Is Wood really Good?

From a bottom line standpoint can we ever expect to see another new wood coaster at the Point? Is Wood more cost effective to maintain or is it more costly? If a wood coaster the magnitude of Mean Streak was built today, would it require a larger initial outlay then what it was for the Millenium Force? With today's ecology minded populace would it be wise to construct anything made out of wood?

From the last paragraph you can summize I favor steel over wood. I think it is more cost effective over the long run and also gives a smoother ride. However, if there was ever a woody to be built, I hope it is not to the grandeur of MS.

I'm sure all the pro-wood people after viewing this message will be lining up to flame me, but I don't want another wood in the park.

I also would not like anymore wood in the park when I think about what's there already. Put in steel any day. Faster, quicker to erect and lower cost to maintain in my book.

-------------
You can fool others, but nothing you do is hidden from God.
JESUS rules :) :)

I like both wood and steel but they each give a unique ride experience. I think a nice medium sized GCI would be nice for 2002, but I would also like to see a floorless. Who knows?
-------------
Next CP Trip: 8/10/00
See my Po!nt?
-12E-

I think a park needs a mixture and CP is really lacking in the wood department now. I enjoy all coasters but wooden ones are my favorites. They seem less contrived, evoke more of an air of mystery, they seem to be alive with a personality all their own. Ecological concerns are certainly a consideration when using any natural resource. Don't forget that steel comes from mining, as well as requiring huge amounts of engery to process. I suppose that steel is somewhat renewable if it is recycled. Wood can be harvsted in environmentally friendly and ecological and economicly sustainable ways (not that it necessarily always is) but the chemicals used to pressure treat the lumber can be quite harmful (arsenic). Even treated wood doesn't last forever and eventually has to be replaced. It's difficult to say which substance has the most impact (Kind of like the debate over cloth vs disposable diapers).

*** This post was edited by Joe on 8/4/2000. ***

I like steel better myself too, and I wouldn't want to see a bigger version of Mean Streak, but I do think that there needs to be another wooden coaster. Perhaps something along the lines of Shivering Timbers for great airtime, or how about a recreation of the old CP Cyclone for the boardwalk? A small, classic wooden coaster would be most welcome, and would help to balance out the park.

-------------
***************
Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

I like both steel and wood. If a wooden is built I want a CCI 125 ft. wooden. If they build a steel a Florless or a sit down looper would be nice

-------------
Went Full Force: 2
Kicked The Sky: 5
Stood up to it: 4
Magnum:10, MeanS: 5

I agree CrystalKat, I think they need something like the CP Cyclone or maybe even something like Ghostrider for the boardwalk. Something that has a traditional feel to it and is a more compact coaster. Also if it is on the boardwalk I think it needs to be painted white.

Paint it white? No way. It should look natural. And they plant lots of trees around it. A good woodie should be surrounded by trees.

From an cost perspective, in general steel coasters are more expensive to build, but wood coaster are more expensive to maintain. For example, I think Son Of Beast cost around $15 million (this could be wrong, I couldn’t find a figure on any web sites) and MF around $25 million. But I am sure that the yearly maintenance on SOB is going to be much more then on MF.

Wood does not cost that much to build, but yes, more to maintain. If a park has alot of room to roam, a good CCI wood is around 3 million. I think that was the price tag of Shivering Timbers. However, the Ghostrider expantion cost KBF 25 million, but that included alot of demolition, rebuilding and expantion, not just the coaster. CP does not need a woodie bigger than Mean Streak. CCI's top out at 125 foot, (Shivering Timbers) they all BLOW AWAY the Mean Streak, even the small ones, and anyone who has ridden a CCI would agree with me on that.

The dumbest idea EVER would be to try to break the tallest woodie record. If any park, much less CP, announces they will be making a woodie bigger than SOB, it would be the biggest mistake in amusement park history, IMO.

-------------
Only 2,290½ miles from Cedar Po!nt.

Soggy, I agree with you....I dont understand, why dont CP follow in Kennywoods direction. They should tear it down and put in a good CCI woodie. Who cares about the most coaster count. I think a good wooden coaster would definitely add to CP aresnal.

The only park that can try to break the Woodie record is PKI and they have. They now how to take care of wood. And cp shows they lack in that with MS though BS has been standing for 20 some years

Parrothead, I think it should be painted white if it is on the new boardwalk. Most of the old time coasters were painted white. If they are going for that old time feel and if they re build the CP Cyclone they should have it painted its original color. If they built it anywhere else then I agree it should have the natural look.

Blue Streak debuted in 1964 = 36 years old

What was the original color of Cyclone? It is hard to tell but it looks like natural wood in the pictures I've seen.

I believe SOB was only around 8M, but I could be very very wrong.

Joe, I have never seen an actual color picture of the CP Cyclone. But the color postcard I have seen shows that it was white. Does anyone out there know for sure?

Wood coasters are a LOT less expensive to build when compared to Steel coasters. However, they do take a lot more work and money to maintain. It seems to me that wood coasters that were built by summers/Dinn, GCI, Coasterworks, John Allen and many others seemed to have a higher price tag than most CCI coasters that I know of. CCI does a very good job in building high quality rides, with a very small price tag (anywhere from 2 million to 5 million). A GCI coaster usually has a higher price tag only because they have a more complicated way of arranging bents (due to their track curvature and design). If CP were to ever build another wood coaster, they would be very smart in choosing CCI to build it. Every CCI coaster that I know of gives an outstanding ride and has aged very nicely over the years (thinking of older CCIs such as Raven, Twisted Sisters Timber Terror, and possibly Shivering Timbers). Now my question is this: What is the price difference between Gerstlauer trains and PTC 2 bench trains?

I think it should be painted white if there is a new woodie on the boardwalk too, because that would give the coaster a different character. The big wooden monsters are impressive because they are so massive, and think about it, would you like to paint the Mean Streak? Ouch! But a little one would have a nice classic, elegant feel with a bit 'o color.

-------------
***************
Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

how bout this:
2000= Boardwalk project
2001= CCI WOODIE , Re-Modeling of Mean Streak

also, what makes CCI so good. Are they as rough as Mean Streak?
-------------
CP4ME

I DO NOT want to see a twister! bring the airtime! something like shivering timbers or villain. the only way a twister would be good if it was a crystal beach cyclone clone. i dont see that happening, though.
-Mike
--------
3 Force rides:
3-2, 5-1, 9-2