Dodgem work?

I notice there are a fair number of trucks around Dodgem during the daylight hours, lots of tracks in and out of the snow, and a construction trailer parked next to it. Lots of lights on during the night hinting at work being done there. Naturally they do offseason work I'm sure, but is anything special being done this off-season?

I think I've read or heard in the past that Dodgem is enclosed and used as a workshop during the offseason. If that's the case, it could be anything.

They at least used to enclose and heat the picnic facilities for off-season maintenance. I don't remember if that included Dodgem, though it's not a bad place for that. However, they've also purchased an off-point maintenance facility where they have a lot of enclosed space with dedicated climate control. Are they still doing PM on-point?

topthrilldragster4lyf said:

They at least used to enclose and heat the picnic facilities for off-season maintenance. I don't remember if that included Dodgem, though it's not a bad place for that. However, they've also purchased an off-point maintenance facility where they have a lot of enclosed space with dedicated climate control. Are they still doing PM on-point?

From what I see of the Winter Chill-out photos, yes, they still do a good deal of work on-site at CP. Though the raw volume of stuff that has to be worked on or stored would make an off-point workshop logical.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride has a rather large shop as I recall. I always muse at the stuff left laying around there as the train pulls through.

I always notice all the junk in that Mine Ride garage too! They should make that into some sort of haunted mine ride in the fall.

You will be impressed with what the park has in store and getting ready for 2016

Noticed it looked like some of the shelter walls were down and there are a LOT of contractor trucks a industrial dumpster and more foot traffic around the admin trailer.

So are we "sure" there isn't a refresh of something happening at Dodgem? Refreshing the interior lights would be neat. I know Royal Caribbean put self powered bumper cars on their new ship....which I think is silly but they threw everything at the wall with the new class.

TwistedWicker77 said:

You will be impressed with what the park has in store and getting ready for 2016

Seriously, you did it again?

To be fair, in this case he's not trying to make it seem like he has factual information, tease the topic or been dying for months to let us know what he heard.

Who cares what he said? It's up to you if you want to believe the info. Calypso being moved isn't far fetched at all. That's all he really said.

No, Calypso being removed isn't far fetched, at all. And had that been all he'd said, cool. But that's not all he said.

He actually said that he'd known something we didn't and he'd known it for months. He actually said he'd been dying to let us know, implying he'd been prevented from doing so until just then. Sorry, but it's hard for me take anything at face value out of a post like that.

I noticed that the "Dodgem" letters/sign are missing. Also it looks like part of the roof has been removed. Or is the picture just clouded because of the falling snow at CP?

No, I'm pretty sure you're correct.

To be fair a refresh doesn't rate as a "new for 2015" matter, and this could also be little more than simple maintence, albeit a good deal of effort being required for it.

They might be refreshing the metal grid above or even changing out the way the cars draw power to an all-floor design. Maybe cooling lighting and effects. Regardless I'm sure the ride will be better for it and it is nice to see the effort.

Personally given how I enjoy crashing into folks I'm frustrated with, they could change the name to "Catharsis."

And that's interesting/potentially disappointing, as I think that Dodgem sign is one of the most interesting pieces of amusement park art in the park. I was tickled to death when they spruced up the Dodgem building with that marquee and I hope it's not gone for good.

The structure is a bit drab honestly. It provides needed shelter from rain and such. It is family friendly. But it isn't exactly "exciting" looking. I'm sure they are just making it look and run better. The amount of contractor trucks look to be electical from the feel of it. That ride surely is all about electricity so it is fair to guess the work relates to that, be it the metal grid, power transmission, lighting, sound, etc.

I guess I only compare that drab building to what it was before, which was really awful- virtually untouched since 1970.
I, for one, prefer a classic Dodgem experience. If I were to redo the ride I'd reproduce those high front cars and change the course from the open, free-for-all design to the long, one way oval track. And the cars would go fast. Think Knoebel's, who has the best Dodgem on the planet. Old fashioned, I guess, but if you've never ridden a dodgem ride like that you haven't lived.

And while we're on the subject, Super Himalaya could use a touch up, too.

Calypso is getting new floorless cars.

I thought Calypso was sinking into Lake Erie?

No, no. They're rerouting Calypso so it travels UNDER lake Erie.