Snake River Falls

Rides like these were a lot more fun in the 80s and early 90s, when most of the things you kept in your pockets could get wet without incident. Now, it's usually more hassle than it's worth to safeguard everything.

That being said, I find SRF much more entertaining and thrilling than StR. To me, it feels much more free-floating, especially on the upper turnaround. Plus, the drop is genuinely imposing.

The intended niche of StR is harder to peg, as (although I have nothing more than a hunch) I cannot believe that the actual reality of StR meshes with what its designers had in mind. I think it was supposed to be more brisk and exciting, in contrast with what we got: a slow boat ride punctuated by two hills. I'm not saying that the latter was meant to replace the former or inhabit its niche, but StR seems botched to a degree such that we will never know for certain.

Is it possible that the boats could be made to move faster? Like by increasing the speed of the current? I definitely feel like that was the intention from the beginning. Can't believe how many problems they had with what should have been a simple flume ride only with concrete.

Just look at how fast the boat moves though the ride in the animation! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKCkZW4mXEg

I wonder if they would ever redo STR and make it more of a dark ride.

I still wish there was the theming originally planned for Str

Can't believe how many problems they had with what should have been a simple flume ride only with concrete.

Who built it?

OK....On the topic of Snake River Falls....let me ask- since I'm the nerd that wears a blue CP poncho on any of the water rides, anyone do this as well? I know the point of SRF/ Thunder Canyon/ StR is to get soaked...I just hate walking around with wet clothes, hair, socks, shoes...

Anyone else a poncho-person...or do you just laugh at us oddball poncho lovin' people?

nope, your pretty much on your own. Getting drenched then walking around with a chaf rash is part of the fun.

Thunder Canyon can really dump it - how well does the poncho route work?

Not a poncho person, but I refuse to ride any of the 3 without changing into swim trunks.

Same here. I also refuse to wear shoes when riding SRF.

We just make it a point to save our patronage of water rides until we also plan on going to SC.

We "swimsuit up" (including water-friendly footwear, lack of phone, etc.) before heading into CP, and once we've had our fill of SRF/StR/TC, we head over to SC.

Yeah I just wear sandles, gym shorts, and a t-shirt. If I'm wearing shoes I'll take off the socks (wet socks really bother me). But if I have jeans on there is no way I'm getting on those rides.

Snake River Falls is so much better than Shoot the Rapids, IMO. Like Bream Trims said, I think the original concept and plan for StR was good, but the end result turned out out to be not quite what was expected...in a bad way. Plus I've never seen it busy while SRF can have a really long line on hot days.

Snake River Falls is always the water ride to ride during warmer days. You will get soaked on ride or on the bridge. In my opinion, Shoot the Rapids is pretty bad. I don't understand why they wasted the millions of dollars on it. I do think something like the Pilgrim Plunge would be a nice addition to the park.

STR is an OK ride as long as the line isn't long, which it hardly ever is.

For the final product, I'm sure it looked really great on paper, that probably should've been left on paper! IMO. WWL, in its glory, was a far better ride, especially on those warm summer nights!

Fast Lane has ruined SRF, at least the multiple hot days we were there. IMO. What a 15 minute wait would've been, the line moved maybe 10 feet in that amount of time, so we (my 5yr old son and i) left the line. They just kept coming, and were being let right onto the ride. Im not against Fast Lane, but come on!

Yeah it can get pretty bad. Sorry about that! I've been in the same situation several times, especially at slow freaking Six Flags Over Georgia. They need some Cedar Point crews to replace them lol they take for ever to do their job and then you have the fast lane pass, which only makes matters worse. I have never had to wait over an hour to get on a ride at Cedar Point even on the busy days.

^No waits greater than an hour! You haven't seen a busy day then. I haven't had too much trouble with the Fast Pass yet though.

I'm confused because a lot of people had mentioned more theaming like a mountain for SRF and other stuff for STR, explain please?

The original concept art can be seen here.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cVF2LlOx6Zc/R2mgFGzJoTI/AAAAAAAACls/2DmRO...verArt.jpg

Interesting. I wonder if that illustration proves that Cedar Point was never actually supposed to get the second ride.

I had heard a rumor that Cedar Point was actually getting two of those rides, to be positioned with the down-chutes facing each other, which might also explain why those two rides were also the only ones Arrow had built in the figure-8 configuration. Anyway, as it ended up, Cedar Point only got one ride, and the second unit went to newly-acquired Dorney Park.

I do not recall the source, but the circumstantial evidence fits. Much like some idle speculation that Gemini was originally designed to be the flagship coaster at the new park in Southwest Michigan.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

/\ /\ Thanks!