Six Flags America (SFA) Discussion Thread

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

It's like the old joke about the zen master:

"Master, they're going to remove Skull Island! That's terrible!"
"We'll see."
"Master they've announced that they're going to build something new there! That's great!"
"We'll see."

And so on . . .

I think this may be more of a "what do you want to pay for?" question for the park: maintaining an old water ride that has serious issues, or putting up something newer and more reliable?

I've had enjoyable and not-so-enjoyable visits at SFA (haven't been there in two years).

We'll see.

The ride was interesting, but once they stopped it from turning around and going backwards, it lost its appeal.

Wow, I actually had no idea they did this. Was this at the same time the ride changed names?

[coasterfreak101Gimme Some Candy!]

^I believe so. It's been a good three or four years since it went backwards. The first and second turntables don't even exist anymore - the car just makes a sharp turn inside the little tower and at the end of the tunnel. The one at the top of the drop still does, just to get you from the lift to the drop. But it gets rid of two extra ride ops and a decent bit of their mechanical problems, so I get why they did it. It just sucks!

[QueerRudieFull Fledged Meat Enthusiast!]

It's like the old joke about the zen master:

"Master, they're going to remove Skull Island! That's terrible!"
"We'll see."
"Master they've announced that they're going to build something new there! That's great!"
"We'll see."

And so on . . .

I think this may be more of a "what do you want to pay for?" question for the park: maintaining an old water ride that has serious issues, or putting up something newer and more reliable?

I've had enjoyable and not-so-enjoyable visits at SFA (haven't been there in two years).

We'll see.

BEST. RESPONSE. EVER.

I'm not a fan of SFA; haven't been a fan of them in quite a while- and while I've had issues with the park in the past, I can say seeing positive signs of changes are a good thing: Zoomazon falls, for example, being renovated and upgraded- the addition of a Thom...er... kiddyland area, etc.

But like Chuck said: We'll see.

I honestly think the park is still in desperate need of major upgrades of attractions: Yes, it's an OK mix of rides- coaster wise, to go from seven to six and not offer an immediate replacement is a bit of a sin, I think. (The same thing could be said for CGA for that matter!) While they were putting in all those infrastructure upgrades (Which, if the 'excuse-o-meter' is correct, have been going on now for nearly six years now) they neglected the park as a whole, adding very few attractions, and not really doing anything to attract newer parks.

Now, let's look at the parks around SFA, since 2001 (The year SFA added their last coaster)
Hersheypark has added three coasters (Including ProjectX/2012's ride,) a whole new waterpark, and numerous other improvements along the way.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Removed a car attraction and replaced it with Griffon, lost a coaster (BBW) but is replacing it with a new one, Verbolten, for 2012
Kings Dominion: Renovated the park, upgraded facilities, added Ricochet, Hypersonic (Since removed), Dominator, The Italian Backlot, and I-305, upgraded the waterpark...

If anything, the park is now feeling the heat- as to go another year without a new attraction of note would be insane to be polite- and downright brainless. When you have blockbuster additions all around you, and you fail to keep up, you're asking for trouble all around- and asking for problems in the future.

I could understand a year or mabye two for infrastructure upgrades. But six is ridiculous, and to say 'well, we're not able to add anything until it's fixed' is bogus. If anything: It's a weak excuse.

The downslide has stopped, the park is looking a bit better- but the ship still needs to be driven back to shore.

[coasterfreak101Gimme Some Candy!]

^That's what I think could really start to happen now. Over the last three years, they've been improving infrastructure, getting things open and running, and building back the reputation they used to have before the Six Flags rebranding. So now they've done that, and it seems to me like they've done a fantastic job. They've got the families coming, the teens coming, everything open, clean sidewalks, fantastic employees, etc. Now could be the best time for them to add something(s) new and actually see a return on their investment. Maybe, for once, investing in SFA will turn out to be a good business decision. But we'll have to wait and see.

[SFA RegularYou can just skip over my posts.]

I am always sad to see something go. My personal feeling is you don't have to remove something to build something, just build it in a different spot. Its not like SFA is really landlocked.
The ride was interesting, but once they stopped it from turning around and going backwards, it lost its appeal.
Its been exactly one decade since SFA added a coaster, as a matter of fact, they have taken one OUT since then... They really need to add something, but I am with the few on here that thinks whatever it is, won't be a "big deal" anyway. That park the last few years has been a ghost town. A month ago on a Saturday my wife and I went and they were running ONE train on the major rides like Superman and we were getting stay on rerides. What does that tell you?
I used to HATE this park, but I have to admit the management there has really tried the last few years. The employees are much better and more friendly than ever before. The last 3 or 4 visits we have had there, I can actually say we had fun.

Danny Biggerstaff
CoAsTeRDaN

I have to agree a lot with this post. They should definitely be adding, rather than removing. My guess is that they have had so many problems with the Skull Mountain is the past, that they just want to remove it. And it's not just losing a ride, it's losing a water ride. Other than the attractions located in Hurricane Harbor, the park will only have Ship Wreck Falls as a water ride. Even though Skull Mountain had it's problems, the park could still market that it had two water rides in the dry side of the park.

As for what they are adding, I'm predicting they will add a variety of small attractions in there. Skull Mountain's course sit's a good amount of space. They could add on more to the family experience.

[CoasterNERD502Does Jeff Johnson count this donkey as a credit?]

^ Other than Hurrican Harbor, SFA has 4 water rides; Penguin's Blizzard River, Renegade Rapids, Shipwreck Falls, and Skull Mountain. Losing 1 water ride isn't that big of a deal if you look at it that way.

What makes this a big deal is that SFA is removing a ride. SFA had PLENTY of room to expand. I don't understand why they would want to remove a ride in order to build one. Maybe they plan on connecting a path from Skull Island to Gotham or Whistlestop Park. If they do not use this as a new passageway, then I have no idea what their purpose was.

My only idea for a new ride in 2012 would be a River Battle style attraction. I'm not getting my hopes up that something big or thrilling will be placed at the park. A River Battle would fit in with the Pirate theme and once you remove Skull Mountain, all that would be left will be a large empty pool that they can easily fill back up with water and build a cheap River Battle.

[coasterfreak101Gimme Some Candy!]

They're removing a ride because it's a mechanical nightmare. Seems clear to me...

[SFA RegularYou can just skip over my posts.]

^ Other than Hurrican Harbor, SFA has 4 water rides; Penguin's Blizzard River, Renegade Rapids, Shipwreck Falls, and Skull Mountain. Losing 1 water ride isn't that big of a deal if you look at it that way.

What makes this a big deal is that SFA is removing a ride. SFA had PLENTY of room to expand. I don't understand why they would want to remove a ride in order to build one. Maybe they plan on connecting a path from Skull Island to Gotham or Whistlestop Park. If they do not use this as a new passageway, then I have no idea what their purpose was.

My only idea for a new ride in 2012 would be a River Battle style attraction. I'm not getting my hopes up that something big or thrilling will be placed at the park. A River Battle would fit in with the Pirate theme and once you remove Skull Mountain, all that would be left will be a large empty pool that they can easily fill back up with water and build a cheap River Battle.

Sorry, I forgot about Penguins Blizzard River. Does't get people as wet at Renegade and Shipwreck Falls, so I miscounted. My mistake. As for a path to connect the three themed sections; that's possible. Unless they wanted it to whip around the turn of Wild One near Skull Mountain and connect it to Whistlestop Park. As for the River Battle ride, that's possible. I doubt they want to pay money to fill in a sunken area. Not really expecting them to build anything major either. If it's going to be a ride, it could easily be plenty of space for a mouse coaster and a few other smaller flats.

Normally, I would bring my imagination up for them to build something thrill related in it's place; but I've disregarded all that with SFA. I have to agree with coasterNERD on this one. It will probably be room for something like Buccaneer battle. It's the easiest thing for them to do.

[redfoot12"Excuse me, miss, may I pound my large rooster into your donkey?"]

^SFA Regular--did you visit the fountain of youth or something? Your age used to be like 27 or 28.

Anyway, I may be getting a season pass but it will only be so I can use it at SFGAdv and SFNE. When I get it processed I may try to get a ride in on Superman and Wild One.
How's SROS running this year?