Tiny TR: PowderKeg

Here is a quick update on PowderKeg. I got on it several times today and what can I say, everything falls into place on it. The launch is more drawn out than the previous two and, IMHO, is as smooth as an Intamin hydraulic. While you launch up a 60 ft. hill the train dives about 110 feet down a hillside. The track twists and you get some nice floater air over hill two. The train snaps through an over banked turn and through another airtime hill that flows to the left. Here the ride switches modes and is all about speed as it cruises through the supports and tours the grounds like a bat out of hell. The transition into the lift hill is a bit abrupt as there are two sets of magnetic brakes. I think this comes from the way Premier designed their lift, which was made for lifting a boat instead of a coaster train. The lift provides beautiful views of the area and you catch your breath before diving down a nice drop (which looks like it will have a splashdown effect added at a later date) and into a zesty element to end the ride.

Overall my favorite part is the launch sequence. The train actually advances out onto a transfer track. After locking you ascend at a 45-degree angle into the launch shack. The ride rolls out, the catch car connects and you’re off. For those watching the ride SDC pulled out all the stops and has smoke, fire and water all going off as the train rockets riders forward. From all of the smiles I would say that SDC and S&S have another winner on their hands.

Adam

Sounds fantastic! I can't wait to ride it.

I think Powder Keg has been overshadowed a lot by some of the other new for 2005 coasters. Initial reports have been positive though. This could be the sleeper hit of the year.

Thanks Adam.

Kyle

> Sounds fantastic! I can't wait to ride it.

> I think Powder Keg has been overshadowed a lot by some of
> the other new for 2005 coasters. Initial reports have been
> positive though. This could be the sleeper hit of the year.

> Thanks Adam.

> Kyle

Fact is, that no new coaster should be sleeper hit, this sounds like a great addition to the coasters for the year. I need a trip to Branson and will probably be a trip needed.

Ed

> Here is a quick update on PowderKeg.

In the nicest, most courteous and polite way possible... "you suck". No, I meant to say I'm glad you got to try this new coaster that sounds great.

Powder Keg has since the announcement sounded like a great ride. Your report only puts evidence behind what I thought. I guess Silver Dollar City gets put a couple of notches higher on the "to visit" list.

-Eric

I got the impression that the US-boards were discussing RITA more than PowderKeg.
I always thought that PowderKeg would be one of the most interesting launch coasters since it used terrain AND has something the Intamin rides lack: long track.

The only thing that I don´t like about the layout is the lifthill. Lonnol says it is a nice change of pace and offers beautiful views. But don´t you think there is something missing after it?

Living in MO and only a quick 3 hours for SDC, I now (if there was ever a doubt) feel completely blessed to be so close to a park I rank #2 following Disney World. I rode PowderKeg just this weekend for the grand opening and while I haven't ridden that many coasters (111 currently including 4 launched) I was extremely impressed.

The launch is fun, as has been mentioned but the rest of the ride is just flat out amazing. There are no inversions on PowderKeg and the ride does not need them, it has speed, airtime and a wonderful ride through the woods, this is not just another roller coaster on a slab of concrete! It is also incredibly smooth, quoting my husband, B&M now for once has serious competition!

I was afraid the lift was going to add a chopped up feel to the ride, and while yes, it's weird to have a lift in the middle of the ride, I think it does not take away from the ride in anyway. After you do the straight drop into the woods, go over a couple of hills and through a Apollo's Chariot-like airtime element (Im not sure what it is official called, its like a highly banked, airtime filled element), and then make a fluid transfer to the Buzz Saw Falls turn, a lift hill offers a nice breather, and a spectacular view, The drop is fun, and then there is a little extra speed, and airtime after that, and then you're back into the station. It is a very well paced ride, and absolutly worth the trip, along with WildFire, Wildcat (at CC), Thunderation and the food which is amazing too :)

For those who haven't visited the great state of Missouri, I am starting to feel we are the most overlooked coaster state as we have some of the best versions of every type of coaster.

Jennifer

> Here is a quick update on PowderKeg. I got on it several
> times today and what can I say, everything falls into place
> on it. The launch is more drawn out than the previous two
> and, IMHO, is as smooth as an Intamin hydraulic. While you
> launch up a 60 ft. hill the train dives about 110 feet down
> a hillside. The track twists and you get some nice floater
> air over hill two. The train snaps through an over banked
> turn and through another airtime hill that flows to the
> left. Here the ride switches modes and is all about speed
> as it cruises through the supports and tours the grounds
> like a bat out of hell. The transition into the lift hill
> is a bit abrupt as there are two sets of magnetic brakes. I
> think this comes from the way Premier designed their lift,
> which was made for lifting a boat instead of a coaster
> train. The lift provides beautiful views of the area and
> you catch your breath before diving down a nice drop (which
> looks like it will have a splashdown effect added at a
> later date) and into a zesty element to end the ride.

> Overall my favorite part is the launch sequence. The train
> actually advances out onto a transfer track. After locking
> you ascend at a 45-degree angle into the launch shack. The
> ride rolls out, the catch car connects and you’re off.
> For those watching the ride SDC pulled out all the stops
> and has smoke, fire and water all going off as the train
> rockets riders forward. From all of the smiles I would say
> that SDC and S&S have another winner on their hands.

> Adam

The ride sounds great. Just another excuse for me to get down there and try it out.

I guess my only question is whether the lift hill was really necessary to keep in the mix. Could they have simply placed a smaller airtime hill in it's place? Just curious. Sounds like fun!

Well we where at Press Day for PowderKeg and got a chance to speak with Pete Herschend (one of the two Herschend sons), who basically said that they wanted to keep as much of the track as possible to save money (can't blame them), since it was good trackage. You can definitly see the difference between the S&S track, and the Premier track, The only remained parts of Buzz Saw Falls is the turn into the lift (which pulls some G's as I don't think it was designed with that kind of speed in mind), and the lift of course. We where there with a friend of mine too who said he noticed a very small bounce between the S&S/premier track change, I didn't notice a thing though. Plus I love the theming as they have "crashed" a Buzz Saw boat/car into the top of the Q-House, along with some twisted track that comes out of the launching station. Plus the pyro-technics that go off with every launch, to simulate exploding powder.... It startled me every time.

ALso and this is very detailed.. the old Lumber Camp signs from the Buzz Saw splash down (showing the different tools they used) the park actually has those up so you can see them on the train ride, on the opposite side of the fence from PowderKeg.

To finish a really long post off (SORRY!) The lift hill doesn't really make the ride a bad ride. I can't say enough good things about it, as Jeff (my husband) and I where talking later on that PowderKeg is really the first launched coaster to get everything working together. It's smooth, has a good launch, and has a good ride AFTER the launch. For those visiting SDC I also can't say enough good things about Wildfire either, that has got to be the best B&M that I've ridden, and I've ridden Top Gun, Dueling Dragons, The Hulk, Dominator, etc.

Jennifer

> For those visiting SDC I also can't say enough good
> things about Wildfire either, that has got to be the best
> B&M that I've ridden, and I've ridden Top Gun, Dueling
> Dragons, The Hulk, Dominator, etc.

Wow, considering that Hulk is at the top of my list, this place is a must for this summer.

Thanks for the in-depth. Utilizing track to save money is certainly a smart move on their part, and allowed for better overall theming from the sounds of things.

Powder Keg does look like it's a great ride, and I'm certainly jealous of those that got to ride it. Guess I have to keep bugging my mother to find some inheritance money so we can go visit her as an excuse to go back to SDC. (she lives about an hour away from Branson)

I'll agreen with ^ in a limited sense- yes the coasters there are great. But I wouldn't quite put Wildfire up as high as she has it, prefering Kraken and Dragons over it, along with a few others. But Wildfire is certainly a great coaster, if just a tad bit short. And the rest of the park is absolutely fantastic. I don't know how BGW can win a "best food" award as long as SDC is around.

I agree that the dragons are very good (especially Fire), and Hulk is great up until the breaks (you think the ride's over) but the reason I think WildFire is that good, is because first it's one of the only 2 B&M's that doesn't bang me up (the other being Hulk) and it has such a wonderful transition between the elements, the ride has only five inversions, but trasitions from one to another seemingly without any effort at all. While it seems the others are much more agressive in doing so. the drop is fun too as it is straight down and not the more usual B&M curve.

Jennifer

> I think WildFire is that good, is
> because first it's one of the only 2 B&M's that doesn't
> bang me up (the other being Hulk)

man...B&Ms are usually the cadillac of coastering. The only one I've ever experienced any remote sense of banging on is Iron Wolf, and it was their first major installation, if I remember right. I can't imagine what a Vekoma does to you...

Thanks for the report! I've been waiting to hear someone's reaction to the ride.

--Robb "Will be at SDC in about two weeks!" Alvey

You know that's funny most beat the heck out of me. I think its because Im short (5'3"), my head rattles and bangs against those horse collars so bad sometimes, when I rode Dominator (my first B&M) I came off mad because everybody HAD told me how smooth they where and the Vekoma SLC ThunderHawk next door was less painful!

I know Im weird....

Jennifer