Knott’s Berry Farm will get Demon Drop next season.
The ride, which opened at Cedar Point in 1983, will open Memorial Day weekend. Demon Drop will have the same name, paint scheme and theme. Cedar Point put the ride for sale in 2005 but did not find a buyer.
Demon Drop is an Intamin first-generation drop tower. It is 131 feet tall and features vehicles with four-across seating. Riders fall vertically and curve to level out on their backs.
Demon Drop will replace Screamin’ Swing, an upcharge S&S swing ride.
Nearby Six Flags Magic Mountain dismantled its Intamin first-generation drop tower, Freefall, in 2008.
For more, visit the Los Angeles Times travel blog.
Tags: Cedar Fair, cedar point, Demon Drop, Knott's Berry Farm
I think this is a great idea, I love 1st Generation Intamin Drop Towers and was sad to see Freefall at MM go.
These rides provide so much more air than any S&S tower, especially Supreme Scream.
Believe it or not, this may actually get me into Knotts, as I've had no desire to visit the park (nor Haunt) for the past 3 years.
Boo!! I disagree with this move. Cedar Point had better put a kickass ride in its place for 2011 instead of more money-grabbing arcade games.
because if they dont put a kick as& ride in the park will automatically suck right?
By the way...the above photograph is undoctored.
The only article I was able to find was this one...
toledoblade.com --
In 2006, Cedar Fair disclosed individual park statistics stating that Cedar Point properties pulled in $210 million in 2005. On the other end, Knott's Berry Farm had revenue of $186 million the same year. Unfortunately, the figures include out-of-park revenue from both park's hotel properties and waterparks. So the article doesn't give us a definite answer.
Will it still break your back at the end? That was my favorite part.
^^^I'm sorry, I STILL don't understand one point you're trying to make nor how what you're saying relates to how moving this ride to Knotts will backfire?
I've been a local for life, and its still difficult for me to see it from your perspective...
They're putting an old ride they couldn't sell in place of an up charge attraction that's never made money. It'll bring some life to that part of the park, and it won't require major demolition or change. The ambiance of the original Knott's is gone forever, so making that point is pretty mute, its been that way the second they decided to install Silver Bullet. I'm stoked I'll have one of these in my backyard, and anyone who wants to complain about the roughness, I'll take that to feel some real free fall over an S&S tower any day.
For pity's sake...and now CP is planning to hold some sort of contest to be the last riders on Demon Drop.
^They hold contests for those who want to be first riders, so why not?
And now we're made aware that the Screamin' Swing is destined for Great America. Odd choice since it's very likely that that amusement park is slated to be the next Geauga Lake conversion.
California’s Great America to add swing ride, re-theme kids area for 2010 - Travel - LATimes.com
Didn't Robin Innes say nothing is slated to go into that area right now?
From what I remember, and by looking at Google maps, it seems like a GCI wouldn't fit, and if they found some way to squeeze it in, it would really crowd up the front of the park.
I don't consider Demon Drop/Freefalls a normal kind of flat. And plus the ride is so nostalgic with old school park goers, that I think a "last rides" contest is in order. Of course Magic Mountain didn't do one for theirs, maybe they knew something we didn't...
I do find it humorous that the prominent fan-site forums dedicated to CP & KI have lengthy threads lamenting over the transplant of Demon Drop. There didn't seem nearly as much disgruntlement over the loss of White Water Landing making way for the Maverick installation. Not to mention the worries that this might be the start of the "ride rotation" that Jeff Gramke, manager of facilities, engineering & construction at KI, spoke of. Needless to state but Cedar Fair LP isn't making many friends west of the Rockies.
According to the recent article above, "Innes is unsure what will replace the thrill ride, but said the land near the park entrance might be used for redevelopment. He said the park has moved rides in the past to make room for roller coasters." So...make of it what you will.
The only plausible way I could see a GCI at the front of the park would be to build the station at the former Demon Drop site. Knock out only a couple rows of parking and build the lift in it's place. Demolish DT and put most of the roller coaster layout in it's place. You would have to design the coaster to still allow access to vehicles into the park via the employee entrance and also build above the new storage area for the MMIC floats.
^ If done correctly a good coaster can take up little room other than wasted space around other attractions. Or if there is room outside the park (Some unused area of the parking lot) you can build under the parking lot walkways or landscaping. I don't know if this is possible at CP though due to the water table.
^I think everyone on here pretty much understands that if they want to fit a coaster anywhere they can...but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't ruin the aesthetics of the park, which is something Cedar Point tends to avoid with their rides.
Look at Silver Bullet at Knott's...yeah, they fit it over pretty much everything that was previously in the park...but at what cost? There's this big ugly red and yellow track everywhere and not only does it shrink the size of the park (meaning it practically takes up 1/4 of the parks space), it basically sticks out like a sore thumb no matter where you look at it from.
Plopping a coaster, a wood coaster nonetheless, would ruin the main plaza that is generally open space and allows guests to walk a bit down the midway and enjoy the scenery before they're surrounded by coasters. Cedar Fair might suck at installing rides at Knotts, but they've always seemed to be particularly careful where they place them at Cedar Point.
Wish S&S towers everywhere in CA i can see why CF thought this to be a good move. It also says a lot that they trust the maintenance crew to be able to handle an older ride. I would imagine though the rid would be rehabbed to be less maintenance heavy.
the move of the swings to CGA seems to make less sense. maybe they figure f the park is down sized such an up-charge attraction can stay.
How about that for inspiration?
http://database.thrillnetwork.com/dbgallery/photo_view.php/6857/knotts_berry_farm/demon_drop5843.htm
I hope they do send it to the rumored alternate site: Michigan Adventures.
from what I've heard corporate is a little ticked that the news leaked about Demon Drop and it is now heading to Dorney Park.
T+T stated it was going to California, so the leak was probably premeditated...