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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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"Houston, we have a problem"
Final weekend for AstroWorld draws to a sad close
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Six Flags Astroworld, Houston, TX, USA 10/30/05 - By: Carl F -
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 A follow-up for the Six Flags Astroworld story:
After hundreds of saddened locals and theme park fans' effort to keep the magic of Astroworld alive. All hope had been lost... today, October 30th, 2005, marks the end of an era for Houston's only theme park. With nine roller coasters for every thrill seeker, including the beloved Texas Cyclone, will go down or be relocated to other Six Flags properties.
The closing weekend of the park drew high attendance. Tickets were only being sold on Astroworld's website for a lower than usual $24.95 price. Former employees of the park had a reunion at the park. Numerous petitions, online and offline, sprang up. One Astroworld fan even decided to raise awareness by holding up a sign saying "Save Astroworld" during the World Series games being held at nearby Relient Stadium. And at 6 PM on both nights of the weekend, the park closed its gates, and on the 30th, for good.
But, all of the efforts didn't work, but the jingles from commercials and other memories will live on for those that have visited and lived their summers at Astroworld. In recent years, the park has been known by enthusiasts as the Six Flags Graveyard for the coasters being mostly relocated. Despite that fact, people still went to the park.
The future? Unknown, but likely to be dark. Six Flags decided to close the park and sell it for real estate since the land the park sat on had a high real estate cost. Another reason, parking, for the past few years, Astroworld was fighting with nearby Reliant Stadium over parking rights. The future? A condo, a concrete paradise, or a Wal-Mart... who knows.
Astroworld opened on June 1st, 1968 in Downtown Houston and since then, a monument on the Interstate 610 Loop around Houston. In 1975, the park was bought by Six Flags. But to the locals, it would always remain Astroworld. After more than thirty five years, farewell Astroworld.
Don't forget to read Devin Olson's editorial on this story Six Flags Astroworld: Rest In Peace.
And as the offical site says... "Thanks for the memories!"
Six Flags Astroworld- June 1st, 1968- October 30th, 2005.
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Mt. Olympus adding indoor theme park
The Parthenon, announced with one coaster, Opa, being built for 2006
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Mt. Olympus Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells, WI, USA 10/27/05 - By: Carl F -
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Mount Olympus has announced a major expansion of the park. The area's first indoor, open year round, theme park. Covering 43,000 square feet, the new indoor section of the theme park will be called the Parthenon, named after a well-known monument and temple in Greece and fits the theme of the park.
The Parthenon will add one more roller coaster to the park's collection of coasters. Opa, a spinning roller coaster, will be built for the new section. Opa is something yelled after downing a drink. Other amusement rides are also going to be built.
The Parthenon will be connected to the theme park and the Treasure Island indoor water park. Both indoor and outdoor sections are included in the admission price. The Dells area, rich in amusement centers, have been lacking year-round thrills until the opening of the Parthenon.
The Parthenon is set to open in 2006.
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Grand Rapids announced for Michigans Adventure
Michigans Adventure adding new family rapids ride and sit-down restruant
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Michigan's Adventure, Muskegon, MI, USA 10/26/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Michigan's Adventure has announced their plans for 2006. The park, in 2006, will be celebrating fifty years of good times and has announced Grand Rapids, a river rafting experience, and Coasters, the park's first sit-down, full-service, restaurant.
Grand Rapids is a brand new river rapids ride designed by IntaRide, LLC (not to be confused with Intamin, which also makes river rapids rides). Riders board circular rafts and go through a 1,500 foot long river full of rapids and waterfalls. For people not too keen on getting soaked, an observation platform will be built nearby.
The other addition for 2006, Coasters. Coasters is a 50's themed diner that would serve burgers, dogs, and the usual diner food. Coasters will have an indoor eating area, as well as an outside eating area as well.
Michigan's Adventure will open for its fiftieth season on May 20th, 2006.
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Goliath to dominate La Ronde
Goliath, a junior B&M hyper coaster, announced for La Ronde in 2006
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La Ronde, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 10/26/05 - By: Carl F -
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 La Ronde park in Montreal, Quebec announced a Goliath addition. Next year, Canadian thrill seekers have a new tallest and fastest coaster in the area.
Goliath is a Bolliger and Mabillard Junior Hyper Coaster that has an extensive airtime-filled layout. The ride will dominate the park's skyline with sheer heights of 174 feet, an 170 foot first drop, speeds of sixty eight miles per hour, and a length of over 4000 feet. The layout? Nine airtime hills throughout an out and back course full of thrills and air.
Goliath is the biggest investment to the park since the addition of the Monstre racing wooden coaster and the parks opening back in 1967. La Ronde was bought in 2001 by Six Flags and since under Six Flags' ownership, over seventeen new rides have been built. The other major addition under the Six Flags ownership was Vampire, another coaster from Bolliger and Mabillard, an inverted coaster that is a clone of the popular Batman: The Ride found at many Six Flags parks.
Goliath will hopefully open at the start of the 2006 season. Stay tuned for a ride gallery page!
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An X-treme challenge for Hersheypark
Reeses X-treme Cup Challenge dark ride announced for 2006
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Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA 10/25/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Hersheypark has announced their latest family attraction. Of course like all things chocolate, it has to be sweet. Get to target practice Hersheypark fans! In 2006, Hersheypark is opening a new Sally Interactive Dark ride called the Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge.
Probably being the park's second biggest plug for a product next to the park's name, the ride will have Reese's endorsements all over. The theme, basically shooting lasers at extreme sports themed cutouts. Two "sides" compete to see which is better about a Reese's peanut butter cup. Is it the chocolate? Or is it the Peanut Buttery center?
Riders board two cars linked together, one front car and one back. One of the car's is the "chocolate" car and the other, the "peanut butter" car. Throughout the ride, riders shoot lasers at various cutouts that are extreme sports themed. The ride will plug six, thats right, six brands of Reese's candies. The two minute and forty five second ride contains 158 targets, eighty animated show elements, eight animatronic figures, special effects, and sensory elements.
The ride will be opening for the park's ninety-ninth season in 2006.
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Ride attendant killed in China
Employee killed while operating coaster
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2005 Global Carnival, Pudong, China 10/15/05 - By: Brian -
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At the 2005 Global Carnival in Pudong an employee operating the Euro Star coaster was killed. At 12:45pm today the worker, whose name was not released, walked across the track for some unknown reason, and his coat was caught by a running train and he was thrown from the highest point of the ride and died instantly.
The coaster stands at 36 feet in height, and is owned and operated by Freiji Entertainment Co Ltd. The carnival organizers said in a press release that the accident was in no way related to any mechanical flaws of the coaster, but was caused by the actions of the late employee.
"His supervisor had warned him not to approach the track area, but he still did and got killed," said carnival vice director Xu Weijie. The ride was closed, and remains closed, and was also marked off by several police officers and guards. The Shanghai police are currently investigating the incident.
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Worker seriously injured at Adventureland
Incident is third in last two months
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Adventureland, Farmingdale, NY, USA 10/15/05 - By: Brian -
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 At New York's Adventureland amusement park, an employee was seriously injured today while loading a large steel plate into a truck, according to local officials. This would mark the third incident at the park over the last month, as there was one death on a kiddie coaster on August 30th, and less than a week later a park guest was thrown from an attraction.
The employee injured was Stephen Eager of Dix Hills, and he is now being kept at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow with severe chest and neck injuries.
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Sea World Orlando announces family thrills
Local newspaper leaks out info of a Shamu themed coaster and other family flat rides
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Sea World Orlando, Orlando, FL, USA 10/13/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Yesterday, an Orlando Sentinel article regarding a new Shamu show at the park also leaked out information on a new coaster and some family flat rides for Sea World.
Don't expect this coaster to be a major thrill...
"Three thrill rides geared toward children are also scheduled to open at the same time as the new show. The rides will include a Shamu-themed roller coaster, a jelly-fish shaped samba tower ride and oversized beach buckets that spin and whirl."
The Shamu themed coaster would likely be similar to Sea World San Antonio's Shamu Express, a Zirier Force Zero model. Expect these additions to come in 2006.
Sea World Orlando is also building a highly themed natural water park for 2007 as well.
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White Water Landing rumors confirmed
Cedar Point announces removal of White Water Landing for expansion.
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Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 10/13/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Cedar Point announces yet another big piece of news through their blog, On Point!
This morning, the park announced a major ride removal. The rumors appeared to have become true for this one, White Water Landing is going to be removed for next years expansion.
The last day adrenaline junkies can get soaked on this Log Flume adventure is on October 30th, 2005. The ride has been around at the Point since 1982 and has soaked over twenty eight million riders. Manufactured by Arrow Dynamics as one of their Hydro-Flume models, riders get soaked on a course that ends in a fifty foot drop that plunges into water.
Cedar Point, at the same time, announced a contest for who would be the very last rider on White Water Landing. Send the park a letter in 100 words or less about why you should be the last rider on White Water Landing. The winner of the contest will get two Cedar Point tickets only good for October 30th, an official "Last Rider" certificate, and an on-ride photo with the writers of OnPoint!, Tony and Tyler.
Rumors regarding the Point's 2006 addition include a Screamin Swing, similar to X-treme Swing at Valleyfair. Again, the last day for rides on White Water Landing will be on October 30th, 2005.
Rest In Peace, White Water Landing, 1982-2005.
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Luna Park safe from complaints
New law eliminates noise as a problem
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Luna Park, Sydney, Australia 10/12/05 - By: Brian -
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NSW Tourism Minister Sandra Nori announced a new law in the region that now makes Luna Park in Australia safe from noise complaints by local residents. The park has closed down for periods of time on four different occasions, once from complaints of the noise coming from the Big Dipper roller coaster. Other complaints have been brought up, but those have all been settled.
The park is not totally clear of the noise problem, as there is still a certain level the park must not pass. As long as the park stays under that mark, no residents can file complaints about the park. Along with that announcement, Planning Minister Frank Sartor also mentioned that three new commercial buildings would be built in the park.
The park currently has only one coaster, which is a wooden wild mouse called Wild Mouse.
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Italian Job: Stunt Coaster officially announced
Kings Dominion Italian Job clone confirmed for 2006
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Paramount's Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA, USA 10/12/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Today, Paramount's Kings Dominion announced their thirteenth huge thrill, Italian Job: Stunt Coaster. Though a clone of the Italian Job: Stunt Track coasters already found at Paramount's Kings Island and Canada's Wonderland. Though coaster fansites knew about this addition, with pics of track and some leaks on the PKD webpage (found at kingsdominion.com).
The ride is a launched coaster from Premier that is family friendly. Riders board Mini Cooper themed trains and are then launched through a twisted course full of special effects. The ride is supposed to simulate being a stunt driver for a motion picture.
The Mini Cooper trains are equipped with speakers to simulate the experience. Throughout the ride, riders encounter near misses and tight turns in the parking garage, chase through tunnels, and blasting out of a billboard into a water splash area.
Italian Job: Stunt Coaster will open in 2006. Stay tuned for a ride gallery page!
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Top Thrill Dragster down for 2005
Tallest and fastest Cedar Point coaster closed for rest of 2005 season
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Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 10/11/05 - By: Carl F -
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 Yesterday, Cedar Point's online blog "On Point!" confirmed rumors of the park's Top Thrill Dragster ride closing down for the rest of the season. The blog says;
"On a sad note, Top Thrill Dragster is currently closed for mechanical reasons. It will remain closed for the rest of the season.
We need to order a part for the ride, and unfortunately, it will not get here by Oct. 30.
We will have it in operation for you in 2006."
Top Thrill Dragster opened in 2003 as the world's tallest and fastest coaster before Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka broke the record in 2005. Since the rides opening in 2003, the ride is notorious for numerous occurences of downtime.
Cedar Point and hopefully Top Thrill Dragster will open to the public next May.
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