Blue Streak's 50th and Raptor's 20th Anniversary

Two rides are reaching a milestone anniversary in 2014. Think the park will do anything cool for the occasion? Like any special offers, merchandise, contests or anything?

Tony in that live tweet Q&A thing or whatever it was said they were working out details, nothing announced yet but I'm sure they'll do something

Truthfully, no I don't see them doing anything cool for Raptor, but possibly Blue Streak. Like hopefully moving the entrance to make it more visible to guests.

I could see them having a 20th anniversary t-shirt or something. I mean, they print like 50 different shirts every year anyway.

And also, it's Magnum's 25th Anniversary. Forgot about that one. I was thinking though for Blue Streak and Raptor they could do something cool since they are in the same area.

I was hoping next year would be the year that the area around Blue Streak and Raptor would be updated and refreshed, but since that's not happening I have a new idea. What if the park has a special anniversary event in the late summer with a special announcement?

It would take place next to Blue Streak, and there would be a large screen and podium set up (sort of like Banshee's announcement). There would be several speeches how the park is proud of not only honoring the 20th anniversary of the popular Raptor, but also a great milestone as the classic Blue Streak turns 50. There could be videos and a presentation on the screen about these rides. Following this, the park would surprise the guests at the event by announcing that next year, 2015, would be the start of a major 2 year park expansion and renovation to this area of the park. The presentation then goes on to explain in detail what will happen, and the screen will show animations and renderings.

For 2015, the area around Blue Streak will be revamped with a fountain, pavers, and the coaster's entrance will be moved to a more noticeable and logical location. A new dark ride will open in the old Pirate Ride building. It is also announced that Turnpike Cars will be removed to make room for a new wild mouse coaster. Also, Cedars dorms would be demolished and Perimeter Road would be rerouted to prepare for phase 2 of the project.

For the 2nd part of the expansion, a new midway would be built, starting where Calypso currently sits and would empty into Celebration Plaza. Calypso would be relocated elsewhere along this new midway. Then the park announces it will build a new major roller coaster. It will be where Cedars used to be, and it is why Perimeter Rd. had to be rerouted.

I would love for this to happen, but I realize it's just a dream. It would be cool to combine a park expasnion with an anniversary event. Plus the expansion and improvements would be made in the area where the celebrated rides are located.

BlueStreak's entrance used to be in a more noticable location, smack dab in front. So long as they keep loading through the back I don't think there is anywhere else to really put it. Some signage making it more obvious can't hurt, though.

I think it would be cool if they had a party where you could win your way in and Cake Boss made them a roller coaster cake that actually functioned.

I can't think that merely changing the queue-start location will increase BS's ridership. People don't not ride it because they don't realize it's there.

Also, there's no way in hell they won't do something special to acknowledge its 50th. Now, whether this means something simple and cheap like signage or special ride-op shirts, or more extravagant, generous things like random buttons, pins, hats or shirts for the masses, we'll have to wait and see. If I were CP, I'd commission K'nex to make a limited edition, motorized BS and give one out to a random rider once a day the entire season.

Scottyf said:
I can't think that merely changing the queue-start location will increase BS's ridership. People don't not ride it because they don't realize it's there.

I wouldn't say its ridership is that low. I think some people looking for nostalgia still ride it. I don't think BS will go anywhere until it's no longer feasible to maintain it. But it is kind of hidden since you need to go under Raptor to get to it. Since both of those rides reach a milestone in 2014, I think they should do something cool in that area of the park to draw some attention to those rides. I would've thought that area would be in the 2014 plans. But hopefully in 2015, they demolish Cedars, realign Perimiter Rd. and expand the Blue Streak midway to go out to near the CP&LE station. That would help people get to the exit quicker at night since it would allow you to bypass the crowded Luminosity area if you are coming from Frontier Town.

I'm betting on next years coin having Blue Streak on it.

Also, can we stop using the abbreviation BS, I know what is trying to be said but I still don't think that that is the best option to abbreviate with.

Yes, it's not the best abbreviation. But I usually know what's being said by the context of the post.

I never said its ridership is low. But, I will admit that that area is probably the deadest corner of the park now. With only Calypso and the Turnpike Cars, that's a long way to walk for most people for little return. I do not hold this opinion, because I consider BS one of the best rides in the park.

Anyway, it wouldn't hurt to have a kickass sign off the midway reminding people about BS over there, but the real thing to do would be to put in more rides over there. As much as I love Boo Hill (and as silly as that sounds, I really do), that's a big building that could be used for an awesome ride, maybe even a dark one, you know, maybe even something like, say, Pirate themed.

I've actually read a comment once on a BlueStreak POV that someone was at the park and never rode it because they didn't think it was "worth walking way over there for". My two points 1.They don't know what they're missing. 2. How lazy can you get? Gee, I came here to ride coasters and there's a coaster over there but I don't want to walk that far...

^Ha! That's a short walk compared to walking all the way back to Maverick. But as I said in a previous post, I think the Blue Streak midway should be extended to over by CP&LE station by Millenium Force. Then that midway could be used as a bypass to Luminosity at night when that area is very crowded and maybe more people would be like "Lets get a ride on Blue Streak before we leave" as it would be on the way out if you took that way.

My kids love the Blue Streak area along with Calypso and Turnpike Cars so we always visit it. Unfortunately, it is a dead spot. We love it because it's not that busy most times but that always makes me worried for its rides. I do think it's because it is hidden too much and out of the way. I think it's somewhat confusing with Raptor, too, I still get confused where the heck is Raptor's entrance when I'm not coming from the front- oh, that's Blue Streak (or vice versa).

A really cool idea for a coaster would be to tie it in with Luminosity. The old dorms are right next to luminosity and they could add lights underneath the coaster to light it up and have speakers for it to become part of the show for luminosity. Check out this video of what Heide Park did with their wing coaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5ERe1mXFVw

Something similar could be done if there was to be a coaster built in the old dorm area.

How about they just make the Blue Streak trains like they were in 1994?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That would make me so happy. I wish my kids could experience it that way.

It's also Magnum's 25th and Mine Ride's 4th.