Will Wild Adventures Ever get that Signature Rollercoaster?

[I-10east]

In 2007 I was excited that Herschend Family Entertainment ( www.hfecorp.com ) took on the responsibility of owning Wild Adventures. Herschend already had two great parks in Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN) and Silver Dollar City (Branson, MO).  Fast forward eight years later, and the only rollercoaster added to Wild Adv is a relocated (from the defunct Celebration City in Branson, MO) gloried carnival coaster named 'Viking Voyage'.

Wild Adv only has one custom coaster in the wooden coaster 'Cheetah' built in 2000 and the rest of the coasters are all relocated coasters (like Twisted Typhoon FKA Hangman) or clones like 'Boomerang'. Dollywood and  Silver Dollar City are constantly adding new coasters (2012 'Wild Eagle' in Dollywood; 2013 'Outlaw Run' in Silver Dollar City; 2014 'Firechaser Express' in Dollywood; All of Dollywood's and SDC's coasters are custom, and I'm aware that those parks have a longer history than Wild Adv. My question is when is Wild Adv gonna get that non-cookie cutter, non-relocated, custom thrilling centerpiece coaster? 

Wild Adventures  http://rcdb.com/4703.htm

Silver Dollar City http://rcdb.com/4579.htm

Dollywood http://rcdb.com/4593.htm

[coredumped]

Not sure. I know they add a ride each year. Since they got bought they added a whole water park so it's not as if they're standing still.
It's a great Park and an amazing value, especially vs going to see the rat.

[I-10east]

^^^You're right that Wild Adv value is great, and they have been adequately adding flatrides and waterslides to the park. Unfortunately so has virtually every other park out there, even smaller parks. Look at Holiday World in Indiana, smaller than Wild Adv with a world class waterpark, arguably the best wooden coaster collection on the planet (not to mention adding a brand new wing coaster named Thunderbird this year) and it's adequately adding new flatrides often. 

Waterparks are very popular and great for families, so it's very commonplace for theme parks to constantly add on attractions to their waterparks. There are alot of people like me who are 'dry park' people, and are looking mainly for the coasters; The waterpark is a whole new planet that many people like myself have no interest in visiting (like I said, still they are very popular). I've ridden 239 coasters in the US, so I'm very keen concerning the quality of coasters; Lets bring down Wild Adv's coasters:
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Twisted Typhoon: A very typical cheaper made cookie cutter suspended inverting coaster (nicknamed a Hang N Bang) made by the company Vekoma. That type is often known for giving a rough ride (which it does)

Boomerang: An unbearably rough VERY commonplace facsimile shuttle also made by Vekoma. Some of these inverting shuttles are smoother than others, but unfortunately this one is brutally rough.

Cheetah: The only custom coaster in the park. It's a CCI wooden coaster, that's a tad rough but not too bad. It's pretty fun.

Swamp Thing: Again Vekoma, ugh! they call this one a 'Hang N Bang Jr'. It's an okay ride that's more of a family coaster.

Go Bananas!: A commonplace rough (lateral G's) wild mouse made by Maurer AG.

Viking Voyage: A carnival-esque coaster that's basically a fill in for Herschend to say "Hey, we got you guys a 'new' coaster!" The coaster is just okay, but it's a weird fit for Wild Adv with it's wild mouse-like style (and Go Bananas! already there).

Ant Farm Express: A good Vekoma junior coaster (Vekoma is good with kiddie coasters, with very FEW exceptions on the adult coaster side).





 

[I-10east]

Another coaster in the lineup of Dollywood; Lightning Rod for 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFXbryGHMuw. Herschend Family Entertainment's lack of bringing a NEW (not used) coaster to Wild Adventures is starting to get comical, and it's painfully obvious. Even a freaking very small boardwalk park on the Jersey Shore (Playland's Castaway Cove) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hetb9wXsKUk is even getting a very thrilling unique coaster that's most likely better than all of the coasters in Wild Adv.

[Ocklawaha]

Now do us all a favor and disassemble the whole park and move it to I-95/295 South! Cha Ching!

[I-10east]

NO!!! NO!!! NOOOOO!!!! Dinos for 2016, sigh...While Dollywood, Wild Adventure's sister park is adding a very exciting attraction for 2016, the first ever launched wooden coaster named 'Lightning Rod' http://rcdb.com/13369.htm Wild Adv is adding Dinos, yuppie!!!! SMDH... This dino concept already FAILED at Cedar Fair parks; Guests lost interest in them. Hey, maybe Wild Adv think it's 2012 all over again!!! I'm now convinced that Wild Adv isn't a Herschend park, it can't be with these decisions...

http://www.wildadventures.com/PlanYourVisit/Newfor2016/tabid/834/Default.aspx?icid=Dinosaurs%20Announcement%20R
http://www.screamscape.com/html/wild_adventures.htm

[chipwich]

Herschend is a well run company.  They are not going to pump good money into a bad product.  Wild Adventures just doesn't have good prospects of being a sucessful park.  The park is 3 hrs from Atlanta, 2 hours from Jax, and 2 hours from Tallahassee. For a run-of the mill amustment park, it is not hard for people along I-75 (Macon and north) to just go to Six Flags.  Most people in FL are within a 2-3 hour drive to Orlando for the best parks in the world.

The current concept as a zoo/amusement park has a tough time drawing Florida residents given Busch Gardens is within a day's drive and provides a world-class zoo with a great selection of coasters and Animal Kingdom is on the verge of a $500 million Avatar themed expansion.

From what I've heard from friends who have visited Wild Adventures: 1) Good- It's cheap and not too bad of a drive 2) the experience is also cheap and not worth the drive.

The cost of a new custom B&M coaster is about $15 million and the cost of a rock Rocky Mountain Wooden coaster can cross $20 million, The economics of this park just don't warrant the investment.  Perhaps starting fresh and relocating the park South of the GA border directly  along I-75 or I-10 would help a great deal. 

Florida really needs a Cedar Point class coaster park, but no way I see Wild Adventures transforming into that any time soon.

[coredumped]

NO!!! NO!!! NOOOOO!!!! Dinos for 2016, sigh...While Dollywood, Wild Adventure's sister park is adding a very exciting attraction for 2016, the first ever launched wooden coaster named 'Lightning Rod' http://rcdb.com/13369.htm Wild Adv is adding Dinos, yuppie!!!! SMDH... This dino concept already FAILED at Cedar Fair parks; Guests lost interest in them. Hey, maybe Wild Adv think it's 2012 all over again!!! I'm now convinced that Wild Adv isn't a Herschend park, it can't be with these decisions...

http://www.wildadventures.com/PlanYourVisit/Newfor2016/tabid/834/Default.aspx?icid=Dinosaurs%20Announcement%20R
http://www.screamscape.com/html/wild_adventures.htm

From that 2nd link you sent:
"(12/16/15) I'm told that Wild Adventures may be planning something BIG for 2016 and will make their announcement all about it sometime today. Could they be ready for a new coaster? Stay tuned for the big announcement."

So maybe a new coaster?

I don't think WA is cheap, I think it's got great rides, is a great value and beats the pants off of going to Orlando & re-financing your house to go see the rat.
Maybe I'm turning in to a grumpy old man though...

[Adam White]

NO!!! NO!!! NOOOOO!!!! Dinos for 2016, sigh...While Dollywood, Wild Adventure's sister park is adding a very exciting attraction for 2016, the first ever launched wooden coaster named 'Lightning Rod' http://rcdb.com/13369.htm Wild Adv is adding Dinos, yuppie!!!! SMDH... This dino concept already FAILED at Cedar Fair parks; Guests lost interest in them. Hey, maybe Wild Adv think it's 2012 all over again!!! I'm now convinced that Wild Adv isn't a Herschend park, it can't be with these decisions...

http://www.wildadventures.com/PlanYourVisit/Newfor2016/tabid/834/Default.aspx?icid=Dinosaurs%20Announcement%20R
http://www.screamscape.com/html/wild_adventures.htm

From that 2nd link you sent:
"(12/16/15) I'm told that Wild Adventures may be planning something BIG for 2016 and will make their announcement all about it sometime today. Could they be ready for a new coaster? Stay tuned for the big announcement."

So maybe a new coaster?

I don't think WA is cheap, I think it's got great rides, is a great value and beats the pants off of going to Orlando & re-financing your house to go see the rat.
Maybe I'm turning in to a grumpy old man though...

I've never been - but was always curious. Is there enough there for a decent day out (and to justify the drive)?

[coredumped]

Adam, I think so. If you go in the summer admission includes the price of the water park (be sure to check their calendar though).
For the little ones they have a very small zoo.
For teens and up they have some decent roller coasters. And the raptor looks lame but it's actually super fun.
Dining there is sub part, even for an amusement park, but Valdosta is right outside the gate, so we usually hit it up on our way out of town, or even Lake City.

[I-10east]

Sorry, that I'm late.

From that 2nd link you sent:
"(12/16/15) I'm told that Wild Adventures may be planning something BIG for 2016 and will make their announcement all about it sometime today. Could they be ready for a new coaster? Stay tuned for the big announcement."

^^That news (12/16/15) is outdated rumor mill news. That news that I'm referring to with the Dinos (posted 12/17/15) is currently up to date.

(12/17/15) Wild Adventures made their announcement about their BIG new attraction... and unfortunately it was more of a bust. Instead of a new ride, the park will add a new land filled with giant Dinosaur figures... much like Cedar Fair was doing several years ago by adding various "Dinosaur's Alive" exhibits to several of their parks. The bad news for Cedar Fair was that after the first year or two, the public lost interest in these Dinosaur exhibits and now they sit while only a small trickle of traffic wanders through.
    The good news for Wild Adventures is that their new Dinosaurs exhibit is only going to be at the park for the 2016 season, and admission is actually included with 2016 Season Passes as well.

[I-10east]

I've never been - but was always curious. Is there enough there for a decent day out (and to justify the drive)?

I say no, esp if you're/your family are going for the dry park (opposed to the water park). I won't go until they add a decent thrilling coaster. The coasters Boomerang & Twisted Typhoon IMO have passed their service life and they should be retired; They are extremely rough. Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure used to very good, then it quickly got very rough due to the nonstop operating season since '99; They removed and scrapped the track this year to replace it in the future.

[I-10east]

Herschend is a well run company.  They are not going to pump good money into a bad product.  Wild Adventures just doesn't have good prospects of being a sucessful park.  The park is 3 hrs from Atlanta, 2 hours from Jax, and 2 hours from Tallahassee. For a run-of the mill amustment park, it is not hard for people along I-75 (Macon and north) to just go to Six Flags.  Most people in FL are within a 2-3 hour drive to Orlando for the best parks in the world.

The current concept as a zoo/amusement park has a tough time drawing Florida residents given Busch Gardens is within a day's drive and provides a world-class zoo with a great selection of coasters and Animal Kingdom is on the verge of a $500 million Avatar themed expansion.

From what I've heard from friends who have visited Wild Adventures: 1) Good- It's cheap and not too bad of a drive 2) the experience is also cheap and not worth the drive.

The cost of a new custom B&M coaster is about $15 million and the cost of a rock Rocky Mountain Wooden coaster can cross $20 million, The economics of this park just don't warrant the investment.  Perhaps starting fresh and relocating the park South of the GA border directly  along I-75 or I-10 would help a great deal. 

Florida really needs a Cedar Point class coaster park, but no way I see Wild Adventures transforming into that any time soon.

Being extremely apathetic concerning adding decent coasters certainly isn't helping Herschend to bring those guests to Wild Adv either. I don't necessarily think that a park being near a metro or being within regional 'competition' that's 3 or more hours away are big factors. Look at Holiday World, it's in the armpit of America (Santa Claus, IN) and some hours drive from certain parks, but it has added great coasters and a great water park relatively recently, and it's doing fine.

Cedar Point coaster class parks are very rare and hard to come by; At this point, even a 'Valleyfair class coaster park' would be a huge improvement, concerning adding new patrons to Wild Adv. The way I see it, Herschend could atleast try to add one just one thrilling coaster there (maybe a Gerstlauer Eurofighter for 9-10 mil) or they can just close the dry park selling off rides and rename the place "Wild Water Adventures" with a water park only. That first option to me would make more sense. 

[Adam White]

Adam, I think so. If you go in the summer admission includes the price of the water park (be sure to check their calendar though).
For the little ones they have a very small zoo.
For teens and up they have some decent roller coasters. And the raptor looks lame but it's actually super fun.
Dining there is sub part, even for an amusement park, but Valdosta is right outside the gate, so we usually hit it up on our way out of town, or even Lake City.

Thanks for the info. I-10 mentioned it wouldn't be worth it without the water park and I think I'd want to do that if possible. Might be something to consider for next summer.

[Adam White]

I've never been - but was always curious. Is there enough there for a decent day out (and to justify the drive)?

I say no, esp if you're/your family are going for the dry park (opposed to the water park). I won't go until they add a decent thrilling coaster. The coasters Boomerang & Twisted Typhoon IMO have passed their service life and they should be retired; They are extremely rough. Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure used to very good, then it quickly got very rough due to the nonstop operating season since '99; They removed and scrapped the track this year to replace it in the future.

Thanks I-10. Are you saying they got rid of the Hulk at Islands of Adventure? That ride was great! I hadn't been to that park until January 2011. I don't know why it took me so long. But I loved the Hulk. I was hoping to get to ride it again someday. Will probably go back for the Harry Potter stuff anyway.