|
|
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!
|
 | |  |
|
|
|
Thorpe Park, Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK 03/29/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 This just in, one of Thorpe Park's new rides for 2005, Slammer, has broken down with 38 riders on board. Paramedics and local fire departments are on site right now (12:30 PM Eastern US Time).
Slammer is an S&S Sky Swat ride similar to SWAT at Six Flags AstroWorld. It is also one of Thorpe Park's new rides for 2005, with the other being an S&S Screamin' Swing called Rush.
UPDATE on 3/30
The ride is now closed and more information has been released. The ride was not stuck upside down. To add to the factor, nature wasn't to kind on the riders as it was cold and rainy as well during their one hour of being stranded. The riders were stuck in cars 17 meters in the air, or approx. 55 feet. Thorpe Park apologized to the riders that were stranded and gave them free blankets and hot drinks. For safety reasons, local paramedics checked on the riders for any injuries.
The cause of the accident was due to when a safety mechanism kicked in during a mechanical fault. None of the 38 riders were hurt and brought down safely by local paramedics and fire departments.
Keep it on COASTER-Net and In The Loop for more as this story progresses.
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags Parks, United States 03/24/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Mr. Six is back for another big national advertising campaign. Six Flags unveiled Mr. Six last year and became a successful way to attract people to their parks. For those who need a refresher, Mr. Six is a breakdancing old man that tells people to go to Six Flags. Recently, he got his own coaster as well, Mr. Six's Pandemonium at Six Flags New England.
Last years ads were about convincing a neighborhood that did nothing but work all day to go to Six Flags. This year, its Mr. Six warning everybody about the off season being over, getting up from his retirement home and saying "Six Flags' biggest season ever!"
Want to see the commercial and hi-resolution still frames? Click HERE
|
|
|
|
|
Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO, USA 03/23/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Silver Dollar City's new coaster, Powder Keg: A BLAST in the Wilderness, opened two days ago. The ride, which is a redone version of what was a Premier Liquid Coaster called Buzzsaw Falls turned into a launched coaster for this year. Well, now it is under some hot water after two days of operation.
The new ride ends up being closed. It was due to a minor accident on the ride where two trains bumped into each other. One of the trains were empty, the other train were carrying passengers. Four people, as a safety precaution, were sent to the hospital, but resulted in no injury. The ride will remain closed as state inspectors inspect the ride before they give it an all clear.
|
|
|
|
|
Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Winter Haven, FL, USA 03/23/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Just when you thought Cypress Gardens have done enough expansions, think again. Amusement Today confirms that the Miracle Strip's Starliner wooden coaster has been bought by Beuscher.
Starliner operated at Miracle Strip since 1963 to its closing day last September. Designed by John Allen (of such coasters as Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags over Georgia), its a classic airtime filled out and back wooden coaster that almost faced certain doom. But now, a new life at Cypress Gardens is ahead for this classic, Starliner is said to open in Cypress Garden's sometime in 2006. Stick with In The Loop and COASTER-Net for more on this story!
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags Elitch Gardens, Denver, CO, USA 03/22/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Get ready to live life on the EDGE, literally, on Six Flags Elitch Gardens' new water slide for its Island Kingdom water park called EDGE. Announced today, the slide gives a sensation of free-fall while you go down a vertical ledge that is four stories long.
After going down the first ledge, you go up another edge back and forth a few times before splashing down into the pool. Similar to an experience on a half pipe, but on water! The slide is manufactured by Water Fun Products of Alberta, Canada and will open in May 2005. The park will open for its Spring Spin event on April 16-17, but the grand opening of the 2005 season won't occur until April 23rd.
|
|
|
|
|
Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Winter Haven, FL, USA 03/15/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
Today, Cypress Gardens announced even MORE to its growth. Adding on to a clone of Splash Island water park and soon to open wildlife area comes a new coaster from Zamperla. Zamperla is no stranger to the park since it houses their Disk-O flat ride and Junior Coaster. The park is getting a Spinning Coaster called Galaxy Spin, with the layout said to be the same as Ragin Cajun at Six Flags Great America.
The cars on this ride are said to be being built right now and are custom made to look like UFO's. Spinning around numerous hairpin turns and dips, Galaxy Spin is set to open this May at the park.
|
|
|
|
|
Stratosphere Tower, Las Vegas, NV, USA 03/10/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 One of the most insane thrills on the planet opened up last night as one of Interactive Rides Inc.'s creations finally took its first riders screaming not 100, 200, 300, or even 400 feet, but over 900 feet above the famous Las Vegas Strip. Insanity: The Ride opened up as one of Interactive Rides' Sky Skater models.
The ride is like a typical wave swinger ride, but make it turn into a flying position and place it 909 feet above ground, you get Insanity. To make it even more insane and scary, you go over 40 miles per hour and pulls up to 3 G's. Insanity: The Ride is another unique and thrilling ride that makes the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas one of the biggest adrenaline paradises around with other insane rides such as Big Shot and High Roller on the top of the tower, clocking in at 900 feet.
|
|
|
|
|
Clementon Amusement Park, Clementon, NJ, USA 03/09/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Clementon Amusement Park's recently opened S&S wooden coaster called Tsunami became a victim of political correctness. Last December, thousands died in Southern Asia over one of the worst world disasters in history. A similar incident happened over at M&D's Park in Scotland recently because of their Pinfari Xpress coaster named Tsunami, but never renamed. Due to the political correctness, the ride was renamed.
Well, Clementon Park's coaster has been renamed to J2, short for Jack Rabbit 2. The name comes from the park's classic SBNO (Standing But Not Operating) 1919 John A. Miller designed wooden, Jack Rabbit.
Clementon has no set opening date for the 2005 season.
|
|
|
|
|
Wild Waves Enchanted Village, Federal Way, WA, USA 03/03/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Coming in 2005 for Washington's Wild Waves Enchanted Village park is a clone of a popular Six Flags water slide. Do not fear, its not another Tornado clone. It is a clone of Hurricane Harbor's popular family rafting slide called Zooma Falls.
This giant water slide debuting in the Wild Waves water park will tower over five stories. On the ride, you will encounter a crossover curve, four curves, five speed zones, all inside the park's Konga River, which is their lazy river attraction.
The ride's rafts will hold four people in a clover leaf like fashion. The raft spins around on this wild slide and it gives everybody a great view of other peoples' looks on their faces.
Zooma Falls is set to open on May 28th, 2005. Wild Waves Enchanted Village will open on May 21st, 2005 for its 2005 season.
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags Marine World, Vallejo, CA, USA 03/01/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Six Flags are now considering buying their Marine World property again. They previously discussed about this last December before they said that they (Six Flags) needed five years to close the deal. Six Flags Marine World is managed by Six Flags, but owned by the city of Vallejo, California.
Due to the discussion last December, the city allowed an extension for Six Flags to buy the park by the year 2010. Now, the park could be bought and Six Flags could totally own their Marine World property as soon as March 7th.
Six Flags Marine World is set to open for the 2005 season on March 12th. New for the park in 2005 includes Ocean Discovery , consisting of 4 attractions including a Dolphin Encounter, Penguin Passage exhibit, Stingray Bay petting pool, and a sea lion show.
Keep it on COASTER-Net and In The Loop for updates on this story as it progresses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
