S&S Factory Tour

Johnny Upsidedown · #1 07-30-2005, 09:33 PM

WOW
I was able to attend a Factory Tour of the S&S Power Facilities and to visit the new S&S Amusement Park.

Summer time brings ACE's Preservation Conference as around 100 members gathered for a full day of fun. First up was a factory tour at the S&S Power Inc. facilaties. Arrival time and check in was at 10:30 am and the event began at 11 am. S&S Power makers of the popular Space Shot and Turbo Drop tower rides and various other types of amusement park rides and roller coasters opened there doors and allowed full access to there facilities. We were divided into smaller groups with some of the S&S engineers providing the tours. We started our tour heading outside to a large storage area were rides and equipment are being finalized for shipment. There were alot of parts from one of the Screamin Squirl rides and several sets of supports for one of S&S's Screamin Swings along with a shot tower. Along our walk to one of the buildings were various ride and car parts from many of the older Arrow roller coaster. In the first building we entered they were working on the cars for one of the new Screamin Squirl rides. In other buildings we were shown some of the testing equipment and other assembly equipment used. Several of the buildings contain large quantities of pre-manufactured ride parts from electrical, structural and mechanical parts. Lunch was served around 1 pm as S&S provided sloppy joes and vegetable plates. Stan Checkets owner of S&S Power was on hand for a brief welcome and introduction. S&S also provided free Tshirts as a special gift. Next we were invited to go to S&S's new amusement park which is currently under construction. They had a Screamin Swing ride in operation and one of Stan's new rides known as the Boomer (not official ride name). A ride in which you are dropped from a 360 foot tower into a tube which stops the falling car by air trapped in the tube. The wild part of the ride is the noise it makes when the car enters the tube as the air explodes from the ride creating a large sonic boom. Also at the new park is an Insane ride, a gocart track and some putt putt golf course. Over all S&S really rolled out the red carpet for ACE and everybody had a fantastic time at the S&S facilities. Many thanks to ACE and to S&S Power for opening the doors to there facilities for a fantastic day.

I have posted 54 photos from the Factory Tour and the Amusement Park. Photos can be seen at www.Johnnyupsidedown.com or quick link to my S&S events page at http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/eventSIL.html
Furthur below in this tread is a link to view a video of the ride in reply number 5.
Enjoy!!!

xbadx1233 · #2 07-30-2005, 10:07 PM

HOLY CRAP!!! the boomer looks insane. did they tell you anything about if any park will be recieving one of those?

RaptorXLC · #3 07-30-2005, 10:10 PM

That's awesome, I'm extremely envious right now. That must have been awesome, and from the sounds of it you had a great time. That boomer ride looks. . . unfinished. Looks pretty wild.

Dan G · #4 07-30-2005, 10:16 PM

Wow, let's hope the first Boomer to go to parks is a little more park friendly so to speak. Doesn't look like it can handle crowds at parks, unless it was just an upcharge attraction. Maybe they'll come up with bigger designs seeing how this is the first.

Johnny Upsidedown · #5 07-30-2005, 10:18 PM

The boomer was said to be an idea of Stans for 15 years. I think this is the proto type only time will tell if some get sold I think somebody will buy. Anyway in a few months you can go to Utah and ride it yourself as the park should open in a couple months maybe sooner.. The ride and other rides are being finished up. We were the first people to ride the drop ride. I was not one of the lucky 15 or so that got to ride the drop ride as spots were choosen by drawing as time was limited. Look at pages 3 and 4 of my trip report photos as those are photos of the new park just under construction and of the drop ride..