Volume 3, No. 15. August 8,2003
Eric's Turn
Our
fall and rise
This one was for Ian. I hadn’t done it for anybody else.
As several amusement park operators and public relations managers and a few
park and ride designers know, I have never taken the plunge on a SkyCoaster.
I contend well enough with my profound fear of heights to enjoy roller coasters
and tolerate towers and tackle everything S&S Power has thrown at me. My
approach to SkyCoasters, though, was simple: no way.
OK, one way: I would do it for a good cause (some publicity stunt, at the least)
and with somebody who would pull the ripcord. Ian, part-time LOOP production
manager and full-time son, throughout the summer has told me he wanted to ride
a SkyCoaster. I told him to find somebody else to do it with.
Then Thrilltime Entertainment International installed a SkyCoaster at Royal
Gorge Bridge and Park near Cañon City, Colorado (THE
LOOP, July 25, 2003). Ian and I already were scheduled to drive to Denver
from Tucson, Arizona, for the American Coaster Enthusiasts Preservation Conference
last weekend, and along the way we were taking in some of America’s National
Parks (I’ve got to expose Ian to something other than amusement and water
parks).
Royal
Gorge was on the way. I couldn’t come up with a valid-sounding excuse to
avoid it, and Ian’s wishful sentiment was sounding more and more like whining.
He’s 14 years old, remember. Besides, why not make my first-ever SkyCoaster
ride one that swings out 1,300-plus feet (394 meters) over the Arkansas River
(pictured above)?
So there we were. Mike Bandera, vice president and general manager of Royal
Gorge Bridge & Park, met us at the front gate and took us on a brief tour
of the park, including traversing the highest suspension bridge in North America,
measuring 1,053 feet (319 meters) from span to gorge bottom. Built in 1929,
the 1,260-foot-long bridge (382 meters) struck more fear in me than the SkyCoaster
looming on the far cliff edge. Bandera, a Six Flags Over Texas 1961 original,
has a nice little operation at Royal Gorge, with 16 rides and attractions, including
the aerial tram suspended 1,178 feet (357 meters) above the river, a 1,550-foot-long
(470 meters) incline railroad sloped at a 45-degree angle, mountain man demonstrations,
a herd of elk and white buffalo. The park’s chief attribute, he admits,
is the gorge itself. “It took us a long time to dig this out,” he
joked. “Couple million years, at least. I don’t know how much it cost.”
Finally, it was time to step into our harnesses and waddle out to the SkyCoaster
platform. The initial discomfort of lying shaky-kneed and prone in a harness
being winched up 100 feet (30 meters) immediately fell away as we fell away
on our flight past the edge. Another bit of heightened heart-thumping came at
the apex of our swing (that is where Bandera measures his claim that the SkyCoaster
goes up 1,300 feet); after peaking—and peeking down—we got a brief
free-fall sensation as if we were no longer attached to the cable. But back
we flew over the platform, and I was expressing my delight both vocally and
with a thumb-up to Bandera (the other hand still was clenched tight around Ian’s
arm).
My thanks to Bandera and his courteous crew, Carol Anderson, Jenny Lozano, Wil
McClung, John O'Dell, Jason Reinholdt, and Trecia Willey.
The point of this story, as Ian this weekend heads from summer-home Tucson back
to Alaska to attend school, is to thank him for his hard, dedicated and skillful
work with us this summer. Thank you, Ian, for taking THE LOOP to new heights.
THE LOOP is written and produced by Eric Minton, Minton Enterprises, LLC. To see more examples of Eric Minton's work and Minton Enterprises services, visit www.ericminton.com.
©2003, Minton Enterprises
LLC
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