[Jonathan]

But given the idea...maybe this could be a launch coaster up a 300' tower. 65mph may just do the trick to get the train up and over the tower.

Storm Runner launches at 72 MPH to barely make it over a 150 foot tall tower. Top Thrill Dragster launches at 120 MPH to barely make it over a 400 foot tall tower.

I really feel the 65 mph is a mistake.

This is what my money is on.

Skyrush has a train with a 'wing' design (and that's the term they used when announcing it). Perhaps they are doing a 300' Intamin with Skyrush trains...

That would be a best case scenario as far as I'm concerned. Skyrush is so awesome, but a bit short.

[jsz1002]

Here's something to think about:

Skyrush has a train with a 'wing' design (and that's the term they used when announcing it). Perhaps they are doing a 300' Intamin with Skyrush trains...

I really feel the 65 mph is a mistake.

Just something to think about...

I hope you're right! That would be incredible!

[redrunner97]

They showed pictures at the meeting too, and one was of GateKeeper and the key-hole new enterance, to show how the new gate would potentially look. And they used the word "wing" enough that I'm pretty sure that's what they are planning. (or at least were planning, as of June).

I do think the speed was incorrect. The man seemed to be speaking on behalf of Cedar Fair at the closed meeting, which the transcripts-of are part of the public domain now and IS (seemingly) legitimate. He didn't seem too familliar with coaster terminology, but he did seem to understand what he was told by Cedar Fair enough that he is credible to me.

He wouldn't have specifically shown a Wind Rider and the Enterance to Cedar Point referenceing their Coaster Gatekeeper, if that wasn't the coaster he was shown and told about by Cedar Fair. And this info wouldn't have changed so suddenly into a plain giga over the course of two or three months, they've probably been planning this since at least 2012. And you can't tell the city that you want money to build something then turn around and make something else, its just not legally possible. It has to be what they agreed to pay incentives for, nothing else. I think this is shaping up to be pretty bizarre, but it does seem like this is what's Probably going down. I think a few details, such as speed, may have been improvised or incorrect, but I think the most likely option at this point is a Wing-Giga, its the biggest lead we have right now.

[LemondsHead]

Honestly I woudnt want a wing giga because the drop would be really short

[Jwrickner]

Honestly I woudnt want a wing giga because the drop would be really short

[LemondsHead]

it would put to much stress on the wings if it was big!

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Well that article was a great find and very interesting. I still think it will hold true to be a Wing coaster, and I guess that "article" shows it once again. Still anything is possible I guess. The whole height thing just makes me wonder what they base it off of, remember the big discussions on Afterburn and its height and it changed from like 115ft to 144ft and all that? There really isn't any elevation change in the terrain where the proposed layout will be so not really sure. I still think a 300ft tall wing is plausible. B&M knows what they are doing and they can make it happen. One way or another, this was another great find and I hope it does hold true... my $$$$ is still 100% that the coaster is DEFINITELY a B&M but the wing thing is still up in the air I guess, but I am not more convinced than the previous articles, just because this one mentioned it more. Still odd about the speed, but who cares. I will take a wing coaster, or any coaster for that matter, any day of the week.

[coasterfreak]

I really wonder if Cedar Fair told the city two completely different things, the first with true information that isn't to be publicly published, than another, ridiculous story to go into public record so we wouldn't know what the coaster is really going to be like and to keep us speculating, but enough information to satisfy the GP people that closely follow politics. I don't know if they could legally do that, but I just can't get that thought out of my mind.

[bobbyfoster]

Storm Runner launches at 72 MPH to barely make it over a 150 foot tall tower. Top Thrill Dragster launches at 120 MPH to barely make it over a 400 foot tall tower.

Jonathan you have a good point. But what I'm thinking is that the coaster would launch at 65 mph and stay at the same speed (fiction type tires rotating at 65 mphs, not sure what they really are called) but to keep the train moving up the tower about 2/3 of the way up.

I really wonder if Cedar Fair told the city two completely different things, the first with true information that isn't to be publicly published, than another, ridiculous story to go into public record so we wouldn't know what the coaster is really going to be like and to keep us speculating, but enough information to satisfy the GP people that closely follow politics. I don't know if they could legally do that, but I just can't get that thought out of my mind.

Something just doesn't sound right to me either. Cause again I think everyone is kind of agreeing a Giga wing coaster will a big drop would but a lot of stress on the wings. I really am starting to think this is maybe parts of this is indeed to throw us a loop. I mean, Cedar Fairs is kind of known for doing that. To make us really wonder.

[redrunner97]

Well that article was a great find and very interesting. I still think it will hold true to be a Wing coaster, and I guess that "article" shows it once again. Still anything is possible I guess. The whole height thing just makes me wonder what they base it off of, remember the big discussions on Afterburn and its height and it changed from like 115ft to 144ft and all that? There really isn't any elevation change in the terrain where the proposed layout will be so not really sure. I still think a 300ft tall wing is plausible. B&M knows what they are doing and they can make it happen. One way or another, this was another great find and I hope it does hold true... my $$$$ is still 100% that the coaster is DEFINITELY a B&M but the wing thing is still up in the air I guess, but I am not more convinced than the previous articles, just because this one mentioned it more. Still odd about the speed, but who cares. I will take a wing coaster, or any coaster for that matter, any day of the week.

To be fair, although I agree with what you're saying, this info isn't from an article. Its from what seems to be official transcripts taken by the City of Charlotte/Meck. County offices.

I really wonder if Cedar Fair told the city two completely different things, the first with true information that isn't to be publicly published, than another, ridiculous story to go into public record so we wouldn't know what the coaster is really going to be like and to keep us speculating, but enough information to satisfy the GP people that closely follow politics. I don't know if they could legally do that, but I just can't get that thought out of my mind.

I think that'd be a huge waste of time for the board. They'd be pretty upset if that were the case, and you don't want to make people who will be partially funding your project mad at you. Cedar Fair wouldn't have done that.

But let's remember a middle man did the talking, not CF. He easilly couldve gotten a couple smaller details, such as speed, wrong.

[Jonathan]

Jonathan you have a good point. But what I'm thinking is that the coaster would launch at 65 mph and stay at the same speed (fiction type tires rotating at 65 mphs, not sure what they really are called) but to keep the train moving up the tower about 2/3 of the way up.

There is nothing like that in existence and no reason for there to be given the other technologies available. And even if there was, that still begs the question, what happens on the other side of the hill? Descending from 300 feet still gets you well above 65 MPH no matter how you got up there.

[coasterbruh]

Let me catch up (and try soooo hard to ignore the stench of the Hippo...)

Cedar Fair is looking to establish a large park to push to the 2.5-3 million annual guest range somewhere in the southeast and their target expansions are going to either be Carowinds or Kings Dominion. If they were to select Carowinds as their large southeast park, the first phase would consist of $43.5MM of investment. The first $30MM of that would be in a new 300 foot tall rollercoaster.

So this was from june...I guess its safe to say carowinds won the straw pulling?

This map gives you a sense of where the facility would be. The yellow line is the state line between North Carolina and South Carolina and this would be the new rollercoaster feature here. The water slide and the food facilities would be here, some of it extending over into South Carolina. This white building right here is their current front gate and ticketing. This is what would be reconfigured and expanded out towards here.

So...the map we are seeing is just a GENERAL idea of where the coaster would be. Not an area that is set in stone...

Councilmember Andy Dulin said excuse me sir, that white building is the Amphitheater. The state line goes through the front gate.

That right there shows me this guy may not have all his fact straight...

Mr. Zeiler said that 300 feet for a rollercoaster is not a record. Rollercoasters are pushing 470-
490 feet at this point.

Case in point...

There are only two or three major rollercoaster manufacturers globally.

What he should have said was "that I know of"

Highly unlikely. Plus, B and M will never make a launched coaster.

I find your fact sayings rather challengeable. I remember once upon a time it was said that B&M will never make a coaster over 230ft, then came silver star. Then it was also said B&M will never make a coaster over 300ft then came leviathan. So before you make such claims really think to yourself if its possible...it CAN be done...just a matter of time WHEN it will be done...

This won't be lauched. If it was then they wouldn't have said they wanted a Launched Coaster at C3, when they would've already had one. And the layout is too long (seemingly) for a launched coaster.

I don't know if you know but technically they can still say "we want a launch coaster in the future" knowing good and well the ink has dried on a contract for a launched coaster. Its called not giving it all away.

I feel like I've actually contributed to this site. What do you think Lemonhead? 3

Hitler contributed to history...see the relevance?

Highly unlikely. Plus, B and M will never make a launched coaster.

http://rcdb.com/557.htm

But...B&M did not create the launch. So technically they still have not made a launched coaster...

That makes my point. Documented records as opposed to blue gums. All of you are welcome. Just need someone to say kingHippo is the real. Who's it gonna be?

You're real alright...

They showed pictures at the meeting too, and one was of GateKeeper and the key-hole new enterance, to show how the new gate would potentially look. And they used the word "wing" enough that I'm pretty sure that's what they are planning. (or at least were planning, as of June).

He wouldn't have specifically shown a Wind Rider and the Enterance to Cedar Point referenceing their Coaster Gatekeeper, if that wasn't the coaster he was shown and told about by Cedar Fair. And this info wouldn't have changed so suddenly into a plain giga over the course of two or three months, they've probably been planning this since at least 2012. And you can't tell the city that you want money to build something then turn around and make something else, its just not legally possible. It has to be what they agreed to pay incentives for, nothing else. I think this is shaping up to be pretty bizarre, but it does seem like this is what's Probably going down. I think a few details, such as speed, may have been improvised or incorrect, but I think the most likely option at this point is a Wing-Giga, its the biggest lead we have right now.

I personally this guy was interested in just getting the funds and wanted to show the next newness. He mention Giga coasters and this would be the 5th one. I think this guy wanted to show and discuss the bare minimum and use as much generic info as possible. The guy picked the wingrider, in my opinion, because its the coolest looking coaster out there right now. Will carowinds gate look like cedar point? Probably not but the park wouldn't be under some contract to make it look exactly like what the guy showed.

I really wonder if Cedar Fair told the city two completely different things, the first with true information that isn't to be publicly published, than another, ridiculous story to go into public record so we wouldn't know what the coaster is really going to be like and to keep us speculating, but enough information to satisfy the GP people that closely follow politics. I don't know if they could legally do that, but I just can't get that thought out of my mind.

BINGO! Why would they wanna give out ALL their info publically? I think what was given was just enough to generically get the point across. Didn't need to go into the specifics of everything just give a general idea of what the ride could be. Im sure cedar fair already had the ride finalized and like some of the council people said...this isn't asking for permission, this is asking for help...meaning carowinds will do the expansions with or without the council.

[chknwing]

the only way everything fits the way it was said in the meeting is if the coaster stays 120 feet off the ground for the first loop, basically at the height of carolina cobra, then it can act as a normal wing coaster after that. 300 foot lift hill, this should take the coaster well over the paladium and possibly staying 120 feet over the new gate entrance.

[coasterbruh]

Im wiling to bet the bank the "stats" given in the meeting are not correct. Im not trying to be mean but why would anyone on this site even entertain that notion knowing intimidator is 70 ft taller and goes much faster than 65mph. Im sure the council members can care less how fast it goes and for how long. If anyone read the entire article they have more of a "what's in it for me" attitude...

[Capler]

I read the transcript and it seem to me that the presentation was done in an attempt to preserve the actual identity of the planned coaster. They used Gatekeeper as the 'like' coaster but had to give a height in order to win over skeptical members of the board. If you will recall, height became a focal point of the presentation in emphasizing it would bring people into the park. I really feel they were trying hard not to give too much away. To the untrained eye, the winged coaster is what would be assumed. I'm surprised some on this board have fallen for the Wing coaster bait, and are now running half cocked. This is exactly what they wanted you to do until the company makes an official announcement.
Look at all the facts and then draw to a conclusion. The undeniable evidence is Leviathan, with it's height, and Wonderland. According to the presentation, and the importance of height as it relates to Intimidator and the relationship to increasing attendance, there is no evidence to suggest that this will be a Winged coaster. Yes the speed of a winged coaster was mentioned, but that was either a mistake, was misleading, or perhaps mentioned specific to Gatekeeper in the context of the presentation. But if some of you want to keep hanging on to that speed, then have fun. And no, they did not have to reveal their actual hand to the council. The only thing they are concerned about is 30 million invested on the NC side of the park. A B&M giga will be unique to the US, and be only one of 3 gigas in the US. Dollywood has a Winged coaster right across the boarder, which would take some of the novelty away from a Carowinds version. Unless of course the Carowinds version is the mystical 300 foot variety.