Keyhole Towers

Is anyone else bothered by the gap between the two pieces of each tower? I guess I'll get used to it as time goes by, but prior to the towers going up, I just pictured it like the rendering and that's what I expected. The gap just seems odd looking like it's not finished.

This is already being discussed here:

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Thread/28516.aspx?page=26

I don't like the gap either. But oh well. Like you said I'll eventually get used to them.

I'm with both of you, I don't like the gap either. They don't seem as solid big with the gap.

How do we know they are not going to close the gap?
The towers came in pieces for installation. They can close the gap up. This ride isn't close to being done.

The park has already stated that the gaps will remain. They need to have access to inspect the bolts between the towers.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/blog-article/online-fun/Keyhole-Tower-Con...ion-Update

I thought the same thing at first, then went to the park to drop a friend off at that works at Breakers and actually kind of enjoy the look after seeing it in person.

I'm definitely not complaining about the gap in the keyhole towers, but why/how would leaving a gap make them "able to inspect the ride"? What specific purpose does it serve? Are they going to install ladder rungs in the gap or something? And what exactly needs to be inspected-- there are no brakes/lift hill mechanisms in the barrel roll portion of the coaster (where it goes through the keyholes).

Again, I'm not unhappy about the gap, I just don't understand what the feature is for (specifically).

They need to inspect where the two tower sections connect. I used to not like the gaps in the tower, but after seeing it with track going threw it, I think it looks cool and when your flying through the keyholes you'll never notice them.

I think the gaps make them look more like keyholes...

Miss_Maverick07 said:
I think the gaps make them look more like keyholes...

Yes, since keyholes should have gaps in them. -__-

What the hell is a keyhole anyway other than what would traditionally come to mind as in the spot in a doorknob where you stick a key, because I know these "keyholes" certainly do not look like that.

! said:
I'm definitely not complaining about the gap in the keyhole towers, but why/how would leaving a gap make them "able to inspect the ride"?

There are two flanges in the gap below the opening that hold the two halves together. The bolts holding those together will need to be inspected at least every season. They could cover the upper gap, but that would ruin the symmetry of the tower. I think having the gap run all the way through works.

The gap allows the connection to flex much more than ,if it was connected at the top, thus not transmitig the sideways load nearly as much into the concrete connection . And if I were to guess the opposing fork provides dampening to the transient load as i have stated in previous posts. The gap is a engineered part of the functional design, not just ascetics. IMHO .

Am I the only one who thinks they look better with the gaps?

No, it's been a growing consensus that they look fine and or better with them. :P

Across all the forums, I've seen mixed opinions. In the end everybody came to the same consensus, who cares :)

I'm in the who cares boat on this one. I just hope they put the "top" on the towers. I think there where bolt holes on the top for the little "roof."

The gap just seems odd looking like it's not finished.

And thus, the gaps are representative of Cedar Point. Like the wind that blows through them, always changing. Always familiar, yet new, like the dew.

Oh wait....am I over analyzing?

;)