Phantasialand 2014: Chiapas

[John]

Re: Phantasialand

Loads of new construction photos of Chiapas have been posted over on Phantasialand-fans. It seems this thing is even further from completion than the Smiler is, with the channel still a long way off being complete and the pumps, lift belts and motors still to be installed.

It looks like it will be an amazing ride, but I doubt it'll be open before June.

 

[Dar]

Re: Phantasialand

Thanks John! It's planned for at least a June opening anyway. Better be before I get there!

A couple of my favourite images from that thread, been meaning to make a post since Saturday!

Big drop under the walkway!

Station

Smaller lift

Inside somewhere, one of the switches to reverse the boat

Still got no idea what this is doing or the route it's taking! There's also a thread about Colorado Adventure and there doesn't appear to have been anything done in the big hall, except close it up again.

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

Something which I found odd as well was in a couple of photos where it appears Colorado has had new supports put in so Chiapas will fit! That can't be cheap to do?

I think I'd they're going to open in June it'll be towards the end of it. A fair bit of the ride is done and has been covered over awaiting spraying. The big things to get sorted out are the lake which is meant to going at the end of the first drop according to the model, and finish the rock work and theming... Hopefully though once the channel is sorted they can speed on with the rock work to at least have it soft launched in June. That said, the park never did tie itself to an opening date sensibly, so there's no deadline to hit with the guests really.

 

[Natalie]

Re: Phantasialand

I'm hoping it will be warm enough at the begining of Sept to ride this.

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

Warning - Very picture heavy post to follow!

I tell you what, they really aren't messing about building this now! It's flying up! The following image are in order of oldest to newest, and are over about 9 days. There seems to be some really big steps happening.

Mamba is having its exit route re-worked to improve the transition of Afrika to Mexico

The existing Mexico area is being re-painted and generally smartened up with some new props

The clear stretch of dirt appears to be being used for access at present, but eventually it should be the runoff area for the final drop and airtime hill

That final drop <3

Messy springs to mind

2 days later

A delivery of more framework for the mountain has arrived

Foundations have been laid for the new walkway over the bridge

Eventually it appears this area and its drops will be more or less all covered by the mountain

As mentioned earlier you can see the changes being made around Mamba's exit

Connecting the old Colorado turnaround to the new mountain and Mamba's lift

More new plants arriving

I believe that where the two guys are working is going to be another walkway and viewing area on the far side of the bridge

The next day

Decoration is already being added to the main bridge above the final drop

More foundations are being laid towards the final runoff pool

The top of the final drop has been covered over. No doubt they will shortly be rending the rockwork around it

Decorting continues over on the other bridge which connected Berlin to Western Town and what will soon be Mexico

2 days later

The touches are being added to the inside of the rockwork which now encloses Colorado Adventure's second and third lifts, and the turnaround area

This looks to me like Chiapas will meander around a bit under the main turnaround area of Colorado, much like the old Wildwasserbahns did

I think this tunnel must be from the old flume, given how old it looks?

The top layer of concrete has been poured at the Talocan end of the bridge

Work continues next to Mamba's lift

The ride station and restaurant exteriors look more or less complete

The framework for the screen mountain appears to be slowly growing

Framework on the Talocan edge of the bridge is moving outward. I believe from the plans that this area will have a temple sat atop the rockwork, though I may be wrong...

The builders have began to pack the ground down towards the final runoff

I think this is taken from Mamba's exit path, showing the new rockwork linking the two

Not entirely sure where the following images are, as this area was very quickly covered over the closed season. I think there may be a drop just in that archway though, and the outside area is its runoff...

A new little seating area has opened in the gap between CA's turnarounds and Mamba's lift towers

Plants are being placed around the new rockwork already. They should be well settled by the time it opens

This image has been drawn up to show where a staircase is supposedly being placed for Chiapas, under CA's lifts

They are re-paving the old exit route out of the Arena at the moment too

The next day

SEND IN ALL THE DIGGERS!

A lot more framework in place near Talocan

A view of the freshly painted Mexico frontage from atop Colorado no doubt

Concrete has been poured on the final runoff

The bridge and land have finally been connected

Work continues on the walkway and viewing area. It should be a nice view over the final splashdown when finished

Decoration nearing completion on the bridge

The toning and detailing is being put onto the rockwork next to Mamba and Talocan

It's been suggested that there could be a waterfall here, hence the lip

Looking down at the top of the ride from Colorado's lift. It looks like the lift will run parallel to Mamba's before turning and entering the final plummet

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So all in all they seem to be doing well with it. Although they reportedly got behind due to the winter weather they seem to be getting on track now. It appears they are working from the outside edges in, but the final runoff remains fairly unchanged. Hopefully when that large area has some major work done to it the ride should start looking a little more finished

*keeps fingers crossed for June*

As always, massive credit to Phantasialand Fans for the photos

 

[DiogoJ42]

Re: Phantasialand

This is simply mind bending. Colorado is going to be vastly improved as well. I can't wait to see the finished thing!

 

[Dar]

Re: Phantasialand

This looks amazing and I can't wait to look at it in awe as it spites me by opening a week after I visit.

Still no idea what's going on in terms of route though.

 

[LiamC]

Re: Phantasialand

That is a substantial amount of ride, I can't believe the work that's going into it and how quickly it's flying up! The theming will be stunning I'm sure

However, although I haven't been to PL before so don't know what it's like in the flesh, I will say that it does look like this new attraction has made the area extremely cramped and void of a lot of space.

This picture highlights what I mean best:

A new little seating area has opened in the gap between CA's turnarounds and Mamba's lift towers

 

[AstroDan]

Re: Phantasialand

Unfortunately Liam, the park has no space. Hence why, for the most part, attractions have to be replaced rather than the park just adding more.

The parks areas are on top of each other and quite small, aside from Wuze Town, although they do pretty well keeping them separate.



Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Craig]

Re: Phantasialand

I still can't work out the route at all for this thing, it's absolutely crazy! Regarding it being cramped Liam - PL has always had an issue with space but they seem to do extremely well to define the individual areas without things feeling too cramped. I'm pretty sure they'll pull this off in the same way

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

The route seems to be impossible to work out at the moment I think they've been rather crafty with it though, as not much of the route was installed before the closed season. Then, once the park had shut, they put it all in and covered over a lot of it to keep some of it under wraps.

I can see it being kind of like Valhalla where it has big drops and a reverse, but meanders around a fair bit between them.

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Prepare for my amazing paint skills

I think this is something like the layout will look, if anyone can make it out

Red shows the main walkways around the ride, and blue is the ride route.

It's going to be another long ride in a tiny space at any rate! I think most of it is going to be taking place in that dark area by Mamba that they've already covered though.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Phantasialand

Unfortunately Liam, the park has no space. Hence why, for the most part, attractions have to be replaced rather than the park just adding more.

There may be very little space, and the area's may be small, but they are perfectly themed, well kept and amazing to walk though. They are so tightly knit and impressive that it makes for one of the best parks I've been to for escapism. I think it's one of the reasons I rated it higher than Europa Park, although, it might have helped that I was there on a less crowded day.

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

The lookout tower near the station is nearly built, and just needs theming and a roof.

It looks like they're actually building a plaza under CA's turnaround, which will lead to a path under the lifts and out onto the main walkway around Chiapas' lake here:

Through that big hole in the screen That's going to make a good shortcut from Chiapas to Afrika. More rockwork is also going onto the screen.

The temple next to Talocan has started going up.

At the rate this is going up now I wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't more or less finished the outside and ride and be ready to test it by mid May (If not earlier!)

 

[DiogoJ42]

Re: Phantasialand

Put me down for a tenner on this opening before The Smiler

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

I don't know about it opening before then given TÜV and their supposed insane testing, but I'd bet it'll be running to test before too long

 

[Sazzle]

Re: Phantasialand

Looking at those construction photos, I can't believe this thing is expected to open this year... yet I fully expect it to be open without too many problems by the height of the summer season.

And we're sat looking at The Smiler and its delayed construction & opening...!!

I have to say that Chiapas is going to be up there as one of the most immersive rides I'll have ever experienced. As Phantasialand are true to their models, the level of detail will be top notch!

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

They've connected up the turnaround by the temple, clad it ready for rendering, and apparently the black pipes inside are for the water feature shown in the model that flows down the temple.

More concrete has gone down on the final runoff, and two walls have appeared. I'm guessing one is for the runoff channel, and the other is for the lake as a whole.

They've been painting all the new rock and stonework next to Talocan and Mamba. If you ask me it fits in very well, and smoothly transitions from one area to another.

Looks like they're painting the tower, and behind it they appear to be adding more rock work

Some of what I believe are the water current pumps are being moved over to the main ride from the station.

The model seems to suggest this little bridge lets onlookers walk over the bottom of the final lift, and around the edge of the temple.

All images credited to Phantasialand Fans

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

The temple continues being rendered

The tower now has its domed roof, and behind it the rendering continues. I think the exposed steel frame should be where the buildings are going, judging by the model. Also, as can be seen the cranes are starting to come down.

More plants going in atop the mountain screen.

And here, next to Mamba.

The plaza under CA looks like it's nearly finished.

More plants arriving on site, and as can be seen in the background they're continuing to paint the detail onto the rendering.

Under the lifts they seem to be finishing off bits of the ride system.

I spy some theming

 

[Ian]

Re: Phantasialand

"Federal regulations require me to warn you that this next post... is looking pretty gooooood"

OMNOMNOM

 

[Jonathan]

Re: Phantasialand

Wow. That looks fantastic. I think I need to go to Phantasialand next year...