As we expect after a crazy accident, SFKK Superman: Tower of Power might be removed. Screamscape even talked about it; 8/1/07

After the investigation it could end up modified, repaired? Could it reopen at another SF park? The accident was very unfortunate and substantial but we've seen Lightnin' Loops removed and relocated after an accident at SFGADV in the late 80's leading into the 90's were it was outdated and Batman the Ride took its place. The tower might have life somewhere else or not and perhaps be scrapped. We'll see.

Though SF is more leaning towards family friendly SFGADV needs a new tower. I prefer the more new larger capacity Intamin Roto Drop tower but I am being open to the realities of SF saving money, trying to do the right thing at the same time, reuse inventory if possible like in the case of Astroworld.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

I also agree, that SFGadv needs a drop tower, but with the park the size of it is and the crowds it can get, that capacity ride just would not work.

__________________

Chiller, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was Shock Wave that replaced lightning loops at SFGAdv and then after the couple of years stint, Batman: The Ride replaced that. I don't forsee SFKK removing Hellevator (still love the old name), but I do think there will be modifications added or better safety precautions. They may end up replacing the cables sooner than what Intamin calls for, just to be safe. SFGAdv does need a more modern drop tower, but like Medieval said, it is a very popular park and a drop ride has a low capacity. I would like to see one at my homepark though. Just don't know if SFGAdv will see much of a pay off in adding one.

I think it's a good move for the park to get rid of it.

__________________

Shockwave was behind the current Guest Relations, where the Skycoaster currently sits. Lightning Loops was removed in 1992, and B:TR opened in '93

__________________

Not new to coasters but new here. Sorry if it sounds dumb but I'm tryin to learn the new lingo. Does SFGADV stand for SF Great America or someplace else? Thanks!

IMO, removing this ride is just a sad excuse for not having to maintain it. I don't think they needed to remove it but I guess thats what officials felt was right.

Hey BatmanWannabe. Welcome to TN. SFGAdv stands for Six Flags Great Adventure. Great America would be SFGAm.

I do not think this tower will be moved to GAdv. If Gadv were to get a tower, it would have to be an Intamin Drop tower or a multi-tower like Cedar Points.

__________________

^I thought this was an intamin drop tower. Or did you mean a newer generation?

__________________
"Hey Mark!"

I see SFI scrapping this ride rather than relocating it to another SF park so don't get your hopes up about it going to SFGRADV.

The accident was such a tragedy....a tragedy that could've quite possibly have been prevented & SFI simply doesn't want the stigma that's now attatched to this particular ride in any of their parks.Heck it wouldn't suprise me one bit if SFI will make plans in the future to remove the other giant drop rides at SFA,<theirs needs to go> SFGRAM & SFSTL in the wake of this accident.

Why on earth would they remove the other towers? Six Flags has had plenty of more serious accidents on roller coasters and they still haven't taken them out of their parks.

__________________

^^^I mean the newer generation towers like Drop Zone and Acrophobia.

__________________

It would great to have a 3rd gen drop tower at SFGadv...

__________________

Of course I'm all for a Generation 3 preferrably. A Generation 2 I hardly see run a SFA, which is only intermediate in size compared to what SFGADV draws. Getting a Generation 2 at SFGADV would not be the most optimal, not what I purely desire, but I could understand if one ended up there. It's like how I feel about Steel Venom ending up at Dorney: Lackluster, not raising the bar. SFGADV gets enough people to not deserve a Gen 2.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Well Its a lot easier to take out a flat ride than It is to take out a roller coaster. Come on now...

Plus, why the hell would they take It out of SFKK and then give it to SFGADV? That makes no since and I can't see that happening. If they were to close It and remove it, I'd say It would go to scraps.

Probably they'd leave the tower pieces lying around like Astroneedle but the price for metals is good right now.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

^^Well, obviously, that would be a contributing factor, but the accident at Kentucky Kingdom was an isolated maintanance issue. The other towers have gotten meticulous inspections. I don't know about the others, but Giant Drop at GAm is one of the more popular rides at the park. Guests like it, it has never had a problem before, and it's been inspected, so a similar accident will almost definitely not occur.

__________________

Forget the removal and relocation.

SFGrAdv needs an S & S Drop tower like Power Tower at CP.

Couldnt they sell it. It has to be worth more then scrap.

__________________
Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

I think the ride should go to The Great Escape, because the park could use a drop tower.

unn....sorry to disappoint you all, but Superman is staying at SFKK. there will be changes made to the ride no doubt, probably frequent replacment of the cables or sensors that monitor the cables like i heard that they did with S:TOP at SFSTL, but the ride is staying.

The chances of the ride STAYING in the park is news to me. The last I read on said the ride was "for sure" leaving the park, and would be replaced with a fountain of some sort.

By the way. What exactly are the three generations of drop towers?

I'm guessing 1st Generations are those like Freefall at Magic Mountain and Demon Drop at CP. Second Generation being like Hellevator/S:TOP @ KK and the third being like Drop Zone at Kings Island etc. am I right or?

__________________
Vedran

Six Flags Magic Mountain
Summer '08!

Did you read that on screamscape by chance? That is just a rumor probably made up buy somebody who heard that it might from so and so and decided to send it in as legit info. I think that the sight even says that it is a rumor as well but i can see how that can get overlooked.

I've never read anywhere that it was "for sure" leaving. The only thing I heard was that it wouldn't reopen this season.

__________________

For the most part, don't believe what you hear on Screamscape; it's just rumors.


I would be very surprised if SFKK removed Superman. Personally, I think the best move is to rename it Hellevator and repaint it. Some people will forget then, just like back in the day on RCT.


There have been worse accidents (i.e. actual deaths) on Six Flags' and other park chains' rides that have not merited removal, so I don't see why this would be cause for removal. A guy fell out of SRoS at SFNE and died, a kid fell out of Drop Zone at PGA and died, several people have been struck in the head and killed by riders on inverted coasters, and several people have died from preexisting conditions.


The ride will stay. It might not open again this year, but it will stay. As for SFGAdv, the best ride for them would be a 3rd gen tower like Drop Zone at PKD that has pretty good capacity. Plus, they have a decent history with Intamin and none with S&S, so the Intamin tower is more likely. That said, they are focusing on families, so that probably won't happen.


Quoted for truth.

__________________

If Kennywood and SFA can handle a 2nd Gen Drop Tower, so can SFGADV.

I would be very surprised if Six Flags pulled the ride out of the park.

They don't rip out coasters or other flats when there is an accident on them.

__________________

Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Sorry for the bump, but this rides seems as good as gone. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom has removed this ride from their website, which could possibly mean it's out.

Last year I witnessed Stuntman's Freefall be removed from Six Flags Great Adventure's website in late September, it was gone for this season.

I don't expect to see that ride running at SFKK again..

__________________

Aha! Another Screamscape rumor correct!

__________________
Vedran

Six Flags Magic Mountain
Summer '08!

I thought that the park stated in several news reports after the accident that the ride will not reopen and that it would be removed from the park after all the investigations have been completed.

We shall have to see in the off season on this one.

__________________

Johnny Upsidedown's Roller Coaster Website
www.Johnnyupsidedown.com
Stop by and take a look at lots of coaster photos, construction and trip reports.