|
|
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!
|
 | |  |
Great Adventure announces great additions
El Toro wooden coaster and Bugs Bunnys National Park added for 2006
|
|
|
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ, USA 09/28/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Just when you thought Great Adventure has had enough big thrills, think again. As a part of a two-ride deal with Intamin AG, Six Flags invested in the tallest and fastest coaster, Kingda Ka and now America's first Intamin wooden coaster, El Toro.
Taking the place of the late Viper coaster, El Toro takes riders through sheer heights of 181 feet and down a steep, 76 degree, drop over 176 feet in length. Breakneck speeds of seventy miles per hour soon follow as El Toro then goes through its hybrid layout of both traditional out and back and twisted elements. Alongside El Toro, a new themed section is created as well, the Plaza del Carnival.
Meanwhile, the park didn't forget about the kids again. A new kiddie section has arrived at the park, Bugs Bunny's National Park. Located on the shores of Great Adventure's lake, the new section will include new pint sized attractions such as a new theater, interactive water play area, and a snack bar in this wilderness themed area. This section will be one of three kids areas at the park, the others being the Golden Kingdom's Balin's Junglelan and Looney Toon's Seaport.
El Toro and the Plaza del Carnival and Bugs Bunny's National Park will hopefully open in Spring 2006. Stay tuned for a ride gallery page of El Toro!
|
|
Eisner departs from Disney
Michael Eisner leaves a year early
|
|
|
Walt Disney Co. 09/27/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
This week, CEO Michael Eisner will leave Walt Disney Co., The New York TImes reports. His 21 year career at the company will end with no party or fanfare. He plans to leave on Friday, and the only thing he will do before his reign ends is send an e-mail to all Disney employees. Eisner said he would leave his CEO position over a year ago in September 2006, when his contract expired, but instead it will be this Friday.
Eisner played a huge role in making Disney the huge company as we know it today. When he first joined the company in 1984, the revenue was $1.5 billion. Last year in 2004 it was up to over $30.75 billion. Under his watch many new parks opened up, most recently Hong Kong Disneyland, and they company also gained control of many TV networks including ABC and ESPN.
Disney's stocks have climbed 1,646 percent since Eisner first appeared, but have steadily gone down over the last couple years. Controversy has surrounded Eisner and the company over the last two years. Last year in March 2004 Eisner was stripped of his Chairman duties after a shareholders revolt, led by Roy Disney.
Eisner has not released all his plans, and the Times says the contract can still keep him as a consultant after the contract expires.
|
|
Prices may soon drop along with rides at Cedar Point
Capital spending would continue despite reduced rates
|
|
|
Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 09/24/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 In an effort to offset a continuing decline in attendance figures that began last season, Cedar Point management is considering a drop in ticket prices from their current high of $44.95 for adult general admission.
Attendance at the Cedar Fair chain's flagship park fell slightly in 2004, just one season after the introduction of the $25 million world's tallest and fastest coaster Top Thrill Dragster, and have continued on a downward path this year at an average 2005 decline of three percent.
With the new MaXair soaring thrill-seekers over a revamped midway this year, lack of new rides and improvements obviously weren't the problems at hand. From survey data, officials have discovered a growing concern among guests that ticket prices are simply too high.
Already this season, Cedar Point has announced $9.95 tickets for senior and junior guests, down drastically from $34.95. Price cuts may be kept in place for the long term for this segment of the population along with a general admission decrease. However, the ultimate solution may be for the park to offer discount packages aimed at the primary customers, thrill-seeking families.
2006 Spending at Cedar Point is expected to be at least $6 million with a new Screamin' Swing ride which may pay for itself in the end aside from the park's general admission with an upcharge fee. Speculation and patterns of past years suggest an even larger investment for the 2007 season.
|
|
Xtreme Swing screaming into Valleyfair next year
Newest in trend of S&S Power swing rides announced
|
|
|
Valleyfair, Shakopee, MN, USA 09/24/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Confirmed by Valleyfair will be the newest Screamin' Swing model from S&S Power to debut in the Cedar Fair chain when it opens next May: Xtreme Swing.
Take your typical pendulum-like swinging action, seat forty riders back-to-back between two arms, launch them up 125 feet into the air at 60 m.p.h., and you have Xtreme Swing. This is the largest-scale model from S&S, seating 40 riders and utilizing that company's signature technology of compressed air to power the ride.
“We're excited to bring this thrilling, new attraction to Valleyfair,” said Valleyfair Vice President and General Manager Larry MacKenzie in the press release. “It will bring back the kid in all of us.”
 Taking the place of the Northern Lights flying-carpet-type ride, the red, white, and blue new ride is being erected on a plot of land neighboring Valleyfair's centerpiece 275-foot Power Tower freefall tower complex, another ride from Logan, Utah's S&S Power.
Since the original theme park installation of this ride opened in 2004 at Cedar Fair's California park Knott's Berry Farm, models have been installed at sister park Dorney Park in Pennsylvania. It has also opened outside of the Cedar Fair chain at parks including the UK's Thorpe Park and Florida's Skull Kingdom.
Another 2006 Screamin' Swing installation has been announced for Pennsylvania's Kennywood, and one will soon be announced for Ohio's Cedar Point.
Deconstruction on Northern Lights has already begun, as seen in a construction picture from the park above left, and the ride is slated to open with the park next year to celebrate thirty years of operation.
|
|
A Universe of Nick invades Kings Island
Paramounts Kings Island doubling size of award-winning Nick Central section
|
|
|
Paramount's King's Island, Kings Mills, OH, USA 09/22/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today announces both a sad departure of the longtime Hanna-Barbera section of the park as Paramount's Kings Island decides to upgrade their already award winning kids area. Nickelodeon Central is now being expanded into Nickelodeon Universe. Anything Hanna Barbera (with the exception of Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle attraction) will be removed or rethemed.
For the past five seasons, Nick Central has been sweeping up Golden Ticket Awards for Worlds Best Kids Area. Not only with retheming existing rides, but new rides, including one first of its kind family coaster, will be added for 2006.
Avatar will be the name of the innovative new family coaster that has little details known. But it was announced the new coaster will take the place of 1998's Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, a Caipro Suspended coaster known for its low capacity and long waits. A leak from the park manager, Jeff Seibert, said," I can tell you that it does require some spinning."
Other new rides include a kiddie freefall ride themed after Spongebob Squarepant's character, Plankton. A flying ride themed after Danny Phantom, a storybook adventure train starring Dora the Explorer, a tour of the Blue's Clues house ride, and a walkthrough Bikini Bottom maze attraction.
This expansion of Nick Central is similar to what Carowind's did this season, doubling the size of their Nick Central area as well.
More details will be unveiled after the end of Winterfest, the parks Christmas festival that has returned this year from a long hiatus.
|
|
An aussome addition for Carowinds
Boomerang Bay water park confirmed for 2006
|
|
|
Paramount's Carowinds, Charlotte, NC, USA 09/21/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Paramount's Carowinds' longtime water park, Water Works, is long gone when 2006 comes around. Say G'day to Boomerang Bay water park. With the transformation of the park into Boomerang Bay comes three brand new attractions for the newly rethemed waterpark.
Kookaburra Bay is the first of the new additions. The 125,000 gallon pool allows guests to chill out in the shallow waters under waterfalls and more.
Platypus Plunge is the second addition. A brand new family waterslide, Platypus Plunge takes families through 100 feet of soaking wet thrills.
And the last and most minor addition, Walkabout Pub. The pub will serve alcoholic beverages in a world class setting.
Boomerang Bay waterpark's have been popular to two other Paramount parks that have had the expansion. Paramount's Great America has been extremely popular, even with doubling the size of the park in 2005, despite the loss of a major coaster (Stealth, now Borg Assimilator). Paramount's Kings Island also recieved the Boomerang Bay retheme in 2004 as well.
|
|
Explosions rock EPCOT
Fireworks explode early at Disney complex
|
|
|
EPCOT, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA 09/20/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
 Yesterday, the fireworks show got a headstart at EPCOT in Florida. The inferno barge, which is where many of the fireworks launch for the parks Illuminations special effects show, exploded in the World Showcase Lagoon. The sounds of the explosion could be heard all around the park.
Illuminations is a daily nighttime fireworks show, and is rated among the best in the country. The inferno barge sits in the middle of the lagoon away from park guests, but during the show there are two cast members that sit on the barge. No injuries have been reported yet from this incident.
|
|
X-Car coaster goes stateside
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls in Arkansas to build United States first X-Car coaster
|
|
|
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls, Hot Springs, AR, USA 09/20/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, a press release from Magic Springs and Crystal Falls theme park in Arkansas has announced a major new 2006 addition. Following 2004's Gauntlet is the park's first revolutionary coaster. What is it? The US' first X-Car coaster. Sadly, the ride will be a clone of Sky Wheel at Skyline Park in Germany.
The X-Car coaster was a concept made by Maurer Sohne that was built at Skyline Park in Germany as Sky Wheel in late 2004. The first X-Car coaster had a limited layout with usage of a vertical lift hill, with a monster layout of a 150 foot tall Immelman and a dive loop.
Later on, the X-Car concept was used for Drayton Manor's recently opened G-Force coaster in a more traditional sense.
The rides name has yet to be announced, but the park will hold a contest for the name. More details will be announced in a few weeks.
|
|
Red Zone disapproves of sudden AstroWorld closure
Company of Daniel Snyder questions sale
|
|
|
|
 Four days after Six Flags announced the closure of their Houston-based AstroWorld due to financial concerns, Daniel Snyder's company Red Zone criticized the sale, stating that stockholders needed more time to consider Red Zone's strategies outlined for Six Flags.
On Monday, Six Flags dropped the bombshell that one of its older parks, AstroWorld, would be permanently closing due to the rising cost of land in Houston and the potential profit that could be gained for the 109-acre site. However, Snyder himself had proposed to sell 3,500 acres of land owned by various Six Flags parks, only his proposal was to sell potential expansion land.
Snyder, best known for his ownership of the Washington Redskins, has been seeking to gain control of the Six Flags chain and oust current executives. Six Flags, in response to Snyder's move, put the company up for sale last month to try and force Snyder into purchasing the entire company.
|
|
Discovery Cove soil samples demanded
Family of ill boy seeks to discover source of disease
|
|
|
Discovery Cove, Orlando, FL, USA 09/16/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Parents of a 12-year-old boy who fell seriously ill last year after a visit to Discovery Cove are asking the park for soil tests to determine if his illness was spawned from his visit.
Alexander Didier came down with a disease known as histoplasmosis, a swelling of the brain, shortly after visiting Discovery Cove. One of the potential carriers of this disease are bird droppings, which Didier could have been exposed to inside an aviary at the animal park. The condition threatened the boy's life and its effects are expected to be lifelong.
Now, over $250,000 in medical expenses later, the family is asking Busch Entertainment, which owns the park, to allow them to obtain soil samples which may link the disease to the aviary. It is unknown at this time whether the park will agree to allow the samples to be taken.
|
|
Paramount opens parks to victims
Hurricane Katrina victims receive free admission
|
|
|
Paramount Parks, North America 09/16/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
 Earlier today, Paramount Parks made an announcement regarding their parks and the people who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
Effective immediately, residents of the devasted areas in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi will recieve free admission to the company's seven parks. They are Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Canada; Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina; Great America in Santa Clara, California; Kings Dominion outside Richmond, Virginia; and Kings Island outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
To take advantage of the offer, the residents must show proof of residency. The offer is not valid for private events or for special events at any of the parks. You can get up to four free tickets with a valid ID. To go along with that offer, Paramount is throwing another one out there. Familes helping the evacuees qualify for a $20 discount at a park as long as they go with one of the residents of the three states.
|
|
Massive redevelopment planned for Coney Island
Bloomberg announces $83 million plan
|
|
|
Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY, USA 09/15/05 - By: -
|
|
 Coney Island, New York. There was a day when it used to be the place to be in America, the ultimate destination for a day of family fun. Mayor Bloomberg is trying to revive that past. This new redevelopment plan costing a whopping $83 million will set a brand new tone of atmosphere at the park and for this historic landmark.
The revamp of the amusement park will center directly around what they are calling the Parachute Pavilion. This will change the surrounding area such as Stillwell Avenue, Surf Avenue will possibly be adding a hotel and spa to attract more guest. Adding to this will be a multicultural center to help improve the boardwalk. Many places will be pitching in money for the total of the $83 million, $7 million of which will be donated by federal government.
For as long as many have held Coney Island in their hearts to an ever growing city time means change. In the long run this redevelopment will add many great things such as 1,500 to 2,000 permanent jobs for the surrounding city and nearly 10,000 construction jobs. Many people are against this due to, as they put it, the fact that “it will never look the same” and that "Coney Island won’t be Coney Island if it looks like any other boardwalk out there it has to retain its historical beauty to please the masses!”
Parts of the construction have started as of September and others won’t end until mid to late 2007. The Stillwell Avenue plan won’t be finished until late 2009 at earliest.
As many know Coney Island is home to the famous Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster and the wacky Wonder Wheel but, what may be in store for the island’s future, nobody knows just yet, we’ll have to see. New things will be coming their way in future years. With the some odd 5+ million people that visit this historic place every year you’d be surprised at what goes on behind closed doors to make the park an ever better place to visit and notice new things every time you walk into the gates. Like an open air café, a new hotel, and beach front spa, these new ideas keep coming and soon enough you have one sweet place, for the adults to relax over dinner, the kids a place to be thrilled and just plain enjoy themselves and keep coming back for more.
One other pressed issue by Bloomberg is to add increased residential development. It would allow for more people local to the area to visit, increasing the population and making room for more developments to come in future time, ultimately making all developments beneficial here on in.
|
|
Amusement to move indoors
Grand Bear Lodge to add an indoor amusement park
|
|
|
Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge and Indoor Waterpark Resort, Utica, IL 09/14/05 - By: Josh Carter -
|
|
 Monday, Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Lodge and Indoor Waterpark Resort announced plans to add a new 39,000-square-foot indoor amusement park. Construction on the addition has already begun and should be open by Jan. 1, 2006.
Keith Wolick, one of the owners of the resort said the park is to be themed as an “Enchanted Forest.” Included in the forest will be 10 rides, a family-style pizza restaurant and a stage for music entertainment.
"We're pretty excited, I'm very happy with our rides," Wolick said. "They are like carnival rides."
There are many future plans for the park depending on the attendance and economy. If everything runs smoothly and attendance is up they may add more “major” rides in an outdoor area of the theme park.
|
|
The magic of Disney spreads to Hong Kong
New Disney park officially debuts
|
|
|
Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong, China 09/13/05 - By: Josh Carter -
|
|
 Thousands of excited guests gathered at the main gate for the ceremony that took place this morning, Monday, September 12, 2005.
Waiting inside the park for the guests were famous Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh. Guests also took interest in the classical Disney rides, such as Space Mountain, an enclosed coaster with near misses and stars lighting up the skyline, and Mad Hatter Tea Cups, a ride that can be thrilling for all ages because you get to control how fast you spin!
A new attraction is also in the agenda for 2006 at Hong Kong Disney. The new ride will allow guest of all ages to drive electric cars on futuristic highways. The new ride will be located in Tommorowland where work is already well underway.
|
|
Astroworld bites the dust
Six Flags selling Astroworld for real estate
|
|
|
Six Flags Astroworld, Houston, TX, USA 09/12/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Major sad news has just arrived today for the amusement industry and the troubled Six Flags. It seems Houston's only theme park is biting the big one and permanently closing for good after more than thirty five years of operation and millions of memories.
The park opened in 1968 by Judge Roy Hofheinz, with a coaster named after him at the park (Judge Roy Scream). After only a few seasons, Astroworld was then bought by Six Flags in 1975 and has since then been one of the three Six Flags parks in Texas.
In recent years, Astroworld has been considered a neglected Six Flags park and a "graveyard" for old Six Flags rides. In recent years, 2003 brought the park two big thrills, SWAT (the world's first S&S SkySwatter) and Diablo Falls (one of the first Whitewater Rapids rides built).
The reason of the fate of this Six Flags park? Real Estate. Six Flags is selling the park due to the rising cost of real estate land in Houston. Just to pocket some cash, Six Flags sold Astroworld. The park will continue to operate until the ending of the 2005 season. After the end of the 2005 season, the park will be demolished.
Rest in peace Six Flags Astroworld... Rest in peace...
|
|
The American scream rolls into Worlds of Fun
Patriot officially announced for 2006 season
|
|
|
Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, MO, USA 09/07/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Kansas City's Worlds of Fun theme park announced its next major thrill since Boomerang: the Patriot. Patriot is a Bolliger and Mabillard inverted coaster that is the largest overall of its kind in the area. Not only that, it's the park's biggest investment since the park was first built back in 1972 at a price tag of $14 million.
Patriot's twisted layout takes riders on an insane two minute and fourteen second rampage through the patriotic themed track. The ride is custom designed with the terrain, coming from world famous and top rated coaster company, B&M.
Riders will go through a twisted layout which includes a height of 149 feet, speeds of sixty miles per hour, seven inversions, and a length of over 3,000 feet. The ride is a part of refurbishment of the Americana area of Beat Street.
Patriot will open to patriotic thrillseekers on April 6th, 2006. It will be World's of Fun's sixth operating coaster. A Ride Gallery of this ride will be posted later.
|
|
Kennywood ride name announced
And the winner is...
|
|
|
Kennywood, West Mifflin, PA, USA 09/06/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Kennywood has announced the winner of the "Name the new ride" contest. The ride being the first high capacity Screamin' Swing ride from S&S, which seats thirty two people. The contest started back last summer and over 11,949 unique names from enthusiasts and public alike. That huge amount of names was then chopped down to a list of 44 names, then down to a list of 12 names, then down to 8 names.
The final eight were posted as an online poll at Kennywood's website. Soon, that list was chopped down to three, as the general managers have the final say as to what name would suit the ride. The three finalists were Pittsburgh Pendulum, Swing Shot, and Scream Xtream.
The winner was Swing Shot. Jerome Gibas, the General Manager of Kennywood says, "This was a tough decision. There were so many names to consider. In the end, the originality and descriptiveness of the name Swing Shot won out." The name was submitted by Michael Orsini of Carnegie, PA and John Frost of Greensburg, PA. The winners of the contest will bring themselves and thirty two friends on opening day for inaugural runs of the new ride.
The ride will open on opening day of the 2006 season. Congratulations to the winners!
|
|
Man hurt in accident
A Indiana Beach park employee was injured
|
|
|
Indiana Beach, IN, USA 09/06/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
 A roller coaster at Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana injured a park employee on Sunday. He was sent to the hospital with a few broken bones. The name of the injured worker was not released, but park spokeswoman Ruth Davis said he received a broken wrist and a broken ankle.
"He went across the track and was not aware of where the coaster was and slipped and could not get up in time," Tom Spackman Jr., the park's general manager, said of the accident. The coaster the man was working on at the time was the Cornball Express. The employee was then taken to Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis by helicopter.
The coaster was shut down that night after the accident, but was open on Monday, which was the last day of the season for the park.
|
|
Hong Kong Disney lowers capacity
After a crazy charity day, park may lower capacity numbers
|
|
|
Hong Kong Disneyland 09/05/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
After some chaotic scenes that took place on a recent charity day at Hong Kong Disneyland, they are considering lowering the number of visitors allowed in the park. The current number is 30,000, but 29,000 showed up for the charity day and many crazy incidents happened. Guests also complained of lines up to three hours for rides and at restaurants in the park.
One of the incidents involved a man that jumped in line, after which a scuffle with the man and some of the other park guests followed. The huge crowds also led people to leave the park early, long before the end of the day fireworks show. After hearing the news, industry experts advised they should lower the capacity, and Hong Kong Disneyland group managing director Don Robinson said he would look it over.
The park is planned to make it's official opening next Monday, September 12th, and is expected to bring in about 5.6 million guests each year.
|
|
Teen drowns at water park
PA teen drowns at New Jersey water park
|
|
|
Gillian's Island Water Theme Park, NJ, USA 09/05/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
On Friday a 14 year old girl from Philadelphia drowned at a water park located in Ocean City, New Jersey. The girls name was Jasmine Winder and she was pulled from the bottom of the Shotgun Falls water attraction at Gillian's Island Water Theme Park.
Employee's of the park attempted to revive the girl, authorities say, who was just unconscious at the time. She was taken to the Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, and was later pronounced dead at around 8PM that night.
|
|
Black market for tickets an increasing problem
Orlando agencies cracking down on ticket scams
|
|
|
Orlando, FL, USA 09/04/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
Every day, thousands of unsuspecting tourists go to Orlando's theme parks, but they don't suspect the rising crime occuring throughout Orlando's tourist districts. Numerous roadside stands selling discounted park tickets. Some people forget the old saying,"If it sounds too good to be true, don't believe it".
Over the past few years, a black market for park tickets has risen in Orlando. A few years ago, these "scam stands" would only be a handful, but these stands have flourished since then into the hundreds. Whether it's inside a hotel or outside a tourist-trappy souvenir stand selling T-shirts for two bucks, they're everywhere.
The crime in the so called "black market for tickets" is usually fraud. People would by multi-day park hopper tickets using fake or stolen credit cards to buy them. Usually this strategy is used by Timeshare companies to get people to look at their properties.
These tickets can also be bought just outside the main gate of a park. Scalpers would sell multi-day tickets with days used up to unsuspecting tourists. The scalper would usually say,"You can have them, as long as you return them at the end of your visit". That is how days are used up. They are then recycled and sold again.
This scam has been an increasing problem on government agencies trying to crack down on these scammers. The lesson here: be careful where you buy your tickets and stick to the official source, the park, for tickets.
|
|
Feel the Force at home!
Cedar Point ride becomes miniature collectable
|
|
|
Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 09/03/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
Are you a die hard Cedar Point or coaster fan? Know somebody that is a coaster fanatic? Then look no further for the perfect gift. Today, Danbury Mint, a company that specializes in making miniatures, is now making a miniature of the park's famous coaster, Millennium Force. The coaster was added to Cedar Point's collection of thrills in 2000 as the worlds first Giga Coaster. But its record of tallest and fastest was short lived until Japan's Steel Dragon 2000 broke the record a few weeks later. Regardless, Millennium Force became a fan favorite.
If you have $79 to shove out of your wallet, then this Millennium Force miniature is the perfect gift for any enthusiast, whether it be coaster or miniature.
|
|
Disney sends relief
The Walt Disney Company sends money for Katrina relief fund
|
|
|
Walt Disney Company 09/01/05 - By: Brian -
|
|
Today in a press release, the Walt Disney Company announced that they have sent $2.5 million for hurricane Katrina relief efforts down in Louisiana, Mississippi, and all the other states affected by this devastating storm. That money is split between a few different organizations that are helping the victims of the storm.
The first million was donated to the American Red Cross for their efforts taking place right now. Another million was given for rebuilding efforts towards children's charities. The remaining money was sent to volunteer services that are providing to the areas affected by the storm.
|
|
Second death at Adventureland
Woman flung out of Top Spin ride, marking second accident at the park within a week.
|
|
|
Adventureland, Farmingdale, NY, USA 09/01/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
Just three days after an incident at Adventureland's Lady Bug roller coaster, another sad death came to the park. First, an 18 year old ride op was pinned down by a roller coaster during night testing and now a woman was thrown out of the parks Top Spin flat ride.
The ride flips riders up and down and throughout like any Top Spin. The accident occurred earlier today when a woman was flung out of the ride and into a car windshield. The woman was thrown over a 20 foot fence seperating the park and the parking lot. The woman was pronounced dead later today. It is unknown to whether or not the woman was wearing the restraint.
An update on the Lady Bug incident, the coaster was reopened after passing state inspection.
This incident is the second death to occur at the park within a week and the fourth accident in a months time in the state of New York.
|
|
Giant of Biblical proportions coming to Georgia
Six Flags makes first 2006 announcement: Goliath
|
|
|
Six Flags over Georgia, Austell, GA, USA 09/01/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 The skyline at Six Flags over Georgia will be forever altered with the addition of a new hyper-coaster set to debut next spring: Goliath.
Six Flags' first confirmation of 2006 plans has just been released, and the ride is no letdown for thrill-seekers. Making its mark as the 39-year-old park's fourth coaster from famed Bolliger and Mabillard, Goliath will dominate the front of the property and extend beyond the bounds of the current park with an L-shaped layout beginning on the former site of the Great Gasp parachute ride and making its way over ponds across the entry road from the front gate.
At just over 200 feet tall, 70 m.p.h., and 4,480 feet in length, Goliath will be the park's largest coaster addition ever and currently the eleventh track in the collection. It will utilize raised seating and sideless trains seen on Bolliger and Mabillard's existing four hyper-coasters.
 With a layout encompassing 8.5 acres, a first drop will measure 170 feet due to its construction over the existing park. From there, one of the layout's signature elements will be its largest drop of 175 feet swooping directly over Georgia Scorcher, the 1999 Bolliger and Mabillard stand-up coaster. All-in-all, the coaster will contain six camelback hills, a downward double helix, two additional banked curves, and an overbanked variation on the horseshoe element seen on Six Flags Great Adventure's Nitro.
Major construction is yet to begin, and Goliath is set for a debut on April 1st, 2006. Season passholder preview days will be held beforehand.
Stay tuned for a full preview page in our Ride Gallery later today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
