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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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Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, FL, USA 05/25/05 - By: Carl F -
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This just in, it seems ANOTHER one of Universal Studio's Florida's original attractions is going away. The park's classic "Nickelodeon Studios" is going away for good. The reason? Lacking popularity and shows being filmed.
At the end of June, Nickelodeon is abandoning the Orlando production unit, which means no shows or attractions will be held there again. Also, the infamous green gooze fountain will go as well.
The production unit has been there since the park opened in June 1990. Numerous Nickelodeon shows and specials, such as What Would You Do?, All That, Family Double Dare, Keenan and Kel, Nick Arcade, Slime Time Live, and You're On!
The studio also held tours and at the end of the tour, guests take part in a game show called 'Game Lab' and the winner gets soaked with the infamous green gooze, Slime.
Less than ten people will be laid off. Over recent years, the Nickelodeon Studios attraction has recieved much unpopularity with the public and Universal 'neglecting' the attraction from advertisement. Also, with no shows being produced by Nickelodeon at the moment at the Orlando studio.
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Nashville Valley Amusement Park, Nashville, TN, USA 05/25/05 - By: Carl F -
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A small theme park in Nashville is closing soon. Nashville Valley is closing down due to poor attendance. Reason on the poor attendance, the weather. The park opened in 2003 with two roller coasters, Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars, and other rides as well. Noting the short time the park was open, it was only open on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The park is now up for sale for $1.6 million dollars. The parks two coasters consist of a new Pinfari Z40 coaster called King and a relocated Miller kiddie coaster called Python.
As of late, Nashville's tourism has been falling and the town has been looking for a new amusement park. Guess this one didn't go over too well...
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The Great Escape, Lake George, NY, USA 05/23/05 - By: Brian Bass -
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Sorry that this is old news, but it still as this is my first news story, I thought that I should start out a bit funny.
So at The Great Esacape, in New York there are wild Ravens currently nesting on the park's Pirate Ship ride. Now, as any of you out there that actually work or have worked at an amusement park may know, birds are everywhere. But a nest in the operational area of a ride is bit more uncommon, hence the importance of this little event.
“The pirate ship was not in operation because of the birds and will remain that way for the next few weeks when we anticipate the birds flying away,” said Steve Krawczyk of the Great Escape.
The park discovered this new nest with four eggs in it last month, and Great Escape expects to have the ride open this coming Memorial Day weekend, in hopes that the birds will "fly away." So any and all you Great Escapers now if you see a raven on your ride, be sure to get off.
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Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA 05/16/05 - By: Matthew Grauberger -
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 Ibala, the 26-year-old African elephant that lost its unborn calf last month past away on Saturday due to complications with a uterine infection.
The elephant lived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom from 1997 to the present. Before Ibala died veterinarians were able to remove the deceased unborn calf and perform a necropsy on Friday. Veterinarians found that the calf died from endotoxic shock.
Ibala was artificially inseminated on July 24, 2003, with her calf as part of the Animal Kingdom’s elephant-breeding program.
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On Friday, authorities announced that a girl that was seen in sexually explicit photos at a Disney World hotel has been found.
She is now safe after the police found her through law enforcement databases of child pornography. The girl, who was born in Russia, was adopted by a man who was arrested for trading porn on the internet and is currently serving a federal prison sentence.
The girl was adopted in 2003 by a woman in the Pittsburgh area.
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You might not think about the government while you are at an amusement park, because you are having too much fun.
But in Indiana, 12 state inspectors are examining the state's amusement parks. The state wants to avoid another ride death, following two since 1996. Some think that one more accident could lead to a park's closure or a bad reputation.
"Safety is our bread and butter," says Jim Spackman, who is the vice president  of the Indiana Beach amusement park in Monticello, Indiana.
The two accidents were a train derailment in which a 57-year-old woman was killed and her 5-year-old granddaughter paralyzed. This was at the Old Indiana Park, which never reopened. Two years ago, a woman fell to her death at Holiday World after being ejected from the Raven.
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A 54-year-old man was hit in the head above the eye by an arrow on Thursday while waiting to ride a grass slide in the slide section of Yamaguchi New Zealand Village.
The park also has an archery range 33 meters away from the slide section. The man suffered only minor injuries. The police are still trying to figure out if the arrow shot was intentional or an accident.
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 The second-highest bidder in the American Red Crosses auctioning of tickets to the inaugural ride for maXair at Cedar Point will not be riding it.
Linda Bodnar who came in second only to her husband Jim Bodnar, said she was “… so afraid.” MaXair is a pendulum ride that reaches speeds of 70 mph. Barry Morgan, an employee of the business Linda’s husband owns, will ride in her place.
The amounts for the two higgest bids were $262 and $261, and the lowest winning bid was $101. In all the American Red Cross made $11,000 from the maXair bids and $35,000 overall.
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We have another update in regards to a future amusement park going up in Williams Arizona. Janet Napolitano gave the thumbs up to House Bill 2365.
This bill will make a special taxing district that would benefit private investment group build theme parks in west Phoenix and Williams Arizona. People who would go to amusement parks, concerts and other events in this specific taxing district would pay an extra 9 percent sales tax.The parks could bring an estimated $75 to $150 million increase to Arizona's annual tax revenue.
The district will also have a five member board that will become defunct if bonds for projects aren’t issued by January 1st of 2009.
Also under the bill, casinos in the district and the west Phoenix and Williams sites must be built at the same time.
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The future Wild West World in Park City, Kansas may have found a financer.
According to Thomas Etheredge-who is planning the park- Fitraco NV a Belgian financial firm may finance the park. Fitraco officials said they would make a recommendation to the company’s Board of Directors and should send Etheredge a letter of commitment by the end of May. It will cost an estimated $15 to $17 million to fund the park.
Wild West World is planned to be 130 acres. Next to the park, there will be 18 commercial sites, each 1-acre lots. Next to Joyland, Wild West World will be Kansas' only big amusement pakr.
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 This just in! According to a Paramount Kings Dominion Press Release, Grizzly, one of the parks four wooden roller coasters, will reopen this Saturday May 7th.
Grizzly, which first opened in 1982, was closed this spring for scheduled maintenance. The Grizzly has an eight-story drop, and a “double figure eight track configuration.”
Paramount Kings Dominion is home to 12 different roller coasters.
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If you live near 77th street and interstate 135 in Park City, Kansas expect to see some changes in the area starting this summer.
As you probably know this is the future site for the Wild West World theme park. You will first start to see roads that take you to the park as well as hotels and restaurants go up first.
Construction for the $20 million theme park is scheduled to begin next year and be open for business in may of 2007.
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 Two years after officials said no criminal charges would be filed in the death of a woman at an amusement park in Indiana, the father of the woman is suing the park for negligence.
Witnesses say that Tamar Fellner stood up on The Raven, a roller coaster at Holiday World, before it was going to take a 69-foot drop. When the car came into the station operators noticed Fellner’s seat belt was undone. Rabbi Azriel Fellner, who is suing the park said it failed to ensure his daughter was properly restrained.
Keith Vonderahe, Fellner’s attorney said, “The cars on roller coasters should be designed in such a way that nobody should be able to fall from them.”
Mr. Fellner is looking for over $75,000 in damages.
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 For the first time since September 11th Disneyland was closed to the public on Wednesday.
This time the park was closed for its media day. 1,200 journalists and special guests like Sheryl Crowe and Kelsey Grammer will get a sneek preview of the attractions that are part of the 50th anniversary. The public will be able to see the 50th anniversary celebration starting tomorrow May 5th.
Disneyland’s 50th birthday is actually July 17, but celebrations start on May 5 and continue for 18 months.
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 Once again another old fashioned and three decade old amusement park has closed due to lack of business since big parks like Six Flags and Paramount Parks have taken over the industry.
The Enchanted Forest in Hope Valley, Rhode Island opened in 1971.
The park auctioned off its rides on Tuesday. The park will be put on the market for commercial or residential buildings.
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Alton Towers, Staffordshire, England, UK 05/01/05 - By: Carl F -
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 According to the Sunday Times, a newspaper in Britain, four girls were sexually assaulted in the queue line for Alton Tower's newest roller coaster Rita: Queen of Speed.
The incident took place on Friday afternoon while the girls were on a school trip. The girls were aged 13-15 years old and their assaulters being aged 18-20. According to the girls, the criminals smelled of alcohol. The incident started off with numerous talk, but the girls ignored. The men then attacked the girls and fled via bus shortly after, then arrested a half-hour later.
The incident was caught on tape with the park's security camera. Police caught the men and arrested them. The girls were safe, but had to stay in the local police department until Sunday at 4 a.m. local time. The men were arrested, but are now released on bail pending further inquiries.
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