Darien Lake's Viper has been closed all season. The rumor mill online has chocked it up to structural issues. Some employees have said the ride simply needs some TLC, while others have said Viper may never reopen...
Whatever is going on, this is not something Darien Lake needs right now. Under the conditions of the lease between SF and EPR, it falls to SF to front the costs of maintaining the park (including some small amount of capital investment). Viper requiring a major overhaul (or even demolition) would eat into the profit margin that otherwise made Darien Lake an attractive park to hold onto.
I think in a perfect world, this would give the park an excuse to say goodbye to a classic ride to make room for something more modern, but they've closed so many rides without replacement in recent years. Viper would easily be a bigger loss for the park than even the ferris wheel, but it might be a loss that management (and/or SF corporate) is willing to absorb.
Whatever is going on, this is not something Darien Lake needs right now. Under the conditions of the lease between SF and EPR, it falls to SF to front the costs of maintaining the park (including some small amount of capital investment). Viper requiring a major overhaul (or even demolition) would eat into the profit margin that otherwise made Darien Lake an attractive park to hold onto.
I think in a perfect world, this would give the park an excuse to say goodbye to a classic ride to make room for something more modern, but they've closed so many rides without replacement in recent years. Viper would easily be a bigger loss for the park than even the ferris wheel, but it might be a loss that management (and/or SF corporate) is willing to absorb.
