I have no idea but another front row ride on I305 might change my mind since the only front row ride I've ever gotten on it was in the freezing cold.
Twisted Timbers
- Thread starter Nicole
- Start date
During my one visit to KD I was honestly really beside myself on which I liked more. My last ride of the day was i305 in the front and that did it for me. Insane air on the first drop, grey out on the turn followed by another amazing airtime moment and I was sold.
I've only done one RMC so it's equally the best and worst. Great ride though, absolutely blew my mind riding it back in 2018. I feel like it didn't have quite the same pull in 2019 but still top two material. I personally find it better than I305 because it's a more "diverse" ride I guess.
I've only ridden it and Lightning Rod. Lightning Rod wins, but I only got to ride it once, and only just as we were deciding to leave and then it opened, and that kind of made it more epic, so really I probably shouldn't rank them. But Lightning Rod should win because topper track and it's not a conversion.
Twisted Timbers was my first RMC, with only Twisted Cyclone at SFOG to compete against it in my rankings. While both are stellar rides and have earned their placement in my top 10, I have to give the edge to TT. The back-to-back ejector on those first three hills is still one of the best moments on any coaster.
I think what makes Twisted Timbers work so well in my opinion is that it doesn't try to do too much. It has a consistent flow to it while still packing all the things that other RMCs do, whereas with the others elements are so tight together that on your first few rides you can't get a grasp of what's going on.
It does enough, and that's what makes it good.
It does enough, and that's what makes it good.
I haven't been on a lot of RMC's, but I think part of what makes Twisted Timbers so great to me is the fact that they avoided the meandering second half that many of the early rebuilds suffer from. My $0.02 opinion of that is after the drop there's no other major high points and it minimized the "speed killing" stalls.
I'd say intention by RMC. Their more recent (last 2-3 years) of hybrids have really overcome that issue. I think they've learned a good bit from the mistakes.
That said, I bet Hurler’s layout helped RMC achieve the effect they were going for with Twisted Timbers. Hurler’s layout was ridiculously flat and barely left the ground after the first drop, basically just making gentle bunny hills throughout the course. Timbers definitely uses that uniqueness to its advantage by staying low to the ground and focusing almost entirely on speed and airtime.
Come to think of it, it’s ironic that the ride’s strength comes from its straightforward layout that has far fewer twists and turns than most coasters, considering the “twisted” in its name.
Come to think of it, it’s ironic that the ride’s strength comes from its straightforward layout that has far fewer twists and turns than most coasters, considering the “twisted” in its name.
For some reason, I was feeling nostalgic for the announcement and wanted to post the tweet somewhere:
I just watched someone rank SteVe at #5 and TT at #2. I'm pleasantly surprised
Despite it's small layout; what makes TT a good experience is the night rides. Most people who have rode TT at nights are very pleased with the whole nostalgic theme of an old orchard in the state of VA. The first turn at the bottom of the hill is situated right near the trees. Once you get near the bunny hops; a lot of that area is dark at night times. Good job on the park for keeping it very dim.
Of course; I feel Cedar Fair could have done a much better job when it came to this RMC consideration. They obviously went for cost efficient. One can only image how scary the ride would have been if Cedar Fair had converted Grizzly and Hurler into one big coaster. I'm not saying that it had to be the size of Steel Vengeance; but maneuvering through Grizzly's wooded area would have made a spooky ride experience. Hurler's station would have served as a Mystic Timbers "DON'T GO IN THE SHED" experience. With the right engineering; the ride could have launched riders out of the shed and back towards Grizzly's old tunnel.
Before commenting; just take a second to think how thrilling a ride experience like that would have been at night times. Imagine the endless Fast Lane sales that KD would have gotten for people who are seeking this one of a kind wooden coaster night ride experience.
Of course; I feel Cedar Fair could have done a much better job when it came to this RMC consideration. They obviously went for cost efficient. One can only image how scary the ride would have been if Cedar Fair had converted Grizzly and Hurler into one big coaster. I'm not saying that it had to be the size of Steel Vengeance; but maneuvering through Grizzly's wooded area would have made a spooky ride experience. Hurler's station would have served as a Mystic Timbers "DON'T GO IN THE SHED" experience. With the right engineering; the ride could have launched riders out of the shed and back towards Grizzly's old tunnel.
Before commenting; just take a second to think how thrilling a ride experience like that would have been at night times. Imagine the endless Fast Lane sales that KD would have gotten for people who are seeking this one of a kind wooden coaster night ride experience.
I could see it possibly happening if money weren't an object since I'd assume much of the existing supports on Grizzly would need to be completely torn down and replaced... Also would be curious to see how such a ride would handle the momentum requirements to clear two similar height hills where both lifts are to then power through each half of the course.
Of course, RMC is known for doing crazy feats of engineering and design so anything could have been possible.
Of course, RMC is known for doing crazy feats of engineering and design so anything could have been possible.
That's the enthusiasm I like to hear. When it comes to the "DON'T GO IN THE SHED" part, I'd assume that a new hill could be built. That hill would serve as the launch. All it would have to do is provide enough momentum to make it back to Grizzl'y tunnel, which nears the end of the ride.
Here's a better way to think of how this layout would have been created. Imagine getting towards the right turn on Grizzly that prepares you for the tunnel. Only this time, it would have sent you down a drop that would have lead to Hurler's Helix near Club Blood. So in theory, it would have been like doing TT's course in reverse. The sharp right turn after TT's first drop would have also been in the reverse. The only thing that would have been modified is the sharp turn leading you into TT's station. Now picture that being the entrance to the "DON'T GO IN THE SHED". Inside would have been dark and themed with timber vines. On the ceiling would have been a sizable wooden tree branch that reaches down at you before the train moves forward, sending it up the launch hill. After the hill, you drop back down, leading you towards Grizzly's dark tunnel, which nears the end of the course.
Not sure if this needs to be moved to the concepts thread, but I'd be curious, @MikeLovesKD, if you could somehow visualize a course layout (paint mockup, etc) for this combo similar to what the new ride prediction threads have (especially when blueprints are leaked)?
One thing that would also be tough is that it'd be likely many more of the trees near Grizzly would have been removed to make way for construction equipment.
Also, I think it'd actually be much more interesting to use some other story element than 'Don't go in the shed' since that's been done - I'm wondering if it's the TT station building being reused as something other than a station in this hypothetical layout, maybe some pyro effects? Maybe create CP's Bonneville 2.0 - the townsfolk are back... For blood (or vengeance, or whatever)? Or go for something more conventional, such as chemical factory creates mutants?
One thing that would also be tough is that it'd be likely many more of the trees near Grizzly would have been removed to make way for construction equipment.
Also, I think it'd actually be much more interesting to use some other story element than 'Don't go in the shed' since that's been done - I'm wondering if it's the TT station building being reused as something other than a station in this hypothetical layout, maybe some pyro effects? Maybe create CP's Bonneville 2.0 - the townsfolk are back... For blood (or vengeance, or whatever)? Or go for something more conventional, such as chemical factory creates mutants?
I only used the term; "DON'T GO IN THE SHED", because people are more familiar with it. In reality; the term would have been something else incorporated with the Hanover County Orchard theme. Let's pretend that the station was an old Orchard House; that was being used to make apple cider. So inside this dark building, would have been a few props that resembled a brewery. Along with that are the timber trees and vines that have ruined some of the equipment. The audio inside the building would consist of tree vines tangling together as the big tree hand; reaches down at the train, before it launches up the hill.
As for Grizzly's trees. This would also require careful planning. To make it perfect, some of the trees would have to be kept in order to give it the theme of a spooky orchard. Here is a much simpler list of what it would look like. Just read the list.
(Front Entrance)
- TT's line queue antique truck sits near front entrance of Grizzly.
- Twisted Timbers sign sits where Grizzly's sign is.
- Station contains various Orchard props.
(Ride)
- Sign at bottom of lift hill reads "Hanover County Orchard Tours" in read letters.
- Spooky lift hill spiel "Hello; and welcome to Hanover County Orchard. On our tour, we will be showing you the home of our world famous Fancy Apple. We ask, that you remain in the vehicle during all parts of our tour; and to not pick any fruit from the trees. Violators will face immediate ejection and will be permanently removed from the property. Our happy personnel take great joy in preserving the orchard's foundation for both regional and long distance distributions. We hope you have a fun time during your stay and hope to see you again many times in the near future. Oh; one last thing. For your safety; the old cider brewing house is off limits to both guests and orchard personnel. Department of Agriculture prevents proximity of 100 feet or closer, a violation tour policy. Please heed our warning for your safety and ours. Enjoy your stay".
- First drop; TT's twisted drop.
- Top of second hill-Drop 2; sends ride down towards Hurler's helix. Ride goes through a series of bunny hops and TT's normal inversions.
- Train approaches "WARNING" before heading through TT's sharp turn.
(Cider Brewing House)
- Door slams shut and train comes to hard stop.
- In house audio reveals the desperate cries of "GET OUT", "GET OUT", "OPEN THE DOOR, BEFORE THIS THING GRA........AWWHHHH", coming from a group tour trespassers. The sounds of tangling roots consume the unfortunate few who did not heed the warning.
- A strobe light effect reveals an enormous tree hand lunging down at the ride, before it quickly moves forward to avoid capture. The train thrust up the hill and does another TT twisted drop to make it way over towards Grizzly's old tunnel.
(Grizzly's tunnel)
- Train speeds by a tangles tree roots, as they enclose in to stop your escape.
- The tunnel speakers thunder a hard collision of a nearby tour vehicle seeking the same escape before colliding with another tour vehicle.
- Train exits the tunnel and enters break-run at the end of ride.
- Spiel "We hope you enjoyed tour. Before leaving; don't forget to visit our old country convenience store to purchase our one of a kind, mouth watering sweet selection. We hope to see you again soon".
This is a simple version of the ride.
Maybe they should plant some actual apple trees in the current ride's infield...
In simple terms, I came to that thought last year when I visited the park during WinterFest. It would create a rather good night time effect. I'd say the park could have the artificial twisted timber-warped trees, tunnel certain sections of the track. On the trees would be orange color LED lights, that strobe at night time.