[Idea] Get Rid of Silver Bullet

[Broadway Guru]

The ironically named Silver Bullet has shot itself right through the heart of KBF. This thing looms over the park like a facehugger alien, its tentacles reaching into every area destroying theme and ruining sightlines. No matter where you go, there it is. That may be fine for a straight big steel park, but Knott's seems to want one foot in the theme camp.

Ghost Rider makes a fine signature coaster for the park. Getting rid of Silver Bullet would help restore the period feel to Ghost Town.

[Linus]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

I like the coaster itself. I do agree the placement is kinda meh.

[Dutchman]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

I could see moving it into a different area, they actually have a lot of underutilized space they could develop. But getting rid of it completely, I don't think so. As far as Ghostrider being a signature ride, IMHO it needs the Rocky Mountain Construction Co conversion to re attain that.

[MrsMonroe]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

i'll say this in spanish: NO!!!
now i'll say it in italian: NO!!!
now english: NO!!!!
now russian: NIET!!!!
now french: NO!!!!!

all the languages agree: NO!!! im kidding. it is an eye sore but i love that ride. i would miss it but then again we still have Batman at Magic Mountain

GRAZZI

[Broadway Guru]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

I could see moving it into a different area, they actually have a lot of underutilized space they could develop. But getting rid of it completely, I don't think so. As far as Ghostrider being a signature ride, IMHO it needs the Rocky Mountain Construction Co conversion to re attain that.

What different area? That's the problem: it's in every area. I kept walking around the park, seeing these coaster supports, wondering what they were for, and then I realized they're all for the SB! I swear, it felt like the darn thing was following me!

[Dutchman]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

A lot of people seem to overlook the "backstage area" that once was the food processing facilities (yes they actually made the jams and preserves on property at one time). Most of it is used to store haunt materials now, which is a waste of revenue generating real estate. I've heard rumblings in the recent past that Cedar Fair is looking at expanding the park into this area.

[JerrodDRagon]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

Hard for me to comment on the placing since I just go during the haunt but for the ride itself...pretty fun

[lynxwiler]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

A lot of people seem to overlook the "backstage area" that once was the food processing facilities (yes they actually made the jams and preserves on property at one time). Most of it is used to store haunt materials now, which is a waste of revenue generating real estate. I've heard rumblings in the recent past that Cedar Fair is looking at expanding the park into this area.

The backstage areas of Knott's are packed to the rafters with offices and warehouses for merchandise, entertainment, costumes, and park decorations. They're not being wasted — not at all.

Sure a warehouse can be moved offsite, but the expense and travel between the park and the park's offices/storage would be ridiculous.

As for building a coaster on top of all that — I'm also not a fan. Part of the joy of riding high on any coaster is looking down at the landscape far below your feet. The backstage landscape should stay backstage.

Rather than move Silver Bullet, I'd vote to move Pony Express. It's more invasive than Bullet as it sits right on top of Ghost Town's Boot Hill cemetery.

[Dutchman]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

The expenses in transporting material is not as great as you might expect, whether it's done in house or contracted out. The profits from the additional revenue generated from the expanded area can more than offset that. There is underutilized property on the opposite side of Western Ave (employee parking and overflow), as is there land by the horse stables behind the Claim Jumper. It wouldn't be a great shake to place the fabrication shops in either location. Using that amount of space for warehousing within the resort area is just a waste of revenue generating property, and I know for a fact that re developing that area was seriously being considered by Jack Falfas' before his untimely dismissal.

[jcruise86]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

The ironically named Silver Bullet has shot itself right through the heart of KBF. This thing looms over the park like a facehugger alien, its tentacles reaching into every area destroying theme and ruining sightlines. No matter where you go, there it is. That may be fine for a straight big steel park, but Knott's seems to want one foot in the theme camp.

Ghost Rider makes a fine signature coaster for the park. Getting rid of Silver Bullet would help restore the period feel to Ghost Town.

I hated the way this loud ride roared past during the Wild West stunt show.
And this is probably because I'm middle aged, but it spun too much for me.
I prefer Jaguar, Xcelerator and even the Pony Express--if you get there when the park opens and they let you go around twice. Replace it with a western themed haunted house that outdoes the Haunted Mansion (my all-time favorite attraction).

Of course, if I were 18 I'd love it the way I loved Magic Mountain's Viper when it opened.

[Malin]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

I hated the way this loud ride roared past during the Wild West stunt show.

I agree it was a very loud and intrusive experience being built right next to the Stunt Show. I'll be in favour of them tearing down most of the steel rides and coasters inside that park. Most of them offer a very poor experience when it comes to thrills anyway. Knott's is one very confused park. It seems to want to promote itself as a Family park. But mostly offers rides and experiences that attract thrill seekers. Surely Cedar has other parks it can send some of these rides too. And that would free space up to start putting some dark rides inside the park.

[stevek]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

Had it been built over near Xcelerator, no big deal as you could have made that corner the "extreme thrills" section of the park. As others have said, it's placement is terrible and destroys so much of the atmosphere that area used to have.

[explodingboy]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

Rather than move Silver Bullet, I'd vote to move Pony Express. It's more invasive than Bullet as it sits right on top of Ghost Town's Boot Hill cemetery.

I agree.

Replace it with a western themed haunted house

Bring back the Haunted Shack!

[TCadillac]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

Forget the Silver Bullet. Do something with that freaking KOD building. How has that not been made into a new ride is mind blowing. It's been 8 years and it continues to rot.

[SpectroMan]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

I'd gladly give up SB in exchange for a bigger lake, boat ride, laser water show and Mission dioramas, but it's never going to happen.

It's my understanding that Knott's did NOT buy the Hurlbut property - why, I can't imagine considering it's history and proximity. Wonder if that could have freed up more onsite backstage space?

[Professortango]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

The most popular ride in the park? Yeah, that's not going to happen. Eyesore and poor planning, sure. But it's in and not going anywhere for purely aesthetic purposes. Hate Pony Express much more.

[Dutchman]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

It's my understanding that Knott's did NOT buy the Hurlbut property - why, I can't imagine considering it's history and proximity. Wonder if that could have freed up more onsite backstage space?

According to the LA Times the city of Buena Park bought the property. Amusement company's long ride comes to an end - Los Angeles Times It would be interesting to know what they paid for it. The article says that they plan to "develope" it.

[disneylandreport]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

The idea that you can just pick and move a ride of any kind, much less one with the footprint this one has, is kind of funny sounding. This is not an idle suggestion. Moving SB will not solve the overall problem the park has, and that is that it can't figure out what it wants to be.

[StevenW]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

I didn't notice the Pony Express siting on anything. The park definitely has a space issue. Nothing really fits. Short of starting over, I don't think moving the Silver Bullet will make things better. They need a long term plan. I would be curious to see what happens after they replace the Plunge water ride.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: Get Rid of Silver Bullet

It's not going to happen. I think the most we could hope for would be a "placemaking" type deal where they re-do the concrete to make it more like Ghost Town and do a bit more themeing in the station/switchbacks.

I think that could certainly help.