- October 16th, 2008, 7:20 pm
#25677
^I actually like both those rides, but would probably rate the rapids above the flume. I'll be sad to see another original attraction leave the park. That said, due to the lines, it's been awhile since I've ridden the flume, and I wouldn't be terribly upset IF it's replaced with something good. I have to think they have some good plans for that spot of land, since it's prime park real estate. It's near the front gate and is a fairly large space, that could be made even bigger by moving or going over the nearby picnic shelters and parking lot, and / or using up some of the dead space in Nick Central - especially if they moved Rocket Power.
The odd thing about this is the timing - why remove it after 2008? We know what we're getting for 2009, and it's on the other side of the park. Valleyfair is removing their flume this year as well, with a wave pool going in it's spot for 2009. CF kept Saturator around an extra year until they had they had firm plans for it's replacement, even though it was expensive to operate. While I'm sure the flume costs more than some rides to operate with it's higher staffing requirements, etc., it is still a popular ride, so you'd think it would be better to run it for at least part of the 2009 season like they did FSS. Close it sometime next year and put teasers on the construction fences about the 2010 attraction to generate some hype.
Unless the park surprises us with something interesting for 2009, removing the ride at the end of this season is going to leave a large empty spot at the front of the park, with lots of people wondering why they removed a ride they liked. I suppose they could put in one or more flats, which would be welcomed but not the best use for that space IMHO. Also, this park has been known to switch gears about future attractions quite often, so removing something now for something that may or may not actually show up in 2010 is a bit risky. I'd hate for it to be like PGA losing their train and I think another ride for Hypersonic, which ended up not going there but to PKD instead.
While on the subject of what's now CGA.....they are having issues with getting their 2009 GCI approved by the city due to complaints from a neighboring business over noise concerns. I often wondered if this ride would actually get built with the issues CF has with the place, including the possible SF 49er stadium next door. I imagine CF drew up some contingency plans of putting it elsewhere just in case. Like, say, at Carowinds, where the log flume is.... Just another of my wild-ass speculations, of course.
