Parkz News Sea World's Sea Viper closes after 32 years

[iwerks]

Besides the time Gazza recommended that Adventure World should get a Eurofighter and they did - nime years later.

[Jobe]

Besides the time Gazza recommended that Adventure World should get a Eurofighter and they did - nime years later.

Hehe true! Well I want all and sundry to know that if Luna Park Sydney get a Maurer Sohne Spinning coaster then it was at my constant urging.

[iwerks]

To be fair Turbo Mountain was installed from 1991 to 2009 - 18 years in total. That represents pretty good value for a ride that was already considered old when it was installed in '91. Schwarzkopf's god bless them!!!

Good point. I'd forgotten how long the ride had been around for - I was thinking more along the lines of the trouble they had getting parts for it in the later years. It was great fun to ride. Even though it wasn't a wild mouse, it certainly gave The Royal Show's roller coasters, such as Python Loop (not a Wild Mouse), The Wild Mouse and The Chipmunk a ride for their money. The Wild Mouse, of course, is still running at Aussie World and apparently the Chipmunk that used to tour Australia only just retired last year - now that's a long time!

http://www.australianamusementfanatics.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=3503

[Jobe]

Good point. I'd forgotten how long the ride had been around for - I was thinking more along the lines of the trouble they had getting parts for it in the later years. It was great fun to ride. Even though it wasn't a wild mouse, it certainly gave The Royal Show's roller coasters, such as Python Loop (not a Wild Mouse), The Wild Mouse and The Chipmunk a ride for their money. The Wild Mouse, of course, is still running at Aussie World and apparently the Chipmunk that used to tour Australia only just retired last year - now that's a long time!

Yeah its a regret of mine that I never,ever got to ride it- neither when it was at Luna Park Sydney where it was known as Geronimo or when it was at Adventure World. The closest I got to riding it was watching my father ride it in 1983 not long after LPS had reopened after the Ghost Train tragedy. ( I was very young) . Shame.

However I certainly do remember the Chipmunk travelling coaster with a great degree of fondness! Loved that ride and the space age looking cars- it was brilliant!!! I used to ride this every year without fail when it came to the local show. It must have travelled the East Coast of Australia for over a decade. It always felt so out of control- its a pity it went stateside. I had heard about its fate- it finally went the way of the scrapyard. It was manufactured by Miler Manufacturing, a little known coaster company in the US. Great times and memories!

As far as the Python Loop is concerned , I have never ridden it. I know that it is a Pinfari model but it usually sticks the Western and Southern Australia- to my knowledge it has never travelled the East coast before. I would like to ride it for the credit but to be honest it does not look like it is anything special.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Jobe

[iwerks]

A spiral lift hill would have been cool on the Geronimo. Loved the chipmunk's cars too - just that much more room than the wild mouse. And as the ad used to say - it's not the Royal Show without the wild mouse. Python loop is a bit like the indiana jones ride at Disneyland Paris - nothing special.

[Tim Dasco]

Jobe the Python loop only does the perth royal show and the neat ideas christmas festival because show west put it up for the show in August and take it down in December.

[DJKostya]

I'm not sure if it is the same Python Loop but I do remember riding one at Darling Harbour when I was about 10, so somewhere around 1995. The had a little sideshow area set up next to where Sega World used to be before they built all the shops and restaurants. I remember because my dad asked if I really needed to ride it because we were going to Wonderland the next day for my birthday.

On the whole on topic thing I have some very fond memories of the Corkscrew (It will always be the Corkscrew tome not this Sea Viper crap). It was the first looping coaster I ever went on way way back in about 1994. I remember being absolutely terrified of going upside down until my step dad literally dragged me onto it, I think he only slightly regrets opening that Pandora's Box now!!!

Edited July 22, 2014 by DJKostya

[zacsta_1997]

Why can't they bring the Python Loop to the Easter Show in Sydney around April? We have the Tiapan, similar but with no loop

[themagician]

Deconstruction of Sea Viper has already begun (Photos from: the theme park social network):

[Jobe]

Wow!! That is very very quick!! Maybe our idle speculation on its replacement could be closer to reality than we all think!! Maybe plans are further advanced than we think!!

[themagician]

They just posted another photo:

[downunder196]

It's great how quickly they are getting the job done but it's a very sad sight to see.

[Brad2912]

Really surprised to see it already going down.

It's a good thing though, shows SW doesn't want to leave something standing & inoperable, and HOPEFULLY means there is actually a plan in place already for the area

[lolman123]

^except volcano ride.

its so sad to see corkcrew (always will be corkcrew to me) being torn apart though (i guess at least there not just letting it sit there) hopefuly we see a worthy replacement

[themagician]

My guess is will we see a new attraction next year

[Gary86]

More pictures of the Sea Viper demolition from the Theme Park Social Network

[bladex]

wow their tearing that down quick unlike the mine ride

[Brad2912]

The mine ride is at DW.

Sea Viper is at SW. Different companies.

[Gary86]

wow their tearing that down quick unlike the mine ride

Dreamworld use the Mine Ride for storage, why would they tear it down? Of course they should listen to there fans and revamp the Mine Ride.

I bet a new roller coaster will open at Sea World next year and Dreamworld won't build anything exciting...

[bladex]

The mine ride is at DW.

i know look at the difference what to do and not to do

Dreamworld use the Mine Ride for storage, why would they tear it down?

they have plenty of storage areas already

Edited July 30, 2014 by bladex

[Gary86]

they have plenty of storage areas already

I was being sarcastic. I would love them to build a new Mine Ride but they won't

[themagician]

Another update (source: theme park social network)

[Reanimated35]

Complete scrap metal now. They could sell off some parts to collectors.

IMO they should have also mapped it and created mini models of it

[bladex]

they sure are in a hurry to tear it down...wonder why hehehehe

[Flea]

At this rate it'll be gone by next week. Sad to see but also great that as soon as it was deemed irreparable it's coming down. Nothing more depressing than a boarded up SBNO ride.