Merry-go-girl Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 The Monkey Puzzle should embrace their neighbour. If it were me I'd capitalise on the situation by renaming the pub to something like the Shrieky Bat and market towards Chessington guests who need dinner after they leave the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 What, The Shrieky Bat?! But yes, from what I gather there is no chance of another rollercoaster bein built on Vampire's location, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry-go-girl Posted September 12, 2013 Report Share Posted September 12, 2013 It's better then the Nag's Head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBobJones Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 What, The Shrieky Bat?! But yes, from what I gather there is no chance of another rollercoaster bein built on Vampire's location, unfortunately. Really? if you replace one roller-coaster with another (as long as it is not taller/louder or takes up space in the green belt, I really can't see why this could be rejected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 Because by today's local planning laws Vampire is illegal as it is or something like that. They are allowed to keep it probably until the end of its lifetime but nothing as big will be built on that site afterwards. That shouldn't rule out a smaller coaster being put there in the future, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Creek Posted September 16, 2013 Report Share Posted September 16, 2013 I hope the day the Vampire is at the end of its life is the day vekoma make swinging coasters similar to those of the defunct arrow so they can just retrack it. Then, technically it cannot be condemned planning permission. BigBobJones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swooddow Posted September 20, 2013 Report Share Posted September 20, 2013 vampire is great and certainly one of the parks signiture attractions , so I doubt they would get rid of vampire tbh. Its the first ride people want to do and its the last ride they do before they go home. I was supprised to find out that it was desinged by john wildly , you would have thought he would have got rid of some of the straight sections and added more banked turns , to give the trains more oppertunity to swing and to be slightly more interesting, but to be honest I still love it !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted September 21, 2013 Report Share Posted September 21, 2013 you would have thought he would have got rid of some of the straight sections and added more banked turns , to give the trains more oppertunity to swing and to be slightly more interesting, but to be honest I still love it !! With the original, heavier trains the ride did flow a lot lot better. The weight of them meant the swinging was higher and followed a wider arc, the track was really cleverly designed so the turns flowed into one another naturally and the straight bits weren't taken flatly as they are now. The lightweight Vekoma trains don't carry the lateral momentum out of the turns and just sort of flop to the middle awaiting the next manoeuvre. That is not how it was designed at all. BigBobJones and SteveJ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastertalksyt Posted November 24, 2021 Report Share Posted November 24, 2021 Definitely think it has time left in it, but only with a major refurbishment, maybe some new trains. And some areas of retracking, theme the tunnel section of the vampire. Definitely add more theming elements through the forest and add a facade around the whole building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marley Posted November 24, 2021 Report Share Posted November 24, 2021 Would Vekoma be able to replicate the arrow track to do a retrack? You're only in the tunnel for a split second anyway so theming it would be a little pointless.  I've bought up Vampires future previously and I'm quite astonished how long it's lasted. Loads of Arrow suspended coaster have bit the dust with only a handful remaining around the world.  I think it could get refurbished in the near future as most of us understand that Chessie needs Vampire to be operating to draw in the crowds. Depending if the potential new coaster that's possibly coming can become Chessies main attraction then maybe Chessie my start planning the end of life plans for Vampire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt N Posted November 24, 2021 Report Share Posted November 24, 2021 From what I can tell, Chessington is stuck between a rock and a hard place with Vampire.  The ride is aging, and parts are likely getting harder to find, but Kingston Borough Council have also forbidden them from replacing it with anything of equivalent size, so unlike many other parks with Arrow suspended coasters, they can’t just rip it out and bung a new family coaster onto the site. If/when it goes, they really are stuck in regard to replacing it.  Personally, I think the ride will either have been refurbished or removed by the end of the decade. As much as it is iconic, it’s also getting on a bit now, and the new coaster in 2023 may well set the wheels in motion for making Vampire a less integral part of Chessington.  It’s a tough situation for them to be in… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marley Posted November 24, 2021 Report Share Posted November 24, 2021 18 minutes ago, Matt N said: The ride is aging, and parts are likely getting harder to find, but Kingston Borough Council have also forbidden them from replacing it with anything of equivalent size, so unlike many other parks with Arrow suspended coasters, they can’t just rip it out and bung a new family coaster onto the site. If/when it goes, they really are stuck in regard to replacing it. Yeah it's a real conundrum isn't it? In an Ideal world they should of left Bubbleworks alone and when the new proposed coaster would open in the current picnic area would be the perfect time to bulldoze transylvania (minus trees) to get ready for a new dark ride. Could also plan on getting rid of Tomb Blaster as well as that's been on its last legs for a while now. Matt N 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted November 25, 2021 Report Share Posted November 25, 2021 Unfortunately most of the park is on its last legs. But that's what happens when most of your rides are 30 years+. Â I'd love if they could get Vekoma to do a full retrack of it given their new style SFC units. Especially with their tyre driven lift hills as that would negate the noise issue somewhat. Â Unfortunately I feel that it's very unlikely that much will be done until its scrap metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt N Posted November 25, 2021 Report Share Posted November 25, 2021 I wouldn't rule out a Vampire retrack; both Colossos at Heide Park and Shaman at Gardaland had like-for-like retracks funded by Merlin, and given that Nemesis is rumoured to be receiving the same treatment within the next few years, I certainly wouldn't put it past Merlin to greenlight this for Vampire, especially given that they can't replace it with anything of equivalent size. Â Admittedly, Vampire may be a little more challenging given that Arrow no longer exist, but given that Shaman was retracked by CSM (a Dutch steel fabrication company) as opposed to Vekoma, as well as the fact that Vekoma and S&S (both common servicers of Arrow coasters, particularly S&S) build very similar models, I think Merlin would be up for the challenge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.