Rougarou a Mistake?

Cedar Point can market it as a new ride because people are idiots. They don't do research before they book a vacation. They just see "new coaster" and drop down $500 a pop.

That's a rather condescending way to put it, but yeah, I think our perception as enthusiasts gets skewed a little when we remember that not everyone has the coasters or the history of the coasters memorized, but let's not let this get back into denigrating the "GeePee" or the "Casuals".

I'm amazed how many people I talk to that don't know that the ride isn't brand new. And then many of those that know think that the track has been changed in some way, like the addition of an inversion, or track added to make it taller. Marketing has done a fantastic job with promoting and convincing people that it is a brand new installation. I definitely don't think it was a mistake, and I honestly feel that it will be a major money maker for the next few years.

A co-worker the other day thaught they tore out Mantis, due to news outlets that said they did!! So the general public or people outside of the cedar point freaks And enthusiats, think it's New! LoL new paint and $2 million for trains and new paint and you basically have a new ride experience that far exceeded my expectations! Oh and some lady as we waited in line on the midway yells "it's just Mantis not a new Ride" as she was overweight and pushing a stroller!! Heading with her kids to Millennium that wasn't even open when we got off of Rougarou! And when we walked by them in line for Millennium ( which was not Open) said "Mantis was pretty sweet ride sitting down!!!"

Should have yelled at her and said to try the test seat before getting in line for Millie :)

True story. I hated Mantis and never rode it. I rode Rougarou twice over the weekend, and really liked it. It's a lot faster than Mantis was, and a hell of a lot more comfortable. With Mantis not being that popular a ride, Rougarou may appeal to more people, and the more peopel in that line, the less there are in line for other rides.

Marcie916 said:

Rougarou may appeal to more people, and the more peopel in that line, the less there are in line for other rides.

Absolutely. For the 5 million or whatever it costs they now have something that eats people. Mantis did not.

With how successful the Mantis refurb was, I kinda hope they do Mean Streak next. I know a lot of the purists on here want it to stay a "true woodie", but I think the ride would be a lot more popular if they gave it the Texas Giant treatment.

Amen on MS being the next refurb. There's no point in having a "true woodie" if it's a crappy coaster. Give it the RMC treatment, and build a proper GCI.

Its sad but I still have some people ask where Disaster Transport is at when I wear my old DT t-shirt. But it is priceless when the question gets asked while in line for Gatekeeper.

I think Rougarou very well could've been a test to see how well a ride conversion works. Although, I imagine an RMC conversion for MS would cost significantly more.

Sadly, I don't see RMC doing anything to Mean Streak anytime soon. I fully believe when Matt Ouimet said they hadn't even considered it. I really do think he's telling the truth.

I'd love, love, love to see it happen, though. Maybe in a couple of years for 150?

I'm almost in disbelief that Cedar Fair has watched all these hybrid wooden/steel coasters get produced by Six Flags while doing nothing to their own collection, especially with Mean Streak being such a turd of a coaster for so long and being on such prime real-estate. Twisted Colossus is actually making me want to find a way to get to Magic Mountain for the first time. But, that's another thread for another day.

Oh, and "no", to answer the ridiculous question this thread is based on.

I too am surprised that they haven't jumped on the RMC train yet. At one time people thought that they were waiting for RMC to prove themselves, but I think that has long come and passed. It is almost as if Cedar Fair is afraid to hurt relations with B&M. I don't see how that is possible though because Cedar Fair is arguably, B&M's best buisness currently.
Don't think I'm complaining though. Even though I would like to see an RMC in the park, I'm a big fan of B&M.

e x i t english said:
Sadly, I don't see RMC doing anything to Mean Streak anytime soon. I fully believe when Matt Ouimet said they hadn't even considered it. I really do think he's telling the truth.

Sorry to double post.

I would doubt that they haven't even considered it. He is the type of guy to consider all options, even if he didn't consider it for very long. I believe that if they thought Rougarou was a good idea, then they would also believe that an RMC Mean Streak is a good idea, even if it's a ways down the road.

PyroKinesis09 said:

Cedar Point can market it as a new ride because people are idiots. They don't do research before they book a vacation. They just see "new coaster" and drop down $500 a pop.

It is a new ride. It is a completely different ride experience. You think that people are idiots because they see a new coaster? What?

Kevinj said:Twisted Cyclone is actually making me want to find a way to get to Magic Mountain for the first time.

You might want to make sure that trip includes the right state. ;)

I'm willing to count Rougarou as a new coaster. After all, I can ride Rougarou; I have not been able to ride Mantis:TCFKAB in more than a dozen years.

--Dave Althoff, Jr

RideMan said:

I'm willing to count Rougarou as a new coaster. After all, I can ride Rougarou; I have not been able to ride Mantis:TCFKAB in more than a dozen years.

--Dave Althoff, Jr

I just spent 10 minutes trying to figure out what TCFKAB stood for. lol :) Hooray for Google.

Although... Had they not named the invert at KI "Banshee" that would have been a cool hat trick... Rename Rougarou as Banshee...

TTD 120mph said:

Kevinj said:Twisted COLOSSUS is actually making me want to find a way to get to Magic Mountain for the first time.

You might want to make sure that trip includes the right state. ;)

Fixed that for...well...myself. See? They have so many of them I can't even keep track.

I have been consistently referring to it as Mantis:TCFKAB since late 1995. I figured everybody knew that by now. 8-)

For historical context, Cedar Point's announcement that the new stand-up coaster would NOT be called Banshee, which left the coaster nameless for a few months, happened not too many years after a certain musician declared that he had changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, with instructions that he was to be known as "The Artist Formerly Known As..." which of course provided a very wordy template for reference Cedar Point's now-nameless (or at least now unpronounceable (like YHWH?)) coaster.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.