Does Frontiertown need to be updated?

The only problem with CCMR is it needs new cars with individual lap bars. It's still a fun little ride and great beginner coaster for small kids!

Shoot The Rapids is an Intamin Hyper Flume and it's interesting that this is what Intamin thinks of it from their website:

"Intamin’s water rides are generally acknowledged as the highest quality in the industry, these technological improvements will ensure that this ever-popular ride continues to be so through the 21st Century with rides and operators alike.​"

So, Shoot The Rapids obviously won't be removed in the 21st century!

It may not be removed, but I foresee a major rebuild of it in the future

One could hope, not so sure about that "highest quality" claim.

Outside of the layout not being the greatest, I really do not have any problem with MS. As long as you sit in the front the ride is actually more tolerable than other wooden coasters. It would be great if we could keep it as a wooden coaster, there aren't many left in the park if it goes. i.e. BS and well, nothing else that's truly wooden.

Pete said:

Shoot The Rapids is an Intamin Hyper Flume and it's interesting that this is what Intamin thinks of it from their website:

"Intamin’s water rides are generally acknowledged as the highest quality in the industry, these technological improvements will ensure that this ever-popular ride continues to be so through the 21st Century with rides and operators alike.​"

So, Shoot The Rapids obviously won't be removed in the 21st century!

I assume that Intamin listed Holiday World as a reference as to the high quality of their water rides?

LOL, one of the pictures IS of the now defunct Holiday World ride's elevator lift. See here.

I will never understand supporters of MS. Sure, you can find a smooth seat, but what does it matter if there is no drop, no airtime, low g forces. Why does it matter if it is a wooden coaster if the coaster takes up an enormous amount of space, can't run as designed, rarely has a line, and gets generally terrible reviews? The only reason it is still around is because of the budget.

It's also one of the most beautiful looking rides in the world. I'm afraid of RMC making it look "incomplete" like their other projects. It needs a reprofile and structural reinforcement, not to be changed completely.

Despite the harsh critics of MS and the conversion of its Texas Giant counterpart, why do most people assume it will receive the RMC treatment?

Does anyone *assume* that or simply want to see it?

Frankly I'd say it's "would like to see". Ghostrider at Knotts is going down for a major rework this winter. It's not been announced who is doing the work yet but it appears that it won't be RMC. It may be a precursor of things to come for MS.

cpfourlife1 said:

Why does it matter if it is a wooden coaster if the coaster takes up an enormous amount of space, can't run as designed, rarely has a line, and gets generally terrible reviews?

An enormous amount of space, yes, in an out of the way area of the park; whether it has a line or not doesn't matter so much as long as it's meeting the numbers Cedar Fair has set for the ride; I've spent many an hour debating the finer points of this or that coaster, but enthusiast reviews aren't likely much of a consideration for the company.

As long as the ride isn't a significant drain of the park's resources and Cedar Fair has no alternative use for the land, I'd guess the ride will stay.

If I were the King Of The Park, I'd raze it and repurpose the land by consolidating back-office operations -- design, commissary, HR, laundry and so on -- there, opening up space better situated in the park for guest facing operations.

Didn't perimeter road used to run through the area Mean Streak was built on? The ride was consciously put in an area where land use wasn't a concern.

I don't think so. To the best of my recollection, which is of course suspect since I'm one million and three years old, the path of Perimeter Road hasn't changed.

I'm with CPMaverick. I do believe that pre-Mean Streak, Perimeter Rd. used to be a touch closer to train tracks. The last curve before the turn into Camper Village/Lighthouse Point/Soak City/Sandcastle Suites seems to be sharper than I recall from my younger years. Again, maybe we are just recalling incorrectly, but that is the thought that is in my head.

The perimeter fence was definitely relocated. Hard to tell for Perimeter Road:

The road looks like it was closer on the left side here:

Sure, mean streak is a pretty coaster, but do we go to amusement parks just to gawk at the rides?

Depends on who you are. If something looks awful, I am going to have a predetermined opinion on how good it is.

The trail used to have a feel like Sauder Village with costumed craftspeople in every building. Once in Frontiertown there was an isolated feel and you could watch the Western Cruise boats make their turn around the sunken wreck and smell the coal smoke from the train. CCMR commanded long lines as one of the few available coasters. The shootin' gallery was a popular attraction.

Now I think first of better-than-ever Maverick, soak-you-to-the-bone water rides, the stone bridge, obnoxious 3-point basketball, the exceptional Skyhawk, whether I want to chance a Mean Streak headache, and overpriced Chick-Fil-A. The trail is blighted with a few moss-covered empty derelicts and many snack stands.

Lots of improvements were made so far but at a loss of charm and character. How could it be improved?

Paddlewheel? Not enough room in the lagoons anymore.

Live show with horses or a stagecoach ride? Unlikely; too many issues with animal group protesters and liability.

Appropriately-themed dark ride? Sure!

A live lumberjack show with log-rolling and other competitions? Another good possibility; there's an excellent one in Wisconsin Dells that they could copy. Just replace the chainsaws with big ole two-person saws to keep it frontier-authentic.