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There's another aspect of excitement in the world of thrill rides. There's the excitement of the latest announcements of upcoming rides from an industry as secretive as the military at times, and the excitement of all the latest happenings at parks around the world. Sometimes the news is good, sometimes the news is bad, but our aim is to bring you the fairest, timeliest, most accurate details on everything that concerns you. COASTER-net's team of journalists is hard at work around the clock to bring you the in-depth scoop!
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Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA, USA 12/16/04 - By: Devin Olson -
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 Busch Gardens Williamsburg plans to immerse guests in an experience unlike anything else installed since the theme park opened in 1975.
Curse of DarKastle: the Ride will take passengers on a dark ride journey through a Bavarian castle as they are surrounded by elaborate theming, and state-of-the-art visual effects including elements of 3D. The theme of being 'frozen in time' will leave riders chilled as they complete a five-minute experience including a pre-show of a minute and 40 seconds.
 The technology behind Curse of DarKastle is most comparable to that of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-man at Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Japan. A ride vehicle with a wide range of motion will travel through a maze of scenes in the dark as guests are exposed to various visual effects.
Busch Gardens' new ride is expected to open this May, and is located in a 40,000 square-foot building in the Oktoberfest section. The building resides on the former location of the defunct Wilde Maus, which was sent to sister park Busch Gardens Tampa last year.
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Knoebels, Elysburg, PA, USA 12/14/04 - By: Devin Olson -
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 Guests may not have known it, but they rode Whirlwind for the last time during the 2004 season at Knoebels.
The Pennsylvania amusement park has confirmed that the twenty-year-old steel looping coaster is being relocated out of the park, and out of the United States entirely, and will reopen next year in La Uruca, Costa Rica's Parque de Diversiones. Whirlwind operated at Knoebels since 1993 after it was received second-hand from Playland park in Rye, New York.
The departing coaster is a Vekoma double-corkscrew Whirlwind model with a height of 64 feet and speeds of 37 miles per hour. Five other Whirlwind models currently operate around the globe.
Dismantling of the ride is well underway, as preparation begins elsewhere in the park for the installation of two new flat rides at Knoebels for the 2005 season: Sidewinder and Flying Tigers. There is no word on what will replace Whirlwind.
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Hersheypark Hershey, PA, USA 12/09/04 - By: Carl F -
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 Hersheypark back in September announced a new thrill dominating over the newly rethemed Carousel Circle into Founders Circle called Turbulence, which is a Frequent Faller coaster that would have been the first of its kind. Boasting a patriotic paintjob of Red, White, and Blue, the thrill sadly has been scrapped. On top of that, Hershey is suing Interactive Rides Inc. the manufacturers of the Frequent Faller model over the cost.
But, Hershey has decided to bring back 2 old flat rides; Balloon Fite and Starship America attractions. Along with that, a new musical show for the park called "The Milkmen", which is a salute to... well... milk!
You can read more on this HERE
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Knotts Berry Farm, Buena Park, California, USA 12/07/04 - By: Carl F -
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 Today, Knotts Berry Farm opens up its newest thrill, Silver Bullet .
Announced last December, Silver Bullet is the west coast's largest inverted coaster. The ride was originally intended to open on Christmas Eve as a gift for passholders, but it got done sooner than expected and opened on the 7th. Silver Bullet, a B&M Inverted coaster that boasts 6 inversions, an unusual overbank, a lengthy 3,125 feet, a height of 150 feet, and a top speed of 55 mph, makes it another great reason to go to Knott's Berry Farm.
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Suzu Water Park, Lahore, Pakistan 12/05/04 - By: Devin Olson -
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[Updated Dec. 6]
Details are coming in of a tragic accident involving a flat ride located at a waterpark in Pakistan in which atleast four are confirmed dead.
The ride at Suzu Water Park was in motion when an arm reportedly broke free from the support structure and crashed to the ground with one of the structural members breaking in two. Five passengers, three young girls ages 11-15 and two adults, died instantly upon impact with the ground. Anywhere from 45 to 60 others were injured, 20 of which remain hospitalized.
Suzu Water Park was crowded with students from various schools at the time, and it is reported that 70 were either on board or within vicinity of the ride when the accident occured.
Government authority is ordering inspection of all similar rides and local authorities are investigating the incident as a murder case involving a park manager, two co-owners, and seven others.
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Thorpe Park, Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK 12/02/04 - By: Josh Thompson -
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 Thorpe Park has confirmed the name of one of their 2005 attractions. The S&S Sky Swatter will be named Slammer!
The park has previously released information on two new rides that would be placed in the Lost City section of Thorpe Park. Both rides are from S&S. One is a Sky Swatter, which made it's debut at Six Flags Astroworld in 2004, and the other is a Screaming Swing, which still remains unnamed.
The Screaming Swing will be placed on the spot vacated by Eclipse and Slammer! will be placed on the spot of the old Trapper's Trail, removed in 2005 for Colossus.
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Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 12/01/04 - By: Carl F -
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 Today, Cedar Point has officially announced its new 2005 addition that is certainly going to give you maximum amounts of airtime, maXair.
maXair will be located in the Main Midway over by Kiddy Kingdom and will relocate a number of games from maXairs location to Johnny Rockets. Main Midway is also getting a facelift for the games that are not going to be moved which includes new lights.
The ride is a Huss Giant Frisbee, similar to Delirium at Paramount's Kings Island . Ride stats boasts a speed of 70 mph, an 84 foot tall structure, a ride height of sending your feet a 140 feet in the air, and a nice retro paintjob of orange, red, yellow, and blue.
You can see concept art and more over at cedarpoint.com
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