39 replies to this topic

[29yrswithaGApass]

Even after 35 years, the Fort still looks just like its original plans.

[Thrill-Pics]

Okay firstoff id like to apologize for i believe this post is in the wrong place....

but on the other hand, i am doing a pretty comprehensive report on the design aspects of 'The Fort', the structure that houses the skyride and RMT. I'm interested in the stuff you as the guest dont see, being stairwells and underlaying aspects of the building. I have been examining the building from as many views as possible and after a loooooongg time of thinking the whole thing out, i have made a simple diagram of the fort from how i believe everything is on the inside. Also, another thing that makes this more enjoyable to research is the fact that they originally intended to have guests access the catwalks above the towers, so from the looks of it the insides were designed to meet those requirements. I'm showing off what i believe may make up the interior. Please note that I am making assumptions and have no knowledge outside the guests view. On the same hand, do not encourage anyone to take it upon themselves to access any backstage areas within the structure.

Here are the two diagrams i quickly mocked up: P.S. thanks greatadventurehistory.com


^
The 'half level walkway' i believe was intended to serve as guest access to tower 1, where there would be stairs running up the inside to the top catwalks. The guests would then also have access to tower 2 catwalks via the bridge. There is a door on the bottom of tower 2 that would give guests the ability to access the half walkway through a small set of stairs at the base of tower 2. Since I do not believe there are stairs inside tower 2 leading to the catwalks, the guests would most likely use the half walkway, as well as the stairs inside tower 1, as access to and from the catwalks.

Today, i think the stairs exist inside the base of tower 1 to the half level walkway. The walkway itself however only services the skyride. There is a doorway on the skyride station platform, leading into tower 1, and i believe that this door goes to the stairs that run from the lower levels to the catwalks above. Inside the lower levels, we probably all know that the massive counterweights sit down there on their pulley systems. There is most likely maintenance, electrical, and storage rooms down here as well as well as possible offices. Also in that doorway at the base of tower 2, i believe there may be some sort of access to the lower levels--mainly because since the doorway was never actually used for guests they probably would use it for team member/maintenance access. I do not think there are stairs inside tower 2, mainly because they cannot exit through those doors at the base of the tower. There is most likely some kind of access to a large room inside the tower (again maybe maintenance/electrical/storage). And obviously there are the catwalks above tower 2.




^
For towers 3 & 4, inside tower 3 we have the skyride exit stairwell, leading from the ride platform to the pathway. However, i have noticed there is a small access door in the ceiling of the exit stairs (look closely there is also a ladder built into the wall to access to door [which is like an attic door]). What's above the exit stairs i have no clue. Then there are catwalks above the tower. In tower 3, i believe stairs run from the pathway (which there is a door at the base of the tower) to the catwalks above. Then the catwalks connect via the bridge so again the guests use the same tower for entry/exit.

Please, please, please comment and give your opinions/facts on the building! I would eventually like to develop a blueprint for the building for this report. It really is a beautiful and complex structure.

~Dan

[Railer]

I have a pic. of the inside of the "Tower" that is to the left of the pathway that takes you into the "Fort". I just have to find it, on my PC. I could E-Mail it to you, but it can't be posted here. As long as I can find it, it might be in my old PC, not sure.

[Thrill-Pics]

thanks!!! pm me for my email

[Railer]

Let me try to find it first. I might have given a copy to 29yrs. if I can't find it.

[CablesEric]

There are no stairs leading to the Tower Catwalks in any of the towers. The only access to the catwalks is from inaccessable ladders. The door in the skyride station for tower 1 leads to a small platform used for storage of cleaning supplies for the ride, the rest is a big pit.

Tower 2 has a small set of stairs leading to the 'Half-Level walkway' for employee access and to the lower portion of the fort. The lower area houses the counter weights for the sky ride and used to serve as a maintence shed.

The small 'attic' in Tower 3 is an access to the ladder that leads to the tower catwalk. I presume there is nothing up there but mounds of pigeon droppings.

I've never been inside the doors of tower 4, but I believe it is storage for the leather shop or what ever may be operating underneath the runaway train exit.

Hope this helps.

[av8r296]

As Cables Eric stated, the door in the Skyride station to tower one does lead to a small platform over looking a very large pit. Mounted to the inside of this tower however is a ladder that will take you up to the cat walks.

[Thrill-Pics]

thanks guys! so i guess this means that the plans for the catwalks being accessible by guests were never put in effect.

so those towers are completely empty on the inside? like hollowed out from the base to the catwalks? with a ladder running up them?

also, how do you access the ladder in tower 2? is there another hatch like in tower 3?

Edited by Thrill-Pics, 11 October 2010 - 06:29 PM.

[29yrswithaGApass]

In regards to the catwalks, from what I understand access to them was suppose to be available from a sixth tower that was never built. The unbuilt tower can be seen in the renderings below. Guests were going to be able to walk into the fort's courtyard and choose from the Skyride to left, Runaway Mine Train to the right, or the Fort Lookouts by walking straight ahead and up the tower.

[Thrill-Pics]

ahhh i see! yeah that makes perfect sense.

the idea that sparked my research into this was that I saw the half walkway in the front of the fort come to a dead end at a wall...which looks like there should be a door there. Then I saw that in your book, you have a blueprint of the front, and the wall has a symbol over it...which i thought might mean a change in the original plans. and it would make sense for the fort to have the insides that i depicted above, in my mind.

again, this is the kind of stuff i love exploring when it comes to GADV's history =D

[ThemeParkRider]

Has anyone noticed that there are a few more lights on the Fort?

[GAcoaster]

Yeah, they added Fright Fest lighting this year. It looks really good and makes me wish they had the same lighting all season!

[ThemeParkRider]

^ I agree! In fact, they could keep them up all year. The lights are just regular spotlights with the exeption of one red one at the bottum.

[29yrswithaGApass]

I was reading in an old article about the park that Warner LeRoy wanted to have fire and smoke shooting out of the Fort's cannons. That would have been cool!

[batmanrobinchiller]

I love the fort! Its a great part of the frontiers adventure area

[29yrswithaGApass]

The first picture below was taken in September 1978. Check out the lower wall in the Fort's infield were the queue lines are located. Originally it featured a low wooden wall capped off with a see through chain-link top. I am not sure of when the wall has replaced with solid wood, but having it lower must have provided some great views of the Runaway Train (especially since there wasn't a bridge and walkway on the opposite side of Lahaway Creek).

[The Master]

My guess it was replaced because people could and probably did hop over the old fence due to it's design.

[CoasterDan]

I have noticed that when you exit the skyride through the fort, as the staircase comes to a mid landing, a small square trapdoor is on the ceiling, complete with a ladder-like structure attached to the wall leading up to it. Is this attic-like trapdoor an access method to the top catwalks, or is there another portion of the building it accesses? Or is it just storage?

Dan

[GAcoaster]

It's really just a service access for maintenance of the lights/flags/etc. up on the catwalks.

[29yrswithaGApass]

The first picture below was taken in September 1978. Check out the lower wall in the Fort's infield were the queue lines are located. Originally it featured a low wooden wall capped off with a see through chain-link top. I am not sure of when the wall has replaced with solid wood, but having it lower must have provided some great views of the Runaway Train (especially since there wasn't a bridge and walkway on the opposite side of Lahaway Creek).

Here's what the wall looked like from the other side!