Mantis Future

White water landing closed the fall of 2005 so Maverick construction could begin. Demo and construction started that fall and was ongoing through the 2006 season. Not sure when track construction was begun/finished though.

I don't really understand why they would "temporarily rename" something. It seems kind of odd to me since it would go something like this:
Guest: Can you please show me where the Mantis is? My friend said its the best!
Employee: Oh, you mean King James?
Guest: Oh! So I guess they renamed it?
Employee: Yep! But only for this season! Mantis will be back next year!
Guest: …

Something here just smells fishy to me... And it's not the crab-fries...

Kevinj said:
Have you driven there to look?

If someone does, send me an PM.

Jordan_Vanichek said:
Shouldn't we be seeing some new track(most likely green track) at the steel plant near Cincinnati? Given they redesign Mantis layout?

This is not going going to happen. If there is track for Cedar Point than it will be for a new coaster, not a Mantis redesign. Given the test color, they probably are repainting it like they do all coasters periodically.

We all know that seasonals, either the lemon chill or Witches Wheel guy, know all about park plans because they are totally kept in the loop. </sarcasm>

Did it occur to anybody that Jason may have been playing along because he probably likes a good joke?

I am thinking we will see a ceremonial banner with a temporary name change. It is all in good fun and I don't think it is that much of an issue. Now when we see that major overhaul and floorless trains installed is when the REAL fun should set in!

What does a "major overhaul" of a steel coaster entail?

Pete said:
Did it occur to anybody that Jason may have been playing along because he probably likes a good joke?

You should know better than that. Considering that it might be a joke would contradict the annual "Mantis is getting floorless trains" fantasy. :)

It's not a fantasy. It's all been confirmed by Jason, haven't you heard? ;)

djDaemon said:
What does a "major overhaul" of a steel coaster entail?

I thought you were going to ignore my posts.....I mean you sent me a private message whining about how I called you out for being an arrogant prick.

I sent you a PM (as a courtesy to the community, no need to muck up a discussion with pointless back-and-forth) to ask you to avoid name calling. I never said I'd ignore your posts, even after you continued to call me names via PM.

But of course, none of that is relevant or appropriate for this or any thread.

Back to the topic, for Mantis's future I am placing my bets on it sticking around for a while longer. If it is called Mantis or even looks like it does now that is a different story. But I do not see the layout or the standing aspect of the ride changing in the near future.

Yeah i'm just guessing it's getting new paint and a new name, King James or whatever for next season.

MagnumForce14 said:
I don't really understand why they would "temporarily rename" something.

To capitalize on a temporarily popular person or an annual event.

Knott's has managed to survive despite "re-naming" the place to Knott's Scary Farm each year.

If they were planning on removing Mantis, I don't think they would install FunTV's at the queue lines.

FunTV's aren't that difficult to remove and put in another place. And if Mantis were to be removed, whatever replaces it could use the same queue. But I think a repaint or overhaul is more likely than the ride being removed entirely.

CPfan1976 said:
I've never understood the purple/red/yellow paint scheme for it going back to 1996. It's a Mantis after all, why not make it the proper colors like a shade of green? Maybe after the Jr.Gemini (another I never understood since it never was a racing coaster)rename, a new color scheme would make sense. I for one would welcome it.

Mantis' 20th anniversary is coming up soon, so maybe it's going to have a repainting for it's milestone birthday!

noggin said:

MagnumForce14 said:
I don't really understand why they would "temporarily rename" something.

To capitalize on a temporarily popular person or an annual event.

Knott's has managed to survive despite "re-naming" the place to Knott's Scary Farm each year.

Well, yes I guess you got me there, thanks. But it still seems odd to me that they would rename a coaster and not an event for the season. But then again, if I got five dollars for every time Disney redesigned one of their rides to fit with the new and popular movie, I'd be living it good. ;)

It seems odd to me that you think a park re-naming a ride is odd, but re-naming the park in support of an event is not odd. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Here is some anecdotal evidence for those that are keeping track....

Cameras are pointed on Mantis today, and guess what, no line! Oh I know its still early in the day.

Is anyone really keeping track? ;)