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[saladdays]

Apparently last Saturday there was a lightning strike of some kind that put the American Plunge out of commission at least for the day. I was there after the big storm went through that day, and everything was open except for that. Does anyone know if the ride itself was actually hit, or did power go out to it because of a strike, or ...?

[sanddunerider]

well it was hit by lightning last year................................
But I suppose that doesn't count..

[saladdays]

Yeah, I know about the one last year.

I don't think this was anything close to that one, and I haven't seen any reports online, so I'm guessing it was something relatively minor.

[MoOzark]

They shut the ride down if there is lighting within a 10 mile radius. So, it can be shut down for a long time on rainy days.

[Dewayne]

I wonder if this is the sign of an upgrade or new ride??? 

[runner1960]

I wonder if this is the sign of an upgrade or new ride??? 

Not sure why you would think a weather related shutdown would be a sign of a new ride? It is a safety issue and standard practice for safe operation.

[shavethewhales]

AP is oddly enough a big lightning rod for the park. Not too many years ago the watch tower at the top of the lift was hit and actually burned down.

[HumphreyHawk]

is the chutes made of metal or plastic?  Support metal or wood?

That lift hill could be a big lighting rod with all the equipment and water.

Do the parks have rods around the rides to help prevent this?

[saladdays]

They shut the ride down if there is lighting within a 10 mile radius. So, it can be shut down for a long time on rainy days.

Right. But the ride was closed for the remainder of the day and the rest of the rides opened shortly after the storm moved away. The explanation was that lightning shut it down and it wasn't working.

[Dewayne]

I wonder if this is the sign of an upgrade or new ride??? 

Not sure why you would think a weather related shutdown would be a sign of a new ride? It is a safety issue and standard practice for safe operation.

No, they might rebuild it/upgrade it because it was struck. It probably works less every time it is struck. American Plunge is old. The more it doesnt work, and the fact that its old and needs upgraded, may make them want to upgrade/rebuild it soon. The lightning strike could also have been a sign from above that the company should rebuild it/upgrade it. Either way, most of us on here might get what we want.

[DianaGail]

I had friends there Sunday and it was working.  Lightning strikes do not necessitate taking it down.  Good grief.  Stop all this hype until we know what is going on. 

[saladdays]

I had friends there Sunday and it was working.  Lightning strikes do not necessitate taking it down.  Good grief.  Stop all this hype until we know what is going on. 

Yeah, I got the picture that it was a temporary shutdown. It obviously didn't take that long to get it back up.

[cowboy]

American Plunge can attract a huge line during hot summer days........Early August the queue line was wrapped throughout the building and back down the hill.

I don't think it's going anywhere.

Jay