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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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Women dies on Playland Park attraction
'Mind Scrambler' claims its second victim
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Playland Park, Rye New York, USA 06/30/07 - By: Ryan Blevins -
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©Playland Entertainment
Bad Reputation: Playland Park’s Mind Scrambler was the site of another death in 2004. |
The string of summer accidents in the amusement park world continues as a spinning attraction in New York claims another life.
The attraction, named Mind Scrambler, left a 20-year-old woman dead shortly after boarding.
A scrambler-type ride features groups of cars that extend from the arms of a central pole. The pole spins the entire ride in one direction while the groups of cars spin in another. This specific scrambler is enclosed in a tent-like dome and themed with strobe lights, meaning that riders with a number of pre-existing conditions are at risk.
Previous Playland Deaths:
- (2006)-A 43-year-old woman drowns after wading in a 40-foot-deep lake within the amusement park.
- (2005)-A seven-year-old boy is killed when he becomes stuck after falling out of the Ye Old Mill water attraction.
- (2004)-A seven-year-old girl slips out of her restraints on the Mind Scrambler.
- (1988)- An eight-year-old girl chokes to death on her gum while riding the Dragon Coaster.
- (1920s)- A 19-year-old man is flung off of a ride named the Whip.
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The cause of the incident is still under investigation, although it is thought to be from an illness the woman may have previously suffered with. For the time being, the area surrounding the ride is shut down until the cause of death is uncovered.
This is not, however, the first time there has been an incident involving this ride. Back in 2004, a seven-year-old girl apparently slid out of her restraints and fell out of the ride. This death caused park officials to add new safety belts to the ride.
The past few weeks have seen their share of accidents in the amusement park industry. A few examples of these incidents include a grisly malfunction that claimed a 13-year-old girl's feet on the Superman: Tower of Power ride in Kentucky. Another tragedy occurred when a 14-year-old girl was found dead on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disneyland Paris.
Playland Park is a National Historic Landmark and the only United States amusement park owned and operated by a county government.
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World's preeminent wooden coaster on track for '07 reopening
Kings Island tests 'Son of Beast' following extensive modifications
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Kings Island, Kings Mills, OH, USA 06/28/07 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Paul Bonifield
Testing in Progress: Dress shirts and ties hint that a special event is taking place on Son of Beast's shiny red trains in this picture taken yesterday. That special event? Human testing. |
Kings Island is happy with progress towards reopening the world's largest, fastest wooden coaster to its crowds.
Just under a year after an accident left 27 riders with neck and back pain, Son of Beast runs test after test on a modified coaster to ensure that the July 8, 2006 incident is its first and last.
Yesterday, a trainload of humans joined the water-filled plastic test dummies that formerly held the sole privilege of experiencing nearly 7,000 feet of track. However, the park is careful not to set a reopening date in stone just yet.
"The progress on Son of Beast is coming along very nicely," Marketing Communications Coordinator Josh Hackenberg said. "We are committed to opening the ride this season."
Kings Island's daily operation ends August 26, but the park remains open for the 2007 season on weekends through October 28. That provides a window of exactly four more months to reopen Son of Beast this season.
The investigation into last year's accident discovered a cause of cracked timber giving way several inches as a train passed over the ride's sweeping double helix.
While one of the goals of the past off-season was inherently to strengthen the structure, another was to find lighter trains. The park was successful in purchasing two trains manufactured by German company Gerstlauer that formerly ran on Hurricane at the now-defunct Myrtle Beach Pavilion.
However, the use of lighter trains required a major sacrifice in the form of the ride's signature track element: its vertical loop.
The loop has long been one of the park's most unique bragging rights. In Son of Beast's 1999 press release, then-Paramount's-Kings-Island advertised "the tallest, fastest and only looping wooden roller coaster in the world." That title rang true until this winter's modifications.
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Child found abandoned in the heat at Disney World
Three-year-old left unattended in stroller at Magic Kingdom
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Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL, USA 06/27/07 - By: Zach Wik -
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© Disney Parks
Lesson for Parents: The mother and father of a three-year-old boy were charged with felony child abuse after abandoning the child in his stroller. |
Police are investigating an incident at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom that left a three-year-old child outside in the 90-degree Florida sun.
Juan and Danette Rodriguez left their child outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Adventureland area of the park while they rode. Cast members immediately called paramedics after guests noticed that the child was unattended in a stroller, sweating.
The child was showing signs of heat exhaustion and might have been left outside for more than an hour.
"If a little more time had transpired, there were concerns this could have gone south very quickly," said Sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons.
The parents of the child were both charged with felony child abuse and were released on $2,500 bonds. The three-year-old was placed in the care of relatives by the Department of Children and Families.
Disney states that they were happy with how the employees handled the situation and were pleased that the situation wasn't worse than it was. Disney also noted that the parks have a rider switch program that allows one parent to go on a ride and the other one to wait with the child.
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Cedar Fair towers returning to operation (updated)
Meanwhile, Six Flags, Elitch Gardens wait on findings
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Various North American theme parks 06/26/07 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Michael Ingerson
Waiting for Word: Elitch Gardens, a former Six Flags property, waits alongside the Six Flags chain for findings relating to Friday's accident. |
The feeling of freefall is returning to theme parks around North America.
Five days after a stray cable claimed a girl's feet at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, many of the towers closed as a precaution have been declared safe for operation.
In all, a dozen freefall towers on the continent were closed temporarily as a result of the accident. Those towers were similar in design and identical in manufacturer to Superman: Tower of Power –– the 177-foot-tall ride at Kentucky Kingdom.
Reopened Towers:
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Canada's Wonderland
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Carowinds
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Kings Dominion
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Knott's Great America
- PittFall, Kennywood
Dormant Towers:
- Acrophobia, Six Flags over Georgia
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Kings Island
- Giant Drop, Six Flags Great America
- Superman: Tower of Power, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
- Superman: Tower of Power, Six Flags St. Louis
- Tower of Doom, Elitch Gardens
- Tower of Doom, Six Flags America
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One of those towers, PittFall at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, was only closed for several hours until inspectors deemed the ride in good shape. Two others, both in the Cedar Fair chain –– the Drop Zone Stunt Towers at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario and Kings Dominion in Virginia –– remained closed until Saturday afternoon.
Another sister tower, Drop Zone Stunt Tower at Charlotte, North Carolina's Carowinds, remained closed until 12:30 p.m. today. State inspectors looked over the tower Friday and determined that several cables were slightly stretched and required replacement.
However, one Cedar Fair tower remains dormant. Josh Hackenberg of Kings Island tells us that "our ride technicians are thoroughly inspecting the ride but have not completed their work at this time and therefore Drop Zone remains closed."
Meanwhile, the Kentucky Kingdom tower remains closed along with the Six Flags chain's four similar attractions at parks in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland and Missouri.
In Colorado, the only former Six Flags park in the country with the same freefall model has chosen to keep their tower closed. Elitch Gardens states: "We have shut down our Tower of Doom ride as a precautionary measure until we can get further information on the incident that occurred at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom."
Meanwhile, the girl injured Friday, 13-year-old Kaitlyn Lassiter, is reported in stable condition at a Nashville hospital while investigators collect further information on the ride at fault.
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Another 'Rock 'n' Roller Coaster,' another death
Disneyland Paris death occurs one year after FL tragedy
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Disneyland Resort Paris, Marne la Vallée, Ile-de-France, France 06/26/07 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Disney
Tragic Coincidence: Yesterday's death of a 14-year-old girl comes three days shy of a year after a similar tragedy occurred on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's sister ride. |
A 14-year-old girl died yesterday after riding Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disneyland Paris. Now, the ride remains closed while an autopsy takes place today.
The girl, who was visiting the park from Spain, was discovered unconscious when the ride came to a stop and attempts to revive her at the park were unsuccessful. An ambulance was called, but by the time it arrived, it was too late.
Disney officials immediately closed the coaster and began an inspection of the coaster. However, no abnormalities were found.
Recent Disney deaths (most from pre-existing medical problems):
- August 1, 2006: Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom (FL)
- June 29, 2006: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, MGM Studios (FL)
- April 12, 2006: Mission: Space, EPCOT (FL)
- June 13, 2005: Mission: Space, EPCOT (FL)
- April 2005: Dinosaur, Disney's Animal Kingdom (FL)
- February 2005: Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Kingdom (FL)
- September 23, 2003: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland (CA)
- June 25, 2000: Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland (CA)
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Police are conducting a full investigation of the death while an autopsy seeks to determine if the girl had any pre-existing medical conditions.
Almost a year ago to the day, on June 29, 2006, a 12-year-old boy passed away after riding an almost identical coaster at the resort's sister park, Disney-MGM Studios, in the United States. The cause of death was found to be a heart defect.
The two Rock 'n' Roller Coasters are indoor steel coasters with 57-m.p.h. launches that blast riders into 3,403-foot mazes of banked turns and three inversions. The French ride debuted three years after its US cousin, in 2002.
Riders are taken through highly stimulating environments complete with audio, a themed environment and lighting effects.
Both rides were manufactured by Vekoma, Inc. of the Netherlands, one of the industry's most common ride brands.
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Dorney Park coaster proposal leaves launch pad
Approval granted for 18-story LIM-launched addition
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Dorney Park, Allentown, PA, USA 06/25/07 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Intamin AG
Impulsive Addition?: Cedar Fair removed two major coasters from Geauga Lake last year — one of which may end up at Dorney Park now. |
Dorney Park visitors may have a sixth major coaster on the horizon. Today, the park received approval from its local planning commission for a 2008 thrill ride, according to the Morning Call newspaper.
Although parent chain Cedar Fair has yet to confirm speculation, the statistics and layout of the proposed coaster –– an 18-story U-shaped ride –– match those of one of the chain's coasters currently between homes: the former Steel Venom of Ohio’s Geauga Lake.
The height variance for the coaster’s two 184-foot vertical towers was approved by shifting two zones formerly assigned for other rides of roughly the same height. The first of those was a proposed Ripcord “sky coaster” that Dorney canceled, and the second was the 170-foot Skyscraper that opened in 2000 and was relocated to Minnesota’s Valleyfair after the 2003 season.
Dorney Park facts:
- U-shaped layout
- 184’ tall
- 70-m.p.h. speeds
- LIM propulsion
- Former site of Skyscraper
- 2008 debut
Steel Venom facts:
- U-shaped layout
- 90º towers
- 70-m.p.h. speeds
- 704' track length
- LIM propulsion
- 2006 removal
- In storage
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Dorney’s location for the coaster sits beside Laser –– a 1980s steel looping coaster –– and a current parking lot, towards the bottom of an undulating 200 acres.
The park has stated that an official announcement for the ride is at least three months off and may coincide with Cedar Fair’s October announcement of 2008 capital spending.
However, in the meantime, other details revealed during the approval process all seem to point towards the former Geauga Lake coaster, one of four identical “Impulse Coaster” models from manufacturer Intamin AG.
One of the facts revealed is the ride’s propulsion system: linear-induction motors –– a match. Another is the top speed of 70 m.p.h. –– another match. And a third is the train’s capacity of 28 riders –– a final match.
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Teen finds gun at Gillian's Wonderland Pier
17-year-old girl finds weapon at NJ boardwalk park
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Gillian's Wonderland Pier, Ocean City, NJ 06/24/07 - By: Zach Wik -
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© Gillian's Wonderland Pier
Gun Scare: A girl says she mistook the weapon for a toy when she found it by Slingshot at Gillian's Wonderland Pier. |
A 17-year-old girl visiting Gillian's Wonderland Pier found a .22-caliber revolver while she was boarding the Slingshot ride. The gun belonged to a police officer.
At first, the girl thought that it was just a toy and just put it in her pocket. Later, she even made a few shots into the sand dunes on the beach. When the girl came home from the park, her mom realized that it was a legitimate gun. The family reported the gun to the police the day after it was found.
The owner of Gillian's Wonderland Pier, Jay Gillian closed to park for two hours on Wednesday so that they could find the missing gun. The local police said that the gun looked like a toy and could cause harm if a child found the gun.
The police officer who lost the gun was at the park and was not on duty at the time. It took several hours before the gun was found by the 17 year old girl. The head of Philadelphia police internal affairs, Chief Inspector William Colarulo wouldn't release the officer's name to the general public. They also didn't release the name of the 17-year-old girl.
The officer will not face any sanctions, as Cheif Inspector William Colarulo said that the whole situation was an accident. A previous accident had police worried that a young child would find the gun.
In 1990, a 6-year-old girl was accidently shot by an eight-year-old playmate who found a similar gun and accidently shot the young girl. It is not known if this incident also happened at Gillian's Wonderland Pier or somewhere else in the Ocean City area.
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Freefall towers closed in response to accident
North American closures sweep from coast to coast
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Various North American theme parks 06/22/07 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Clint Novak
Coast-to-Coast Closures: Drop Zone Stunt Tower at Kings Island is the closest Intamin tower to the one on which yesterday's malfunction took place. |
In response to yesterday's accident involving Superman: Tower of Power at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, similar freefall towers have been closed around the continent while the investigation into what caused the malfunction continues.
All freefall towers manufactured by Intamin AG, the company behind the Kentucky ride, have been closed throughout North America's two largest amusement park chains, Cedar Fair and Six Flags. The additional closures affect nine parks in all.
Intamin's signature freefall towers consist of the Giant Drop models that send individual cars up vertical tracks surrounding the rides' cylindrical towers, and the more recent Gyro-Drop design that uses unitary rings of up to 56 passengers surrounding the towers.
The Closure List:
- Acrophobia, Six Flags over Georgia
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Canada's Wonderland
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Carowinds
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Knott's Great America
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Kings Dominion
- Drop Zone Stunt Tower, Kings Island
- Giant Drop, Six Flags Great America
- Superman: Tower of Power, Six Flags St. Louis
- Tower of Doom, Six Flags America
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All five Drop Zone Stunt Tower rides at Cedar Fair properties from coast to coast have reportedly been closed pending the investigation, along with freefall towers at the Six Flags properties in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland and Missouri.
The status of the North American towers located outside these chain-owned parks –– including PittFall at Kennywood in Pittsburgh and Tower of Doom at Elitch Gardens in Denver –– is unknown.
The accident Thursday involved the lifting system of a Giant Drop model. That system uses cables running from winches at the top of the tower to catch cars that attach to the passenger vehicles.
According to witnesses, a cable on Superman snapped as one of the cars reached the end of the lifting cycle just before its routine freefall. That cable then apparently swung and wrapped itself around the 13-year-old victim's ankles.
The girl involved has undergone surgery in an attempt to reattach her feet.
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Brutal accident occurs at SF Kentucky Kingdom
Rider's feet torn off by stray cable on 'Superman'
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Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, KY, USA 06/21/07 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Donald Flint
Tragedy in the Air: Superman remains closed indefinitely while an investigation proceeds and the rider remains hospitalized. |
A gruesome accident left a girl without feet and onlookers in shock at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom this evening when a cable snapped on the Superman: Tower of Power freefall ride.
Around 4:45 p.m., one of the thrill ride's five four-passenger cars was just reaching the top of its vertical tower when a frayed elevator-like cable gave way, according to witnesses at the bottom.
The car plunged towards the ground at its top speed of 54 m.p.h.
The ride would have ended without incident in its magnetic brakes had it not been for the stray cable swinging towards the falling car and wrapping around one rider's legs –– brutally severing both feet at the ankle.
The victim, 13 years old, was taken to a local hospital. Her condition has yet to be released as of Thursday night.
Superman was immediately shut down as an investigation seeks answers into today's accident –– the first and only of its kind known to have occurred on any freefall ride.
© Donald Flint
A Ride's Fall From Grace: Today's tragedy is the first such known incident to occur on any freefall tower. Superman, formerly Hellavator, is the oldest of its kind. |
Superman: Tower of Power holds a place in history as the first modern freefall tower of its kind, a Giant Drop model from Intamin AG of Switzerland. The ride originally opened in 1995 as Hellavator but received a new name and coat of paint this season.
Superman's location directly inside Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom's main entrance and its locally unchallenged height of 177 feet make the red tower one of the theme park's most prominent, widely recognized attractions.
Now, that ride sits dormant "indefinitely" as the investigation looks for clues as to how today's tragedy could have occurred.
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Astroland Park may live through another summer
Deal may give Coney Island property one more season
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Astroland, Brooklyn, NY 06/21/07 - By: Zach Wik -
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© Astroland Amusement Park
Astroland's New Lease on Life: One of Coney Island's classic oceanfront properties may remain as-is for another season due to the efforts of Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr. |
The amusement park containing one of America's
most recognized icons of the roller coaster world may be saved for one more season.
Officials are reporting that Brooklyn's Astroland Amusement Park will stay open at least through 2008. Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr. has a deal in the works to keep the park open for at least another year.
Thor Equities bought Coney Island for 30 million dollars last year with plans for a new amusement park and further redevelopment. That park is set to include a new looping roller coaster from Intamin AG, a water park and a resort - all on the ocean front. There were also originally plans for a condo to go along with the rest of the project, but those plans have been scrapped.
The city also reported that it is looking for a new location to place Astroland and some of its current rides. One proposal is to move the park near Keyspan Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones Minor League Baseball team.
Despite the renovation, classic attractions such as they Coney Island Cylone and Nathan's Hot Dog Stand will remain for future generations to experience.
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Dollywood's 'Timber Tower' leaves riders hanging
Vertical ride strands 36 for several hours
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Dollywood, Piegon Forge, TN, USA 06/20/07 - By: Zach Wik -
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© Herschend Family Entertainment Corp.
Timber Tower Strands Riders: Timber Tower at Dollywood strands riders for several hours. |
One of the newest thrill rides at Tennessee's popular tourist destination Dollywood malfunctioned today, standing 36 riders in the air.
When a safety system was engaged, the vertical ride known as Timber Tower stalled at its maximum 65-foot height for several hours. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
Eventually, rescue workers from the Pigeon Forge and Sevierville fire departments brought stranded riders down from Timber Tower's seating ring with the use of two ladder trucks.
Timber Tower made its debut last year as the first ride of its kind in North America. It features a relatively small tower much like a standard vertical freefall ride that tilts from side to side while rotating.
The attraction will remain closed until the inspector's reports are complete and the park determines how to prevent a repeat of the incident.
Devin Olson contributed to this article.
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Geauga Lake's 'Raging Wolf Bobs' coaster damaged
Track, trains damaged after rollback; no serious injuries
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Geauga Lake, Aurora, OH, USA 06/17/07 - By: Zach Wik -
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© Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Too much rage Geauga Lake's 'Raging Wolf Bobs' may remain closed for the rest of the season. |
On the Raging Wolf Bobs coaster at Geauga Lake, one of the trains stalled on one of the ride's hills and then rolled back.
None of the 24 riders were injured, although there was serious damage to the track and trains and might be closed for the rest of the 2007 operating season. Raging Wolf Bobs is one of eight roller coasters at Geauga Lake Amusement Park, a Cedar Fair park.
All passengers that were on the ride were checked and treated for any minor injuries and then released back into the park. This event is under investigation.
Raging Wolf Bobs has been operating since 1988 without any similar incidents. The wooden coaster reaches a maximum speed of 50 m.p.h. It was recently modified with new trains to replace the originals.
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'SheiKra' loses its floor at Busch Gardens Africa
Second floorless 'Dive Machine' coaster drops in
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Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa Bay, FL, USA 06/17/07 - By: Zach Wik -
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© Busch Entertainment Corporation
SheiKra Goes Floorless: After two years of operation, SheiKra becomes the world's second floorless dive machine. |
Imagine yourself, hanging 200 feet above the ground with nothing below you but slick red track. Now you can experience that on the now floorless SheiKra at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay, Florida. After being open for more than two years with ordinary trains that had a floor below you, Busch added new floorless trains that can hold 24 screaming riders. The new floorless trains will definitely provide a new experience for riders, especially in the front row. Unlike its sister coaster, Griffon at Busch Gardens Europe near Williamsburg, Virginia, it will only have eight people per row.
The new floorless SheiKra had its Media Day on Saturday the 16th and celebrated with African dancers and entertainers. The ride opens to the general public on Sunday, June 17th as the world's second floorless dive machine. The new trains will have a better experience for riders especially for those riding in the front row because nothing but their restraint separates them the ground.
SheiKra's actual layout wasn't changed, but the floorless trains will provide a whole new experience for riders. The station actually uses new gates and retractable flooring needed for the new trains. The ride was actually built so the change from floor to floorless cars would be easier.
SheiKra opened in 2005 at Busch Gardens Africa as the tallest, longest, and fastest dive machine roller coaster in the world until Griffon opened at Busch Gardens Europe in Virginia. Currently, Busch is the only company that has the rights to build dive machines in the United States.
This change in SheiKra will scare even experience riders as some people won't expect the floorless track until they are going up the lift hill. The old SheiKra trains were good but the floorless will make the ride more exhilarating for any rider.
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RipQurl becomes reality at Island Kingdom Water Park
Elitch Gardens receives its first addition under new management
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Elitch Gardens Island Kngdom, Denver, CO, USA 06/12/07 - By: Ryan Blevins -
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©Elitch Gardens
Get ready to be lost in a Rip Current: Island Kingdom made it’s newest investment this year with the addition of RipQurl. |
With Summer starting next week, what better way to cool off then at a nice refreshing water park? Elitch Gardens has made all the necessary preparations for the summer heat, and even a little bonus. New this year in the Island Kingdom water-park section of Elitch Gardens will be RipQurl.
Built and designed by “ProSlide” this bowl shaped attraction will be the coolest place in the park.
The slide is designed to carry a double tube, carrying a max of two people, around a few sharp turns, down a steep drop and down into a bowl. Once inside the bowl, tubes jet out water on either side, causing the tube spin in circles before dropping down into a small tunnel leading to the exit. This 60 foot high structure will be the latest addition to the water park since The Edge attraction made its debut back in the summer of 2005.
Remember, the Elitch Gardens corporation isn’t all about the “big rides” so there will still be plenty of options for younger children. Elitch Gardens has a 117-year-old reputation for providing countless family and entertainment options. The park believes this new attraction should fit in well for all ages and provide a better experience for guests making a visit to Elitch Gardens. The park also is one of the seven properties owned by Six Flags incorporated but due to decrease debt amounts was sold to "PARC Management LLC." The deal was signed and completed in March of 2006 with a total cost of around $312 Million US dollars.
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Power outage leaves Magic Springs guests hanging
Riders stranded upside-down for half-hour on 'X-Coaster'
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Magic Springs and Crystal Falls, Hot Springs Arakansas USA 06/11/07 - By: Ryan Blevins -
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©Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
The X-Coaster will leave you hanging: Guests at Magic Springs were in for a big surprise as they got stuck upside-down. |
Many coaster enthusiasts have goals they like to set for themselves, whether it is to tackle the world’s tallest and fastest coaster or to ride a coaster for more consecutive times than anyone else in the world. Coaster enthusiasts who visited Magic Springs got to experience one of the world’s longest-lasting inversions, though it probably wasn't what they expected. After experiencing a slight power malfunction, the X-Coaster shut down inside of an inversion. This left riders hanging upside-down for over thirty minutes until the Hot Springs Fire Department arrived. Many people surrounding the area applauded when the passengers were brought to safety, although one rider “revived their lunch” if you know what I mean.
X-Coaster was the only ride with a serious accident such as this although many other rides within the park also suffered from the mysterious outage. Magic Springs continued to operate as normal but unfortunately, X-Coaster remained closed. The accident brought on a tragic experience to all who were involved and a stronger awareness of safety to the park’s officials.
This wasn’t the first time Magic Springs has experienced power problems, however this has by far been the longest. “Most power outages at the park only last a few seconds,” stated Magic Springs’ president and general manager Dan Aylward. The cause of the outage is still under investigation although maintenance crews at that park are doing what they can to see that it doesn’t happen again.
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Major theme park resort proposed for Michigan
Proposed theme park expected to be large tourist attraction
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Main Street America, Grayling Township, Michigan USA 06/10/07 - By: Ryan Blevins -
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The town of Grayling Township is a peaceful, friendly town. However, this tells some people that it lacks something: the thrill factor. This summer may mark the end of the thrill-less era for the Michigan town as Axiom Entertainment has just proposed a plan to construct a $160 million theme park.
Once approved, the park would be named “Main Street America” and would sit on 1,800 acres of un-marketed land in Crawford County. Of course what would a theme park be without roller coasters? It is in talks that the park will feature a number of roller coasters, and even a water park. Other major attractions would include indoor surfing, snowmobile and race car tracks, and beautiful snowboarding areas, said the press release.
For those not into the thrill scene who want to continue their peaceful living, there will be an “active farm, a campground 200 acres large, an amphitheater, a hotel and stores” also mentioned in the press release. Axiom's public relations manager, Susan Haddad, said “the plan calls for the park to be open during all four seasons.”
"The first thing to be built is the theme park," said Patrick Crosson, the project manager for the Main Street Corporation.
No details were released about an opening date, and no speculation can be made until approval is granted. The Main Street manager stated that the park may eventually operate from renewable energy sources only. Already planned are up to 200 windmills, which will be placed at the highest points in the Crawford County area.
Main Street America would employ 2,000 people, seven-hundred of which will be full-time workers. A Grayling Township representative said that “The minute it opens the doors, it will be the biggest tourist attraction in the state," thus making Grayling Township a place of major thrills in Michigan.
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Universal Hollywood announces park upgrades
'Mummy,' 'Jurassic Park,' other attractions included
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Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City, CA, USA 06/03/07 - By: Ryan Blevins -
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©Matthew Vickers
Jurassic Park River Adventure: Guests planning to ride the Jurassic flume are in for a soaking good time. |
Theme parks and water parks around the world will be the place to be this summer. Now, if you go to Universal Studios Hollywood, you’ll get the best of both worlds.
Two of the park’s biggest attractions have just been renovated to make the summer crowds pour in. Jurassic Park River Adventure and Revenge of the Mummy: the Ride have just been upgraded with new twists that the park expects to impress its guests with.
Based on the hit movie by Steven Spielberg, Jurassic Park River Adventure has just hit soaking new heights. This park favorite which was renovated to become a water ride is back with more water than ever before. The ride now features water-blasting geysers which launch water 60 feet up into the air. The ride includes multiple special effects and the occasional water-gushing dinosaur.
With all of the hit summer movies coming out this year, Universal must have decided to make some special effects investments on their rides as well. Revenge of the Mummy will become even cooler this summer as the temperatures within the ride building itself have been lowered to about sixty degrees. With every turn the temperatures plummet until they reach forty-five degrees. As guests brace themselves for the end of the ride they will be shaken up by a display of strobe lights and lighting. These new experiences will hopefully leave the guests horrifyingly satisfied.
The park took into consideration the summer heat and made some minor additions to their “minor” attractions. In various areas of the park, guests may need to cool off. New mist fans have been added around the park and queue lines have been updated to feature shading to keep the guests comfortable. The “Nickelodeon Blast Zone” will continue to keep kids cool, wet, and refreshed as it has for years. Towering 30 feet above ground level the Nickelodeon rocket drops more than 10,000 gallons of water every hour on children of all ages hour.
If these new renovations aren’t “cool” enough for overheated guests, there is always “WaterWorld: A Sea War Spectacular,” where searching for dry land is nearly impossible with tons of special effects to keep you wet. Also, always kept at sixty five degrees, “Terminator 2: 3D,” and “Special Effects Stages” offer guests the opportunity to relive some of their all-time favorite special effects in a cool, comfortable environment. Overall Universal Studios Hollywood will be the place to beat the heat during the sizzling 07’ summer.
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