Boardwalk....

You know, I can't believe CP didn't think of this one sooner. I mean, looking at the park map, the attractions in that area of the park are basically giant road blocks keeping people from the beach. Who's idea was it to put an indoor coaster on the beach? The best part of the Great White ont he boardwalk in NJ, is that it's got a great view of the ocean! Oceana is ok, but it is definately an obstruction to the view of the lake from the midway!
I'm looking forward to seeing the aquarium taken down. That way, we'll have more of a view of the lake from the midway!

If Jeff is right...This area of the park is going to be awsome once they turn it into the boardwalk. I hope they use genuine boards too!

Sorry I sound like I'm complaining..it is just an observation that came to me...

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Millennium Force...taking thrills to new heights!

Building the indoor coaster in that area of the park was not the original idea. Remember that Disaster Transport opened as the outdoor Avalanche Run. That ride looked really cool on the beach, but they later decided to enclose it for whatever reason. Yes, it does block the view of the lake, but that was certainly not the original intention.

I think that putting the giant wheel in this area is a definate step in the right direction. I hate ferris wheels, but I think that the view and breeze in this new location will be awsome.

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OOOOOH! (The sound of people going up MF's first hill.)
AHHHHHH! (The sound of people going down.)

Waterfront development, yes, but don't get your hopes up about actual wooded walkways.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"

NATAS.......I believe they enclosed Avalanche run because it was to slow and predictable. So inclosing the ride will make it seem faster. Why? Well the turns can't be seen so you don't know how to anticipate the turns. This was a problem of having it in the open as people could see the curves and lean! I for one like DT! I just don't like the way the props look due to lack of maintanace(SP)!!!!!
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"Jesus will never let you go"
WHIPLASH-by BeanBag *** This post was edited by newt on 4/19/2000. ***

I was made aware of a theory by a certain reliable person that part of the reason DT is enclosed is because Avalanche Run had problems with water and sand fouling up the "troughs"

In response to Jeff's comment...

CONCRETE: Virtually maintenance free, just hose it down or sweep it off when it becomes dirty. Can handle heavy loads (i.e. trucks) with no trouble at all. Can be constructed with attractive tints and patterns. Can be constructed with a slip-resistant surface. Can be constructed almost perfectly flat.

ASPHALT: Requires periodic application of sealants, but not a lot of maintenance. Tends to get excessively hot under summer sun. Can loosen or get sticky when excessively hot. Will sink and crack under extremely heavy loads. Any color you want so long as you want black. Surface almost perfectly flat until it cracks. Surface somewhat slip resistant, but can be slippery when wet. Shorter service life than concrete, but also much cheaper than concrete.

WOOD: Requires constant attention to fasteners and decking condition. Requires regular application of weatherproofing sealants. Requires periodic replacement of broken, warped, rotten, or damaged boards. Cannot easily handle extremely heavy loads. Cannot be laid in a smooth surface...deck may include trip hazards. Not slip resistant when wet. More expensive than concrete.

PLASTIC BOARDS:
Also requires attention to decking condition and fasteners. Cannot easily handle heavy loads. Deck may include trip hazards, but manufactured decking is more uniform than lumber. Can be given an anti-skid surface, but generally slippery when wet. Depending on manufacturer, generally about the same as, slightly more, or slightly less than wood planking. Molded in color does not usually look like wood.

That's all right off the top of my head, and I am sure there are advantages and disadvantages of each that I missed. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that concrete is really the most logical choice from a maintenance and durability standpoint.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Ride Man, you are amazing! You cut to the chase every time.
It's been about a decade since I was at Coney Island, NY...they had wooden boards as part of their boardwalk. I agree with everything about tripping hazards, etc., but from a purist's standpoint, I would love the authentic wood. For the sake of the lawyers, CP would need to have warning signs every 3 and 1/2 feet, though, about tripping/slipping! Maybe add rolling chairs, as in the old days.
Would the wood be pressure treated? Does p-t wood need constant maintenance?

you forgot brick, I don't know the advatages and disadvantages of it but it seems to last longer than asphalt and concrete, as far a a road material, but I doubt it hadicap accesibility for pedestrain surfaces. Asthetically wood planks would be my choice. I do not beleive pt lumber needs constant attention but it might need occasional replacement. I wonder if there is a way to minimize the slipperyness(word?) on lumber, perhaps spraying it with some adhesive and than with sand, trying to also avoid those ugly black traction strips. I was in a factory once where they used wood bricks for the flooring, they were layed down like brickes but they were in fact wood, cut short vertically too have the size of a brick. Raises interesting questions as to whether actual buildings can be constructed of wood brick.
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"Meesa okee day"- Jar Jar Binks
Does that mean lotsa people scona die?"-Jar Jar Binks

Ah brick... the scholars at Ashland University (my alam mater) thought it made the campus look pretty, and it does. However, the wood blocks that border the brick make great channels for water, and your average thunderstorm requires canoe to cross the quad. It's terribly prone to deforming and creating tripping hazards as well. When I was a lad we still had a lot of brick streets in my Cleveland neighborhood, and I blew out my share of bicycle tires.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"

On the wood maintenance issue...

The main problem isn't protecting it from the elements; the main problem is making sure that the boards are in good shape, the fasteners are not pulling out, and the surface isn't full of splinters.

As for brick...
It's worth noting that Cedar Point has been using some brick, but generally as accents for the concrete, and generally as mortared bricks (as opposed to the sand-set bricks often seen used for pathways). I think the bottom line is that concrete is the long-term cheapest midway material that isn't asphalt.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I also believe much of upper Frontier trail on the outskirts of F Town is cemented in the "molded brick". (don't know the actual name for this process) These days ,like you had started to expound on, Dave, one can do many things with cement. This includes any choice of colors and also topical patterns and textures.
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-Dave Kochman
Pittsburgh

I just thought they could at least make the material look like wood...for the asthetic point of view. Also, there is genuine wooden boards on the porches of many of the buildings in Frontier Town, so they must keep that maintained pretty well.
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MF...taking thrills to new heights!

Yeah you can do alot with cement, but it is always still cement, it is hard to fool people. There is no substitute for the real thing

Dave, you may be thinking about "pattern stamping" which they did (at the very least) on the lagoon bridge in front of the Cedar Creek Mine Ride.

Personally, I find it humorous that surrounding Coasters, they tinted the concrete dark gray to try to make it look more like an asphalt parking lot. When Geauga Lake wanted to make a themed area to look like a city street, they just did the midway in asphalt, complete with curbs...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

"It looks like hand-laid brick or stone, but it isn't..." -Script from an old spot used in one of our college television auctions for a driveway.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"

The area by Ocean Motion is brick. It is in very bad shape. Trees have pushed up on it and made it look terrible.

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Millennium Force will be the next to sink!

Concrete is the surface I like the best, its smooth, doesnt get too hot in the summer sun, keeps for a long time. (also the best for rollerblading) But you just can't beat actual wood for a boardwalk. I want wood, but I'll take whatever they dish out (beggers cant be choosers).

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"Got a green light, got a green light...but your going nowhere" Filter-The Best Things

Clay would be great. If you ever played basketball or tennis on a clay court, you would never want to be on anything else. It's great on your legs and back. It wouldn't be cheap though.

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~~Steven~~

Lake Erie has alot of clay in it, this sounds dumb (and probably wouldnt work...lol) but, since some people say the swiming area need to be deeper (I've never been in it so I dont know), maybe they could take some clay from the lake (I dont think there would be enough in that little area though) and use it for a walkway.

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"Got a green light, got a green light...but your going nowhere" Filter-The Best Things