Wooden Coasters

[sparky]

Wonder when we are ever going to get a decent wooden coaster installed into an English park, something like "Troy" from Toverland would be lovely. We have have to many steel examples.

[monsterdan5]

Troy is amazing yes, ive had this discussion with some members on this forum before and we came to the conclusion that wooden coasters and simply something that would appear not to fare well in the uk market to the general public.

It seems that the general public feel that wooden coasters are 'old' and 'unsafe' and therefore parks see no reason to build one when a steel coaster will generate much more interest.

Its a real shame though, because as we enthusiasts know - some of the best coasters are wooden.

[DoubleL]

As much as I'd like to see one, I can't really imagine that any of the English parks would build them.

But in a way that makes it better when I visit foreign parks such as Parc Asterix -where they do have an amazing wooden rollercoaster - because it's something different and a breath of fresh air.

[JoshC.]

Just a passing thought really, but I'm surprised in some ways that UK parks (especially the Merlin ones) haven't thought of using the generic view of woodies of "old and unsafe" to a themed advantage, what with 'dark' themes being popular.

You could just imagine a woodie playing on the very views about the ride type itself..

[monsterdan5]

Yeah it would be nice if we could get at least one here, and rumours of them come up again and again - but unfortunately it does not seem to be something any parks are considering at the moment

Also I think they are quite expensive as well. Yeah that's a nice though Josh - but we have got enough 'dangerous' and 'alien/cursed' rides that formed when something was 'dug up' etc...

[sparky]

I'll change the UK park's minds how they think about wooden coasters bacause if I'm very lucky to win the Lotto, i'll donate 5 million towards a "Woodie" like Thunderhead / Troy & Voyage.

[monsterdan5]

Go for it!

Or just cover the cost for some of Merlin's management to take a trip to Toverland and ride it

[AeRo]

Woodies are not deemed desirable by the General Public,according to Alton Towers. Parks like Toverland, Tusenfryd, Walibi World, Walibi Belgium, Parc Asterix, Europa Park, Tripsdrill and Efteling all seem to have a different view on the matter.

The initial cost is not that high - Troy cost 6 million Euro. It is the ongoing maintenance which most parks balk at - it is still significantly less than the maintenance costs of a B&M though!

[sparky]

Merlin should do something like SDC woodie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bufivAl3uck