Kolmården: General Discussion

[AstroDan]

Looks great. Interesting how such a park has the funds.

Look forward to visiting in 2016.

 

[Benzin]

Looks great. Interesting how such a park has the funds.

Look forward to visiting in 2016.

Owned by the same people as Grona Lund, so they have a fair bit in the bank considering some of the plans that park had recently (The B&M Invert)...

 

[Rob]

I've updated this thread title seeing as we've known for a while what Kolmården are getting next year. However as well as the RMC in 2016, the park are getting a nice new family area this year including a Zierer Force 190 coaster. Here are a few photos from TPR:

Looks fantastic! The park have also released a map of the new area:

 

[Jonathan]

From CoasterForce - permission to build Wildfire removed

Ooh, dear. I hope they'll be able to get permission to build it again, but I'm not sure what'll happen.

(Thanks to @Dar for sharing it on Facebook)

 

[Danny]

Bummer

Hopefully they can get an appeal in fairly sharpish and not sustain a huge knockback on time scales.

 

[AstroDan]

Oh dear!

I presumed this thing was a dead cert!

Fancy announcing it before it was 100%!

 

[Rob]

Wow, what a massive blow for the park and woodies in Europe as a whole. Hope they can win an appeal but I wouldn't be getting my hopes up.

 

[Rob]

Just a little update on this from TPR:

Chatted a bit with the owners of the park today. I'll say more when I can but as of right now they have told me to share this message: "Let everyone know that Wildfire will happen and we appreciate all the support that we are receiving from coaster fans all over the world."

That is a small bit of comfort for Wildfire. I am glad they are confident about it!

 

[Rob]

An update from _koppen, a Swedish based member on TPR:

Kolmården is going to appeal the decision to the Land and Enviorment court.

This is the fast way of obtaining the license, if they go Kolmården's way. Then Wildfire can happen in 2016, maybe mid to late summer but still 2016.

If they say no then the zoning plan will have to be created and the ride will be delayed.

Hopefully they win the appeal!

 

[Rob]

Quadruple post but oh well! Another update from _koppen on TPR.

And all hopes of ever getting Wildfire to open sometime in 2016 is officially gone I'm afraid.

The park appealed to the higher Land and Environment Court and they were awaiting a hearing sometime this summer. It has however now been decided by "Supreme" Land and Environment Court that a small group of people who own a private road a bit further down the park has he right to appeal the project. Their right to appeal was overruled earlier by both the County Board and the Land and Environment Court.

But now it has been decided that they should be allowed to appeal, and the case will go back to the County Board again.

I'm not really following all the different directions this is taking, but I think that the case must now be treated by the County Board again before the Land and Environment Court can treat it, I don't think they will treat it parallel with each other. And we all know that the County Board isn't really that enthusiastic about the project as well..

I'm really starting to feel that Parks and Resorts should just invest the Wildfire money in the other parks for the next years, and start making a proper zoning plan for Kolmården, and then get Wildfire of the ground. There is just to much bureaucracy in this country..

So it doesn't sound like we will be seeing anything anytime soon which is a shame. The park must be regretting annoucing it all so early to some extent.

 

[Rob]

Five posts in a row, must be a new record!

Time for a postive update though which hopefully might re-generate some interest. Kolmården have posted this to their Wildfire website blog:

"What’s happening with Wildfire?

The process of our awaited construction of Wildfire and planned launch in 2016 has now been intensified. We hope for a positive decision from the authorities in the next months. We’ll keep you posted, hold on!"

So it seems like they are still hoping for a 2016 opening date which would be fantastic!

 

[Danny]

CF are reporting that Kolmarden have successfully won their appeal and Wildfire can officially go ahead.

 

[Rob]

Yep, confirmed! Here is some more information Folkbladet.se:

KOLMÅRDEN A week after the Land and Environment Court was sitting and view of Kolmarden Zoo came the decision on Friday. "Wildfire" may continue to be built.

- We did not understand the meaning of the judgment, but after that our lawyers looked at it, it is clear that it rejects the requirement of a detailed plan and that we can build on "Wildfire", says Christer Fogelmarck, President and CEO of Parks and Resorts.

He's very relieved and very happy about the decision. The building that stood still since the county administrative board's decision to revoke the building permit for the rollercoaster appealed has cost a lot.

- Not just money, but also power and energy. Now we can look ahead and realize plans for Kolmarden Zoo, says Christer Fogelmarck.

When exactly you can get started building again, however, depends on several factors.

- We have been in contact with our suppliers in Idaho and the Netherlands, where parts of the rollercoaster built and now we are in good order re-start construction. I hope the premiere tour can take place in spring 2016. Had we been able to complete the construction had half the carcass was finished now, and the whole "Wildfire" stood ready in the autumn, says Christer Fogelmarck.

He hopes that during the negotiations and in conversations with local residents and other stakeholders had to sort out various misconceptions and that there is no reason to be worried.

- We have a good neighbor and I hope to grow it even more, says Christer Fogelmarck.

However, there is a risk or an opportunity to land and environmental court's decision be appealed to the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal at Svea Court of Appeal. It shall in that case be submitted within three weeks from the date of judgment.

Let's hope that appeal doesn't happen and this can finally get built ready for next year!

 

[AstroDan]

I am still not holding my breath. I am sure it'll get built but for when, who knows.

 

[Lottie.]

Very pleased that planning permission has been confirmed for this!

 

[Rob]

Posted by Vekoma on Facebook:

We are back on track with Wildfire, The new record breaking Wood Coaster in cooperation with Rocky Mountains Construction.

Nice rendering there!

 

[Rob]

An update posted by someone from Kolmarden over on TPR:

He confirmed again that it is all going ahead as planned.

 

[Sammy]

It would appear the park has forgotten they have a YouTube page specifically for Wildfire, however they have uploaded this first 'Mini Construction Vlog' to their own YouTube along with the Wildfire Mini Site



It certainly looks, well... Wet. Very very wet! Not the most exciting of videos I must admit, but at least it looks like they intend on keeping fans in the loop with it all!

Along with the video there also now seems to be an Instagram Account for the ride too. It only has four posts so far, however two of those are some rather lovely looking concept images for the ride vehicles!

I have to say, they look stunning!

And in another update posted yesterday by the contact from Kolmarden over on TPR... The Wildfire has started!!

(Image Source - Theme Park Review)

The first bents have now gone vertical on site. Personally I can't wait to see some of the taller mountainside ones for the lifthill going up

So all in all, this project is very much back from it's brief death and is looking hopefully on track for a mid season 2016 opening.

 

[BigAl]

The rendering promised with the initial NL2 POV has finally been released:




Kolmarden still intend on opening Wildfire next Summer; here's to hoping! If a date gets set soon enough, I may just have to plan to revisit Liseberg and add Grona Lund to make a nice trip across Sweden!

 

[Alastair]

Some rather funny and endearing behind the scenes videos of their advert filming have been going up. They really are putting a lot into this project!