Cover Story
www.parkworld-online.com
COMBINING INNOVATION WITH
TRADITION
Following in the rich heritage of American wooden roller coaster builders, Great Coasters International, Inc (GCII) is innovating whilst maintaining the traditional beauty of the wooden coaster. Its unique ride experiences began with a partnership that looked towards the next generation of wooden coasters. It’s in the DNA: Great Coasters International, Inc. delivers unforgettable ride experiences whilst paying attention to the smallest detail
B
ased in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, master coaster builder Clair Hain got his start as a 17-year-old in 1985 when Dick Knoebel of nearby Knoebel’s Amusement Resort
(Knoebel’s Grove then) bought the 1947-built Rocket from defunct Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas. Hain helped rebuild the coaster when it was moved to Knoebel’s and renamed the Phoenix. Soon after he went to work for Custom Coasters. While working together on Outlaw at Adventure Land, Altoona, Iowa, coaster designer Mike Boodley and builder Clair Hain began to believe in each other and see possibilities for the future. “We had worked together for two to three years prior,” recalled Hain. “We understood each other’s ability and
28
JANUARY 2018
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