A blast from the past...

[DianaR]

I was browsing though an old group site I used to belong to and, I stumbled upon an Asbury Park Press article from 2001...

Six Flags ready: Park to ride out roller-coaster economy Published in the Asbury Park Press
3/23/01 By JOSEPH SAPIA TOMS RIVER
BUREAU JACKSON --

Even with the weakening economy, the Six Flags
Great Adventure amusement park complex doesn't expect a
slow season. People still go on vacation and
look for ways to have fun, said Bill Muirhead, vice
president and general manager of Six Flags/New
Jersey."Not that we are immune to economic situations, but we
are less likely (to be affected)," Muirhead said. "We
are looking to a strong season, no matter what
happens.

"The theme park and Wild Safari are scheduled to open
for the season Saturday, April 7, with the Hurricane
Harbor water park opening May 25. Yesterday,
Muirhead and two colleagues, Ron Sevart, marketing
director, and Kristin B. Kocher, a public relations
officer, met with the Asbury Park Press editorial board to
talk about the Route 537 entertainment area's 28th
season and other issues. Coming this year is the
new Nitro roller coaster, which will be previewed for
up to 100 enthusiasts taking a ride the day before
the park opens to the public; the first-ever live
concert by the female band Eden's Crush; and the new
Hurricane Mountain slide at Hurricane Harbor. Nitro,
the park's 12th roller coaster, is 230 feet tall,
reaching speeds up to 80 mph. The approximately one-mile
track will provide a ride of about four minutes. Nitro
has seven "camelback" humps, including one with a
near-straight drop of 215 feet, an S-curve and a
spiral. Six Flags is going to run a "Survivor"-type
contest-campout April 4 to 6. While all 100 contestants will get
to ride Nitro at 6 a.m. April 6, the winners will
have first pick of Nitro seats.

Anyone interested in taking part may call Six Flags at (732)
928-2000, ext. 2833. Six Flags will accept entrants until
space runs out. The Eden's Crush concert also
will take place the evening of April 6. Tickets are
available from www.tickets.com. Hurricane Mountain
will be about 55 feet tall, with six slides, offering
three different ride experiences. The three are a
one-person tube, a three-person tube and a four-person
toboggan ride.

This year, holders of season passes
will have their own parking area and entrance, Sevart
said. All visitors will be able to reserve ride times
on select rides. In its concert series, Great
Adventure tries to vary the music, Sevart said. But he said
"country (music) is probably 50 percent of what we
do. Major country acts scheduled so far are Billy Ray Cyrus
June 16 and Randy Travis July 4.

Six Flags owns 2,200 acres from Route 537 to Reed Road, between
Interstate 195 and Hawkin Road. More than 1,000 acres is
undeveloped. "A hotel is still on our radar screen (in the
future), but we haven't made any commitments," Muirhead
said. "Any land we have, we may or may not
develop. When asked about concerns that the semi-rural area not
become overcommercialized, and encroachment on the
state-owned Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, Muirhead
said he doesn't view Six Flags as a threat to the
undeveloped state property and said the park is willing to
cooperate with neighbor's concerns. "I don't want to
give anybody the impression we're Great Adventure and
we can do what we want," Muirhead said.

Six Flags does not release specific attendance figures or
financial data concerning its operation here. The park
employs 190 people full-time and has a seasonal staff
ranging from 1,000 to 4,000. Great Adventure and
the Wild Safari opened in 1974. In 1999, Great
Adventure added 25 new rides, including the Medusa roller
coaster. Last year, the adjoining "Hurricane Harbor" water
park opened. Joseph Sapia: (Published on March 23, 2001)

Looks like Ron already knows a thing or two about the park. :wink:

[Bubba Z]

I couldn't find any tickets for the Eden's Crush show from the link posted     :lol:. I vaguely remember watching that show on TV, Pop stars was the name  I think ?

But anyway  it's pretty much meet the new Boss, same as the old boss routine. Things should work out great if Kristin said he was great to work for because she seems to have that great fun attitude, so Hopefully he is the same way.

Did anyone here camp out for Nitro?

[DianaR]

Whatever happens, I hope it all goes smoothly for everyone there. This is going to be a huge transition and if you read the latest article on the visit to SFOG, we are definately heading towards a differant style of Gadv. It's blatently obvious the end of the biggest and, baddest coaster era has come to SF. Now complaints will shift to the lack of good coaster installments lol.

They've also stated that more parks could be put up for sale. On the other end of the spectrum, will we become more like Paramount or, Disney? Most full blown enthusiasts covet these parks but, will they see SF in the same light if they are able to achieve this? There is just so much to think about. Whatever happens, I wish everyone luck and hope that everything works for the better. I hope that none of my friends who actually like their SF homepark, end up losing their parks to some developer during this process. Will this finally make *some* enthusiasts appreciate what they did have?

[chilled182]

i feel as though it is going to take ALOT of effort to take that stain away from SF's name.  I heard someone the other day talk about how many gang fights there are in the park.  That was atleast 20 years ago, and its sitll being talked about.

COuld you link me to that article about SFOG?


And i dont think the end of that era is nessicarily bad.. as long as we see a new era.  Personally.. a park is nothing without its rides.  Disney has perfected the art of thrill seeking.. and i hope SF does this too, in thier own special way.  no more wasteful coaster installments.. i hope we continue to see the great work that is GK.

[Nitro1118]

They've also stated that more parks could be put up for sale. On the other end of the spectrum, will we become more like Paramount or, Disney?

Oh god I hope not. I hated PKD, and Disney is great, but TOO family oriented. I see us becoming more like CP, except a little lighter on the addition of coasters and a little more on theming and such. But the bulk of the chain's advertising and such will go to our park, SFMM, SFGAm, and SFOT, which is the way it was always supposed to be.

I would like some parks to be sold, assuming that other chains will buy them. But, it would be nice to lighten the load and focus on the true moneymakers and hidden gems of the chain.

[GADVwow]

I know I am in a distinct minority, but a GAd more like CP would be a GAd I'd like a lot LESS than the one we have.  GAd is not CP.  GAd has the Golden Kingdom, the Safari, great live entertainment...all this if far superior to what little compares at CP.

CP is coasters, coasters, coasters.  CP has few flat rides, and what few there are have ride cycles of 60-90 seconds.  CP has relatively little entertainment.

It DOES have Breakers. It does have a resort atmosphere.  It does have some great coasters (and some that aren't).

But the best future for GAd, in my book, is not copying CP.  And I don't see Snyder/Shapiro doing that.

[chilled182]

I agree.  I did not care much for Cedar Point, and if we were to take a page out of someones book, I would rather have it be out of Walt's.