Vortex Floorless Conversion for CGA/Carowinds?

[Jarrett]

The rumor mill is hot today! And it appears CGA is getting its fifteen minutes of fame between this and the Flight Deck thing!

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/ ... g-the-ride

According to this article...

The park's general manager, Jason McClure, described the transformation as like “trading in a box truck for a Corvette.” He added, “You're still on the turnpike, but it's a completely different experience,” McClure said. Witherow said Cedar Fair plans to do the same with other aging coasters in its portfolio, including one next year at its park near San Francisco.

A follower on CPFoodBlog's Facebook page has provided a picture of Vortex with paint on the supports (not sure if I can post it). Does this pretty much confirm it? The paint appears to be a forest green color. CGA could really use something new and while this isn't necessarily new, it's something for the park and might improve the experience.

That being said, this probably isn't the most optimal location for this with SFDK and Medusa being so close by, but Carowinds has one of these too, and if I'm correct the closest floorless is Dominator which is far enough away not to matter. I've been wanting them to convert their Vortex since I rode Rougarou thinking it would be a kick **** little B&M as opposed to the headbangy parking lot coaster in an utterly themeless area it is right now. And with Cedar Fair trying to turn Carowinds into the "Cedar Point of the south" overhauling Carolina Showplace would be a good start.

 

[GuyWithAStick]

It would certainly help the comfort, but it just seems too small, and too close to SFDK to work well.

But then again, Knott's and SFMM have quite a few similarities, so who knows?

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[Hyde]

Neat to see the concept can be used on other roller coasters, but indeed Vortex is still a very early B&M, 2 inversion creation that pales in comparison to subsequent larger builds. Breathing new life into an older B&M, but certainly not a whole new innovation that will dramatically change the ride.

 

[Jarrett]

^I don't think it'll be as earth-shattering as Rougarou was, but it'll still breathe life back into it like you said. Vortex is easily one of the worst B&Ms I've ridden and I found that Rougarou's conversion did take a ride I disliked and make it a ride I liked, but Mantis was way better. I'm guessing this would take a ride I really disliked and make it one I don't mind. The issue with Vortex I found was actually more headbanging than that unpleasant leg tingling feeling, and floorless trains won't fix that.

I did have a thought, though. Remember the fake Centurion logo the park had made? Kings Island ended up using their fake logo for another ride rehab, could we see Carowinds paint Vortex blue and call it Centurion? I know Centurion had trademark issues that Bat didn't but I wonder if this is their plan.

 

[GuyWithAStick]

Very interesting idea. I'm 99% sure Cedar Fair will use the Centurion name. I'm not 100% sure if it's for a Vortex-floorless conversion, though. But who knows? Cedar Fair always has something up their sleeves.