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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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Visionland kicked off a contest, “Name that Coaster Contest.” They are asking coaster enthusiast to name their new ride, and if the name they submit is selected for the ride’s name, then they can receive a number of prizes.
You must be at least 18 years old to enter or have parental permission and you can put as many coaster names in as you want. For complete rules and information visit the following site: Visionland Contest
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Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Cypress Gardens, FL, USA 01/29/05 - By: Mike Landers -
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 With an average of 7,000 to 8,000 visitors a day, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park has surpassed they predicted attendance levels. They were expecting about 3,000 to 4,000 visitors a day, but those numbers were proven wrong.
With these massive crowds, they are having difficulties parking some of the vehicles because the parking lot is not large enough to support these numbers. Along with the parking lot problems, they also had a shortage of employees. Since this shortage, more have been hired and the problem of staff has been solved.
Cypress Gardens stated that a new coaster is on the way and that more information would be released around February 1st. Stick around COASTER-net news for the hottest information.
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Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka, MO, USA 01/26/05 - By: Devin Olson -
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 Six Flags has confirmed Tornado for Six Flags St. Louis' Hurricane Harbor waterpark this season as ProSlide's funnel-shaped attraction becomes a growing trend at waterparks around the country.
The Tornado model consists of an enclosed slide starting out at a height of 75 feet that leads a four-passenger raft into the giant 60-foot funnel where it slides from side to side of the structure. Finally, riders exit under a waterfall through the bottom opening of the funnel and enter a splash pool.
Tornado will be the first new addition to Hurricane Harbor since its debut in 1999, and the first new addition to Six Flags St. Louis in two years. Six Flags plans to open the Tornado slide on May 28th when the adjacent Hurricane Harbor waterpark begins its 2005 season. Hurricane Harbor is included in general park admission.
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Alton Towers, Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK 01/20/05 - By: Devin Olson -
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 After nearly twenty-two years in operation, Alton Towers will be closing the Black Hole and removing the coaster from the theme park.
March 5th will be the final chance for Alton Towers guests to get in their last rides on the Schwarzkopf Jet Star 2 model. Enclosed, themed, and enshrouded in darkness, Black Hole took a standard Schwarzkopf coaster and turned it into a unique experience in Alton Towers fashion. The ride originally opened in 1983 as one of ten coasters using Schwarzkopf's Jet Star 2 layout, and is currently one of six remaining.
The debut of Alton Towers' Rita Intamin Rocket Coaster this spring will leave the Staffordshire, England park with eight coasters after Black Hole's closure, and it is unknown what will replace the coaster.
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Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL, USA 01/19/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Last August, Six Flags Great America unveiled a brand new waterpark under Six Flags' Hurricane Harbor waterparks. Boasting over 25 water slides, the worlds largest interactive waterplay structure and family water playground, 1/2 mile long adventure river, and a massive 1/2 mile long wave pool. With so many unique and fun features, you would expect to pay big bucks to get into this gigantic water park.
Well, dont worry about a dent in your wallet, its free! Six Flags Great America's Hurricane Harbor admittance is free with park admission. Though season pass prices have rose, it is one good deal. Six Flags Great America's Hurricane Harbor will open in 2005.
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Michigan's Adventure, Muskegon, MI, USA 01/18/05 - By: Mike Landers -
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 Michigan’s Adventure has had been hitting it big in the news this year, but it’s not the news people have been wanting. Instead of the big roller coaster or new campground announcement, we have been dealing with a water issue. The problem that stands is Cedar Fair wanting the Northside Water System water lines to Michigan’s Adventure for future park expansions. Initially, it seemed that this project would come about with out any problem, but this is when the war began.
It has been a long year with everyone fighting over the water line expansion. First, the citizens opposed the plan calling it, “unfair.” They were claiming that it would not benefit the people of the community and that the people needed to be thought of too instead of just think about the big businesses.
Then, about five days before Michigan made some significant progress, Cedar Fair said they are canceling all of their help for the water project. Michigan’s Adventure states they need city water to pursue plans for a hotel, campground and other major expansion projects
The staff of COASTER-net will continue to keep you up to date as this story unfolds.
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Ratanga Junction, Century City, Cape Town, South Africa, Africa 01/15/05 - By: Carl F -
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Gale force winds caused an even more thrilling ride than usual on Ratanga Junction's Cobra coaster, which is a Vekoma SLC. Just as the train was about to seperate from the lift, the train stalled in the gale force winds and the riders had to go on the emergency platform after being stranded for minutes. Nobody was hurt during the incident, but ropes and harnesses were used to get the guests down safely on the emergency lift.
Park officials say they wont reopen Cobra until all of the bugs are fixed. Ratanga Junction opened in 1998 with three coasters, Cobra being one of the three. The park will sadly close this season this coming June as the park has been sold to Century City Property Developments and Nedcor, the owners, have to remove the rides as a part of the deal.
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Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ, USA 01/13/05 - By: Devin Olson -
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 At 10:30 this morning, the final and highest section of track was placed for Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka, making it the single tallest rollercoaster structure in the world at 456 feet.
Following nearly half a year of construction since initial clearing began, the crown 4.5-ton piece was hoisted into place to complete the 3,118 feet of steel track. With a teal support structure and bright green track standing 456 feet tall, Kingda Ka is visible from miles away from the Jackson, New Jersey theme park and boasts height double that of the former East Coast's tallest coaster, Great Adventure's own 2001 mega-coaster Nitro.
Kingda Ka is based on Cedar Point's 2004 record-breaker Top Thrill Dragster, only 36 feet taller and 318 feet longer with the addition of a 128-foot tall speed hill after the initial vertical tower. Once testing begins, Kingda Ka will become the new fastest coaster, clocking in at 128 miles per hour by utilizing a 3.5-second hydraulic launch.
Six Flags Great Adventure plans on debuting the new tallest and fastest ride this spring along with a new adjoining themed area known as Golden Kingdom.
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Paramount's Kings Island, Kings Mill, OH, USA 01/12/05 - By: Devin Olson -
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 Cedar Point won't be the only major Ohio park with an indoor waterpark bringing in year-round tourism for much longer.
Paramount's Kings Island has won approval for a 74,000-square-foot indoor waterpark as part of an expansion for the 33-year-old theme park's adjacent resort. The Mason City Council rezoned 47 acres of Kings Island's campground property for not only the indoor waterpark, but also for a 60,000-square-foot conference center and a hotel with 401 suites.
This indoor waterpark comes in the wake of an indoor waterpark wave that has been sweeping the country, with recent parks opening and under construction around the United States, including Cedar Point's Castaway Bay which opened late last year.
Last season, Paramount's Kings Island's marketing pull was a revamped and expanded outdoor waterpark with the conversion of WaterWorks into the themed Paramount-brand Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay.
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Rockin' Raceway, Pigeon Forge, TN, USA 01/11/05 - By: Alan Johnsrud -
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A trial date has been set for Charles Martin. He is being charged with Second-Degree murder and reckless homicide in connection with the march 14, 2004 death of June Alexander of Tennessee.
Charles Martin was the manager of a Pigeon Forge amusement park, that housed the ride the Hawk. The 51-year-old woman was on the ride when her safety strap loosened during operations. She then fell 60 feet.
Charles Martin has invoked his right to a speedy trial. The trial date is May 11th. Martin is free on $100,000 bond pending trial.
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Six Flags / Geauga Lake, Aurora, OH, USA 01/11/05 - By: Alan Johnsrud -
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 Six Flags Inc. will have to pay Geauga County 2.5 million dollars after a Ohio Supreme Court ruling. The issue before the court was weather three rides at the park would be considered real or personal property for the purposes of taxation.
The court found that Grizzly Run, Mind Eraser and Skyscraper rides were “business fixtures” rather then real property, and therefore subject to sales and use taxes assessed by the state tax commissioner in the late 1990s.
The park now known as Geauga Lake was sold to Cedar Fair last year.
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Galleries de la Capitale, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada 01/11/05 - By: Mike Landers -
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A girl in Quebec, Canada was seriously injured yesterday afternoon at Quebec City shopping mall after being thrown from a roller coaster. The coaster is currently under investigation.
The teenage girl was thrown from her seat barely missing two steel beams located on either side of the part of the wall she hit. After slamming through the rock wall she fell six meters to the floor. She suffered back and head injuries.
The roller coaster is in the amusement park of the Galleries de la Capitale.
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 Attendees to the Orange Bowl last Tuesday were forced to listen to Ashley Simpson sing, but were also treated to a free ticket to any Disney theme park’s in celebrations of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary.
More than 72,000 fans at the game in Southern California received the free ticket that will allow them entrance to any Disney theme park. A single-day admission price at Walt Disney World is almost $60. “It’s the biggest giveaway every for out company” according to a Disney spokesman.
The fans have tell September 2006 to use the tickets.
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When you think of amusement parks, Wichita is not a city that comes to mind, but it might soon be. Three separate amusement park proposals are on the desk for the city and are under construction.
Joyland Amusement Park is a park that has been running for years in the Wichita area. The park closed midway through the 2004 season due to finical troubles. The park was then sold to former owner’s Stanley and Margaret Nelson who are expected to reopen the park in 2005. The park is still currently up for sale with three or four interested parties.
All-Star Sports is currently under construction. The only park that has not broken ground is Wild West World. They are seeking more money before starting construction, although its owners say they intend to open.
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Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA, USA 01/07/05 - By: Devin Olson -
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 Three new rides will be opening at Six Flags New England for the 2005 season if the city of Agawam grants approval.
The proposal includes an unnamed spinning coaster, a portable Slingshot upcharge attraction, and a new unknown type of slide named Typhoon for the adjacent Hurricane Harbor waterpark.
Dominating over the new rides would be Slingshot, at 146 feet tall. Meanwhile, the other two rides would be within current height limits of 45 feet, with the coaster reaching 42 feet tall and Typhoon topping off at 39 feet. Due to Slingshot's height, the city's Board of Appeals will issue a height variance if approved.
The last year that Six Flags New England added a new coaster of any size was in 2002 with the Batman: the Dark Knight floorless looping coaster.
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