Big Dipper!

I rode the Sky Cabin at Knott's in February. It's amazing how close you get to Xcelerator in that thing. Unfortunately, Xcelerator was down that day so I didn't get to see it launch from that perspective.

Rip Cord might have been worth buying for the scrap value if they had scrapped it immediately after buying it. But since then the value of scrap steel has dropped from about $500/ton to about $100/ton Depending on where you go and the quality of the steel being scrapped.

The buyer originally got this for $85,000. Do you have to pay sales tax on an auction purchase? I think it's 6.5% over there. That would be another $5,525. They're asking $105,000. They probably have buyers remorse and are just hoping to break even.

Jugga- now I know what you're talking about. I remember that.

^ I can't find it in my Skycoaster manual, but I know the rides are essentially "leased" to the parks, with Skycoaster still retaining ultimate ownership of the ride. I imagine that has something to do with why it's not been sold for scrap.

The big dipper has been rumored to be moved to Cedar point, However the cost would be prohibative. There is really no active plan to move it at this time. I have an uncle who's best friend said that there still may be a chance that a.c.e. would buy some land around the dipper as a amusement park museum with a possible shopping area. The chances get better if the economy starts an upswing. I also have a friend who's 2nd cousin confirmed the possibilities as told by Tom Woosman.

I have a friend of an uncle who eats lunch with the guy that drives garbage trucks who got a tattoo at the place where there is now an accountant's office where a guy once drove past Dick Kinzel's house. It was awesome.

I don't think Skycoasters are leased, but I do believe that a condition of ownership is their operational procedure. Not positive of that. I know a couple of people who are certified trainers, perhaps I can see if they know.

I went to the geauga lake auction. In the order of auction hand-out there is a written stipulation for the sky coaster. it reads " 5% of the ride gross, a minimum of $10,000 per year, must be paid to the skycoaster company. Controllers of the skycoaster must be certified by skycoaster. Location is protected- call Mike at --- --- ---- to make sure your site is available" That should clear up the concerns about the skycoaster.

Being a certified trainer myself, I've always been told that there was some sort of yearly payment required to operate a skycoaster, like ffej man said.

Perhaps leased isn't the right word, but Skycoaster definitely maintains a lot of say in what happens with their rides. More so than any other manufacturer I've ever heard of.

And I believe the percentage paid to Skycoaster varies from site to site, presumably on a contractual basis, as the sample royalty report in the manual leaves the percentage line as a blank space. I know CP pays more than 5% in royalties.

^Unless I'm completely and utterly remembering wrong, Skycoaster makes 15% of the money made by RipCord.