The Los Angeles Times reports that BY May 2008 at the latest, Six Flags Magic Mountain will have removed the following attractions, including four flat-rides and one roller coaster:

- Freefall (Intamin Freefall / Flatride)
* (Last operational day is 12/09/2007 -- get your last rides in!)

- Flashback (Intamin Space Diver / Roller Coaster)

- Spin Out (Chance Rotor / Flatride)

- Sierra Twist (Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve / Flatride)

- Granny Gran Prix (Guided-car / Flatride)
* (To be replaced with the new Thomas Town area)

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=1002

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And at the IAAPA event this year, the new X2 vehicles were on display. They are not anything like the Eejanaika vehicles. They are a completely redesigned "from the ground up" rolling stock. The new trains are a complete change in design and functionality from the current vehicles.

X vehicles (2002 - 2007)

X2 vehicles

I still don't quite understand how removing rides and not replacing them with new rides improves attendance. You mentioned one of the rides to be replaced with a "Thomas Town" area, but this isn't worth the sacrafice of multiple attractions. I really enjoyed Freefall and was hoping to be able to ride Flashback in the future. As far as X2, the trains look nice but I doubt I'll be able to make it to Valencia next year.

-TedFuzz

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You can see all the pounds shed on that new X2 train. That's quite a bit of lipo it got for LA I see.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Rookie Year CHILLERLC1
Philadelphia Phillies - the 2008 World Champions!!!
Me and my crumbs of playoff hopes.

I understand why they are removing the rides they are- most are all, difficult to impossible to keep running, not popular, etc. but to not replace them with something?

As if there already wasn't much to do at SFMM outside of the coasters, since there weren't many flats, now there will be even less to do.

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Have you read my number 1 best seller? There will be a test! ~God
Life with God is one thrill ride you'll never want to get off of.
My park & coaster photos: Sir Willow's Smugmug pictures

Sir Willow, Bayern Curve and Rotor were never open anyway so there will be an equal amount of things to do in the park.

Also, has anyone ridden Bayern Curve. I always wanted to ride that, but it was always closed. Has it been open this year? It looks really fun.

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"Back to the 602; It's a 105 in the shade and I'm sippin' on a lemonade. Phoenix, Arizona puts the heat up on ya; I should warn ya the girls is fine as California." - Sir Mix Alot

LOL They quoted Screamscape. LOL!

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Sierra Twist and Spin Out were open consistently since 2006.

However, during Kieran Burke's reign, those two rides were hardly ever open.

What makes you think these rides won't be replaced with something new next season? If they are a drain on the park's operating budget, taking them out sooner opens up more funds to focus on things THIS season --- as well as time to plan out their replacements in the future.

Don't know why everyone expects an immediate replacement for every removal.

I wouldn't expect anything new, they are already revamping X2 and adding the Thomas section. What more do people want?

My park is getting a second wave pool.

You could be getting that peeps.

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Actually both have been operating quite well. Bayern Curve, Better known as Sierra Twist has operated every time I've been there (first time way July 1, 2006). It's an alright ride, for the kids, but honestly not that fun. I do however feel bad that two old original rides are leaving. Even thought this IS Six Flags Magic Mountain, who should have up to date rides, we're seeing the removal of three unique flats this year + extra stuff. I really don't see why they're removing circus wheel as it just came back from a rehab this/last year and it looked great.

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Vedran

Six Flags Magic Mountain
Summer '08!

Thing is they are going to downside further. There was talks of removing the side walkway by Deja Vu and shutting down that entire area of the park. So SFMM will be smaller. Same size, land wise, it was back in 1980 from what I heard. These rides can be operated Chance will still make parks for the rotor. But the removal of opeerating rides shouldn't be done until they have replacements for them.

Thing is your likely to see moves like this at nearly all the SFI parks.

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Michael C - Speedzone Editor

I can verify that Sierra Twist and Spin Out also operated on a consistent basis from at least 2002, as we used to ride them consistently every time we visited the park, which was several times a year when we lived in the area. Thanks for others for confirming that didn't change after we left.

Wes, what more do people want? Umm, how about something to do beside ride coasters or kiddie rides? There wasn't exactly much in the park besides that before, now there will be even less. I won't even start on the "X doesn't need bling, when the rest of the park sucks" argument again.

And Chris, I know you're being very optimistic about what they might add in 2 years (they've already announced next season- X2 and Thomas). And they've already shown how much they're not willing to invest in the rest of the park. heck, why do you think that the chain as a whole is removing far more rides than they're replacing instead of choosing to fix some of them up a bit. You've been cheerleading for these new owners for 2 years now, and they still haven't shown any sign of delivering what they've promised, but are sure doing consistent with what us "naysayers" were saying they would do.

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Have you read my number 1 best seller? There will be a test! ~God
Life with God is one thrill ride you'll never want to get off of.
My park & coaster photos: Sir Willow's Smugmug pictures

I visited the park two times in the past 5 years. Once in 2002 and once in 2006. Both times I visited Bayern Curve and Spin out were shut down and appeared less-than-maintained. My claim was based on person judgement. It's dissappointing though because I just thought they didn't care about those rides. Now I know that I just visited on the wrong days. Oh well.

In other news, a Dippin' Dots store opened up in Gilbert, AZ! I'm heading there this afternoon.

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"Back to the 602; It's a 105 in the shade and I'm sippin' on a lemonade. Phoenix, Arizona puts the heat up on ya; I should warn ya the girls is fine as California." - Sir Mix Alot