Just one question
Sounds like the title of the next Mitch Albom book, doesn't it?
Anyway ... if you had the opportunity to ask Will Koch just one question about our coasters, what would it be?
We're starting something new in the next few weeks and your questions will come in handy.
Simply click on the "Comments" link just below this post and type away.
Oh, and coaster geeks? Kindly use words a "commoner" will understand.
posted by Paula at 3:31 AM
53 Comments:
Will,
I love all three of the wooden coasters (Raven, Legend, Voyage) at Holiday World for so many different reasons. Thank you for building such world class woodies. I think they have certainly put Holiday World on the map.
My one question... Will you be adding a world class STEEL coaster very soon?
A B&M floorless would be a nice, TALL, smooth, family friendly, yet thrilling addition! Don't you think? (Oops, that's two questions)
Thanks for your time,
Jason Woolsey - Evansville, IN
4/24/08 5:26 AM
More of a comment but a question. Does Triming a coasters speed realy save a large amount of maintanice? I know other parks add trim brakes (usualy in the first drop). I know that block breaks are necisary but some parks year after year add more and more realy messing with the ride quality. I thank you for keeping your coaster in original form.
4/24/08 7:45 AM
Will,
I agree. An interverted coaster would add a nice thrill to the wooden coasters. How about it?
Shele
Evansville, IN
4/24/08 8:06 AM
Of all the other companies that own and operate amusement parks around the country..who is your favorite and least favorite..and why?
4/24/08 8:24 AM
Will,
Anyway to make the wooden coasters not so shaky? I love them to death, but boy do you get a beatin on them! I always have to take tylenol or excederin with me.
Thanks!
Amy - Pekin, IN
4/24/08 9:52 AM
I know that you plan rides a few years in advance. My one question for you is probably an obvious one, "What's next?" That is the only thing that keeps me wondering year after year when I visit your park. Thanks a lot for be the cleanest, friendliest park for the 9 years that I've been going.
4/24/08 10:08 AM
Hi Will,
First, huge "thanks" are in order for The Raven, Legend and The Voyage, as well as a wonderful theme and water park!
Question - Would you please consider a small wooden coaster? Something for the coaster-enthusiast-in-training, bigger than Howler, but smaller/gentler than Raven, built for the whole family with maybe just a 36" height requirement. It would be a wonderful addition to Holiday World!
4/24/08 10:08 AM
Dear Will,
Could you please save one (or two?) of the many "Standing But Not Operating" wood coasters? Any one of these (and there are others) would be a great addition to your park.
Giant Dipper/Geauga Lake, OH
Comet/Lincoln Park, Dartmouth, MA
Mega Zeph/Six Flags New Orleans
Screechin' Eagle/LeSourdsville Lake
Look at what Knoebel's did for The Rocket/Phoenix!
Thank you.
4/24/08 10:18 AM
Mr. Koch,
On behalf of my siblings:
If you had moments to live, which Holiday World roller coaster (just one) would you choose to ride and why?
The Moore kids
Elizabetown, Kentucky
4/24/08 10:24 AM
If you could steal any coaster from any park to add to Holiday World, which one would it be and why?
4/24/08 10:52 AM
Do the coasters actually run faster at different times- early in the season vs late in the season, morning vs evening, dry vs wet, and if so by how much do the speeds vary?
Thanks
4/24/08 11:17 AM
Ok, With a world class selection of wooden coasters I have to ask. Is It time for a steel Monster? Woods, Tunnels, How about A loop that starts under ground, Breaks the surface for the inversion and then dives back under. A million Ideas, but don't we all. How about that, A forum called, what should our next coaster be, for all the wild Ideas to stack up, some might even be good.
4/24/08 11:48 AM
For Raven, it costed so much money to get the ride built. Than, every year it costs so much money to maintain it. How much money does it cost year after year to maintain the ride? Is it in the millions, thousands, or what?
What I have heard is that steel coasters, it's cheaper to maintain than wooden coasters. That's why I'm wondering.
4/24/08 11:54 AM
Just curious; I'm sure there is a relationship between the initial cost of a coaster and the subsequent maintenance costs. It seems that although a wood coaster has a significantly lower initial cost, that savings would be eventually offset by the higher maintenance costs when compared to steel.
Is that a correct assumption, and how long would it take those higher maintenance costs to erode the inital savings?
4/24/08 12:05 PM
Is there any thought to placing Millenium Flyer trains on the Legend to make it much more rideable and perhaps smoother?
4/24/08 12:13 PM
Will - would you ever build a ride bigger than The Voyage?
4/24/08 1:18 PM
When I went to Holiday World last year, I rode "The Voyage" with high expectations given your past success with The Raven and The Legend. Unfortunately (and I never thought I'd hear myself say this), the ride was way too out-of-control to enjoy not to mention incredibly bumpy. As for the actual question, are you planning on building a *smooth* steel coaster anytime soon? I don't think I can take another bashing from the three you already have.
4/24/08 1:40 PM
Hi Will
How often each season do you personally ride each coaster?
Thanks, Adrian RCCGB, Nottingham, UK
4/24/08 3:23 PM
I REALLY LOVE ALL THREE OF YOUR WOODIES.
WELL YOU BRING A STEEL COASTER TO HOLIDAY WORLD, TALLER THAN THE VOYAGE?
PLEASE BRING A B&M HYPER TO HOLIDAY WORLD?(LOL)
4/24/08 3:23 PM
OK obviously people will ask you if you're planning a 500ft coaster or Coaster with 16 Loops but here's my question:
What were some planned coaster ideas that you might have thought of and then cancelled the project?
4/24/08 3:27 PM
Will,
This might be a little off topic, but, can we expect to see a water coaster at Holiday World in the next few years? It would be an amazing addition to the park. :)
4/24/08 4:13 PM
Why is it that every park still concentrates on adding coasters for their new attractions when all we read is that parks are now aiming to be more family oriented? Coasters have a distinct young demographic. Are you looking at adding more dark rides or something that grandparents can share and enjoy together with their young grandchildren? If not, why?
4/24/08 4:15 PM
As I read all these questions about new roller coasters and such, it makes me feel kind of left out to have a question that is not totally focused the acquisition of a steal roller coaster (because wood is good!) =)
My question is, what type of roller coaster would you guys be looking at if you got another one? I am definitely a fan of wooden roller coasters, but I enjoy the thrill of the inversions on steel ones. Would a "son of beast-esque" roller coaster be in the plans?
Sorry if that is more than one question, it seems more like one and a half to me...lol.
Anyways, what ever happens...something that produces extreme thrills would be greatly appreciated! (I say this because this year you seemed to have edged on the more mild additions).
Dagmar - West Lafayette, Indiana
4/24/08 4:34 PM
Question: Maybe I've just been to the park on the wrong days, but I seem to remember having a couple spots on the raven with water misters that have not been on in the past couple years. Was there a reason for their removal? I always liked the effect...
Question 2: (Paula didn't say there was a limit!) How many employees provide maintenance on the wooden coasters alone? Are they divided into teams to work on each coaster or do they work on all three?
Question 3: (I've been thinking of questions all day!) Do you keep track of how many people ride the coasters each year? If so, how is that done? Are there any other statistics tracked such as how many laps the trains take, uptime, downtime, etc?
OK, I think that's enough...
Neil
Columbus, OH
4/24/08 4:56 PM
Oops...just realized Paula did limit it to one question. Sorry Paula! You can take your pick! LOL!
Neil
Columbus, OH
4/24/08 4:58 PM
Um ... Neil? Thank you for reading the subject line of the HoliBlog post. Better late than never.
My only options are to "post" or "not to post" comments; I'm not allowed to edit (that explains all the typos that I can't fix -- they make me twitch). So, "post" it is.
4/24/08 5:16 PM
With three world class wooden coasters in the park, will Holiday World ever consider building a steel coaster with inversions?
4/24/08 5:22 PM
Will,
I have noticed that the current PTC trains on Voyage don't track very well, causing you to replace thousands of feet of track every year to keep the coaster running in good shape.
To help reduce the amount of maintenance required for the coaster each year, is there a possibility you will replace the trains with the new, single-bench articulated trains from PTC?
Thanks, and keep up the great work up there at Holiday World!
-Daniel
4/24/08 5:44 PM
what does it feel to you,Riding in the first row of Voyager?
David Guillot
4/24/08 6:18 PM
Thank you Holiday World for running a first class operation. I remember riding Voyage soon after it opened and thought... wow... this is now my FAVORITE wood coaster, AND it's going to be EXPENSIVE to maintain a great ride.
Those PTC cars, while wonderful, are like freight trains chewing up the track. The new single bench trains might be costly, but would you have to re-track as often to keep an "optimum as possible" smooth ride?
Thanks!
Chuck- Orlando FL
4/24/08 6:30 PM
will, what inspired you to make all these great rides at holiday world? I love the park to death. I know many people say they whant an upside-down coaster, but what I heard is that you would then have to become a theme park instead of a family park moving you out of number 1. I will admit though even a ride that spins upside-down or something would be cool. I know I'm all for it.
4/24/08 9:31 PM
I know that a steel coaster is not really the "ideal" coaster for Holiday World, seeings how the wooden ones reflect more of a family nature, but would a steel coaster be in the works, and not a super tall one, doesn't have to loop either... but something smoother...
people may hate me for this, but a stand up coaster has not been built in about ten years!!
this would be an amazing attraction for Holiday World, with your wonderful attention to your guests, I think this type of ride would be fairly simple to operate. this would also be a fantastic draw to the area, as the nearest "big steel" coasters are greater than an hour-to-one and a half hours away. This is an exciting time in the Amusement Industry...
Your decisions for holiday world will be the best I'm sure... but wouldnt it be fantastic to Shock everyone... AGAIN!?
4/24/08 11:20 PM
Will you be adding an Intamin prefab wooden roller coaster? Those are tons of fun and are smooth.
4/24/08 11:31 PM
Will,
I have never been to your park, but I am planning a visit this september. Your wood coasters are the best they say. I like wooden rollercoasters the most especially the ones that are "out of control".
My question is: where there any classic or lost coasters that inspired your rollercoasters?
Hans Arentsen from the Netherlands
4/25/08 6:25 AM
Will, I love your park!! Six years ago my husband and I decided we wanted to plan an annual family vacation in Indiana. After considering many options (the dunes, amish country, French Lick, etc) we decided on HW & SS. We did not know what to expect, especially with 3 young children, one of them being 9 months old at the time. We loved it!! And are planning for our 7th annual two day stay. My question is: how will you keep your park attractive for young families to visit? We enjoy the size of your park, the great rides, and the great atmosphere. Your park is very unique. Please don't lose that quality.
The Moore Family From Michigan
4/25/08 7:43 AM
Which one's your favorite?
4/25/08 8:38 AM
Hello,
As a former theme park employee, I commend you and your staff for running such an incredible operation. As other have asked, and I'm sure you will tire of reading this, is there a chance that you will work w/ Bolliger & Mabillard? They have done WONDERS for small parks (Tivoli), and of course
the big ones too. As a side note, someone posted a great idea about saving a couple of SBNO coaters, I'd like to add to that list Geauga Lake's Villain coaster. It's an old CCI coaster but similar to Voyage in construction materials and may be easier to relocate. Think it over... THANKS!
4/25/08 9:03 AM
Will,
Ive been to your park once and loved it. You still have to an Easter and Valentines Day to your sections of Holidays. Where do you get your Holi-ideas from?
4/25/08 10:41 AM
Is Will or anyone else going to actually answer these questions?
4/25/08 11:00 AM
Do you plan on having hollow seat dividers(seat dividers with a hole in them) on all of your coaster trains? Last year Voyage had them in every row, but Raven and Legend trains had a mix of hollow dividers and full dividers. Those hollow dividers are quite painful and bruise-inducing, especially on a coaster such as Legend.
4/25/08 12:02 PM
When will the park add a real "Family Coaster?"
I love all three of the woodies and they are great for the pre-teens to adults, but I know too many people young and old who find them too rough and bumpy.
Holidog is great for the real young kiddies, but a good family coaster like a Big Thunder Mountain style ride that is designed for a "40 to "42 rider would be perfect for the whole family.
Thank you for your time.
4/25/08 2:05 PM
I love wooden coasters and it's clear to see you build nothing but the best wooden coasters. I hope you continue to bring the best wooden coasters in the world to us.
I was just wondering if you had any plans or thoughts about any steel coasters in the parks future?
Hopefully i can make it up that way some day. The park looks so nice and it's a dream of mine to visit.
Keep doing what you are doing, its working very well for the park.
4/25/08 5:14 PM
I know a million people will ask about steel coasters, but what are a few steel coasters have you ridden (or want to ride) in other parks you're keeping an eye on? For example, are coasters like Behemoth (Canada's Wonderland) or Fahrenheit (Herhseypark) the kind of "big steel" you could see fitting in with Voyage, Legend, and Raven?
4/25/08 5:56 PM
Has there ever been any plan to add a sky ride/observation tower/giant wheel to the park?
4/25/08 6:00 PM
Will,
Are there any ride decisions within Holiday World you have regretted, and why?
4/25/08 6:54 PM
First of all I just want to comment that I disagree with the requests for a B&M/Intamin steel coaster at Holiday World, I think such a thing would be completely out of place with the park’s atmosphere and the 54” height requirements, and given the millions of dollars needed to construct a ride like that it would have to be a very short, generic and limited experience, a second-rate attraction compared to rides of the same nature at existing chain parks. I do think something like a unique Gerstlaurer or Maurer Söhne family steel coaster (possibly an inverting model, depending on how much of a family ‘thrill’ would be desired) might be a very good fit sometime in the future, especially since it could fill the void left after The Firecracker’s departure.
But that's a comment, not a question. ;)
My question is, what sort of creative process have you used when first conceptualizing your wooden coasters? Especially The Raven and The Voyage have some of the most effective, psychologically-paced ride dynamics I've ever experienced on a coaster, The Raven being a distinctively two-part coaster experience that creates a lull of familiarity with traditional coaster techniques before dramatically changing the established pacing in the finale, and The Voyage seeming to be an attempt at demostrating a completely developed dramatic arc. It seems most parks and designers set forth to make a coaster they focus mostly on the technical aspects of constructing a coasters, how to control forces, and then plugging in a collection of elements one after another to be able to satisfy whatever general specifications the project requires so they can have a marketably viable 'roller coaster' with a neat, organized list of all the different 'features' it has. I think the amusement industry is still in its infancy in this regard compared to the movie industry or such where intellectual creative talent is (or at least should be) as important to the industry’s success as business or engineering savvy. Your park’s coasters seems to be one of the few that really tries to 'do something' with the designs, so how exactly, when you were first sitting down with the talent at The Gravity Group, did you guys discuss a vision for making the world’s new best coaster?
Thank you for any insights,
-JKT
4/26/08 4:01 PM
A steel coaster would be nice... a tall (!), smooth one...
4/28/08 8:06 AM
Would you agree or disagree with me that a coaster such as the "Sheikra" in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay would be a great addition to your park? I would definately say YES and agree!
4/28/08 2:15 PM
Will,
If you had the oppertunity to be President/GM at any other theme/amusement park, which would you chose and why?
Thanks,
Terry - Decatur,IL
4/28/08 3:44 PM
Will,
Can you please build a clone or near-clone of Expedition Geforce. I think that would make a LOT of people happy. Thanks.
-Phil
4/30/08 4:02 PM
As a enthusiast who absolutely loves your park, I would like to ask, since you already have a Halloween section, have you ever had plans to do a tick or treat in the park or maybe even a haunted hide and go seek in the surrounding forest?
As for adding rides to the park, I completely understand that fact you wish to maintain the ideals of a family park. I do not believe that a hyper coaster is a good addition, but perhaps a smaller more fun compact such as 'Steel Hawg' or even a wild mouse. But I must agree with another user, what about a Ferris Wheel, observation thing?
Thank you for reading these.... we know you care. :-)
4/30/08 7:52 PM
Will,
After visiting "Noah's Ark" in the wisconsin dells, i really loved their water-coaster called the "Anaconda" Since Holiday World,and Spash& Safari are both #1,why not build a ride that could be used for both. this would most deffenitly bring more pepole to your park.
5/3/08 12:25 PM
Hi
The owner of a theme park here in Wales once famously rode his wooden rollercoaster naked on the last ride of the season. I was just wondering if Will had ever done that too!!
5/23/08 5:33 AM
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