Intimidator 305 is named after the late Dale Earnhardt's stock car. The name of the coaster references Earnhardt's nickname, his car number (3) and the height of the coaster, 305 feet.
At top speed the $25 million coaster will go about 92 mph, following an 85-degree, 300-foot initial drop. It will contain three high speeds turns and six air time humps. There is a small lake in the middle of the coaster. The trains will be black, with the red Chevy logo upfront, have about 16 rows of two across, and overhead restraints.
The concept art shows the coaster stretching from the anaconda station to beyond the Rebel Yell turnaround. The brake run will take place on a downward slope with what is probably magnetic brakes.
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Unless, of course, they have to use the number to differentiate this ride from a coaster with the same name but a different height...will "Intimitador 250" be announced next week?
I am also glad Cedar Point still has the tallest Giga. Would not want a second tier park to take that mantle from the Coaster Capital of the World! Noting against KD, but come on, there is some symmetry in having Orlando and Ohio at the top of the Theme and Iron Ride Park Universes, respectively.
There's no doubt that Busch Gardens is and will still be a world class theme park (hopefully), but despite it's somewhat cornish name, this is the kind of ride that changes things up. If it's as good as Millennium Force, Kings Dominion will have the attention of the marketplace next year. Of course, time will tell what Busch opens up in the next couple of years, and what will happen with Nickelodeon and the childrens area in Kings Dominion.
I think it's easy to look at KD and say what a great park it is with all the coasters, but many of them are pretty lousy. Dominator, FoF, Volcano, and Stunt Coaster or whatever they are calling it are pretty much it. The wooden ones haven't held up well at all.
This coaster seems like it will head to the top of the class so it definitely closes the roller coaster gap with BGE. BBW was a nice kiddie introduction coaster, but of the 5, I'm glad that's the one that's leaving.
Now add in seven additional quality rides or attractions: the drop tower, the top spin and unique attractions like the Rugrats Toonpike, Space Surfer, Americana and the Eiffel Tower - that's 15 exciting or unique attractions.
This competition is turning into a rout!
Big drops, lots of airtime, high-speed turns ... Is anyone else with me when I say that too many modern coasters are near-identical?
I've worked in the industry in some form or the other since I was 17, and I have been in plenty of situations where it seems like all we ever did was discuss market position and competition. Granted, I would assume in that, in today's economy, that my experience wouldn't necessarily be the same.
That being said, BGW (because I'll never get used to calling it BGE) has never, thankfully, been caught up in the coaster wars, instead focusing on providing the complete package of an amusement park, combining a good ride package with great entertainment options, some of the best food and retail options in the industry, and probably the most beautifully themed/cleaned park without the name Disney in it. Granted, there is some professional bias in the statement, but considering I live on the other side of the country at this point, it is sincere praise.
That takes nothing away from the quality of Busch Gardens. It's one of the best, but it's not bringing anything new to the table. People like to be thrilled by new coasters, and they will come to ride Intimidator because most (at least in that part of the country) will have never ridden a coaster with this kind of size and speed. The competion in this market is now very real, especially if the expansion of Kings Dominion continues at this rate under Cedar Fair.
I love KD, and have been visiting at least once every other year since I lived in Virginia in the early 80's. But even with all those coasters, the park pales when compared to the complete immersive experience offered by BGW.
KD will definitely experience some temporary attendance gains when the new coaster is added. But if the infrastructure for a high quality park experience to rival what is offered by Busch Gardens is not in place, repeat business will be unlikely.
KD needs more than a new Giga to make a real, long term dent in the Virginia Theme Park War. They need more whole-family attractions, better food, better customer service, and of course, a much cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing park.
In short, there is a lot more to running a successful theme park than building roller coasters.
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