Mindbender at Galaxyland to be retired
- Thread starter TPoseOnTantrum
- Start date
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- galaxyland ride retire
TilenB
Strata Poster
Same. That coaster derailed and killed people due to shoddy maintenance and being run in the way that it wasn't designed to, likely causing a lot more of wear and tear than it was supposed to, yet it got relocated. Obviously we don't have the faintest clue on what Mindbender's current condition is like, but on paper an indoor coaster that was likely a subject of strict safety checks due to its history should be in better condition than Quimera was?
It's really a question of whether the park deems it worth to carefully remove the ride piece by piece rather than tear it apart.
cookie
Giga Poster
Quimera was built to be plucked apart and moved around, though — Even at La Feria Chapultepec it stood on temporary foundations. Mindbender, as far as I can tell, looks to have a more permanent support structure, so it might be harder to sell to another park even if the track condition was better.
All it would need is a solid foundation, the supports are bolted to the concrete floor but are not part of the building structure!
TPoseOnTantrum
Giga Poster
If I had to throw my two cents in here…
My friends in Edmonton claim that the coaster was salvageable, but it would have taken the park a solid $10K to fix it. Unfortunately, they have chosen to dismantle it, a huge logistical challenge that will cost several times that amount, and be a major project on its own. And that’s not even mentioning how much a replacement would cost.
The WEM - and Triple Five as a whole right now - is not in a healthy enough position where they can spend a massive amount of money to design and build an adequate replacement for Mindbender. A lot of locals are doubting that it will even get a replacement, but I prefer to be a little more optimistic. Maybe one has been in the works for a long time, or maybe Galaxyland realized that this was the time to part ways with some luggage. They’ve been trying hard to change their image with this whole Hasbro rebrand, and perhaps ditching their signature attraction is the most effective way to do it. It’s not exactly a thrilling future, but it’s the one we’ve got.
On a more positive note, I did discover some slide pieces being manufactured for the Mall waterpark’s upcoming, upgraded Corkscrew tube slides, so perhaps that large new attraction goodwill could always spill over.
My friends in Edmonton claim that the coaster was salvageable, but it would have taken the park a solid $10K to fix it. Unfortunately, they have chosen to dismantle it, a huge logistical challenge that will cost several times that amount, and be a major project on its own. And that’s not even mentioning how much a replacement would cost.
The WEM - and Triple Five as a whole right now - is not in a healthy enough position where they can spend a massive amount of money to design and build an adequate replacement for Mindbender. A lot of locals are doubting that it will even get a replacement, but I prefer to be a little more optimistic. Maybe one has been in the works for a long time, or maybe Galaxyland realized that this was the time to part ways with some luggage. They’ve been trying hard to change their image with this whole Hasbro rebrand, and perhaps ditching their signature attraction is the most effective way to do it. It’s not exactly a thrilling future, but it’s the one we’ve got.
On a more positive note, I did discover some slide pieces being manufactured for the Mall waterpark’s upcoming, upgraded Corkscrew tube slides, so perhaps that large new attraction goodwill could always spill over.
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$10k doesn't sound that bad, though. It's, what, 4-5 months of wages for one ride operator? Or like half the cost of a set of replacement wheels for one train? It sounds like a trivial share of the annual running cost for the coaster. Are you sure that number is correct?
SilverArrow
Certified Ride Geek
Every time I see this thread get bumped I brace for ugly scrap metal demolition photos. They're coming.
TPoseOnTantrum
Giga Poster
Idk how true that number was, but I was adamantly told that they needed a "part" for it to physically operate and that would have come to $10K CAD. That reasoning has been consistent for the past year leading up to the announcement but if those hairline crack rumors are real then I didn't hear about it.
Lori Marie Loud
Giga Poster
Pour one out:
TPoseOnTantrum
Giga Poster
Better source; https://www.youtube.com/live/nG8RDB_e9S4
Lori Marie Loud
Giga Poster
Whatever the source, that piece is far too small to be just a normal track piece. I get the terrible feeling that this one's getting melted down.
TPoseOnTantrum
Giga Poster
That piece of track was cut, not removed at the connection points. It's 100% getting scrapped, demolition is going to be a crazy logistics challenge.
Lori Marie Loud
Giga Poster
Alright I believed this at first but now I want to ask - Where are the connection points relating to this segment of track? Lot of Reddit buzz about how that piece was removed at the connectors and a lack of blowtorch marks.
TPoseOnTantrum
Giga Poster
lom.lom.lom
Roller Poster
Lol if there's anything that makes me feel confident in a ride being scrapped it's a dumpster that says "WE BUY SCRAP METAL". RIP Mindbender, I hope Dreier Looping opens this year in time for my trip to Indiana Beach (which is what I said about a year ago)