PortAventura - Baco's final launch?

[oriolat2]

Along with other closed rides at the start of the season (one side on Stampida, Khan and Serpiente Emplumada), Baco has had a very rough start, including days when it has only been operating for a handful of hours, closing early or not operating at all for consecutive days.

There are rumours circulating that Baco might be on its last legs. Considering that Baco will turn 20 next year and taking into account how expensive and complicated it is to maintain a coaster that is no longer in production, it is only logical to think that it might be on the chopping block.

After all, there is a huge launch coaster at the park next door and there seems to be a rumoured Stryker coaster in Polynesia (along with Uncharted), which might fit the bill as a replacement as the big intense launch coaster at the park.

As polarising as Baco is, I really hope it's just a rough beginning and Baco will soon be thrilling guests again. Metaphorically and literally, they don't make 'em like it anymore, so it would be a shame losing such a unique coaster, for its crazy and wacky theming and storyline, catchy soundtrack and bonkers launch and ride experience.

 

[spicy]

Hmmm… There are so many rumours with hydraulic launches now, understandably after what happened to Kingda Ka and TTD.

On the contrary though, Formula Rossa made an unexpected return after being SBNO for almost a year, Rita lives on after a problematic few months last season, the same can be said of Stealth.

I think ultimately if the park has the funds and willingness for these hydraulic launches to continue then they will live on for years to come.

If they start eyeing up the cheaper alternatives then the hydraulic launch days are numbered.

Let’s hope they don’t die out just yet as LSM launches just don’t pack the same punch. So I hope Baco has a few more years left in it.

 

[cookie]

As brief of an experience as Baco is, it does take up a huge plot of land…

 

[bratcurry]

and there seems to be a rumoured Stryker coaster in Polynesia (along with Uncharted), which might fit the bill as a replacement as the big intense launch coaster at the park.

These rumors were made up by a fan page.

 

[Bathtub Gin]

This coaster is a big reason why Port Aventura is near the top of my to-do list in Europe, despite there being clearly shinier parks to visit. Hope it can stick around.

 

[Tonkso]

As brief of an experience as Baco is, it does take up a huge plot of land…

In its defence, much of the space taken loo[s around a back-of-house site anyway, the frontage with the vineyard isn't massive.

 

[Matt N]

I wasn’t a massive fan of Baco when I did it in 2024, but I must admit that I didn’t find it quite as bad as some of its harshest critics made me fear it might be. It was definitely very bouncy, but I would have said I’ve ridden many worse coasters for roughness.

It’s certainly not one of Intamin’s better launch coasters, even within the hydraulic category, but I think any hydraulic launch is now getting unique enough that it’s sad to see it go, and Baco is certainly on the faster end of the hydraulic launch coasters (enormous ones aside).

With that said, I do concede that there are almost certainly better things that could be done with that land, and I’d almost certainly like a modern replacement considerably more than I liked Baco.