Update: July 10

The signs with random sayings are found at a lot of parks (mostly year round parks). They usually include riddles of some kind just to keep the big wall surounding something look interesting.

^No don't say that!;)

First, redsox5...why one week and three days? Just Curious. Finally, djDaemon, I agree. I don't think they are done with the footer molds.

I'd venture to guess he was being sarcastic...just like most people on this board ;)

I was not being sarcastic, I was just curious...if he knows something...please share.

hey walt - i would NEVER complain about posting pics that are "similar". i don't think the real enthusiasts on here would either. i LOVE watching the site for updated pics. it makes the work day go that much faster!! :)

so, thanks for the great pics.

Like in this picture http://www.pointbuzz.com/gallery.aspx?i=4216

Maybe they are draining it to start putting the supports there first.

My question is... If you are going to drain a pond to put in footers, why do you fill it back up when you have to have it drained to erect the steel? Have other rides such as mantis had their water drained to erect steel or were they put in with the water there?

You know, im not so sure the object(s) under the tarp is/are just wood. They seem to be doing an awfully good job of hiding whatever is under that tarp. Just look at wood for skyhawk...

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=2746
http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=2743

Blue tarp now
http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=4253

To me that seems to be tied down very well with wood lying on the bottom of the tarp to keep it flapping up. You dont take make an effort like that to tarp wood over unless you are hiding something. They didnt do it for the wood last year, why do it now?

It is often things like these are stored under the tarps for protection from the elements. Due to the fact that the supports are on site at the point it may be necessary to have the hardware on site also. All things considered I believe that what is under the tarps is simply hardware and controls. Any hardware is not fun to work with after it sits in the rain. The controls (prox sensors, dispatch controls, etc) are not fully weatherproof until installed properly. The trains will be one of the last items to make it to the point. It makes more sense to ship a coaster in stages. This way all of the components are not just sitting around waiting to get damaged.
*** Edited 7/13/2006 12:36:52 AM UTC by Travis Lea***

i agree with steve4hockey. they're covering up that stuff WAY too much for it to be a pile of wood.

Yes, but as far as control panels and prox sensors, something tells me that those would not be among the first stage of parts shipped. More like the last. First the foundation, then the steel, then all the extras. I agree that the hardware is probably in sandusky since you need it to erect steel, but i also would bet that is sitting in a maintenence warehouse or so and not in the middle of a big field under a big blue tarp.

Usually in any construction project the thing that is constructed first is the thing that will take the longest to build. In millie this is the first hill and the overbank turn. For dragster this was the tower. I would assume that in the case of this new ride the same would be true. That is unless there is a reason why they cant build the hardest thing right now. Whether that be because of the need to clear more room by removing a ride or a footpath currently in use, or because there is some sort of large foundation that needs time to cure before they can erect on top of it. However i dont see any large foundations anywhere so i would count this option out, although they started early enough that a large countation somewhere could still be waiting to be poured.

All i know is that i dont believe that blue tarp is just a big pile of wood, and that its exciting to see steel going in. So many things about this project just seem to be very intriguing and i think we have alot more new developments and suprises to await.

While taking the staging area pictures I examined the tarp the most. They have it wrapped so tightly that there are no holes at all and I couldn't see anything at all. And I'm glad you all like the pictures, my friends still don't understand the importance of me taking my pictures of construction. I got heckled the whole trip but since I was the driver, they had to put up with me. :)

i agree that items usually show up as they are needed. but, sometimes you order a piece of equipment that has an unually long lead time and it shows up early. so, you just never know.

if there is just wood or bolts under there, CP is totally toying with us by wrapping the pile like that. like vince said, its wrapped better than a christmas present. you can't see ANYTHING under it. that doesn't happen by accident.

It's wood:

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=4159

Look at the bottom right of the tarp. You can see wood pieces sticking out.

I dont know if can post a picture of it, but I saw them unload the crates that the nuts and bolts come in and stack them, then the next day the crates were covered with a tarp. I can confirm that there are crates under the tarp.

This is so awesome! Pages and pages of "whats under the blue tarp! I love it! How much do you think that CP reads this? just to keep toying with us?

Can you just see them sitting in their offices, laughing at us? saying "look at those freaks.. there is nothing under those tarps but some empty boxes!"

Man.. being a freak is fun.. isnt it?

Greg

Kel said:
It's wood:

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=4159

Look at the bottom right of the tarp. You can see wood pieces sticking out.

Oh no you didn't. Well, in THAT case, then, I think there are BLUE TARPS under the blue tarp, because I see blue tarp when I look at the blue tarp.

That wood you see is the wood that is holding the blue tarp down. :)

However, I will not harp on you too much. ;)

Kel said:
It's wood:

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=4159

Look at the bottom right of the tarp. You can see wood pieces sticking out.

I think that is the pallet. Not really any indication of what is under the tarp.

You all realize that it could be wood since all the new pieces have to be placed on wood - meaning they don't go directly on the ground. Just throwing that out there.