Volume 2, No. 5. March 8, 2002
Return visits
Down,
and now out
UPDATED March
9, 2002:
As Cedar Fair was announcing the removal of its two VertiGo thrill rides
this week, manufacturer S&S Power released the findings of a third-party
investigator.
One of the ride's three towers at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, which opened VertiGo as an upcharge attraction last August (THE LOOP, August 24, 2001), collapsed in January (THE LOOP, January 25, 2002). A statement released by S&S said independent engineering experts determined the accident was caused by "vortex shedding" that occurred while the towers were standing without the support of the attached passenger cart and cables. Cedar Point had removed the passenger triangle and their cables during VertiGo's winterization—part of the park's extensive preventive maintenance program—and without these to link and stabelize the three towers, independently they could sway beyond their engineered limits during sustained winds.
Ultrasound inspections of the rides at Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, which continued operations during the winter, showed no evedence of vortex shedding, the statement said. "In conjunction with the independent engineering firms, S&S has developed methods that eliminate the circumstances that can create a vortex-shedding phenomenon," the statement said.
Nevertheless, Cedar Fair decided Wednesday to remove the remnants of the ride at Cedar Point and the still standing VertiGo at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. "As extra-charge attractions, we believe the unfavorable perceptions resulting from the incident will negatively impact the popularity of the rides," Cedar Fair President and CEO Richard Kinzel said in a statement. "With the opening of Cedar Point less than two months away and Knott's Berry Farm nearing its peak season, we feel the best decision is to remove the rides from our parks." Cedar Fair also was conducting a third-party investigation of the incident, and those findings have not yet been released.
Still,
Kinzel's statement included an endorsement of S&S, citing the "excellent relationship"
between the amusement chain and the manufacturer. "We welcome the opportunity
to work with them on future projects," Kinzel said.
Thrill Shot at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, also
remains closed while test results are analyzed. Six Flags officials said Thursday
they have not made a decision on that ride's future.
Stan Checketts, S&S founder and CEO, called Cedar Fair's decision "a shame," saying that based on the engineering reviews and pre-incident performance reports, the ride "is the safest amusement ride in the industry today. We have several new sites opening this season and are pleased that park guests who love the ride will still be able to enjoy the experience."
