Removal
Early in the 2010 season, rumors began to circulate that the Great American Scream Machine was being removed at the end of the season. By mid-June rumors circulated on message boards that the coaster was to close June 30, 2010 and removal would begin July 1, 2010. Rumors also stated that its replacement would be Chang from the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. The rumors initially were neither confirmed nor denied. One staffer stated that "The Great American Scream Machine is staying until we are told otherwise". It was stated that the coaster certainly was not being removed July 1.
Then on July 5, 2010, Six Flags Great Adventure informally announced on their official Facebook page that the Great American Scream Machine would be closed on July 18, 2010 permanently and then removed to "make room for a major new attraction in 2011." Rumors continued to circulate that the replacement would be Chang. On July 9, the official Six Flags Great Adventure website also announced that Great American Scream Machine would close July 18. The coaster was closed on July 18, 2010 at the end of the operating day. Immediately after the final run as the last riders had made their way out the exit on July 18, 2010, the power was cut to the ride area and deconstruction began immediately on the trains and ride area fences, where the park began to place "under funstruction" fencing and signs.
Guests noticed during the next week that much of the ride had been demolished. It soon became evident that demolition was proceeding very quickly by early August, as the bulk of the coaster's body was taken down, and demolition of the lift hill had begun. The small building in which riders could purchase their on-ride photo had been demolished as well. It has also been confirmed that the ride was being scrapped, not relocated.
A first look at the outline of the new ride replacing the Scream Machine was revealed on August 6, 2010. The new ride is noticeably larger than the Scream Machine, and the outlined lift hill would face in the opposite direction of the Scream Machine's. Six Flags has requested permission from the town of Jackson, NJ to remove parking spaces from the area behind Superman: Ultimate Flight to accommodate the ride's construction. It was unknown whether the new attraction would follow the Viper to El Toro footprints and utilize the Scream Machine's former station, or if a new station will be built for the new ride. Rumors that the replacement would be Chang seemed to fit the evidence.
On September 15, 2010, Six Flags confirmed plans to add Green Lantern, a stand-up roller coaster relocated from Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, where it originally operated as Chang. It would be re-themed to the DC Comics Green Lantern superhero.
Demolition officially ended over the weekend of September 18, 2010, which left Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain as the only one of the three original 7-inversion Arrow Dynamics coasters still in operation. Another example of this type of coaster, Shockwave at Six Flags Great America, was already demolished in 2002. The Great American Scream Machine was demolished to make room for Green Lantern.
Read more about this topic: Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Great Adventure)
Famous quotes containing the word removal:
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
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—Baruch (Benedict)