|
|
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!
|
 | |  |
California Screamin collision sends 15 to hospital
48 On ride; cause of accident undetermined
|
|
|
Disney's California Adventure, Anaheim, CA, USA 07/30/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Fifteen were sent to the hospital at around 6:30 p.m. yesterday on California Screamin' as the result of a minor collision involving two completely full trains.
Around 100 emergency personnel responded to the accident, which involved forty-eight passengers. All guests involved were examined for injuries, but two-thirds did not require medical treatment.
In a statement from the Disneyland Resort, the park said that they were assisting all of those involved in the accident with the appropriate action.
It is unknown how the incident happened, and an investigation is taking place to determine the cause.
|
|
Beech Bend confirms 2006 wooden coaster
Great Coasters project to be first major coaster at KY park
|
|
|
Beech Bend Park, Bowling Green, KY, USA 07/30/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
Kentucky's Beech Bend Park has confirmed plans for a yet-unnamed Great Coasters International project for 2006 and released more details on the ride.
 The wooden twister's layout will be twisted into a 2,827-foot course with thirty crossovers, and a spiraling first drop inspired by the defunct 1920's-era Aeroplane Coaster at Rye, New York's Playland Park (left).
Another feature of the layout will be three fly-by elements interacting with the station made popular by the Great Coasters 2004 project Thunderhead at Tennessee's Dollywood - two perpendicular and one parallel.
Beech Bend's wooden coaster is one of two GCI projects in the works for next year, the other being Thunderbird at Finland's Power Park. It will join three kiddie- and family-sized steel coasters including the 2005 Zamperla Wild Mouse.
A name for the new wooden coaster, however, has not been determined yet, and suggestions can be sent to the park via their official site. The winning name will earn two free season passes to Beech Bend and a spot on one of the first trains out of the station on May 6, 2006.
|
|
Hersheypark wants you to design a coaster
RCT3 promo, grand prize is $100,000 scholarship
|
|
|
Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA 07/29/05 - By: -
|
|
 How would you like to be the designer of a coaster for Hersheypark? Well, that may be possible. Hersheypark is holding a contest called “Design a Roller Coaster.” Contestants will submit their design made from the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 software to Hershey’s Website.
The grand prize winner will receive a $100,000 check for college, as well as a gaming package, all worth $100,150. There will be three finalist prizes valued at $4,000 each. Nine first runner-up prizes are a Roller Coaster Tycoon game. Candy bars will be rewarded to the second runner-up winners.
For more information on the contest, go to www.hersheys.com/back-to-school/promo-overview.asp.
|
|
Splash Island opens up at Cypress Gardens
Cypress Gardens water park opens, but not 100% done
|
|
|
Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, FL, USA 07/29/05 - By: -
|
|
 A new water park inside Cypress Gardens will open today. The park will be called Splash Island featuring five water rides, however only three of them will be open today.
Polynesian Adventure, Paradise River and the Tonga Tubes will open today; the park is still working on Kowabunga Bay and some speed slides called the Voodoo Plunge.
This will be the only water park in Polk County, so Cypress Gardens is hoping it will draw more visitors.
|
|
16 year old boy saved from drowning
But in critical condition
|
|
|
Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, USA 07/29/05 - By: -
|
|
 Alan Kringel, a 16-year-old boy working on an underwater shore restoration project behind the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel almost drowned when he got entangled with his diving rope.
Other members of the company he was working for saw that he was entangled and pulled him out of the water where they found he wasn’t breathing and was without a pulse.
The boy is in critical condition at the Orlando Regional Medical Center. The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the situation.
|
|
The Last Gasp at Six Flags over Georgia
Great Gasp rumors confirmed
|
|
|
Six Flags over Georgia, Austell, GA, USA 07/28/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Six Flags over Georgia has confirmed a recent rumor of the removal of a park icon, the Great Gasp thrill ride. To promote the end of the ride, Six Flags over Georgia has made August 13th and 14th the last days to ride the parachute ride. The event is called "The Last Gasp" and the date also marks the week the park will go back to weekends only operation.
The event will not only allow riders and enthusiasts to ride the classic one last time and give final farewells, but the park will also be giving away special edition buttons, commemorating the last gasps on Great Gasp that weekend. After nearly thirty years of operation, the 'Gasp will close for good.
The ride was built in 1976 by Intamin AG, as one of their rare Parachute Drop tower rides. The ride is one of three left in the United States, the other two being Texas Chute Out at Six Flags over Texas and Parachute Training Center at Six Flags Great Adventure. Great Gasp takes riders to heights of 200 feet and gently drops them, providing a ride intense enough for riders to lose their breath on the drop down. The ride also gives riders a bird's eye view of the Atlanta skyline.
The ride will be replaced with a rumored hyper/mega-coaster for the 2006 season. Other rides rumored to be removed in the area include the nearby Space Shuttle.
|
|
Rockin Raceway convict sentenced
Sentenced to four years in jail
|
|
|
Rockin' Raceway, Pigeon Forge, TN, USA 07/28/05 - By: -
|
|
We have an update for you on the sentencing of Charles Stan Martin, the man convicted in the death of a woman that fell off The Hawk at the Rockin’ Raceway Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Martin was convicted to four years probation, not the four years of jail time the prosecution was hoping for. For Martin, he will not be able to work on any amusement rides during his probation.
He was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service and fined $5,000 dollars.
|
|
Will Hong Kong Disney have fireworks?
Uncertain future for display
|
|
|
Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong, China 07/28/05 - By: -
|
|
 It is expected Hong Kong Disneyland will have a grand pyrotechnics display when the park opens on September 12th. It is also expected the new Disney park will have nightly firework spectaculars just like all its previous predecessors.
However before any of this can happen, the park must pass a number of test to be monitored in Hong Kong by the Environment Protection Department this August. The Disney park had already held previous test runs on both May 6th and 7th. But the EPD says that the test results were determined inconclusive. This was because they say the firework displays happened during very mild wind conditions, and that instruments which tested suspended air particles had failed.
Noise concerns will also be looked into this time around. After the test month is over and the EPD gives Hong Kong Disneyland the green light, nightly firework displays will take center stage over Penny’s Bay starting September 12th.
|
|
Self Serve Tickets now at Valleyfair!
Cygnus adds machines to park
|
|
|
Valleyfair!, Shakopee, MN, USA 07/28/05 - By: -
|
|
 They're at it again, Cygnus eTransactions Group, Inc. continues to lend its products and services to the amusement industry. They announced Wednesday that Valleyfair in Minnesota, a Cedar Fair park, will receive their ceTracker software.
This software will allow Valleyfair guest who have purchased and printed tickets off the parks official website, to be scanned for immediate entry at the parks main gate, allowing them to completely bypass ticket windows. Hand-held scanners installed with the software will allow employees to validate the tickets.
The ceTracker software also allows Valleyfair to offer its guest stored value cards, which allow patrons to load money onto a card and use it to make purchases on things like park admission, merchandise, individual rides, food and anything thing else in the park that requires the customer to pay. This allows guest to limit spending and eliminate the need for cash and credit cards.
This is the second Cedar Fair park Cygnus has done business with this week. Tuesday we reported that they installed personal ticket kiosks at Dorney Park in Pennsylvania.
|
|
Dorney Park plans 2006 waterpark expansion
Second Wave Pool being added for 2006 season
|
|
|
Dorney Park, Allentown, PA, USA 07/27/05 - By: -
|
|
 Scheduled to open for the 2006 season, Dorney Park and Wildwater kingdom plan to open the 4.5 million dollar project known as Wave Pool 2.
A proposal made last Thursday was approved by South Whitehall planning commission to expand on the parks current Wave Pool. The plan was made to add on to the over packed pools during the summer years, which would be the parks second investment in a 30-acre water park in two years. The idea was formed after the board viewed at an earlier meeting, pictures of the single over-crowded wave pool.
The proposed pool is expected to displace 62 parking spots in Dorney's main lot. The park added 400 spaces two years ago in distant lots that are seldom used.
|
|
Man given 2-4 year Prison Sentence
Man convicted of woman falling from inverting flat ride
|
|
|
Rockin' Raceway Amusement Park, Pigeon Forge, TN, USA 07/27/05 - By: -
|
|
Charles Stan Martin, who was convicted in the death of a woman that fell from The Hawk at the Rockin’ Raceway Amusement Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday.
The Prosecution is asking for a two to four year prison sentence, which is the maximum sentence. When we find out more, we will pass it on to you.
|
|
15 year old victim of Rape at Alton Towers
15 year old on school trip, drunk and raped
|
|
|
Alton Towers, Straffordshire, England, UK 07/27/05 - By: -
|
|
 A 15-year-old girl is the victim of a gang rape that took place at Alton Towers. During a school trip to the park, the girl broke away from her group to use a restroom. Away from her friends she ran into 6 teenage boys who immediately lured her to a secluded area of the park. It was then at this time that the rape took place.
Once escaped the girl suffered a panic attack and received immediate medical attention. Local authorities say there were thousands of park goers that day and are asking for any witnesses to come forward with any information.
An Alton Tower spokeswoman said the girl had also been treated for after effects of drinking alcohol.
|
|
G-Force, the second X-Car coaster in the world, opens
|
|
|
Drayton Manor Park, Birmingham, England, UK 07/26/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Drayton Manor's newest extreme thrill, G-Force!, opens up. Being the area's first and only X-Car coaster, riders are taken through a tight circuit consisting of three inversions and over 1263 feet of track in its compact layout. The coaster is made by Maurer Sohne.
The ride replaces the park's longtime looping coaster, Klondike Gold Mine, which closed in 2004 and now operates at nearby Funland Amusement Park. G-Force's inversions consist of a vertical loop and a unique inversion, being the first of its kind, the Bent Cuban Eight element. The Bent Cuban Eight element can best be described as a warped Cobra Roll like element.
The first X-Car coaster built was Sky Wheel at Skyline Park in Germany, opening last year. Another coaster of its type is heading to Parque de Attraciones in Madrid, Spain for the 2006 season.
|
|
Hong Kong Disney kills over 40 stray dogs
Disney in hot water with animal welfare groups.
|
|
|
Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong, China 07/26/05 - By: -
|
|
 Animal welfare groups in Hong Kong have recently criticized Disney for having over 40 stray dogs rounded up and killed by lethal injection at the Hong Kong Disneyland Park.
Disney has admitted to the public that it indeed asked the local government to send in its local dogcatchers to gather up the animals.
The animals were reportely unofficial guard dogs for the construction workers in the park. Disney however does deny that claim and says the dogs wandered into the park and were starting to prowl in dangerous packs.
The Hong Kong Dog Rescue Company was able to find homes for 3 dogs and they say Disney should have put more effort into finding homes for more dogs.
|
|
Drug Ring at Cedar Point
One man arrested at Cedar Point Hotel
|
|
|
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA 07/26/05 - By: -
|
|
 An arrest was made Monday at a Cedar Point Hotel.
Federal agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency took a Detroit man into custody at 6:30am Monday morning at the Sandcastle Hotel. He is one of 32 people charged in what is being called the largest drug ring investigation in Michigan's history.
Over 178 million dollars were profited in the drug trafficking.
|
|
Disney World deaths kept quiet
Blame is on rides, not riders
|
|
|
Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA 07/26/05 - By: -
|
|
Word has just come out this weekend about a man who died on a Disney World attraction back in April. He was the second person to die after going on a Disney world ride between April and June.
The records show that a 30-year-old man from Indiana lost consciousness and later died after riding a Dinosaur ride at the Animal Kingdom. The man wore a pacemaker.
A 16 year old girl that lost consciousness on the Tower of Terror is still in critical condition after suffering a stroke on July 12th.
Also in February a 77 year old Minnesota woman who was in poor health passed away after riding the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. All three incidents were not blamed on the rides.
|
|
Winterfest Lives Again
Annual event returns to Kings Island and Carowinds
|
|
|
Paramount Parks, USA 07/25/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Paramount Parks has confirmed longtime rumors of the return of Winterfest to Paramount's Kings Island and Paramount's Carowinds. What is Winterfest you ask? Winterfest is a celebration held by the parks to celebrate Christmas. The parks will be covered in thousands of Christmas Lights and opens its doors to the public to experience various, exclusive attractions.
Some of the attractions at the events include various shows involving the jolly fat guy himself, Santa. Other attractions include some of the largest outdoor ice skating rinks around and, of course, snow. Shops will be open as well for shoppers.
Winterfest opens at the parks on November 25th and will be on weekends throughout December.
|
|
Tokyo Woman Injured at Park
Woman trapped inside a well in the middle of the ride
|
|
|
Tokyo Indoor Park 07/22/05 - By: -
|
|
A Tokyo woman is doing okay after she was injured while working on an attraction at an unidentified indoor amusement park in Tokyo.
The woman was working on lighting of a dark ride called the Haunted Hotel when she became trapped under a tub. The tub opens and releases a ghost when a sensor detects visitors.
She was found by a colleague who called the ambulance, just before the attraction opened for the day.
|
|
Child sexual assult occurs in Orlando
Second assault this week in Orlando
|
|
|
Wet 'n Wild Water Park, Orlando, FL, USA 07/22/05 - By: -
|
|
 A 15-year-old boy is safe with his parents after an incident at Wet ‘n Wild water park in Orlando.
The boy was showering in the bathroom when a man in his fifties approached the teen and forced him to perform sexual acts. The man was not caught, and the boy reported the incident to his mother, who alerted park security.
This is the second sexual assault involving a child at an Orlando Amusement park in the last week. On Monday, a former middle school teacher allegedly followed a 12-year-old in to an elevator at a Disney Hotel.
|
|
Kingda Ka reopening nears
Worlds tallest and fastest may be back up by end of month
|
|
|
|
 The world's tallest and fastest coaster may be up and running by the end of this month.
Six Flags Great Adventure, Public relations manager, Kristin Siebeneicher tells the Philadelphia Inquirer that “things are going very well. Our maintenance team is working hand in hand with the ride manufacturer and the state of New Jersey to complete the launch track area.”
As everyone knows the coaster has been down for some time. Intamin has constructed the parts needed to put the world's tallest and fastest back in action.
|
|
Injuries in Utah
Two children injured on carnival ride
|
|
|
|
A carnival ride operated by Midway West Amusements of Arizona broke in Utah injuring two children.
The kiddy spaceship ride features rocket shaped cars witch move up and down as they rotate. One car broke off falling 5 feet to the ground. When the car hit the ground the two children were ejected from the ride.
They were taking to the hospital where one child was treated for minor injuries ad the other for internal injuries.
|
|
Natural Water Park splashing into Sea World Orlando
Sea World Orlando confirms plans for a new 58-acre
|
|
|
Sea World Orlando, Orlando, FL, USA 07/18/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Sea World Orlando confirms rumors of a brand new "naturalistic" water park being built as a part of a new fifty eight acre expansion next door to the existing park. The water park will have numerous attractions that will have riders and the rides interacting with the marine life throughout the rides.
The new water park will have slides that will take riders through a transparent tube that travels through a lagoon containing rare Commerson's Dolphins swimming throughout the lagoon. The dolphins will be the star attraction of the park and become another Discovery Cove like park, with a low capacity so the park would have scarce lines.
The new water park, still unnamed, will begin construction in 2006 with a hopeful opening in 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The 48 year old man who fell from a Ferris wheel in Indiana is seeking compensation for his injuries saying that it was a faulty lap bar.
The man said he was attempting to wave to his wife when he leaned on his lap bar. He says the lap bar then gave way and he fell 20 feet, hitting another gondola during his fall. He suffered a broken leg, and a separated shoulder and head injuries. Several witnesses say that the ma was rocking his car but he denies those allegations.
Written by Coaster Clint, Posted by Victor
|
|
|
|
|
Holiday World, Santa Claus, IN, USA 07/13/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Thrill seekers will have a lot to be thankful for in 2006. Holiday World has just announced the park's $13.5 million 60th anniversary expansion which will introduce a fourth holiday to the theme park along with one of the largest wooden coasters in the world.
Voyage will take riders along a 6,442-foot terrain layout when it opens next May in a new section themed after Thanksgiving. The ride will become the third-longest, third-tallest, third-fastest wooden coaster with a 163-foot lift hill and speeds of over 67 m.p.h. Also featured will be eight passes underground, and banked curves of up to 90 degrees.
The new coaster comes from Gravity Group, whose designers worked with the park on their previous two wooden coasters, the 1995 Raven and 2000 Legend. Along with Voyage, the expansion will include a dark ride, tilt-a-whirl, a restaurant, retail, games, and the adjacent Splashin' Safari will receive a new river ride.
Thanksgiving is expected to open on May 6. To be taken to our preview page for the new ride, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 As a precaution, the Tower of Terror is being inspected after a 16 year old girl lost consciousness and heart function on Tuesday after riding the ride.
She is in critical condition in the hospital. The girl does have a prior medical condition that may be the reason for her injuries.
We will post more information later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Let's say you are going on your favorite coaster at kings dominion and you want a way to remember that experience. Well it will soon be possible for you to have a dvd copy of that ride. How is this possible you may ask?
Well a company based here in Northern Virginia called XTREMEX3, has signed a contract with Kings Dominion. XTREMEX3 is a company that provides an on-ride digital video experience.
The company will put a system of multiple cameras that will film the ride simultaneously. This system is called the XTREMEX3for Thrill Rides, or X3-TR system. There will be a camera on each car so each customer can see their own reaction to the ride. When the ride is over you will have an opportunity to purchase a dvd of your experience of the ride.
Now Kings Dominion is going to use the X3-TR system on Taxi Jam first, which is a kiddy coaster at the park.
|
|
|
|
|
Holy Land Experience, Orlando, FL, USA 07/11/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Zion's Hope, the company behind the Christian-based Holy Land Experience theme park in Florida, received word today from the Orange County Property Appraiser's office that the park will be exempt from property taxes.
The ruling comes four years after a contrasting ruling that gave the park merely limited tax exemptions. The reasoning behind the new ruling is that the company's primary goal is to spread its Biblical message rather than draw in tourists.
When the park opened in early 2001, it offered visitors a walk-through experience featuring recreations of scenes in the Bible. Holy Land was exempt from sales taxes before the new ruling.
There is no word on whether the extra finances will go towards a major roller coaster.
|
|
|
|
|
TusenFryd, Vinterbro, Norway 07/08/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Intamin Rocket Coaster action will be blasting off in Norway next April when TusenFryd's Speed Monster takes off at 56 miles per hour.
The park has announced what will likely become the 10th hydraulically-launched steel coaster from Intamin, and the second to feature inversions.
After the launch, Speed Monster will send riders into a unique layout starting off with a hill and 180-degree dive into an immelman inversion. From there, riders will experience two banked curves, two more hills, and a double corkscrew inversion before the 2,264-foot ride concludes.
TusenFryd, best known for 2003's SuperSplash Mack water coaster and 2001's Vekoma wooden Thundercoaster, will introduce the new ride as the park's sixth coaster.
Speed Monster will launch on April 23rd after an expense of 7.5 million Euros to create the ride.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Friday, a nine year old boy passed away after allegedly rushing onto a carnival ride when the other passengers had already been locked in.
The boy fell 25 feet to the ground headfirst while riding the Wind Shear in Highland, Indiana. Initial observations were not able to reveal the cause of the boy’s death, however he did meet the height requirement.
The ride is owned by Midwest Midways of Steger, Illinois. An investigation is ongoing.
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags America, Largo, MD, USA 07/05/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 An unidentified woman was taken to a hospital after losing consciousness on the Shark Attack water slide at Six Flags America's Hurricane Harbor water park today around 6 p.m.
The woman suffered from cardiac arrest while on the slide, and was found unconscious in the water after reaching the bottom. Lifeguards performed CPR as they waited for paramedics to arrive.
UPDATE on July 5th, 2005-- By: Homer
The woman's identity was a 29 year old woman from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania named Maria Salazar. She died later on that night from the heart attack. An autopsy has yet to be revealed about how exactly the woman died and what health complications she had. The woman was in an innertube the entire time and never went underwater.
We will have more details on this story as more information comes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
