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COASTER-net.com > Your guide to ride on the wild side > News & Releases

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!

Woman gets flung off coaster
45-year-old in stable condition

Magic Springs & Crystal Falls, Hot Springs, AK, USA 07/31/06 - By: Cory Gross -

A 45-year-old woman, Felicia Robinson, fell out 15 feet from a ride called Twist and Shout, a small wild mouse-style roller coaster at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls.

She was flung out of the Zamperla Zig-Zag coaster at 3:54 p.m. She was then taken to a local hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.

Twist and Shout was working normally, which means it was safe according to park officials.

Robinson fell off as the ride came around a curve. The centrifugal force pushed her out of her seat, the police said. The reason she was flung out of the coaster is currently unknown.

The ride was relocated from Gillian's Wonderland Pier in 2000 where it was known as Wild Wonder. The relocation occured after an accident killed a mother and her child the previous year when a car rolled down the lift hill backwards into a loading vehicle.

Busch files for names 'IronEagle' and 'Voltare'
'Griffon' becomes one of three BGE possibilities

Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, VA, USA 07/29/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© Matt Rydzik

Continued Mystery: One of many posters around the construction site at Busch Gardens Europe hints at an avian theme for the 2007 coaster.

Could the name Griffon ultimately become no more than a mere consideration for Busch Gardens Europe's 2007 attraction?

Twelve days after applying to trademark the name Griffon for an amusement park ride, Busch Entertainment has filed two more name possibilities for the Williamsburg park's new coaster.

In applications dated July 24, Busch filed for rights to the names IronEagle and Voltare.

The former name would fit with the theme that Busch Gardens has hinted at in posting teaser signs around the construction site bearing what appears to be the talon of an eagle. The name Iron Eagle was utilized for a thrill ride at Six Flags America in Maryland until that attraction was removed this season.

It can be assumed that the name Voltare would accompany a unique French theme conceived by the park. Research into the word "voltare" uncovers few results at first, the most similar word being the name of eighteenth-century French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. However, one translation states that "voltare" means "to turn."

Busch Entertainment is known for filing more than one name possibility for a new coaster. Prior to deciding on the name SheiKra for sister park Busch Gardens Africa's 2005 coaster, Busch applied to use the alternate spelling Sheekra.

These new possibilities will only add fuel to the fires of speculation raging on around the newest coaster from a park known for excellence. However, speculation will be put to rest come August 23, the date of Busch Gardens Europe's official announcement.

Man suffers fatal heart attack on GA's 'Goliath'
Death underscores danger of pre-existing conditions

Six Flags over Georgia, Austell, GA, USA 07/28/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© Six Flags over Georgia

Those with heart problems may not ride: Six Flags over Georgia's Goliath becomes the latest ride on which a passenger passes away due to a pre-existing medical condition.

He appeared healthy and alert when the ride began, according to witnesses, but a man was found unconscious at the end of the ride on Six Flags over Georgia's Goliath yesterday and was later pronounced dead.

The rider, whose name has not yet been released, was riding the new hyper-coaster around noon Thursday when he passed out. Park officials determined that he was suffering from cardiac arrest and began treating him. Concurrently, authorities were contacted. After a trip to the hospital, the man was pronounced dead.

Goliath was immediately closed and inspected by the park. It reopened shortly after the ride was found to be in working order.

This tragedy is only the latest of several in which riders have passed away due to medical conditions that existed prior to riding. This adds further weight to warning signs adorning ride entrances that anyone with heart problems may not ride. However, unless tested, many fail to recognize these conditions themselves.

Six Flags over Georgia opened Goliath just shy of four months ago, on April 1st, as the park's largest steel coaster. The $20 million ride includes nine major descents in its custom layout of 4,480 feet.

Designing company Bolliger and Mabillard of Switzerland is renown throughout the world for its outstanding safety record from the past 14 years.

Riding a coaster for more than just pleasure
Man wins contest for riding coaster 395 times

Six Flags Darien Lake, Darien Center, NY, USA 07/26/06 - By: Cory Gross -

Thomas Welsher rides roller coasters for more than just pleasure. He participated in a contest to see who could ride Viper at Six Flags Darien Lake the longest. The prize of the contest was a two-year lease on a 2006 Suzuki Reno.

Welsher rode the coaster 395 times. That is more than 230 miles and he accomplished it in less than three days. The contest started out with eight contestants but after the first day, four dropped out, and on the third day, only two were left. The contestants rode Viper along with other guests and continued riding once the park was closed. Every three hours contestants had a 20-minute break, which isn’t a long time when sitting in a tight space for three hours straight.

Viper is a five-inversion sit-down coaster that was made by Arrow. It was built in 1982 and reaches a top speed of 50 mph. It goes up to 121 feet in its 3,100- foot course.

The nights "were horrible," said the 23-year-old Welsher, who lives in Kittleberger Park. "You had to try to sleep in it and there was no leg room.” Welsher’s only remaining opponent left 5:00 a.m. on Monday.

The contest, Survive It to Drive, choose contestants who needed a new car the most. Welsher’s fiancee, Tiffany Spring, said that she was embarrassed to ride in his car, which had a cracked windshield, windows that didn’t roll up, doors that didn’t open, and no radio, which forced her to nominate him for the contest.

The car lease was worth $6,400, according to Mary Christa, the manager of public relations for the park. The contest was very challenging, especially during the hot, summer weather.

Death at Busch Gardens Africa
Man dies of heart attack after ride

Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa Bay, FL, USA 07/25/06 - By: Cory Gross -

© "Homer"

Death at Busch Gardens: A man died of a heart attack on Gwazi. It was the first death that has occured since the ride opened in 1999.

Thomas Welch, 54, died after he came off of Gwazi, at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay, Florida.

After exiting the ride, he said he didn't feel well. Emergency crews from the park preformed CPR for the man. He then died of a heart attack, according to a statement released by the park.

Thomas Welch, who lived in Palm Harbor, died after being taken to the University Community Hospital.

Gwazi, a dueling wooden roller coaster, is 90 feet high and has a top speed of 50 mph. It was built by Great Coasters International in 1999. The ride is one of the park's smaller recent additions.

This is the first death related to the ride since it opened.

Anxiety attack arises aboard 'Kraken'
Women at Sea World Orlando sent to hospital

Sea World Orlando, Orlando, Florida, USA 07/23/06 - By: Cory Gross -

While riding the roller coaster Kraken at Sea World Orlando, a woman had an anxiety attack yesterday night. When paramedics arrived to assist the woman, her daughter passed out and required medical assistance as well.

Officials stated that after getting off the ride, the woman said she felt disoriented. The park then called for medical assistance.

Kraken is a floorless steel coaster that sends riders 149 feet in the air and drops them 144 feet. The riders then go through seven inversions which are spread across a 4,177-foot layout. It speeds up to 65 mph and was manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard.

The ride was closed, but reopened again shortly. The mother was held overnight at a hospital as a precaution. Both mother and daughter are expected to be okay.

Busch Gardens Europe readies for 'Griffon'
'Le Mans' site rapidly cleared for hyper-coaster

Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, VA, USA 07/23/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© Matt Rydzik

A Fifth Myth: Busch Gardens clears away the acreage once home to their antique car ride for the park's second hyper-coaster.

Progress continues flying along at Busch Gardens Europe much like their new coaster will next spring.

Where millions of families once putted along the track of Le Mans Raceway at seven miles an hour, crews have speedily cleared a wide swath of land for a new legend at the award-winning theme park: Griffon, if a trademark filed on the 12th proves the ultimate name of the coaster.

Concrete tracks have been ripped apart since the Le Mans closed July 6 and several acres cleared of all obstructions. Now, it's only a matter of time before the piece of Busch Gardens's France section adjacent to Alpengeist and Loch Ness Monster is readied for the next stage of construction, the pouring of new concrete, this time for footers to support a hyper-coaster structure.

The theme surrounding Busch Gardens Europe's new hyper-coaster is no longer shrouded in mystery now that Busch Entertainment has filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office to use the name Griffon. In European mythology, a griffon (or "griffin," according to the more common spelling) is a mighty creature with an eagle's head and wings on a lion's body. All of the park's previous four coasters use mythology likewise in the way of themes. The theme would fit with teaser posters hung at the park displaying what appear to be eagle talons.

Griffon will likely become the park's third steel coaster from Swiss designers Bolliger and Mabillard and second hyper-coaster, the first being Apollo's Chariot. If the park builds to the maximum project height approved - 210 feet - it would tower over Apollo by four stories and Alpengeist by fifteen feet.

We will post a full preview of the new coaster as more details are revealed.

'Spider-man' to spin his web in Japan
Universal plans superhero-themed coaster

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan 07/21/06 - By: James Wilton -

Spider-man has seen success in the Universal Studios parks in the form of a 3-D projection, but the superhero will soon have his own coaster.

Universal Studios Japan has announced that they will be adding a new coaster themed after Spider-man next spring. The project will cost up to 10 billion yen.

Although most of the ride's specifications are unknown at this point, known statistics include the ride's track length - 3,937 feet - along with height - just over 144 feet - and speed - 56 m.p.h. The ride's capacity will be three-dozen per train. More details will be posted as they are discovered.

The Japanese Universal Studios park currently only boasts a single family coaster.

Devin Olson contributed to this article.

Car on 'Runaway Mine Train' truly runs away
Dozens on Alton Towers coaster during accident

Alton Towers, Staffordshire, England, UK 07/21/06 - By: Paul S. -

A happy day at an amusement park turned sour for 46 thrill seekers at Alton Towers. The passengers aboard Runaway Mine Train were enjoying their ride until the front carriages disengaged from the train and roiled back in to the rest of the train.

It took around 40 minutes for the park to evacuate the ride after the accident. About 29 people received medical attention after the incident.

Two women were flown to North Staffordshire Hospital with car-accident-like injures, another lady was also taken by ambulance to the same hospital, there was a man that supposedly went to a casualties center in Leek, and two other people later taken to Accident and Emergency. Twenty-three other people onboard the ride were treated for cuts and bruises at a medical center at the park.

This ride remains closed right now while an investigation in to the cause of the accident continues. This ride will not reopen the park says until the health and safety investigation is completed.

Runaway Mine Train was added to Alton Towers in 1992, two years before the theme park came into the international spotlight with Nemesis. The ride is comprised of 1,000 feet of track and reaches top speeds just over 22 m.p.h.

Alton Towers one of England’s most famous amusement parks hasn’t been having the best of luck lately. On top of this they are also still dealing with noise complaints from people who live around the park, along with some other bad press lately.

Cause of ride accident still unknown
'Son of Beast' may be closed for a month

Paramount's Kings Island, Kings Mills, Ohio, USA 07/20/06 - By: Cory Gross -

Because of the accident on Son of Beast roller coaster at Paramount's Kings Island, the ride may remain shut down for as long as a month. The roller coaster, which is the tallest and fastest wooden coaster in the world, sent 27 people to the hospital with minor injuries after the accident.

State inspectors are trying to determine the cause of the accident and say it can take a week, or as long as a month, to come up with their findings. However, this may be good news for some people because the ride may have been closed for the rest of the season.

Son of Beast is located at Paramount’s Kings Island, which was recently purchased by Cedar Fair. It is known as being the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster on the planet at 214 feet and with speeds up to 78 m.p.h. It is also the only wooden coaster to have a loop. Ever since the ride opened in 2000, there have been complaints of the ride being very rough.

Of the 27 people injured, only two had to stay overnight at the hospital; no one suffered life-threatening injuries.

Whatever the cause of the accident, the ride will remain closed until the cause is found. So far the inspectors found a vertical-wooden beam that was broken, which was located in the helix area. This beam most likely broke after the daily inspection, which includes mechanical, electrical, and operation testing.

Inspectors are looking closely at the structure of the ride to make sure nothing is wrong with it. Son of Beast may be open sooner than later.

Cedar Point prepares to go vertical
Supports on site for seventeenth coaster

Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 07/18/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© Carsten Anderson

Not Long Now: Dozens of brown-colored support poles are laid out over the coaster's construction site, awaiting their erection.

It won't be much longer now.

A myriad of light brown supports now dots the dirt construction site blanketing five acres towards the back of the world's largest amusement park, sitting side-by-side with footings that have been poured over the last several months. To coaster enthusiasts, the sight's immediate implications focus on one likelihood: that erection of Cedar Point's coaster number 17 and track number 18 is just around the corner.

Yesterday, Cedar Point representatives revealed through their official blog, OnPoint, that the face of the future ride's site would be changing this week. In a post titled "This Just In..." the park's Tyler Adams and Tony Clark posted, "If you ride the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad this week, you might have a little 'something extra' to look at along the way..." in reference to the park's train that passes by the construction site, a ride relocated several feet due to the construction.

© Carsten Anderson

Ready to Rise: Construction equipment sits adjacent to the new supports on the former location of the White Water Landing flume ride.

Now, fans anticipate the raising of supports into place, which could begin any day. Each support that rises on its foundations will provide a new clue as to the nature of the 2007 coaster project, nicknamed Maverick for now due to a trademark filed by the Cedar Fair amusement park chain, parent company of Cedar Point. However, several certainties exist: that the ride will sport a western theme, due to its color scheme of brown supports and red track; that it will debut as the park's sixth steel coaster from the Swiss company Intamin AG; and, judging by track pieces, that it will be one of the park's most twisted coaster layouts to date.

Construction updates will continue as the coaster's official announcement nears.

Swedish coaster crash injures 21
Two trains collide on Lisebergbanan

Liseberg, Goteborg, Sweden 07/15/06 - By: Cory Gross -

© Liseberg

Not-So-Sweet News: A crash onboard the park's Schwarzkopf-designed Lisebergbanan has injured riders on two trains.

Over 20 people were injured at Sweden’s largest amusement park when two roller coaster trains collided on the Lisebergbanan.

As a fully-loaded train was being pulled up the chain lift, a malfunction of the lift caused the train to roll backwards and crash into another train that was unloading passengers. It is unknown how far up the 148-foot lift the train was when the rollback occured.

21 people were taken to the hospital, but no one suffered serious injuries. The ride was shut down while the cause of the accident is being investigated.

Lisebergbanan was designed by Anton Schwarzkopf, who was once quoted as saying it was his personal favorite ride. Its more than 5,000 feet of track twist through the park's terrain in a non-looping course.

Devin Olson contributed to this story. Updated July 16.

Hersheypark unveils eye candy for water park lovers
100th anniversary celebration includes five water attractions

Hersheypark, Hershey, PA, USA 07/12/06 - By: Paul S. -

© Devin Olson

Sweet News: Hershey Entertainment Group's vice president Bill Simpson announces the expansion this morning.

Hersheypark sweetened up the park even more today with the unveiling of plans to celebrate the park's 100th anniversary next year. Those plans focus on five new water attractions contained in a new themed area known as the Boardwalk at Hersheypark.

Back in November, we saw the first sign of this expansion when the Derry Township accepted Hersheypark's plans for their 2007 additions. All that was known at the time, however, was that the expansion would be located near Lightning Racer and include a water play device, three pools, a water slide, water playground, and fountain.

As construction started, speculation picked up on exactly what these water attractions would be. But now, the mystery has been lifted. Today, park officials revealed their plans for their 2007 season, the $19.7 million Boardwalk expansion. Despite its classic theme, this will defiantly not be your classic boardwalk.

This Boardwalk will include five attractions: the Wave Rider, Coastline Plunge, Rain Fortress, Bayside Pier, and Sandcastle Cove.

© Devin Olson

Before...: Foundations are in place for the world's largest water play area, the Rain Fortress.

"Our guests have been telling us for years [that they want] more water when it's hot and some place to go and relax," Hershey Entertainment Group's vice president Bill Simpson told COASTER-net. "We think that this really answers a lot of those questions we've been hearing from them. We already had some water rides and this really ties itself in very well to [them]."

Waver Rider will allow riders to take on man-made waves. Two people at a time will be allowed to test out their surfing skills on this high-action attraction.

Coastline Plunge will feature a 50-foot-tall tower with four ways to get down to the ground. Riders can take their pick on either Whirlwind, Vortex, Surge or Riptide. One of the slides will feature Proslide's now-famous Tornado design, a giant funnel.

Rain Fortress will be the world’s largest water play area. It will be featuring seven slides, two crawl tunnels and many other interactive features which are bound to get all participants soaked.

© Hersheypark

...And After: Concept artwork revealed today displays the Rain Fortress in its completed state.

Bayside Pier is a wave pool that the whole family can enjoy. Inside this 47,326-gallon wave pool, guests can float or swim the gentle waves or grab lounge chairs and soak up the sun.

Sandcastle Cove will be a play area for the younger ones in the family. This will feature a sandcastle-themed play structure including slides and water jets in a pool with an average depth of 18 inches.

"We're really excited about the year 2007," public relations manager Kathy Burrows said. "There [will be] all kinds of new activities and new opportunities for our guests."

Devin Olson contributed to this article.

Another crash landing on 'Mission: Space'
Woman loses consciousness when leaving ride

Epcot, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA 07/11/06 - By: Cory Gross -

After exiting Mission Space, the ride where two people have died in the last 13 months, a woman lost consciousness. The 35-year old woman fell around 8:30 pm on Monday. She was then taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center by helicopter in stable condition.

The woman, whose name was not identified, told a rescue worker that she had tingling in her arms and hands. The Associated Press called Disney officials on Tuesday morning, but the call was not immediately returned.

Mission Space is located in Epcot, which is one of the four parks located in the Walt Disney World Resort. Two deaths had occurred on this ride in the last 13 months. The first was a four-year-old boy who died from an unknown heart defect. The other death was a 49-year-old woman who died from bleeding in the brain after exiting the ride.

After the 49-year-old woman died, Disney offered a less intense version of the ride. Walt Disney World is a family park and has had over one billion visitors.

'Volcano' an active mountain again
Kings Dominion announces findings

Paramount's Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA, USA 07/10/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© Devin Olson

Safety first: A ride operator checks to ensure the train's readiness to conquer its 2,757 feet of track. Volcano reopened yesterday following its June 23 accident.

A rumble broke the silence and screaming riders burst forth from the mountain peak for the first time in over two weeks.

At 1 p.m. yesterday, Paramount's Kings Dominion fired off the first trainload of riders on its Volcano: the Blast Coaster since a June 23 accident sent 15 riders careening backwards with hot debris landing on the train — not from volcanic ash, but rather, metal sparks.

The investigation determined that a compromised bolt along the track resulted in high-velocity damage. While the train broke, it also braked successfully, leaving the train stranded a dozen feet off the ground as rescuers worked for two hours. Two riders were injured beyond minor cuts and bruises.

"The problem - a broken track bolt - was fixed and our guests are back on their favorite ride!" spokeswoman Susan Story told us.

Extensive testing took place during the weekend before the coaster was cleared to reopen Saturday night by Brian Gentilini, assistant building chief for Hanover County, Virginia.

Volcano's reopening comes as sister park Paramount's Kings Island experiences an accident of similar nature on its own largest coaster.

Accident on 'Son of Beast' causes injuries
27 were injured when the train stopped suddenly

Paramount's Kings Island, Kings Mills, OH, USA 07/09/06 - By: Michael Ingerson -

© Clint Novak

An accident on Son of Beast yesterday sent 27 people to the hospital after a train stopped abruptly towards the end of the ride.

Yesterday, there was an accident on Son of Beast at Kings Island outside of Cincinnati, Ohio today. 27 people were taken by ambulance to Bethesda North Hospital in Montgomery and Bethesda Medical Center in Lebanon. Though the park remained open, Son of Beast was closed.

The accident happened at about 4:45 yesterday. Witnesses of the accident said that they saw the coaster come to an abrupt stop with a “bump.” Several rescue squads were called to the park after the incident. A spokeswoman for the park stated that crews shut down the coaster and started examining it to find the problem.

After completing the circuit, the riders complained of back and neck pain said the Maureen Kaiser, a spokeswoman for the Kings Island. The park’s emergency staff took care of the riders and notified authorities, she said.

Twelve people were taken to Bethesda North Hospital, while ten others were taken to Bethesda Medical Center, said a spokeswoman for both hospitals. Several other people were taken to Mercy Hospital of Fairfield, stated a sheriff dispatcher. Ttwnety-five of the riders have been released from the hospitals, but two remained there with injuries that were not life-threatening.

© Paramount's Kings Island

Investigators splintered and cracked wood on one the coaster's hills.

Investigators of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's ride safety division revealed today that some of the wood on one of the ride’s downward hills was cracked and splintered around the mid-course of the ride. Weldon Shaffer, who was on Son of Beast when the accident happened said, "Everything was fine until it felt like everything jammed forward."

Though investigators say that they aren’t sure if the cracking and splintering caused the accident, a relations spokesperson for the park said that 10 percent of rollercoaster accidents are due to structural damage. Son of Beast remains closed and may remain closed for up to six weeks as ride investigation goes on.

Son of Beast was built in 2001 and holds and broke the record for the tallest fastest wooden roller coaster ever built. The mega wooden coaster is 218 feet tall and has a top speed of 78.4 mph. It is also the only wooden coaster with a loop.

This is a breaking news story; further information will be added later and current information is subject to change.

Six Flags CEO is not pleased with the parks
Mark Shapiro is not thrilled after park tours

New York, NY, USA 07/09/06 - By: Michael Ingerson -

After only a few weeks into the peak operation season, Mark Shapiro, Six Flags CEO, is not enthralled with the company’s many parks across the country. Shapiro, who took over as CEO in December, says that the parks are no where near what he wants them to be.

Shapiro took over back in December after shareholders overthrew the company’s old management. Since then, he pledged to transform the company’s parks from hot teen spots, to more family oriented parks.

Transforming the parks may not be as easy as he thought though. The company is in $2.1 billion in debt. SFI stock fell 25 percent after Shapiro harshly reviewed the parks last month. "I'm not going to get on a call and lie to people or mislead people," Shapiro said. "I think it's important that people know what we've inherited." SFI is now considering selling six of the company’s parks.

Shapiro, during a tour of the parks during the busy season, said that he saw unfriendly employees, poor maintenance, and popular rides operating with only one train. One parent wrote Shapiro describing their visit by closed rides, rude employees, long lines, a couple having sex on a Ferris wheel, and teens yelling racial slurs. Shapiro stated that this was the best example of what he is facing and that he was going to win that parent back.

To speed the transformation, Shapiro has made some major changes. He has set a no-smoking policy, brought in new characters, and he has added more entertainment such as parades in the parks. "We have a lot of work to do here, and we're going to do it," said Shapiro. "I'm confident that the audience and the guest is going to be very pleased with the product once we're done."

Re-birth begins at Coney Island
'Parachute Drop' has been re-lit

Coney Isladn, Brooklyn, New York, USA 07/08/06 - By: Cory Gross -

© Coney Island

The Parachute Drop and the Cyclone roller coaster join the other classic rides at Coney Island. A $1 billion renovation will begin soon.

After 41 years of sitting in darkness, The Parachute Drop at Coney Island was re-lit. The Parachute Drop stood for 41 years representing the out-of-date Coney Island. Re-lighting it is bringing new life to the park.

Even though the Parachute Drop is not operating as a ride, crowds were still very pleased with the re-lighting. People think it is amazing and are glad that Coney Island is trying to recreate the feeling it had years ago. Even though residents of Brooklyn comment that this is not quite the same as it was 41 years ago, it is still a sight to see.

However, of the large crowd that joined to watch it re-lit, some were not pleased. Some people commented that they were disappointed, that they expected it to be brighter. Others said that they it couldn’t even be seen from Staten Island. These people were probably expecting lights like the ones in Las Vegas.

The Parachute Drop stands 277 feet in the air and is shaped like a giant blossom at the end of a stalk. Its last rider fell in 1965 and has been shut down ever since. Re-lighting the tower shows the re-birth of Coney Island beginning as a $1 billion renovation is in the works.

Busch Gardens Europe teases fans
Signage promoting '07 coaster appears

Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, VA, USA 07/08/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© "Drgnlvr89"

Busch Gardens Europe failed to leave the public hanging in the absence of the Le Mans Raceway as the park hung a new sign promoting 2007's coaster.

It's a wakeup call for upcoming season pass renewal to every true roller coaster enthusiast.

Busch Gardens Europe, keeping with time-honored amusement park tradition, began promoting their next season's new thrill ride in a portentous manner. Adorning the side of a building once home to the queue of the Le Mans Raceway antique car ride, a talon watches over signage reading "Like nothing else in the world" and "Dropping spring 2007," all in capitals, with the words "flight" and "menacing" in the background.

With the Le Mans permanently closed as of last Wednesday, the park wasted no time in signaling to the public that the car ride's site won't go to waste. And indeed, given seveal months' time, the sign will have proven foreshadowing to the park's tallest, shiniest steel coaster as a new superstructure rises.

© "Homer"

Sister park Busch Gardens Africa's SheiKra ride in Florida is widely predicted to be the most similar existing ride to the planned 2007 attraction.

Enthusiast and executive co-webmaster of BGEscape Anthony Ferguson was quick to note that sister park Busch Gardens Africa hung a nearly identical sign prior to announcing SheiKra. Most enthusiasts consider a similar ride to SheiKra the most likely candidate for the Williamsburg, Virginia park's new coaster.

"I'm expecting a very SheiKra-influenced ride with some groundbreaking new innovations that will definitely raise some eyebrows from around the industry," he said. "Also, judging from the markers I have noted at the surface of the Rhine River and along a trench-like ravine leading from the Le Mans Raceway site down to the water, I have a feeling Busch Gardens will be taking full advantage of the dramatic terrain they have at their disposal on this project."

Ferguson's predictions are also supported by the history of Busch Gardens Europe, a park once home to four compact coasters situated on flat plots of land, all of which have been removed. Now, the revered theme park features an exclusive collection of four custom-designed steel coasters each taking advantage of natural terrain — the new trademark of Busch Gardens European rides.

As far as uniqueness is concerned, a SheiKra-like ride in itself would make the Virginia coaster one of four Dive Machine models from Bolliger and Mabillard in the world. Add the Busch touch, and a truly unique ride is inevitable.

The park still has yet to set an official date for the press conference and release of the 2007 project.

Not as much of a 'Mystery' any longer
Dollywood reveals details for new project

Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN, USA 07/08/06 - By: Paul S. -

© Dollywood

With the act of revealing more details on Mystery Mine, Dollywood also revealed the ride's logo artwork.

Some mysteries are never meant to be discovered. One theme park, however, has finally revealed more of its biggest mystery.

Dollywood has announced the details of their new attraction for the 2007 season, the Mystery Mine. Hence the name, this ride will be themed to an old mine. However, this is no traditional "mine train" ride.

This ride will be one of Gerstlauer’s Euro-Fighters, making it the first of its kind in America. But it will be more than that that will make this ride one of a kind. This ride will feature not one but two vertical lift hills — making for the first time this has been done on a Euro-Fighter.

This ride will have a maximum drop of 85 feet at a 95-degree angle of descent and a maximum speed of 46 mph. Along with special effects from Entech Creative, it will also feature a layout containing two inversions, a heartline roll and a rollover loop (dive loop), during its 2-minute and 30-second, 1,811-foot course.

© Dollywood

New coaster concept art showcases one of two inversions to be featured on the $17.5 million coaster.

Chances are, if this ride follows Dollywood's style, it will be a well themed, unique ride that will definitely provide a thrill. And judging by the ride's concept, unique will be a keyword next year at the park.

COASTER-net will feature a full preview of this new attraction in the coming month as the remaining mystery behind Mystery Mine is revealed.

'Volcano' sits dormant as investigation continues
Kings Dominion favorite remains closed through holiday

Paramount's Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA, USA 07/03/06 - By: Devin Olson -

© Devin Olson

Volcano is seen closed today and will remain closed throughout the Independence Day holiday due to the June 23 malfunction.

Holiday crowds would indicate that it's any normal day at Paramount's Kings Dominion. However, that normality ends when visitors find the park's most popular attraction quiet.

Volcano: the Blast Coaster remains closed following its first incident requiring hospitalization of a rider. Meanwhile, park, manufacturer, and locally appointed officials seek to determine what exactly brought the inverted launch coaster to a grinding halt June 23.

"The investigation into what happened and what caused the rollback to occur[...] is still underway," spokeswoman Susan Storey told COASTER-net yesterday. "It will be at least another week before it is completed."

© Devin Olson

An inspection into the malfunction seeks answers to exactly what occured and why it took place on the 8-year-old ride.

Firsthand reports from riders describe a possible malfunction with the emergency brakes as the train shot backwards through the first launch area. Copper shards reportedly rained down in sparks on the train as it slowed to a stop, accounting for the injuries that occured. Copper fins line the Linear Induction Motor launches on Volcano to conduct electricity and propel riders to 70 mph.

Storey notes that the guest who was admitted to the Virginia Commonwealth University with a cut above his right eye was released last Wednesday. Other injuries stopped short of requiring hospitalization.

With Volcano temporarily out of commission, Kings Dominion's collection of four launched coasters is reduced to two, being that the neighboring Flight of Fear is closed this season.

"As you can imagine, Volcano[...] will remain closed until we know what happened, we are able to repair it, and then we will test and re-test the ride again to make sure such an incident does not occur again on this ride," Storey said.

Six Flags New Orleans for sale
Park can’t recover from Katrina

Six Flags New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 07/02/06 - By: Cory Gross -

After almost a year of strugling to re-open Six Flags New Orleans, which was damaged greatly by Hurrican Katrina, Six Flags is offering ten million dollars to buy the sixty-six acre area, if the city will let it out of its lease.

Six Flags is now realizing that spending money on re-opening a park that wasn’t at all successful isn’t a good proposition.

Six Flags will also pay the city twenty percent of its insurance proceeds above seventy-five million dollars. However, Mayor Ray Nagin will not budge and says Six Flags has to keep to its agreement.

"We have a pretty solid agreement with them (requiring Six Flags to operate the park for 75 years)," Nagin told a newspaper. "They're claiming they can exercise out of it, but they're going to have to pay us."

Six Flags has always hoped to re-open the property, but has realized their mistake. Six Flags is going to keep on trying to sell the property to the city of New Orleans.