the anti-rollback dogs. Then flying through the village trying to catch as many details of the buildings as I could. Then a pause and -- yay! -- another lift hill, the fun of the drop to the Rhine, and lastly the final twisting turns giving the cars incredible swing.
I wish they had added Verbolten without taking away the Big Bad Wolf, or, as you suggested, Mazakman, spent the money just extending the BBW's service life.
Different perspective.
And I believe I am a minority of one around here.
I really don't miss the Big Bad Wolf very much. When it was newer, I loved it. My brother and I would go back and forth between Nessie and the Wolf all day. Somewhere along the line however, it felt as if they added a break and slowed the ride down. I can't prove that it happened, but my brother had the same impression. It kind of lost a lot of its fun for me at that point. It became a ride like Alpie for me: something I'd do, as long as there was no line.
Verbolten, on the other hand, I really look forward to riding each visit. The ride is fast and fun, and the drop towards the Rhine is great. I especially love the drop in the dark: even though I know it is coming, I am startled and scream every time.
A lot of time is spent here dissecting the theming and visuals, but to me the physical experience is fantastic, regardless.
And I believe I am a minority of one around here.
I really don't miss the Big Bad Wolf very much. When it was newer, I loved it. My brother and I would go back and forth between Nessie and the Wolf all day. Somewhere along the line however, it felt as if they added a break and slowed the ride down. I can't prove that it happened, but my brother had the same impression. It kind of lost a lot of its fun for me at that point. It became a ride like Alpie for me: something I'd do, as long as there was no line.
Verbolten, on the other hand, I really look forward to riding each visit. The ride is fast and fun, and the drop towards the Rhine is great. I especially love the drop in the dark: even though I know it is coming, I am startled and scream every time.
A lot of time is spent here dissecting the theming and visuals, but to me the physical experience is fantastic, regardless.
Mazakman said:
I understand you missing the ride. Practically everyone does. It was an iconic coaster.
The park could've spent more money to keep it going but they decided against it. BBW was tearing itself apart since before it opened. The park did all they could as it was a huge maintenance nightmare for its entire operational life. Frequent welding to fix cracks and I can't count the number of times I've seen hoses pop off the brake run while waiting in line to ride it. While there are still some Arrow Suspended Coasters in existence, the ones still around do not tear themselves apart like BBW did.
These rides were poorly engineered so it shouldn't surprise you that they are slowly disappearing from parks all over the planet. The two most intense ones ever created (BBW and Eagle Fortress) have ceased to exist. Eagle Fortress at Everland in South Korea blew away BBW by a long shot and, sadly, that ride only lasted 17 years.
If the park was to save the Big Bad Wolf, they would of had to redesign, tear down, and rebuild the ride. Even then, it may still fall into the same maintenance issues it had previously.
It may not seem like it but in the long run, a new coaster is a better investment than to try and keep and old coaster. It may take a while before they start to see the investment pay off, but it will. Whereas they would still have to keep maintaining Big Bad Wolf.
It may not seem like it but in the long run, a new coaster is a better investment than to try and keep and old coaster. It may take a while before they start to see the investment pay off, but it will. Whereas they would still have to keep maintaining Big Bad Wolf.
I may be the only one who didn't know this, but I found out today that some of BBW's parts are now being used in Nessie. According to the ride maintenance staff BBW was essentially an inverted LNM, and of course they are/were both Arrows. So a little bit of the Wolf lives on in the LNM.
The red leaf springs on the shelf in the picture are from BBW:
The red leaf springs on the shelf in the picture are from BBW:
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From the park's old website in 2009:
Busch Gardens Williamsburg said:
That just makes me horribly sad. Last week I went to my doctor and his first question was "Still miss the Big Bad Wolf?." I went to the dentist today and he asked "So you still missing the wolf?" Yes. Yes. Yes.
The moonlight on the water as the cars swung over the Rhine, the rapid twists and turns around the village and that lonely feeling of being tucked away in the woods will never be forgotten. :'(
Here is a picture of the last riders of the day. September 7, 2009. I am under the sign on the left side.
The moonlight on the water as the cars swung over the Rhine, the rapid twists and turns around the village and that lonely feeling of being tucked away in the woods will never be forgotten. :'(
Here is a picture of the last riders of the day. September 7, 2009. I am under the sign on the left side.
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It has been 30 years since the Wolf has opened, and this year will be the fifth year since it ceased operations in 2009. It's sole shall forever live on in all of our hearts. We miss you as much as we ever have Big Bad Wolf, and we will never forget all the cherished memories you've delivered to us, rest in peace and harmony, and may your grave forever be showered with our everlasting love.
Sorry, I was a little emotional today, and I thought I should say this.
Sorry, I was a little emotional today, and I thought I should say this.
I miss the wolf a lot, but at least Verbolten was a good replacement. If it was replaced with a bad ride I'd feel a lot worse about it
