Rocky Hollow Log Ride

The Rocky Hollow Log Ride was a log flume located in the Rocky Hollow section of the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Australia. After being closed through 2017 for maintenance to improve and refresh the rides, feel, look and safety, it was reopened on 22 January 2018.[1][2] The ride was later closed on 08/02/2020 after a long period of maintenance. Dreamworld later announced its permanent closure of the Rocky Hollow Log Ride in a statement saying “Dreamworld guests should be assured that this decision to not reopen the ride following its recent scheduled maintenance has been made to allow us to continue developing new experiences for guests while taking proactive steps to deliver a new generation of rides" it is one of the oldest attractions on the Gold Coast theme parks.

Rocky Hollow Log Ride
Dreamworld
AreaGold Rush Country
Coordinates27°51′41.21″S 153°18′57.93″E
StatusClosed
Opening date15 December 1981 (1981-12-15)
Closing date8 February 2020 (2020-02-08)
General statistics
TypeLog flume
ManufacturerDreamworld
Lift system2 conveyor belt lifts
Speed50 km/h (31 mph)
Duration4:20
Boats12 boats. Riders are arranged 1 across in 4 rows for a total of 4 riders per boat.
Virtual queue
Ride Express currently unavailable

Despite Dreamworld now investing in new attractions to replenish the old attraction, the Rocky Hollow Log Ride, which dates back to its opening in December 1981, is one of four long-standing park rides to close over the past few years with the others being the Wipeout, the Tower of Terror and the Thunder River Rapids Ride which malfunctioned in 2016, resulting in the death of four people.

Regardless of the termination, the rest of the original rides in the Gold Rush Country, one of Dreamworld’s original theme areas, continues to run as normal

History

The Rocky Hollow Log Ride opened with Dreamworld on 15 December 1981. It was one of the park's original attractions.[3] Since its opening, the ride has been refurbished several times which includes the reconstruction of both drops.[4] The Rocky Hollow Log Ride closed on 16 April 2016 due to an accident. It re-opened on 20 April 2016 having received the ‘all clear’ from independent and Worksafe Queensland inspectors.[5]

The ride is currently standing but not operating since the Thunder Rapids incident in 2016. The ride is posted on their website but is currently listed as closed at all times with a reopening date set as 20 December 2017.

The ride has been pushed back to a 1/1/2018 reopening. Most of the rides tunnels have been demolished now due to safety reasons. Bars have also been installed on the ride (like a cage) so guest cannot stand up and fall out. Also ahead of the reopening only the left station will be operational due to that they have run out of time.

The ride has now reopened and both stations are operational, but the new operating system takes time and low staffing results in reduced capacity. The log ride operates 2 load and 2 unload stations. Off peak to save money only 1 load station is used.

The Log Ride was closed as of 8 February 2020 for what the park indicated as "scheduled maintenance". It was the third ride to be discontinued since a fatal 2016 incident on the Thunder River Rapids Ride.[6]

Summary
The final drop on the Log Ride.

Queue

Guests queue in an undercover area which is located alongside the station and splashdown area. Guests with a Q4U virtual queuing device must enter via the ride's exit path.[7]

Station

To access the station guests must walk up a small series of stairs and cross to the centre of the station. The station is made up of four platforms in a two by two layout. The back two are for unloading guests while the front two are for loading guests. This station configuration allows a higher throughput and therefore capacity.

Ride

Once boarded the four passenger logs guests follow a short path towards a building. Concealed inside the building is a short conveyor belt lift hill. A drop quickly follows with the log's splashdown occurring outside of the building. A slow boat ride then follows weaving between buildings and going under caves before the final drop is approached. A second conveyor belt takes riders up the final drop within a tunnel. Once at the top the log goes back out into the open before dropping a steady drop to the splashdown. A 180° bend follows before the ride returns to the station.[8]

References
  1. "Rocky Hollow Log Ride". Dreamworld. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  2. "Rocky Hollow Log Ride (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  3. "Dreamworld History" (PDF). Dreamworld. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  4. Wilson, Richard (May 2004). "Rocky Hollow Log Ride Construction Photos". Photos. Parkz. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  5. Robbie. "mygc news article".
  6. "Dreamworld shuts down another iconic attraction". 9 News. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  7. "Q4U". Dreamworld. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  8. "LOG RIDE!". YouTube. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.