[gabed]

Random question. I'm not sure if this has already been answered or not, but here goes. How long does it take to plan a coaster like Fury until the announcement is made. I'm talking from the initial idea all the way until the announcement. I've heard it's along the lines of 1-2 years, but I'm not entirely sure. Can anyone answer this?

[Jay]

I asked this last year at C3, and was told right around two years.

I'm wondering when the initial idea for it comes up though. If March 2013 is when everything is locked in, how long is it a concept? Does the park have a wishlist like we do?

[RollerBee]

Scott Anderson told me that the park maintains a 5 year plan. Example: Goldrusher was on the 5 year plan to be removed but they decided to drop it from the plan. He also said that the further down the 5 year plan things are the more subject to change they are.

[coasterbruh]

Wait...WHAT! Did he give a reason why it was on the chopping block?

[RollerBee]

I didn't ask why, and Scott didn't say why. By the way, this was years ago and not recent.

[tylerSC]

They should always keep Goldrusher. And Cyclone as well. But wouldn't mind them losing or converting Vortex. Next coaster should be a launch coaster.

[FamousAmos]

After the Fury tour at the WWU, I spoke with John Taylor for a while and we spoke about Vortex.
He said that it is considered a "historic Landmark": considering the fact that it is B&M's third coaster ever, and Carowinds' first B&M (right?). We will never see a Rougaru treatment or anything like it anytime soon. In fact, we may never see that and I hope that we don't. Just maybe a new coat of paint and a somehow faster way to load/unload, plus more comfortable restraints. That's all I'd like to happen to Vortex.

[Jarsh]

Technically Vortex was B&M's second coaster since it opened before Batman did.

[RollerBee]

Jarsh, the first coaster was Iron Wolf in 1991, then Vortex at CGA in 1991(or was it 1992?). Vortex was around third or fourth.
Edit:
http://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=-8&ot=2&nm= ... 831&page=5
Vortex opened a few weeks before Batman, so Vortex is third.

[Jarsh]

Weird... I've always been led to believe that Carowinds' Vortex was second. Looks like at any rate, it was third!

[FUBAR]

Weird... I've always been led to believe that Carowinds' Vortex was second. Looks like at any rate, it was third!

If you go with coasters still in operation in their original park, it's their second

[FamousAmos]

Whatever the case may be, I hope it will remain as a stand-up coaster. It could just use more comfortable restraints, a new paint job (within the next 4 years or so), and a new, faster way of loading/unloading.

[FUBAR]

I rode mantis at CP last august. The trains on mantis were more comfortable and had faster loading... i wonder if we could get the old trains from mantis at carowinds.

[intaminboy]

Those trains are too long for the Vortex station. They would have to take off two cars for them to fit.

[RollerBee]

Is there any real difference between the Mantis and Vortex trains? I imagine they will be used for spare parts on both Vortex coasters.