MASON, OH
Have you ever dreamt of camping out under the stars near your favorite roller coaster? On June 7-8, Coaster Campout returns to Kings Island. Entry to the event includes all-day park admission June 8 After check-in and setting up camp on June 7, participants will be able to head out and enjoy the park until the park closes at 10 p.m. From 10:30 p.m. until midnight, campers can experience The Beast, Backlot Stunt Coaster, Vortex, Shake, Rattle & Roll and Dodgem to themselves with minimal wait times. FULL STORY
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What is SeaWorld San Diego’s new Tidal Twister? Coaster? Thrill ride? Or does it really matter?5/21/2019 SAN DIEGO, CA
Is SeaWorld San Diego’s new Tidal Twister a ground-breaking new roller coaster creation or a souped-up thrill ride? And more importantly: What does it matter SeaWorld’s newest attraction has stirred up a lot of debate about whether it’s a full-fledged roller coaster or a next-generation flat ride, industry-speak for the spinning attractions typically found on carnival midways. But the foremost authority on roller coasters — the Roller Coaster Database — has rendered its decision. After consulting with the ride manufacturer, RCDB has added Tidal Twister to its comprehensive collection of nearly 5,000 coasters worldwide. SeaWorld’s “world’s first” Tidal Twister dueling roller coaster debuting Friday doesn’t actually have trains that race one another and won’t look like any roller coaster you’ve ever seen. Tidal Twister has ignited debate among ride enthusiasts about whether the trains “coast” along the track, a key qualification of a coaster, and if either train can “win” the duel. Florida-based ride manufacturer Skyline Attractions calls the first-of-its-kind ride a high-speed dueling figure eight roller coaster. The new SeaWorld ride features a nearly 300-foot-long single-rail figure-eight track with an airtime camelback hill that crosses over a zero-g corkscrew twist in the middle. The 30-mph Skywarp Horizon ride from Skyline Attractions has two trains that are attached in the middle and powered by drive wheels. The track rises a mere 16 feet above the ground and will be surrounded by faux rock work. FULL STORY PARIS, FRANCE
The Amazon themed rainforest restaurant caught on fire on Sunday, confirmed by a series of images posted to social media by an eagle-eyed theme park goer. The restaurant located in the Disney Village was billowing smoke from a blaze that engulfed the cafe's welcome sign. Firefighters cordoned off the area to keep thrill seekers at bay while the fire was being dealt with. FULL STORY One complaint that we've heard many times over the years is that theme parks (especially Universal) are becoming too reliant on 3D screen-based simulator rides. And while opinions about the quality of this type of attraction are divided, the fact is this technology has been both popular and cost-effective, making it an easy choice for attraction development, not only at Disney and Universal, but at other theme parks as well, with SeaWorld, Six Flags and more using 3D screens in recently constructed attractions.
However, some interesting things have happened in the last week that could indicate that major theme parks could be ready to take a step back when it comes to 3D screen-based simulation attractions. FULL STORY UPPER MARLBORO, MD
One of the bigger regrets I’ve had as a YouTuber was turning down an invitation to cover the 2012 grand opening of Six Flags America’s standing coaster, Apocalypse, due to a day job with an inflexible schedule. I was so jealous later that day when I saw all of the local news anchors riding the coaster and having a blast. “Stupid day job,” I said. “Never again!” So, when I learned last year that Apocalypse was shutting down and being replaced with a new Bollinger & Mabillard floorless coaster named Firebird, my first thought was, “I gotta hit up Tony Hayes at the Baltimore Post-Examiner and try to get invited to the grand opening media event for Firebird!” Well, thankfully Tony and Six Flags America came through, and on the morning of May 16, 2019 Hannah and I arrived at my neighborhood park, ready to ride Firebird. FULL STORY ORLANDO, FL
A former Walt Disney World employee was arrested and accused of stealing over $7,000 worth of costumes from the Haunted Mansion attraction in the Magic Kingdom. Click Orlando reports that according to an Orange County arrest affidavit, 24-year-old Patrick Spikes has been charged with burglary of an occupied structure, dealing in stolen property, and grand theft. Spikes is also accused of selling the property he allegedly stole from the Magic Kingdom, the theme park which he reportedly used his Disney employee ID to enter. FULL STORY SANDUSKY, OH
Thursday, an unusual, oversize vehicle could be seen lumbering along a bumpy section of ground at Cedar Point Amusement Park. Was that a school bus it was crunching into the mud? It was. Today and Sunday, Cedar Point opens a special attraction, set to run through June 30. Monster Jam Thunder Alley features five of “the biggest and baddest”Monster Jam trucks to give fans an up-close, immersive experience. Thursday, the park hosted a media day for photos, video and interviews with Monster Jam drivers and designers. Specially built vehicles can take guests for a ride on an obstacle course in a designated area just off the midway. “Everything you see is from scratch,” said Tony Clark, Cedar Point’s director of communications. He said Monster Jam Thunder Alley is a new attraction from Feld Entertainment. It is to move on to two other parks after its stint in Sandusky. FULL STORY
On any given day at Knoebels Amusement Resort, it's not uncommon to see Dick Knoebel driving his golf cart through the park.
Dick is the park's longtime president. He runs Knoebels Amusement Resort along with his brother Buddy and sister Leanna. "When you're in this business, you get sawdust in your blood and you've got to stay with it," Knoebel said. Their grandfather opened the park in 1926. Dick started working here at the age of 5. Dick Knoebel graduated from college in 1962 and spent three years in the Marine Corps, but he was anxious to come home. FULL STORY WILLIAMSBURG, VA
On Tuesday night, Busch Gardens officials appeared in front of the James City County Board of Supervisors to discuss a new project with a request for a 355-foot height waiver for a “spire” style attraction. But Busch Gardens also covered some new details about an existing project and height waiver: Project Madrid. Turns out, Madrid will not come to fruition, said Suzy Cheely, senior leader of design and engineering at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Instead, another project has been approved to replace it by James City County Planning. The project will use the same 315-foot height waiver approved for Madrid, but won’t be nearly that tall. FULL STORY WEST MIFFLIN, PA
Some changes are welcomed at Kennywood. Take, for instance, the highly anticipated Steel Curtain roller coaster set to open this summer. Other changes aren’t. Social media began buzzing with chatter that the cheese sauce on Kennywood’s Potato Patch fries is different this year. “Heard the fries and cheese at the Potato Patch were changed this year for the worse. (Pittsburghers) don’t do change well. Know your audience. Fix the fries/cheese, please,” one Twitter user told the park in a tweet. The complaints were heard. Kennywood said on its Facebook page that a new cheese sauce was being “tested” at the Potato Patch at the start of the season, but it planned to go back to the traditional cheese. “We greatly appreciate your feedback and passion, and want to let you know it’s been heard. We will be going back to serving Patch fries with the traditional cheese that’s made the Potato Patch one of Kennywood’s most popular attractions,” the post read. FULL STORY |
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