New Gemini in 2013

ChrisC. said:

Every attraction has a life span, bro. I would be shocked if Gemini makes it another fifteen years.

I agree except that with a wooden frame they have to replace good portions of wood each year so really a wooden coaster or a wooden frame coaster can last a long time (see Blue Streak, Big Dipper, etc.)

Looking at the seats and restraints for wild eagle and x-flight, it seems that shorter kids would be able to ride. But then again, maybe not.

Sause said:

ChrisC. said:

Every attraction has a life span, bro. I would be shocked if Gemini makes it another fifteen years.

I agree except that with a wooden frame they have to replace good portions of wood each year so really a wooden coaster or a wooden frame coaster can last a long time (see Blue Streak, Big Dipper, etc.)

My point was an aging attraction can be replaced. Gemini takes a valuable junk of land up, it will be eventually removed.

...and Gemini and Mine Ride have both recently had their entire wooden structures replaced. Both will eventually go away, but for the moment they are all set for another 30 years or so.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Also, there's a difference between removing a coaster like Disaster Transport and one like Gemini. You don't just take Gemini out for the sake of making room. Gemini is a fantastic roller coaster. Not to mention, it's a piece of "height history" at the park.

Gemini will be around for awhile. And so will Mine Ride and perhaps Mean Streak, much to everyone's dismay.

Mine Ride may not be around that much longer. I figure that Mine Ride or Corkscrew will be the next of coasters to go.

^Based upon...?

^ He "figures". Not much hard evidence there...

The park doesn't have a list of coasters that they plan on taking down. They're taken out for a reason, whether it be safety, getting in the way of future projects, ridership, maintenance, etc.

I'm pretty confident Corkscrew's not going anywhere either (based upon common sense).

^ What's so common sense about it?

It's in a relatively compact space and there's no reason to remove it.

I would be very sad to see Gemini go. It was my first number one coaster. Back in the 1980s it was the ride I couldn't wait to go on. Then the Magnum came and blew me away. I still love the Gemini. Going over the lift hill in the very back seat is very exciting. If you havn't ridden it in the back do it.

I really don't see Gemini going anywhere for a long time. The fact that they put the plaque honoring Ron Toomer in front of it gives me confidence it will be around for a long time to come. In fact I don't see any coasters leaving for a long time.

SSL488 said:
^ What's so common sense about it?

Most of these scatterbrained ideas are brought up by people who don't just step back, observe and use common sense.

I mean, what if I said I'm very, very confident that Top Thrill Dragster will be removed in the next 5 years? Does that make sense? No.

So, by my use of said common sense, I can tell you there is no reason why Corkscrew or Gemini or Mine Ride will be taken out any time soon.

Some are suggesting removing Mine Ride, too? For what reason? Because it doesn't have the bells and whistles that Gatekeeper will have? I don't get it. If Cedar Point wants to remain any semblance of a family park, they have to keep graduated coasters. I, myself, have to have something to build my kids on. Plus, maybe some adults want a gentler coaster ride. Although, Mine Ride does whip a little and has that helix at the end, which is the highlight of the ride. Plus, it's one of the few rides with a theme which gives it character. Keep the Mine Ride, it was my first favorite coaster. It was my youngest son's favorite, too, until Blue Streak took over this October. Gemini is unique because it's a racing/double coaster, they need to build on that theme to give it more relevance among today's hyper and mega coasters.

And just my own opinion, I would not and have not patronized any park where the "family" part of it is strictly watching one's children ride kiddie rides while the adults stand around. No fun at all. Hence, why I didn't take my kids to Cedar Point when they weren't tall enough for something bigger, very little rides to ride together for the money. I took them to Idlewild twice among other things.

Some major reasons for a ride to get the boot:
-Maintenance up / ridership down
-Unsafe
-to make room for another attraction

CCMR & Gemini are very reliable and quite popular. Unless we see something along the lines of -WWL--->Maverick- I doubt they'll go anywhere.

Right now they are safe. In 15-20 years though, who knows? This is the point. Just because it is a timeless ride doesn't mean it is timeless.

Unless the park decides to build something to upgrade a current family ride such as Cedar Creek Mine Ride, I cannot see them removing it. What I mean is if they find a manufacturer that can build the same type of family experience that, that ride had, but with a smoother or faster ride concept, maybe they would do it. As for now though, I think Cedar Point's concept is, If it's not broke, don't worry about it. :)

Also, expect even plans to change. Pirate Ride was supposed to be torn down in 1994 to make way for Raptor, and yet the building still stands to this day. Corkscrew was widely expected to go away to make room for Power Tower. Ocean Motion was taken out to make way for Windseeker. And of course, the plans for the Million Dollar Midway remodel left just enough room to keep the Wildcat.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Gemini rules...don't tear it down EVER! Still is one of my top coasters at CP. Will always be. Granted it is way more fun when you are racing, no doubt...and having one go backwards would be cool!!!

Any word yet on the Mine Ride getting the unused Gemini trains? Know they tested with them last year, want to know if its this year we get them...