Demon Drop 1983-2009

Hey guys check out this old Demon Drop footage. It's got to be from '84 because isn't that the original site of the Wildcat in the background before it was moved to make way for Avalanche Run? And it looks like it's running before the blocking was changed after The Edge Freefall accident in '84.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efH63wgA-gk

Its sad to see it go but with new freefall rides like power tower it is simply out of date. Glad i got to ride it twice on my last halloweekends visit this year.

That's definitely the original blocking.

That looks like it was shot by the park. I guess that answers my question as to whether POV footage exists.

Blocking would have something to do with it going up so fast right? It looks like it's faster...and they also didn't leave you laying on your back for as long as they have in more recent years...

Blocking is just the same as on a coaster. The ride is divided into blocks, one vehicle per block, etc.

What changed on the Freefalls has to do with when a car can move into the bottom of the elevator shaft. I think that originally the 'next' car could move into the shaft as soon as the car ahead got out of the way (since it couldn't be lifted until the dog on the chains came around again). After the change, the "next" car could not enter the shaft until the car ahead had moved out at the top.

(note...that's approximate. I never studied freefall blocking rules.)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That sounds about right to me.

RideMan said:
I never studied freefall blocking rules.

I'm so disappointed in you Dave. ;)

Man I love the hair on the people! The sad part is my hair was like that! That was great footage! I will miss Demon Drop! I am going to California next summer to visit family! I will get the chance to ride it in its new home! I can't wait!

Break the sound barrier said:
Its sad to see it go but with new freefall rides like power tower it is simply out of date.

Except that Power Tower isn't a freefall ride. You are being pulled downward. That's why I always liked Demon Drop better and wished someone would build a Power Tower sized Demon Drop.

S&S's towers aren't freefall, but there are plenty of other tower rides that are freefall. You pull some decent g's at the bottom of demon drop. I can't imagine if it were twice the height or higher.

On a side note. It seems to me that the down-shot on Power Tower is better this year than is has been in a long time. It seems like there is more of a shot than there used to be.

That would be a magnificent ride.

Drop Zone/Drop Tower at Kings Island is a good example of what Jason is talking about. There aren't many rides that truly terrify me anymore, but that's one of them.

Knotts is open everyday but Christmas Day. Sounds like the MX department at Knotts is in for a beating.

This is sad to me. Although I live in LA now and I'll probably have more opportunity to ride Demon Drop now than I have in the last 10 years, it won't be the same. I was at CP in Oct and I made myself (and my friends) ride Demon Drop because I had a feeling it might get away before I came back. I knew it was for sale but I thought they'd at least keep it going through 2010. Glad I rode it now. Unlike most of the other rides at CP, this ride is exactly the way it was the first time I was able to ride many years ago. Even the view (a parking lot mind you) looks just the way it does burned in my head from the first scary ride.

Hey, something popped up in my mind...speaking of Demon Drop, didn't someone on here say a while back that he/she was stuck at the top of Demon Drop once, and he/she was riding alone, but there were a bunch of squeely annoying teen girls in the car also. He/she said they were stuck for a while, and actually LIKED IT......forgot the rest, but it was a funny story anyway......

I mentioned that before one time. It was back in 2008. I was riding bymyself with a Mother and a daughter. The 3 of us had made it all theway to the top and the car stopped. It must have been a half hourbefore they decided they couldn't do anything with the car. So theyevacuated us down the stair well and all 3 of us were given ride exitpasses. The mother and daughter declined because they were leaving, sothey gave those to me. So I ended up riding Millennium Force, TopThrill Dragster, and Maverick. :)

I would like to know and see some pictures of how many parts of the Demon Drop they have taking out. I see on the DRAG WEBCAM that the DEMON DROP is still sitting there.

Work continues. The tower is still up.

http://rollercoasterfreak.com/1258134149242.jpg

Jason

That's a dead link.

I didn't realize those links died so fast. I put a more permanent link up.

Looks like some of the old pictures in the Photoshop topic. Way back in the day...