Mantis removal or transformation?

Wonder if the Rougarou thing is a deception, remember when they started a webpage for Whyte Lightning before announcing shoot the rapids? Also, the dark video they posted for some reason calls to mind the fact that Mantis was originally named Banshee and had a much darker color scheme and overall theme.

Shawn, the Gargoyles are for the Witch's Call.....or whatever it's called. As such, I highly doubt it has any connection to whatever is happening to Mantis.

A dark ride like the new Laugh track coaster being built.. only horror or werewolf themed would be INCREDIBLE

That certainly wouldn't be a family ride and WOULD cater to teens and a thrill seeking audience wouldn't it?

https://twitter.com/TonyClarkCP/status/512342953759887360

I'm not even trying to read into that.

Nope.

There's definitely something important for 2015. As part of the Lebron James announcement, this sentence is very important: "Additionally, next spring, Cedar Point will hold a first ride auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the LeBron James Family Foundation."
I think 1st ride auctions are usually reserved for the 1st ride of a new coaster. I don't remember them for Windseeker or Shoot the Rapids, but could be wrong.

I Think Tony is tweeting that he's making T-Shirt designs for Mantis before it leaves/gets transformed. You gotta admit, Mantis has one of the coolest ride logos in the park.

^ It is definitely one that I will miss. And such unique coloring on it as well.

SoEffenBored said:
Wonder if the Rougarou thing is a deception, remember when they started a webpage for Whyte Lightning before announcing shoot the rapids? Also, the dark video they posted for some reason calls to mind the fact that Mantis was originally named Banshee and had a much darker color scheme and overall theme.

With the way Carowinds used Centurion in it's teasing, it has to cross one's mind of Cedar Point taking it's fans for the same ride! But I can't overlook, the vibe at the park!? Unless it's happened in previous years during Halloweekends and I just was missing it, but there are several signs referring to a bayou? Like I said.. I may have been missing it in previous years, but there are certainly many things pointing to a bayou, and it's all surrounding Millenium Island?

The name Rougarou, technically was never even brought up or humored by CP.. It was the answer to a riddle that nobody was supposed to solve, and fans since then have just been connecting the dots. If you take a good look at Rougarou's Wikipedia, then take a trip to the park while incorporating all clues/teasers that may, or may not have been provided... One will notice that Rougarou would fit in nicely at CP and the park seems to be preparing it's fans for it?

Either way Rougarou is only a trademarked name, and in no way does it point towards what it will be? Could be a dark ride, flat ride, coaster, fun house, etc etc? Who knows?

While I'm on board with the likelihood that Mantis will be converted into a Floorless Coaster next year because the rumors have hinted towards that all year, I'd like to consider the option of an entire new coaster on the site in 2015 or 2016 based on the construction time-frames of previous Cedar Fair coasters. It took Kings Island about a year & a half for the entire project to tear down the Son of Beast in late-2012 and build Banshee for opening in spring of 2014. Cedar Point closed White Water Landing at the end of the 2005 season, but Maverick wasn't complete until spring of 2007. On the other hand, it took Cedar Point about 8 months to tear down the Space Needle & Disaster Transport in fall of 2012 and build the Gatekeeper for opening in spring of 2013. Unfortunately, the above information doesn't really help the argument for a new coaster in 2015 or 2016.

Raptor was built after Mill Race was demolished in late Sept. With Mantis closing in mid October there is still time to take it apart and build a new coaster or other attraction in that space for 2015 if that is in the plans.

The most important clue to what is going on is Tony saying you won't want to miss the 2015 Winter Chill Out during the 2014 event. He wouldn't say that if all that is going on is a Mantis repaint and new trains. There would be nothing much to see.

Pete said:

The most important clue to what is going on is Tony saying you won't want to miss the 2015 Winter Chill Out during the 2014 event. He wouldn't say that if all that is going on is a Mantis repaint and new trains. There would be nothing much to see.

I dunno, a freshly painted B&M and three brand spanking new Floorless trains? Sounds like something to see to me.

Pete said:
Raptor was built after Mill Race was demolished in late Sept. With Mantis closing in mid October there is still time to take it apart and build a new coaster or other attraction in that space for 2015 if that is in the plans.

The most important clue to what is going on is Tony saying you won't want to miss the 2015 Winter Chill Out during the 2014 event. He wouldn't say that if all that is going on is a Mantis repaint and new trains. There would be nothing much to see.

Right on, and Raptor was built in the winter of 93! Things have changed in the amusement and construction business since then and don't forget, Gatekeeper erection did not start until November.... Also you could look at how fast the Time Machine came down in Myrtle Beach! Even looking at the construction of the revamped Gemini Midway, you'll see that the majority of the work was done this year in the winter, and towards the spring...

Maybe Mantis' location if it were to be removed, will not even be replaced with an attraction, but used for something different? If Mantis were to be removed, the potential addition of CP2015 doesn't necessarily have to be in that exact location..... right?? I say Mantis' structure is one heck of an inconvenience for a park that's big on it's entertainment, which Mantis sits on the edge of CP's entertainment epicenter?

How about Mantis' location and it's effect on Celebration Plaza? Mantis' structure sits right on top of Iron Dragon, and it's roar is a definite ear-sore for the center of CP's entertainment section/area! I personally think that Mantis' ridiculous loudness, may be one of the reasons it will not be opening on Friday nights during Halloweekends as well? You just get sick of hearing it!

IMO I just don't see that loud coaster being part of CP's future, and especially with it sitting on the edge of Celebration Plaza! I'm standing firm on it's removal and possible relocation... Keep in mind that relocation, does not mean that it has to be introduced next year at another CF park.... Maybe it sits in storage for a year or 2, after CP's plans requiring it's removal for 2015? Just a thought or two... :)

Would be nice if they would announce something. Hard to get me to invest in a season pass for next year with no announcement.

So you're saying your pass was a waste of money this year?

I didn't buy one. Didn't need it. Didn't go enough times where the discounted prices equaled more than the cost of a regular season pass. If I knew they were going to do something great, I would be more inclined to buy a pass now, which would pretty much guarantee me and my friends going more often, next year. If the end of the season comes and they haven't announced anything, I MIGHT buy a pass next year, but I won't buy one 7 months in advance. Considering I am single and making about $75,000/year, I would think that they would want to keep someone like me coming to their park when I am someone who spends about $75 per trip, just on me. But, if they want to lose my business to a park like Holiday World, for example, just don't inspire me into locking my business in their park by getting me to buy a pass, now.

Zoug68 said:
...if they want to lose my business to a park like Holiday World, for example, just don't inspire me into locking my business in their park by getting me to buy a pass, now.

If you're deciding between HW and CP, I would say it's an absolute no-brainer to go with HW. CP is almost certainly not installing anything even remotely in the same league as Thunderbird. Seems odd that it's even a debate if your purchase depends on one singular attraction.

I dunno. Whenever I read these "they better announce soon or else!" posts, it just sounds like sour grapes due to the fact that we don't yet know what they're doing.

Nevertheless, whether they get your money now or later doesn't make a huge difference to them. Certainly not enough to alter their PR strategy.

CP in it's current iteration with or without Mantis is still a great park. I don't think I'd drop getting a pass just because of an announcement or lack thereof. I kinda like the mystery. Drag it on further - everyone's whining is entertaining enough for now.

As matter of fact, I think I'll hit up the 2015 passes for the wife and I tonight.

I most certainly will get a pass next season, regardless of what is announced. But I usually wait until closer to opening day to renew because there's alot of other things I could use the money on between now and then.

The rumor of Mantis being converted to a floorless coaster has been around since 2001... 14 years, so saying that it is likely it will be converted this year due to the rumor being around all season isn't very accurate.

Other than this decade and a half rumor, what evidence is there to support this inevitable transformation of the Mantis structure? Because it is a perfectly good B&M, how many times have we seen that typed on these pages? It may be a B&M but it is most likely one of the worst they ever built.

How about the video, where the reaper goes after the train. What was he supposed to go after, a column, the top of the lift hill? The list goes on and on. Thus far Cedar Point has been very careful in choosing their words. Everything from the park so far can be interpreted either as a transformation, or complete removal depending upon what one thinks will happen.

No one has ever converted a coaster that was built as a stand up into something else. However, places have indeed idled, and scrapped stand up coasters. Why did all these parks opt to simply abandon, or remove their stand up coasters when they could have simply thrown some floorless trains on them? I'd say the most likely answer is that they know a not so great stand up coaster would equal a not so great sit down coaster.

Until the park proves me wrong, I will believe that the history of this situation can help predict the future. History says the ride will not be converted to a floorless just like the past 14 years the rumor has been around. History also leads me to believe that there are reasons parks have not converted a stand up coaster. Of course Cedar Point can easily be the first to do so and break the mold of the past, I just don't see that happening though.