Actually if you look at old maps you can really see what Taft was doing. It was originally a beautiful layout.
Volcano Goes Extinct
- Thread starter b.mac
- Start date
That "terrible idea" is what put KD on the map as having themed attractions in an iconic mountain structure that only year-round major destinations like Disney had attempted to date. The park spent 17-18 million dollars on the Lost World in the late '70's. I would imagine in todays dollars that would be around 45-50 million. How many regional parks, that are open seasonally, have spent that level of money on a flat/dark ride complex?
I still see that your logic has not changed that if a coaster was on a spot it must always be a coaster in that location. What if the next major coaster KD gets is located in Old VA instead of where Volcano is located now?
Umm, Hypersonic was replaced by Dominator. Not in the same location of course, but one ride was considered to close at the end of 2007 and the next at the start of 2008. Also allegedly the decision was between spending the money on an XLC refurb or the relocation. The coaster count remained constant. I went to the park little or none '05-'07 so there was no apparent gap to me.
Of course, by that reasoning maybe I305 replaced Hurler and Shockwave (overlapping) and now TT has replaced Volcano. These are steps up, even, but in the case of this last event it sure doesn't seem like what they had in mind nor is it a clear and decisive advancement. And if they do think "add a coaster because we don't know which old ride's going to die next" well there's still plenty of cause to do that.
I agree it could be a good idea for the park to do something different than a coaster, it's just incredibly unlikely I will like it if that happens. I rode Delirium once and felt sick so haven't been back on it, and even if it hadn't it would have still been a big step down, but admittedly most didn't miss Shockwave. And I totally disagree that a coaster only draws people for the first year.
A helpful factor is they don't necessarily need yet another ultimate thrill machine now, maybe something like their InvadR with a taste of Copperhead Strike. Just a fun ride.
Of course, by that reasoning maybe I305 replaced Hurler and Shockwave (overlapping) and now TT has replaced Volcano. These are steps up, even, but in the case of this last event it sure doesn't seem like what they had in mind nor is it a clear and decisive advancement. And if they do think "add a coaster because we don't know which old ride's going to die next" well there's still plenty of cause to do that.
I agree it could be a good idea for the park to do something different than a coaster, it's just incredibly unlikely I will like it if that happens. I rode Delirium once and felt sick so haven't been back on it, and even if it hadn't it would have still been a big step down, but admittedly most didn't miss Shockwave. And I totally disagree that a coaster only draws people for the first year.
A helpful factor is they don't necessarily need yet another ultimate thrill machine now, maybe something like their InvadR with a taste of Copperhead Strike. Just a fun ride.
????Comparing Kings Dominion’s dark rides to Disney. Dude you’re talking about some screens and maybe a couple animatronics at most. It’s just a cheap knockoff of Disney at best.
People go to KD primarily for the thrills. Nobody is gonna be amused by even a WMG style ride where you’re just staring at a screen over a major roller coaster. KD doesn’t have the budget to build anything like what Universal and Disney can.
Based on your response, you are under 25 years old.
WMG is literally one overbank and then a bunch of simulators. It’s just a mess of an attraction. Even Verbolten serves as a better dark ride.
By your logic Cedar Point could tear down Maverick and replace it with a peddleboat course and it would be perfectly acceptable.
And
And we’re living in year 2019 now. Pandering to nostalgia isn’t gonna make the park better by default.
Why does a coaster have to replace volcano? Just curious.
As someone else said, and I’ve remarked on this in the past, Olde Virginia is the area most in need of a coaster. If Volcano got replaced by flat rides, or a better interactive ride (I know people love Boo Blasters but come on), or just overall was an improvement to that area, but no coaster went in; that’s not a bad thing for the park.
Heck rather than invest in a new coaster there, along with the price of taking out Volcano (with or without the mountain); I rather see them invest in their current lineup. Invest in a new FoF queue; new trains with less rattle on Anaconda; fix the theming elements on BLSC; finish retracking racer; give a lot of (imo much needed) love to Grizzly.
Basically: take your time in replacing Volcano KD. You still got a near elite coaster lineup without it. I305, TT, Dominator is a top 3 lineup a lot of parks would kill to have.
As someone else said, and I’ve remarked on this in the past, Olde Virginia is the area most in need of a coaster. If Volcano got replaced by flat rides, or a better interactive ride (I know people love Boo Blasters but come on), or just overall was an improvement to that area, but no coaster went in; that’s not a bad thing for the park.
Heck rather than invest in a new coaster there, along with the price of taking out Volcano (with or without the mountain); I rather see them invest in their current lineup. Invest in a new FoF queue; new trains with less rattle on Anaconda; fix the theming elements on BLSC; finish retracking racer; give a lot of (imo much needed) love to Grizzly.
Basically: take your time in replacing Volcano KD. You still got a near elite coaster lineup without it. I305, TT, Dominator is a top 3 lineup a lot of parks would kill to have.
A B&M invert/wing/flyer makes the most sense to me because 1, it serves as a tribute to Volcano by having no track under you, two have high capacity, three, are very reliable, and four, can be themed pretty well. Of course this assumes the mountain goes down (which I hope it does at this point).
I’m seriously confused. The mountain used to house a dark ride, a flat, and a water ride. So, that space is not intrinsically intended for a coaster. Assuming the mountain isn’t raised, there is history to support pretty much kind of attraction that CF and KD believe would best serve the bottom line.
Honestly, the space isn’t really ideal for a coaster. I always felt as if I was in some abandoned construction dump site, when I was waiting to return to the space that passed for a station. Hanging out in the hot bowels of some defunct attraction with little to no airflow wasn’t a charming experience.
On another note, I think demolishing the mountain is a bigger deal than removing the coaster. The former is the iconic piece of history. The latter is just the most recent attraction housed there.
Honestly, the space isn’t really ideal for a coaster. I always felt as if I was in some abandoned construction dump site, when I was waiting to return to the space that passed for a station. Hanging out in the hot bowels of some defunct attraction with little to no airflow wasn’t a charming experience.
On another note, I think demolishing the mountain is a bigger deal than removing the coaster. The former is the iconic piece of history. The latter is just the most recent attraction housed there.
Again, your ignorance is astounding. Maybe some minor research on your part will help your knowledge base on what a dark ride was back then. I give you a clue, virtual reality did not exist back then. No computer generated projections either. Never said anything about Disney animatronics either.
I stated no other regional theme park, that had seasonal operations, had attempted a ride complex such as the Lost World except for the likes of Disney. Back then, the only thing Universal had going were movie back-lot tram tours. There were no Universal theme parks.
The only thing that actually may help in this scenario is a re-track to Grizzly. New trains especially aren’t going to fix Anaconda.
The reason why they have to build a coaster is, like I said, they just took out a park icon. A ride that people considered a classic. Vast majority of people aren’t gonna be amused by an 80s throwback dark ride (that will prob look like crap considering the past CF dark rides) or an off the shelf flat ride to replace such a unique and fulfilling experience as Volcano.
Like say what you will about Verbolten but at least they tried to replace BBW adequately. At least BGW got another good (and quirky) family coaster out of it. KD absolutely needs another headlining attraction to replace its former headlining attraction.
I don’t think they would put another coaster in the Volcano. What I’m arguing is that they should just bring the whole thing down and open up even more space behind them. I know the mountain is iconic but it’s falling apart and I just feel that it’s way better to move on. It’s not as massive as CW’s is anyways.
And my point is that you logic that they need to put a coaster in that space is faulty.
- There hasn’t always been a coaster there; and
- It is the mountain, not Volcano, that is iconic.
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I would honestly say that whole area needs a makeover. They can keep Avalanche (it’s a great coaster IMO). They can put a dive machine in volcanos mountain and get 2 awesome flats to replace the crypt. Just a thought.
I know the mountain is ionic. But I’d rather they build something better w/o the mountain then cram in a screen simulator in the mountain.
I knew this day was coming just didn’t know it was going to be this soon. I haven’t rode that ride since 2016
They don’t have to do anything.
Kings Dominion (and CF in general) should be making a push for better flats, better care, and a better atmosphere. Forcing themselves to replace Volcano in a hurry would be a HUGE mistake. I also don’t believe that Volcano is that big of an “icon” to be honest. Being from out of the area, I know about I305 and Racer long before Volcano. And already TT has massively surpassed Volcano.
Forcing yourself to do something (like rush to replace Volcano) is what gets parks in trouble. Maybe the bump the timeline a bit to put in the next coaster somewhere; but not having to put it there and not having to do it ASAP is what’s going to be better in the long term.
Maybe they can use this chance to revamp the whole area like they did when they put in Twisted Timbers, then renamed other rides and put the pavers in.
Heck I would sacrifice 1 year of Avalanche access for them to do something like that.
Kings Dominion (and CF in general) should be making a push for better flats, better care, and a better atmosphere. Forcing themselves to replace Volcano in a hurry would be a HUGE mistake. I also don’t believe that Volcano is that big of an “icon” to be honest. Being from out of the area, I know about I305 and Racer long before Volcano. And already TT has massively surpassed Volcano.
Forcing yourself to do something (like rush to replace Volcano) is what gets parks in trouble. Maybe the bump the timeline a bit to put in the next coaster somewhere; but not having to put it there and not having to do it ASAP is what’s going to be better in the long term.
Maybe they can use this chance to revamp the whole area like they did when they put in Twisted Timbers, then renamed other rides and put the pavers in.
Heck I would sacrifice 1 year of Avalanche access for them to do something like that.
And roller coasters are always the best option? And the only alternative is a simulator?
I think they will replace it with a coaster by 2024 they have to field the void and fix that area it will be a multi year renovation