Mantis removal or transformation?

Not a family ride... A step between Corkscrew and Maverick, the other two sitdown loopers.

It wouldn't be too intense for my testicles.

Actually Moving Mantis makes more sense than keeping it here if the floorless conversion happens. Because if its moved.. they have to build a whole new station anyway. Converting it to a floorless here requires a complete overhaul on the station.

The news here in Columbus reported last week that Mantis is being removed to make way for a new coaster in 2015. I got to thinking is it possible for them to reuse the current footers for an all new coaster with a different layout? This time of year we see land clearing and footers going in but no vertical construction, so if they can use the current footers this could be a possibility right?

The strip of land on the waters edge near the brake run of Mantis is a really pretty spot having a nice view of the lighthouse on the end of the peninsula and Mi and the big hills of MF.

I could see a redesign of this entire area that somehow kept some sort of coaster , yet allowed the general public back along this new midway area.

That is a good question and it has come up a couple times throughout some of the threads. I think that it would be possible as you could theoretically change the height and angle of each pylon, but using the existing footers would severely limit the design. Also, that's assuming that base of each pylon can be properly detached from the footer and keep each anchor bolt in tact.

^and assuming that the footer is strong enough for what would be placed on it

I highly doubt they would re-use footers. Leaving them in place limits the layout of any new coaster and changing the angle of the support columns will also change the way that the load bears on the footer. If Mantis was to undergo a slight re-profile of certain elements they may be able to re use some, but not for a new coaster.

In the scheme of tings, concrete and footer work is not difficult. If CP was to build a new coaster in place of Mantis they have time to do so.

Exactly, JUnderhill. And in addition to being relatively easy, footers are also relatively cheap.

Random note: Mantis is easily the worst ride to sit by at CP. Absurdly loud.

If you sit next to the food place thats right next to Mantis, maybe 50 feet from the first drop you will see people cringing and plugging their ears every 45 seconds.

The noise from Mantis is reason enough to remove it and start all over. But I am afraid they will keep the track and make it a sit down coaster.

For those wanting a cheap conversion, don't make it floorless, just put the regular sit down trains on the ride. Will require almost no modifications.

But, I think the ride is leaving and probably being relocated, maybe with sit-down trains. But I don't see the ride being converted at CP, it wouldn't create a lot of excitement for 2015, and the key is to create excitement for what's new to drive attendance.

jo linn said:
The strip of land on the waters edge near the brake run of Mantis is a really pretty spot having a nice view of the lighthouse on the end of the peninsula and Mi and the big hills of MF.

I must be missing something here, how can you see the lighthouse from the Mantis brake run area?

There used to be a lighthouse there as a prop for Paddlewheel Excursions, maybe that is still there.

Pete- I disagree.

I am sure in 1990 when they built the warehouse around Avalanche Run to turn it into Disaster Transport, attendance went up.

The fact that the park has announced the ride is closing has established in the general public's mind that Mantis is gone.

If you announce a brand new name and "floorless" coaster, and market it as such, 90% of people will have no idea it is just Mantis with different trains until they show up at the park.

Now if its an exciting 2015 addition or not? People can decide that once they ride it. The park will already have their money.

I certainly think that attendance will rise from a transformed Mantis. Its all how they market the attraction. The commercials for this thing aren't going to say "we put new trains on Mantis, come try it out!"

They will market it as a brand new ride ala Disaster Transport.

Tilt-a-Whirl said:
Pete- I disagree.

I am sure in 1990 when they built the warehouse around Avalanche Run to turn it into Disaster Transport, attendance went up.

The fact that the park has announced the ride is closing has established in the general public's mind that Mantis is gone.

If you announce a brand new name and "floorless" coaster, and market it as such, 90% of people will have no idea it is just Mantis with different trains until they show up at the park.

Now if its an exciting 2015 addition or not? People can decide that once they ride it. The park will already have their money.

I certainly think that attendance will rise from a transformed Mantis. Its all how they market the attraction. The commercials for this thing aren't going to say "we put new trains on Mantis, come try it out!"

They will market it as a brand new ride ala Disaster Transport.

Maybe the Disaster Transport example is what's driving the closure? Mantis is almost 20 years old and in age where the Floorless concept is just past it's time and converting it will probably result in positive +ridership, but for how long? Is CF really in the business of re-investing in old projects that to their standard, have failed?

A conversion would not be a cheap fix, unless they were just to put regular sit-down trains on it? But does CP really want to invest millions into a loud, old school B&M twister, that in the end would give CP the 10th best floorless coaster??

This talk has been going on since the turn of the millennium and I have no idea why CF would wait this long to make the change, when the floorless trend was 10+ years ago? Keep in mind CF's record revenue and the fact that Matt Ouimet does not have one single emotional tie to this park or it's attractions... He's gonna do his job, take CP into the future and in the direction he sees it going!

Such a loud coaster, that's right in the middle of celebration plaza and just doesn't look like it belongs anymore! My guess is that CF tries to salvage Mantis by relocating it and giving it a fresh start, with a whole new theme/color and in a different market!?? Maybe 2015 isn't the year Mantis will reopen? Maybe it gets refurbished over the offseason and gets re-introduced in 2016?

I was probably the first guest on property today at 12:30 and they had a boom lift up at the top of the mantis lift hill (right where it drops) and were either power washing or steaming the track. Couldn't see what they were doing but it seemed like a very odd thing to be doing on a ride that's being removed/changed AND is not operating today.

Tilt-a-Whirl said:
If you announce a brand new name and "floorless" coaster, ...people will have no idea it is just Mantis with different trains until they show up at the park.

Now if its an exciting 2015 addition or not? People can decide that once they ride it. The park will already have their money.

Am I understanding you correctly? You're suggesting the park mislead guests by, if I'm understanding your suggestion, deliberately avoiding any indication that this "new" "floorless" coaster is a 20 year old ride with new trains?

You're suggesting that the park, once guests enter the park and see the same old coaster in the same old space, take the position "We already have your money. Sorry. Enjoy the ride!"?

This does not seem like a winning business plan...

MaverickLaunch said:
I was probably the first guest on property today at 12:30 and they had a boom lift up at the top of the mantis lift hill (right where it drops) and were either power washing or steaming the track. Couldn't see what they were doing but it seemed like a very odd thing to be doing on a ride that's being removed/changed AND is not operating today.

Unless some large bird tried to nest up there while the park was closed.

Power washing is indeed something I'd expect if they repaint, among other things. However not while the ride is going to run for another month.

Wait, so there are still people who think it's going away completely?