View previous topic :: View next topic
Author	Message
Chitown Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 9	Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 1:55 am    Post subject: Wisconsin might be getting a new woodie. Big Dipper perhaps? · Quote Based on this article, an amusement park in Greenbay is pursuing a wooden coaster from the owners of 2 wooden coasters and they want the one with historical value. Now this could mean 2 possibles. 1. The company that bid on Big Dipper and Raging Wolf Bobs at GL. 2. Landsouth, who owns Cypress Gardens which recently shut down. They own Triple Hurricane and Starliner. So it's going to be either Big Dipper or Starliner. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091001/GPG0101/910010614/1207/GPG01/Green-Bay-still-wo rking-to-bring-roller-coaster-to-Bay-Beach
Back to top
djcoastermark Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 52	Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:43 am    Post subject: · Quote first off, Hi Chitown, glad to see you here and the CG site. Lets narrow it down even more, Starliner and Dipper are both 2600+ and historic in their own right. The Bobs, too far gone, Triple Hurricane, too small (though a really good ride, Its gotten really good with age) I do have a feeling one of these 2 are going to be moved. I dont want to see either moved from their current homes, but if thats what it takes to save one of them- go for it. At least I have the chance to ride again, even if its waaayyyy far away. I grew up with the Dipper and feel its the best of the 2. However, the Starliner is a short drive away from me, so she's my home base coaster now and a lot of fun. Just like cfair, land south really screwed all of us over. Wow, the similarities... so, which one will it be?
Back to top
coasterdad Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 2154	Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:48 am    Post subject: · Quote It also could be the Lesourdsville Lake coaster which also fits the description and was made available last year on Craigs List to anyone willing to get it out of there. What I don't understand is how it makes economical sense to move a structure like dipper. I can see buying it for the mechanics, but moving the wood is very impractical. A new wood structure and track would be required. _________________ GL's demise was caused by one mans foolish greed. In the end the truth will come out as it always does.
Back to top
djcoastermark Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 03 Jun 2008 Posts: 52	Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 11:00 am    Post subject: · Quote I forgot about the screeching eagle at Lesoourdsville. Thats another good coaster too. As far as moving a wood coaster, your right, not much really gets reused. The Starliner is a good example. Only 30%, at best, of the original wood was reused according to the official reports on the reconstruction.
Back to top
Gunkey Monkey Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1102 Location: Cleveland, Ohio	Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:27 pm    Post subject: · Quote If it is indeed the Dipper they are looking at then I am all for it. Despite the long distance I would much rather have the ride resurrected elsewhere thrilling guests than currently sitting idle as the clock keeps ticking on her. While it would be a loss for us in Ohio the fact it would be saved and reopened again would be a huge win for the ride and the new park. I don't think Green Bay would be that out of the way if you were going to Wisconsin Dells or coming from Six Flags Great America (which isn't too far from the Wisconsin border anyway). I found a link to the Bay Beach website.  Not many rides but it sure as heck could be Green Bay's version of Waldameer with the right vision. http://www.ci.green-bay.wi.us/BayBeach/index.html _________________ On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.
Back to top
Chitown Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 9	Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:02 am    Post subject: · Quote coasterdad wrote: It also could be the Lesourdsville Lake coaster which also fits the description and was made available last year on Craigs List to anyone willing to get it out of there. What I don't understand is how it makes economical sense to move a structure like dipper. I can see buying it for the mechanics, but moving the wood is very impractical. A new wood structure and track would be required. Well, it wouldnt be Lesourdsville because the article states that the owner has 2 wooden coasters. Normally I would agree with you that it doesn't make sense to relocate a wooden coaster due to cost, but if it turns out they are aquiring Starliner, it makes sense. The coaster was recently relocated so it has all new wood, new train, new brakes, etc.  If the coaster is donated , then they basically will just pay to tear down move and set back up.
Back to top
dsloban Thunderhawk User is Offline Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 1073	Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:36 pm    Post subject: · Quote I would be happy i the Dipper gets a new home if we can't keep it, but it would be sad to see it leave Ohio! It would be nice to know what is happening with the Dipper..... _________________ Life is like a rollercoaster. It is full of ups and downs!
Back to top
IBEW_Sparky Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 20	Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:50 pm    Post subject: · Quote If it is BD, all I respectfully ask is that the structure, if not to be re-used, will be gently dismantled with dignity as opposed to the disgusting destruction used to level Villain.
Back to top
BellaCroix Riptide Run User is Offline Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 309 Location: Bedford, Ohio	Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:38 pm    Post subject: · Quote I know I asked this before but think it deserves being re-asked again. What makes BD the 12th oldest coaster in the world?  The fact that the same general shape has been on the same piece of property since 1925? Couple things to consider: When initially built, BD had a camel back section of track at the top of the (I think) second hill.  This element was removed sometime in the early-30's as far as I know.  So does that mean the coaster changed enough to actually make it built in the '30s? On the far turn-around there used to be a spoke structure support system spanning the turn, although this removal probably did not affect the ride it is still a structural change (*edit* The more I think about it that wagon wheel probably added a lot of stiffness to the turn, removing it probably made the turn sway a little more).  Is that enough to change the ride? I've also seen pictures of the lift hill that looks like it had a lot more supports and cables than when the park closed.  If we assume these elements and the wagon wheel on the turn around were removed at the same time that's a lot more structural changes.  Would that be enough to call it a different ride? Between the '50's and the 70's the name of the coaster changed a total of three times.  Is the coaster's name the defining element of it's age?  BD has only been BD since the 70's.  Are we saving BD or the Clipper or the Rocket? In the 80's or 90's every piece of frame wood on the coaster was replaced (at least once).  Does that mean the coaster was built in the 90's? If BD moves to this other park and assuming the estimate that only about 30% of the actual structure would be moved, does that mean the coaster will actually be built in 2010? What if they say "Hell with it, lets move everything", maybe they even dig up the footing pylons and take those too.  They even re-grade the land at the other park to be EXACTLY the same as GL's midway.  Does that mean it was built in 1925? Why would they move it at all if it's that cost prohibitive to complete the move of a wood coaster?   Considering the extent of the re-building completed in the 90's there HAS to be archetectural drawings, CAD renderings, whatever.  Buy those, build it from scratch with all new wood, machinery, cables, track, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to know BD is safe but I don't understand the move idea and why, if 30% of the structure is moved, how it could still be considered a "historic" ride. _________________ Positions Held: Ancillary: Front Gate Photo (Cameras In Action) Games - Arcades/Coin Op Ancillary: Antique Photo (Kamman's Art Shoppes) Big Dipper Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNMH9Z8NMFc Last edited by BellaCroix on Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
Ray P Coral Cove User is Offline Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 500	Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:38 pm    Post subject: · Quote The owner of the Big Dipper has instructed me to post this message: "Please tell those misinformed people at Geauga Lake Today that I own 100% of the Big Dipper and not 30%.  I don't know how or why this misinformation has been spread around or who is responsible for this ridicule, but these shenanigans and hijinks must stop.  Otherwise, you won't even have 30% of the Dipper to hope for.  Please, if you love her as much as I do, just let it go." Do I really need to put a winky face to denote my sarcasm? _________________ http://rayp.smugmug.com
Back to top
coasterdad Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 2154	Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 5:54 pm    Post subject: · Quote Heh - nice one Ray. BellaCriox makes some very good points, ones I have questioned for quite some time. Does it really make sense to move Dipper? No, I would think it could be built better and more effectively using all new materials. I know for a fact that it is impossible to reuse the track base and the track as there is no way it will line of correctly on the new structure. Is Dipper really the Dipper it was in 1925? Absolutely not! It has gone through many modifications as pointed out. As a matter of fact very little of the original footers and wood is even left, let alone the rolling stock. If Dipper is saved and moved that's great, but I cant see why one would want that expense when a new one would be much better both economically and reliability wise. The only place Dipper makes any sense to be operate is in its present condition is where it is now. _________________ GL's demise was caused by one mans foolish greed. In the end the truth will come out as it always does.
Back to top
Gunkey Monkey Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1102 Location: Cleveland, Ohio	Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:22 pm    Post subject: · Quote The longer the ride sits there in the elements without proper maintenance you might as well plan on rebuilding sections of it anyway if the ride is saved on site. We're heading into winter number 3 so I can only imagine what shape the ride will be in by next spring. _________________ On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.
Back to top
BellaCroix Riptide Run User is Offline Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 309 Location: Bedford, Ohio	Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:58 pm    Post subject: · Quote Something else I just noticed, from the linked article in topic post: "...That isn't the big expense. It's the relocating, the engineering, the bringing it to code." Even a donated roller coaster could cost "more than hundreds of thousands of dollars..." Well, while "more than hundreds of thousands of dollars" is certainly more than you're going to make at "a bake sale"* it sounds much less than other estimates I've heard about.  Wonder who they're planning to contract on the move?  Hope it's someone who's moved other coasters in the past.  Maybe they'll get a couple DOT people with impact wrenches and some flat-bed trucks to handle it. * Norton Auctioneer in a sly jab at ACE. _________________ Positions Held: Ancillary: Front Gate Photo (Cameras In Action) Games - Arcades/Coin Op Ancillary: Antique Photo (Kamman's Art Shoppes) Big Dipper Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNMH9Z8NMFc
Back to top
Skyglider Tidal Wave Bay User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 1102	Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:17 pm    Post subject: · Quote Gunkey Monkey wrote: We're heading into winter number 3 so I can only imagine what shape the ride will be in by next spring. To anyone out there who worked in the park in 2007 (or anyone else who knows) -- what did they do to winterize the Big Dipper in fall of 2007? Even if it moves, it will probably spend another winter in Ohio. Might be time for some additional winterization.
Back to top
All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First

Geauga Lake Today and Forever (GLT) Forums are not affiliated with Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom or Cedar Fair L.P.  If you are looking for whats left of the official Geauga Lake website, click here.