A Frightening Future - Is RMC Failing?

[@maxrice-l4p]

now THAT is how to scare a coaster enthusiast

[@KoasterMania]

@@maxrice-l4p 👻👻👻👻

[@jasonwyrick3413]

No, that’s the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for . RMC can go directly to hell

[@DashPum4]

if disney or universal got an rmc rollercoaster and themed it well that would be insane

[@andori_AB]

There is one main problem with that: capacity

[@Unfunny_things]

Dashpum??? Since when were you an enthusiast

[@jonny-b4954]

@@andori_AB Yeah, they'd have to do a double loading station or a dueling coaster or something. They make 2 across seating work though.

[@aidenscott7397]

I think 3 train operations could work as well like wildcats revenge

[@sirwalfredhemeltonwillthex616]

Honestly RMC was destined to fail as a rollercoaster manufacturer from the start since they didnt really show any will to evolve from their wooden conversions and raptors, which failed due to their intensity and lack of comfort

[@thepanman2024]

I can see the end of conversions being a thing but RMC's low cost, high marketability coasters are a jewel for smaller parks. Fun spot atlanta, a glorified fec managed to get a huge rmc standout coaster. I reckon they will build more groundup coasters

[@gus24seven]

RMC started with basically two products to redo old rough wooden rollercoasters and no parks were interested. Instead, parks jumped on the iron horse tracks and ordered complete redesigns of an old, rough problematic wooden rollercoaster. There have been a very small number of brand new RMC designed from the ground up wooden coasters to utilize their topper track product. No parks have really made use of topper track to revitalize an old, rough, and problematic wooden coaster. We automatically think "getting RMCed" means increasing the old lift hill by 80 feet. Changing the first drop to near vertical, and then going crazy with flips and flings providing rapidly violent ejector air time. Maybe we need to change our definition for "getting RMCed" to include the idea of a classic wooden rollercoaster getting a retrack with topper track to reduce wear-n-tear and increase the smoothness of some amazing classic wooden rollercoasters.

[@b-chroniumproductions3177]

I think RMC doesn't sell topper track anymore

[@oneandonlysound99]

If it's possible, this is what should be in mind with the idea of "Rmcing" El Toro. it doesn't need to be heavily altered. But with new trains and new track, still actually mostly wooden. They could still maybe take out one hill and put in an inversion. But at that point GCI titan track might be a better choice. That one is a hot mess though.

[@Hurricill]

@@b-chroniumproductions3177they still sell it but dont advertise it. There are some european parks that want to buy a toppertrack refuebishment but lack money

[@MattMcIrvin]

Six Flags New England actually tried Topper Track on their old Cyclone. It didn't help much and they ended up going back to RMC for the full I-Box conversion, creating Wicked Cyclone (now arguably the best ride in the park). I think RMC has given up on Topper Track--it just doesn't work as well as they imagined, whereas I-Box works fantastically well. (The joke about Dollywood's Lightning Rod is that it was the first RMC to get RMC'd.) So 208 Retrak is more like Titan Track, a full steel replacement. Meanwhile, in addition to GCI, Gravity Group is now offering a precut wooden-track replacement product that actually seems to work great, reviving the whole Intamin prefab-woodie idea that gave us El Toro. So there's all this competition now in the "fix my deteriorating wooden coaster" market, offering more conservative options than turning the whole thing into a completely new ride.

[@oneandonlysound99]

@@MattMcIrvin You said all this extremely well, better than I ever could. It's basically exactly how the market is. And I mean, if you have a GCI and/or a good relationship as a park with a company, you might as well ask them to work on there own stuff. But I was thinking of White Lightning in Orlando which I think one area could use full titan. There relationshop with them is good. But not with gravity group, so they maybe should just RMC there other "Mine Blower." Maybe even add in a twist if possible, though with that one the layout (already has an awesome inversiion) isn't the problem. Though, gravity group could absolutely fix it well. Just my opinion and presenting the relationship "is it good or did they kinda mess up" that goes on too. Oh and no RMC, they should titan track with an inversion or two "Roar" at Six Flags America Mayland (or most of it). They could get a single rail for the old Penquin slide area.

[@CarlileCoasters]

Honestly, though I’d hate to see this company die because there are some truly exceptional people working there, I wouldn’t be fully mad. RMC has made their impact in the coaster world, making other manufacturers more diverse and creative, and RMC has definitely made the coaster world a good place. They made their legacy,and they will be remembered for generations.

[@cheese-x3m]

I actually think that they will succeed again, I think that what will happen is that we will see a bunch of raptors for the foreseeable future, and then in the somewhat far future, they will do all of the conversions for the few parks that I think need them (like some cedar fair parks and some others), along with some ground-up hybrids, and some new models, like the t-rex and family coasters.

[@mikeyg9958]

Not when they get that 600ft T-Rex commission to replace Kingda Ka!

[@KoasterMania]

@@mikeyg9958 why not 800ft? :(

[@macaronandcheese18113]

@@KoasterMania nah, just go the full 1K! rmc is famous for having no structural issues whatsoever in their rides, so what could go wrong?

[@youtubeenjoyer5306]

@@macaronandcheese181131.5K would be easy for them. I’m sure it would last for a very long time!

[@youtubeenjoyer5306]

4:57 the whole support structure moved😭 rip

[@Slic3r010]

We are getting a duel Raptor from RMC at Walibi Holland 🎉

[@dindog22]

Arie Force is a good ground up model that's not a single rail. the fact is there are only so many amusement parks in the world. they might need to try to do more work outside of the country if they want to keep expanding. they might need to go back to building rides for other companies or stick to retracking

[@vincentstuer]

the fact that walibi holland here in the netherlands bought a 2nd (and technically 3rd) rmc despite the problems with untamed (a vekoma wooden coaster conversion) i believe ther might be a good market outside of north america where their reputation is not as tarnished, along with that there are many wooden coasters in europe that are still screaming for some major work to be done like loup garou in walibi belgium. thats why i believe rcm might want to look more towards the intercontinental market rather then the north american one if they wat large amounts of succes

[@iitzfizz]

They better not go defunct until we get at least one RMC in the UK.

[@bendixonmusic7149]

They’ve got 4 raptors opening next year which is pretty good for a company as small as they are. Quite a few of the engineering issues they had early on have been ironed out now and if they were to build a coaster like SteVe or Lightning Rod now I’m fairly certain they wouldn’t have anything like the same issues but as you mentioned building trust back will be hard.

[@ParKnight]

Man I hope they stick around, they really have been one of if not the most innovative manufactures. Would be sad to see them go no matter how unlikely it is that they do. Awesome Video btw 😊

[@arturobianco848]

I don't see them just dissapering or at least theri tech disappering. Arrows went away but basicly Vekoma was an arrow clone. Well nowadays the old arrow compagny is finaly death since Vekoma got really good with their own new gen tech.

[@TrentonLarge]

@@arturobianco8484d free spins and 4d coasters are still an open legacy to arrow. I’m hoping we see another 4d someday. And I still don’t think there is a good replacement for their suspended coaster.

[@arturobianco848]

@@TrentonLarge Not saying they didn't earned their place in the coaster history. But the concepts they developed have been overtaken by other manufactorers. Except for the 4d but it looks like that one will be overtaken pretty soon to.

[@TrentonLarge]

@@arturobianco848 Yeah - Axis coaster is a beast. 😂

[@mitchellries256]

There are multiple wooden roller coasters out there that need help from RMC. What happens next for RMC depends on when and if the parks that have those rough coasters will ever reach out to them.

[@k9feces]

The RMC hybrids are my favorite model, I’m kind of sad none are being built at the moment. The Intamin Hot Racer looks like the superior single rail coaster, and Mack Rides are producing some amazing creations. The competition is crazy.

[@KoasterMania]

@@k9feces there actually are some being built! In fact, there’s 3 of them!

[@jonny-b4954]

@@KoasterMania Oh really? Where? I'm not aware of any new RMC's coming except the single rail.

[@Tuck5653]

Rocky Mountain Construction is an initiative company, the coaster landscape is changing, and i'm sure they will attempt to change with it, there's lots of paths RMC could take to run out of business but there will also be many paths they can take to continue to succeed in the future.

[@MattMcIrvin]

They seem to get some business making track for other manufacturers, too--the S&S Free Spin was a big clone seller for a while there, with Six Flags putting them up everywhere, and the track on those was RMC I-Box track.

[@derekp308]

Imagine RMC reinventing the flume ride. That would be great.

[@icyflame716]

I think YoY may entice some more parks to get a single rail cause it shows the flexibility of the model.

[@chadenglish4169]

I like how you show so much ofLightning Rod but not one mention of how problematic that was before they took out the launch. I've ridden it with the launch and all I can say is how over hyped it was. What a major let down for me. My first RMC was Steel Vengeance so maybe I am a little jaded.

[@memesrct_official]

I’m really surprised why there is not a single RMC conversion of an old, rough and unpopular wooden roller coaster since Wildcat’s Revenge at Hersheypark that opened back in 2023. Hopefully, we will see another park converts one of their wooden coasters into a hybrid coaster but maybe another hyper-hybrid or the actual first Giga-hybrid coaster.

[@ShaneOBrienTrumpet]

I mean to be fair that was literally last year 😂😂 I feel like this isn’t concerning at all, RMC had plenty of projects this year.

[@LuckyPierre789]

Love all the vid of Stunt Pilot. Silverwood is the closest park to RMC HQ and to me. The raptors are a fun ride!

[@KoasterMania]

@@LuckyPierre789 couldn’t agree more!

[@henriktiger9073]

I think at least some of Steel Vengeance’s problems were the result of Cedar Point’s decisions on the project. CP pushed RMC to develop the 2nd gen Legacy Trains, which are heavier than their older trains partially due to the swing axles. Depending on when that decision was made, the structural design might have been finalized and under construction. RMC might have told CP that the trains were heavier than the structure was designed for, but CP was unwilling to pay for more structural reinforcement, as many other RMC’s use steel support columns and many other large scale RMC’s have used the steel truss lift. The bumping incident on opening day was a result of that. To help offset with heavier trains. RMC used a lighter aluminum brake fin that doesn’t generate the eddy current a heavier copper brake fin would. So the trains weren’t being slowed down as much as they should’ve been and a train slipped through at low speed. I believe SteVe reopened that day, but with just one train. This has come up again with TT2, as Zamperla was likely the cheapest way to modify Dragster, and the risk of working with a manufacturer inexperienced at making coasters anywhere near that scale to save cost didn’t pay off. For SteVe, that wasn’t RMC’s first rodeo, so I think not having additional steel support columns or a steel truss lift structure were CP decisions that can’t be pinned fully on RMC.

[@Brandon-qd2lb]

All depends on the demand for the ride catalog….

[@coastersandcars63]

Airie Force One is a prototype that looks like a wooden coaster but is actually steel. A first of it's kind so we could see more of those.

[@jonny-b4954]

4:40 Yeah they way under calculated the structure for the high up inversions. I remember being there 3 months after opening and thinking "no wayyyyy is that much sway good for the ride" They fixed this with Iron Gwazi, presumably, with the steel supports. I don't get how you don't have an extra one or two friction brakes or friction wheels on your final brake run either. B&M would. Their trains suck @$$ too. They definitely have some issues coming up. Just not enough sales.

[@TheHadrian54]

I think that it would be very valuable for them if they made a model that can be easily themed so they could be way more marketable to Disney/Universal as well as Europe.

[@Duuhvis]

Quick note about SteVen. RMC didn’t want to make it a hyper but cedar point insisted on making it massive and making it a hyper. RMC should have really pushed back but ultimately Cedar Fair is to blame with SteVen I feel. I kinda feel cedar fair has crazy expectations for these companies and when they inevitably fail cedar fair blames the manufacturer. I kinda feel like CF is to blame here

[@tylerstooksbury3050]

I think the T Rex track has a LOT of potential. I could see a lot of different types of trains and layouts using it. Similar to how B&M uses the same track for different types of coasters, RMC could do the same. Imagine some type of RMC dive coaster, or an invert. They just need the cashflow and engineering support. Hopefully that can happen.

[@Kanas83]

we need The Boss in SFStl given the iron horse

[@WhatAG23]

nah that rides elite

[@vol3ric748]

I honestly believe that Silverwood in Idaho should buy a Wild Moose and use that as a display for the world.

[@arturobianco848]

Please don't then i have to go there again. Now i like the park so beig there isn't a punishment but them getting there. O well it would be a good excuse to go back to that earia. I did miss some of the smaller parks and i can do that woody in canada wich was closed when i was there.

[@KoasterMania]

😂😂

[@hazza5999]

Good video. They really need to develop their portfolio as just doing hybrid conversions is not a long term business model. It may have worked up until now in the US, but their worldwide sales are very poor. European manufacturers make a great income from Asia, and RMC just ain't at the party.

[@littlejayone290]

Dorney park could use a single rail plus it would be a cheap addition

[@FameyFamous]

You didn't mention that Alan Schilke also retired around the same time as Fred Grubb. The good news is that Arie Force and Wildcat's are good. Don't you think those projects demonstrate that RMC can still be competitive?

[@MattMcIrvin]

Joe Draves seems to have picked up the torch with no trouble.

[@luuk777w]

But look at Walibi Holland for example. They worked with RMC to create Untamed 5 years ago, and now decided to work with them again to build a Dueling RMC Raptor.

[@trotspot]

broo you cant just flash a spider like that on the screen

[@timk987]

The original raptor didn't produce the clone sales RMC was looking for. I think what they've come to realize is that it's not quite that simple. Even Vekoma, the king of cloned rides, has several variants of nearly every model. Seems like they're settling in to that ideology now with the original prototypes, the 2 larger models (which are basically clones for the ride experience), and now 2 Stunt Pilots. I'd Imagine the Walibi Project is a 1 off custom, but we'll see, it may become the most popular. I do think the hybrid version of the I-box coasters are winding down, but I see a great future in all steel I-box coaster. We just need to get used to not calling the model as a whole-"hybrid."

[@tmp1k]

we need RMC conversion in Canada. Please do Wilde Beast at Wonderland please.

[@crazygoattv6706]

A raptor at calaway would be awesome too

[@arturobianco848]

Yup that one can get the RMC treatment for me. I do have several other candidates in europe to at least 3.

[@davefroman4700]

RMC is not going anywhere. Just because you do not see them throwing up coasters in the US, does not mean that they are not busy elsewhere.

[@coments101]

Dude I'm a massive Arrow fan, my nightmare came true before I even knew what Arrow was😂

[@sailor-dan2353]

I really want a raptor to go in place of scorpion at Busch gardens. I feel like it opposite of phoenix would be an awesome addition to the park since they took scorpion away.

[@michaelbianco32]

I thought Steel Vengeance reopened the same day but with just one train after the "bump"?

[@billchief397]

I wish valleyfair would replace arrows horrible mouse coaster with wild moose they look fun. Hopefully lost island is getting one...no word other than the single rail already confirmed

[@Longlivetheking4014]

With the Larson merger, they will probably stick around because Larson sells a ton of flat rides

[@nesmanmain0001]

Yeah, and they have multiple raptor projects going on right now, the 208 retrack projects like white lightning & T express, and the parts for all their operating attractions.

[@arturobianco848]

Depending on what they do i can still see some bright future for the compagny. They need to expand out of the US and verge away from big extreme coasters (or i should say not focuss exclusivly on them). I'm from Europe and currently we only have only 3 RMC on the entire continent. 2 are located sort of in the perifery zone and 1 in a for europe high thrill park. Now for the community that isn't a problem (i travell even to the states for coasters still miffed that TT2 was down when i booked a half year in advantance). But they don't reach the generale public here in europe and european parks are way more family oriented then american ones. So there is still a big potentiale market in europe and i guess asia as well. What RMC needs are family models for their stuff to (so only mildly thrilling i don't think it will work for real kiddy stuff). And guess what next year in the high thrill park they are going to open 2 RMC Raptors 1 extreme one and 1 nerved so that its suppose to be a more family thrill atraction. This would be a good park to get there feet wet with the second kind since its the first raptor in europe and they also have the presumaly good extreme one. Not all people visiting this park like super intense coasters they do have some kiddy rides to. So if this performces as its intended then its an easy visite for other european parks to come and take a look.

[@DavidVitrano]

The only way to be saved, is to unveil the first T-rex coaster.

[@BoyRoy18]

Vekoma, masters of mass production XD and zamperla second. Big and small. Love them

[@arturobianco848]

Well at least for Vekoma its mass quality production now to be fair to them their kiddy and family coaster always where very good.

[@Sliipjack]

Appreciate this video it’s well done, I will say the music transitions were quite loud, maybe take it down a click or two next time 👍🏻

[@KoasterMania]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@itsnotcolby]

I just cant see them closing down, intamin has had similar issues and look were they are now, esp with how many smaller Hybrids they have made they clearly will have models for every park that wants one. While I could see Cpoint limit how much they work with them, I just cant see them being ignored or overlooked as they have such unique coasters in the single rail and hybrid as only intamin has a single rail thats even being built. If RMC could make it a launch Single rail they truly will own that corner the market. there wooden replacement track also will ad long term growth. You also seemed to ignore the fact that BNM, intamin And Vekoma not only make small and family coasters but the fact theyve also all been around for 30+ years. They all started building coasters before most people who ride them were born. as you said with universal and Disney, I think something like Big thunder mountain would be a perfect start for RMC to retrack that when needed allowing disney to get a feel for them while making a solid family coaster smooth as ever.

[@julian_nial]

The spider picture was unnecessary I threw my phone

[@KoasterMania]

Did you hit it with the ‘ol flame thrower just in case?

[@julian_nial]

@@KoasterMania My house is now ashes

[@jasonwyrick3413]

I hope they do go out of business. All their rides are miserably uncomfortable and that’s ridiculous considering how smooth they are. There’s no reason for that except stubbornness. I hope that stubbornness drives them all the way to bankruptcy

[@Silacide]

A one trick poney gets rather dull after doing its trick for the 25th time.

[@anobject9622]

rmc, please do something in canadas wonderland before you stop...

[@justacat472]

that's good means wooden coasters wont be destroyed by this hack company for steel rip-offs.

[@mythicgamingmk1105]

RMC is doing fine they will make more ibox and single rail when parks need them

[@Da_knee7]

interesting

[@joshfreund6008]

I think RMC ran its course

[@adamdurbin6895]

Excuse me sir it's spooky season Halloween starts July 5th 👻🎃 lol. Also Roar at six flags America desperately needed the RMC touch it's a pile of crap

[@jordydejong3376]

RMC isn't failing at all , they are a new player in the rollercoaster game and they are killing it , their first coaster was build in 2011 and since then they build 29 coaster/conversions and still going strong with 2 new coasters a year, and thats fine. we need to stop comparing manufactures like RMC with the big established manufactures like B&M Intamin vekoma etc. The problems with the hybrid conversions they have done were known to the theme parks before construction occurred , the parks that got rmc conversions got rid of a bottom tier coaster in their parks that was also a maintains cost nightmare and got world class coasters in place of that for a bargain, those parks were well aware of the problems that could occur putting an extreme steel coaster on 20 year old wooden supports so thats not a real issue. Then looking at their raptor coasters , sixflags ordered 2 in 2018 tested them out and after 3 years decided they want 2 more , so that isnt a fail also, if they where really concerned or pissed of with those rides they wouldnt have ordered more of them. new ride concepts always have issues but apparently RMC dealt with that in the right way. The buzz around rmc failing is coming from the fact that they mostly have sold rides in the US , and that the whole US coaster market is crashing, The next step for RMC is selling more rides in europe and asia , that is where the money is at at the moment, look at vekoma , they are killing it in europe and asia at the moment. And the fact that 2 out of 3 of their newest coasters are going to europe and asia means that they are on the right path and are defintly not failing. Also them teaming up with larson doesnt realy do anything for them other then cost reductions/manufacturing capacity , larson has been around for about the same time as RMC and only produce small flat rides or shit that fails.

[@IRDeady]

I really think enthusiasts just like to catastrophize and jump conclusions because they think being enthusiasts somehow makes them aware of the inner workings of the industry. It honestly gets kind of annoying. Like, speculation can be fun, but when it's people constantly trying to prove that they have some special insight because they can repeat the same bad logic as every other enthusiast it gets kind of tiring. They take one little thing they thought up and then look for reasons to justify it. It's like one of the most prevalent and well known logical fallacies and for some reason enthusiasts are just completely blind to it. Cedar point has been given this completely unfounded characterization as like some sort of completely ignorant, stuck up monster who completely bans any manufacturer who doesn't provide them with coasters as reliable as B&M, like they just don't understand that if you build something as intense as steel vengeance then it will need to have the kinks ironed out and now they will never work with RMC again.

[@arturobianco848]

Cedar fair does have a reputation to really prefer to work with certain compagny's and backhandeling others. A bit more then that is the norm.

[@headache2.0.]

i just rode untamed in walibi holland so it would be terrible if rmc will die

[@shaneh3109]

Rmc is incredible.

[@theblackimposter8781]

4:28 mayham from Ben Jacob coaster designs is better.

[@ToastGhost]

Welp putting a giant spider on the screen in the first few second is a very good way to have me not watch the rest of your video.

[@KoasterMania]

👻👻👻👻👻

[@BlizzardDaPup777]

Rmc should focus on kids rides 😂😂😂😂😂 (jk)

[@woody72691]

So no major coasters being built MEANS they are failing. like what the fuck? They did the reinvention of Fire in the Hole and more likely are doing Blazing Fury. they dont have to do major installments just to be successful ya nimrod. Sometimes you have to do other shit for awhile till someone wants those hyper hybrids again.

[@MLightningW]

See 11:57

[@arturobianco848]

If they can't diversefy and get into new markets that is what will be happening. Fortunatly for them they seem to be getting that becuase next year a double raptor is opening up in the netherlands a normale one and a more family oriented high thrill side (that high Thrill for a family coaster). Also a raptor is comming to south korea in 2026.

[@ellexking9136]

Ruin My Coaster, (RMC) is DEAD!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣‼Long Live The Gravity Group!!!

[@shanepetyko8004]

This is dumb look at premier rides and on and on. Plus they do a lot more than make coasters.

[@arturobianco848]

Premier have a really good niche product wich they do export all over the world and is sustainable. RMC at least their conversion model and even the new builds are not sustainable. There is just to little demand for that stuff. Now their raptor models are but i would also like to see a little diversification. think about more family thrill rides for theire I box. A normale seated version of a raptor track and an inverted one. That would make RMC sustainable and then they can make the truly awsome ones whenever a park wants one. Because i love the good ones but i can't see more then 5 (of the level eari force) coming to europe. At least not if they don't do the other stuff.

[@Redfoot138]

RMC will be fine. This all sounds like typical enthusiast alarmist speculation run wild. We may not see the rash of crappy woodies getting remade in RMC's image that we saw in the 2010's (probably what enthusiasts will come to refer as RMC's "golden age"). But I'm sure over the next 10 years we'll see ground-up hybrids, the occasional RMC conversion (I'm looking at you Timberwolf), and some new models thrown in.

[@jackbrunner8531]

I don’t think the end is near for RMC. Look at what they did with a mid-sized from the ground up ride in ArieForce One. I could see several parks getting a similar scaled ride that’s just as extreme. Holiday World, Silverwood, Michigans Adventure, Valleyfair, Worlds of Fun pop to mind. 🎢