Texas Giant Tear Down And Rebuild

ThatTh*ngGirl · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject: Texas Giant Tear Down And Rebuild

This looks to be the work of a loooong thread over the coming year..

Sorry this one is not of great quality; my camera sucks when the sun isn't shining full blast. My camera sucks to begin with anyway, but.. Over the course of this I'll venture to other (closer) places to take pics, but today I was in a hurry.

Tear down has "officially" begun, as seen to the outside world..

The discussion is over: Wile E. has been carefully and safely removed from his perilous perch.

wiyoh20 · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:14 pm Post subject:

Texas Giant renovation gets rolling today at Six Flags Over Texas

12:58 PM CST on Monday, November 16, 2009
By KRISTY CHU / The Dallas Morning News

A major rebuilding of the Texas Giant roller coaster began this morning at Six Flags over Texas in Arlington.

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An engineering team – led by Six Flags "Mayor" Bugs Bunny, clad in construction gear – is overseeing the work.

The partial demolition of the iconic wooden coaster will take weeks to complete.

Today's work marks the beginning of a $10 million renovation of the famous rollercoaster. That's nearly double the $5.5 million cost of the original construction in 1990.

It's estimated that the replacement wooden coaster – likely to keep the same name and use pieces of the old one – will take a year to build. Park officials hope the new ride will be ready for the park's 50th anniversary celebration in 2011.

The original Texas Giant became known for its bone-rattling ride and stomach-churning drops. In 19 years, it was ridden more than 23 million times.

Park officials disclosed few details about the planned new wooden coaster, but Six Flags spokeswoman Sharon Parker said it would include a steeper drop and a smoother ride.

"Some elements of the old ride will remain; we are renovating, not completely getting rid of it," she said. "But that being said, once we bring in these new elements, it will give off the presentation as if it is a brand new ride."

Wooden beams from the original Texas Giant may be salvaged and stored for other construction and maintenance projects, park officials said. Other pieces of wood from the coaster will be turned into Christmas ornaments and sold at park gift shops.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/111709dnmettexasgiant.2c0e58da6.html
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Black Dragon · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

wiyoh20 · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject:

I have no idea how they got that number.
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batnick · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:07 pm Post subject:

I think thats different. I thinking that 1 million launches for GL. I think 23 million is the number of people that have ridden it in its lifetime.

ThatTh*ngGirl · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:10 pm Post subject:

ThatTh*ngGirl · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:14 pm Post subject:

November 16, 2009, the destruction commences:

Click on them to see larger. Thanks to Going For A Spin for the pics.

ThatTh*ngGirl · December 14, 2009

December 14, 2009

ThatTh*ngGirl · December 18, 2009:

December 18, 2009:

big_bend · Serpent Rider Joined: 26 Nov 2002 Posts: 29

That ride sucked. Too much vibrations and it was torture. Crying or Very sad

Hopefully, the new Giant will be a smoother ride.

Start Inhibit Dan · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:28 pm Post subject:

any updates?
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Daffy · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject:

I do not understand what they doing on it. are thet tear it ll down or just parts of it? what more they doing to it?

ThatTh*ngGirl · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject:

March 3, 2010

From Amusement Today:

"Six Flags Over Texas introduces new track design for Texas Giant renovation (Mar. 3, 2010) The Texas Giant's $10 million makeover officially got underway this week at Six Flags Over Texas.

Six Flags Over Texas Park President Steve Martindale, left, and Fred Grubb, owner Rocky Mountain Construction, point to the new Iron Horse Coaster track being installed on the Texas Giant. The first-of-its-kind track design is just part of a $10 million makeover the wooden coaster is receiving. When complete, the super hybrid coaster will open in 2011 for the park's 50th anniversary celebration.

During a press introduction Wednesday, the Arlington, Texas park, debuted the newest in track design for the traditional wooden coaster with the unveiling of Iron Horse Coaster track. The steel I-beam design is the result of three years of engineering. The Chinchillian Red painted track is not bent, but is cut, then welded together in 40 to 53-foot lengths before being bolted to the Texas Giant's wooden support structure. The new track design does not use any wood on the track bed, nor does it use any track bolts. A newly engineered galvanized ledger design, that the Iron Horse Coaster track bolts to, acts as the spine/backbone for the steel railed track. Weight of the new track is said to be about the same as the former 9-ply wooden track complete with steel track and track bolts.

The park also announced that when the new Texas Giant opens in spring 2011, it will stand 153 feet tall, 10 feet taller than it is now, feature a 79-degree first drop and will incorporate numerous 95-degree banked turns throughout the ride. The coaster will also be faster, reaching speeds of 65 mph.

"This ride is going to take the entire industry by storm," said Steve Martindale, Six Flags Over Texas park president. "Six Flags has built a reputation for developing original ride concepts and the Texas Giant will be our crowing jewel." Construction of the super hybrid coaster will be done by Rocky Mountain Construction Group of Hayden, Idaho.

Other details about the Texas Giant's renovation have yet to be to be announced."

Video of press conference

wiyoh20 · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:31 pm Post subject:

oh I can't wait to see what the new Texas Giant will look like!
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Mike Robinson · Site Admin Joined: 12 Mar 2002 Posts: 4184

So is it still going to be a wood coaster? It sounds like the track will be made of steel?