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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!

Indiana Beach goes wild with Steel Hawg
Park debuting new steel coaster from S&S Power

Indiana Beach, Monticello, Indiana 11/30/07 - By: Donald Flint -

Indiana Beach will be debuting a new ride concept from S&S Power in 2008. The park has announced Steel Hawg, a new, multi-inversion coaster featuring a 120-degree first drop. The ride will reach a height of 96 feet above ground and features a top speed of 41 miles per hour.

The new Steel Hawg will be located on the north side of Indiana Beach and is one of the largest investments in the park's history. Despite having five other roller coasters, this will be the first at Indiana Beach to feature inversions.

"When we debuted The Hoosier Hurricane in 1994, it was the first new wooden coaster the state had seen in over fifty years," said Tom Spackman, Jr. of the Monticello, Indiana amusement park. "Now, with the Steel Hawg, we'll be able to continue that thrilling tradition and take our guests on an entirely unique ride on the state's first custom steel coaster."

The park's 83rd season will start on May 3, 2008. Indiana Beach boasts over 40 rides and attractions, including the Hoosier Hurricane and Cornball Express wooden coasters. The park hopes to open Steel Hawg in mid-May. The ride will be the first of its kind, featuring tight turns and 90-degree banks, while still maintaining a 48" minimum height requirement.

Steel Hawg will run four cars that can carry four passengers each. It will be the third ride installation at Indiana Beach by S&S Power, who built the park's Double Shot and Frog Hopper tower rides.

Steven Wright contributed to this article

Holiday World to debut two new family rides next season
Southern Indiana park expanding their ride selection and making general improvements

Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana 11/30/07 - By: Donald Flint -

© Holiday World

Park Improvements: In addition to two new family rides, Holiday World is making some general improvements.

Two months after Holiday World announced the new Kima Bay attraction for the Splashin' Safari water park, they became the first park to make an official announcement on YouTube.

The Santa Claus park will introduce the Star Spangled Carousel next season, the first carousel at the park and a ride that park guests have been requesting for years. The ride will be located in the 4th of July section of the park, across from the Liberty Launch tower ride. Manufactured by Chance, the 36-foot carousel will feature a mixture of 30 horses, a variety of other animals, plus two chariots.

The Christmas section of the park will be receiving Reindeer Games, which is a children's drop ride manufactured by Moser Rides. It will take the place of the Kids Castle attraction in Rudolph's Reindeer Ranch.

Reindeer Games was purchased from the defunct Wild West World theme park in Kansas, which closed this summer after only two months of operation. The park did not disclose the former owner of the "gently used" carousel, which will be replacing the Thunder Bumpers bumper boats.

In addition to the two new rides, Holiday World will be making some general improvements to the two parks. A new tram will service the Legend parking lot, while new restroom and Pepsi Oasis facilities will be added near Bahari River in Splashin' Safari. A number of outdoor clocks will also be added around the park to assist guests of the park, which is located in the Central time zone.

Final thrills for several Six Flags Magic Mountain rides
California park joins other Six Flags parks in downsizing flat ride collection

Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA 11/22/07 - By: Donald Flint -

© Allyn Fratkin

Final Freefall: Seen here behind the Riddler's Revenge coaster, the Intamin-built Freefall is one of several departing rides.

Six Flags Magic Mountain's red and white Freefall ride will soon be removed. The final day of operation will be either December 9th or Deember 15th, after which the ride will be dismantled for future expantion, according to officials at the Valencia park.

The drop ride, which was built by Intamin in 1982, will go into the history books after 25 years of operation at the park. Magic Mountain has been cracking down on aging rides recently, having demolished the Psyclone wooden coaster, and slating the dormant Flashback for dismantling and storage.

Rumors have been spreading recently that the park's Deja Vu may soon be joining the Atlanta and Chicago installations of the Vekoma-built shuttle coasters, however there has been no word from park officials on the future of the ride.

Discussed future possibilities for Magic Mountain include a $7.5 million dollar Dark Knight coaster, a ride which is already being built at Six Flags parks Great America, New England, and Great Adventure. Another possible new ride is a Tony Hawk spinning coaster by Gerstlauer, a design that has proven popular at several other Six Flags parks.

In addition to Freefall, Magic Mountain is removing several other, smaller rides from throughout the park. The other rides to be removed are Sierra Twister, a Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve; Circus Wheel, a Sellner Tilt-A-Whirl; Spin Out, a Chance Rotor; and Granny Gran Prix, an antique car ride built by Chance-Morgan.

Steven Wright contributed to this article

Group attempts to save Geauga Lake's Big Dipper
Plans are being made in an attempt to keep the ride where it stands today

Geauga Lake, Aurora Ohio 11/13/07 - By: Ryan Blevins -

© Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Saving the Dipper: Former American Coaster Enthusiasts president has plans in mind for Geauga Lake's classic Big Dipper coaster.

After Cedar Fair's decision to reform Geauga Lake into only a water park, the group known as the American Coaster Enthusiasts decided to try and preserve a previous premier ride at the park.

The group is aiming to find someone to build around the classic John Miller ride Big Dipper, originally opened in 1925 at the Aurora lakeside park.

Carole Sanderson, former president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, is actively seeking a developer to build what she calls a “Lifestyle Center,” which would contain the ride along with retail shops and restaurants. Another classic roller coaster, the Belmont Giant Dipper, was saved by similar enthusiast groups in the 1920s.

The Big Dipper is currently for sale online. A set price is not listed, although the original cost to construct the coaster was $50,000. Along with the Big Dipper, Cedar Fair is attempting to sell the wooden coasters Raging Wolf Bobs and Villain. If you are interested in pricing, please contact one of Cedar Fair's Public Relations managers or call (1) 407-361-0005.

New Coney Island redevelopment plans released
Developer hopes to improve the area while preserving history

Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York 11/12/07 - By: Donald Flint -

A new set of plans have been released for the upcoming redevelopment of Coney Island. This new project will revolutionize the Brooklyn amusement district by adding luxury hotels, condos, and retail shops. There are approximately 5,000 hotel rooms and apartments planned, and 20 percent will be earmarked for affordable housing. All of this is planned on a 15-acre area along the boardwalk

"We will partner with a world-class developer who will build the largest urban amusement park in the country," said a city official during a short press briefing on the plans. Along with the retail and housing additions comes a 65,000 square-foot open area for a park near the Boardwalk. But, once approved, the plans may take up to 20 years to complete. Ground will not be broken until 2009, to many people's dismay.

A few planned attractions are music venues, an Imax theater, and various other entertainment options. Other plans include a new steel looping coaster that winds its way around the park, along with a 262-foot-tall parachute jump ride. An ice skating rink, the famous Wonder Wheel, and an aquarium revamp are also included in the new plans.

The plans have yet to go through New York City's land use review system. This will require the approval of local government bodies and the City Council. City officials have stated that they have no plans to acquire any privately owned land. However, the company that owns the famous Tivoli Gardens has showed interest in joining in on the Coney Island redevelopment.

The developers are hoping to make the new Coney Island park a year-round vacation destination. They are also hoping to preserve the history of the area and to make it America's largest urban amusement park.

Steven Wright contributed to this article

Geauga Lake's wood coasters may thrill again
Three coasters listed for sale by well-known Canadian firm

Geauga Lake, Aurora, Ohio 11/12/07 - By: Donald Flint -

If you missed your chance to ride Geauga Lake's three wooden coasters before the ride side of the park closed for good in September, you may be getting another shot at them.

Martin & Vleminckx Rides, a Canadian wood coaster firm, is offering Big Dipper, Villain, and Raging Wolf Bobs for sale, available immediately. The company says it will market the three coasters at the upcoming IAAPA trade show, which takes place this week in Orlando.

A Martin & Vleminckx vice president, Chuck Bingham, would not give specific prices for the rides, but said that his company's services included the careful dismantling and transportation of the rides to their new locations. For an extra charge, they will also handle reassembly.

The sale of Big Dipper includes two vintage National Amusement Devices trains, which lack headrests and feature classic single-position lap bars. The buyers of Villain and Raging Wolf Bobs would have to provide new rolling stock for those coasters, as their Gerstlauer trains were recently shipped to Kings Island in Mason.

The fate of the Big Dipper has been hotly contested recently, and some local enthusiasts have formed a group in an attempt to preserve the classic ride in its original location at Geauga Lake.