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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!

Aging Texas Giant To Receive Major Rehab
This 19 Year Old Coaster Will Receive Largest Rehab To Date

Six Flags Over Texas / Arlington, Texas 03/18/09 - By: Patrick Holland -

Six Flags Over Texas’s iconic wooden roller coaster, The Texas Giant, is planned for a rehab during the 2010 season. The 10 million dollar make over will hopefully return this currently rough ride to the amazing ride it was when it opened in 1990. However the refurbishment is scheduled to take up the regular park season.

The Texas Giant was one of the tallest wooden roller coasters in the world when it opened. That may have been its downfall, though. The ride has suffered many problems with its track in recent years because of the stress that the car has put on it with the fast speeds and powerful forces the ride has. It has become a less and less pleasant ride and more painful. It seems as if Six Flags management has realized that, and retracking will be in the plan to refurbish The Texas Giant. The refurbishment will also include new cars and possibly new themeing.

The opening will come as part of the parks 50th anniversary celebration. Six Flags Over Texas was the first park in the Six Flags chain but in recent years it has gotten less attention than some other parks. The park in Arlington Texas was first opened in 1961 and has since expanded and is now has 13 roller coasters. Six Flag’s CEO Mark Shapiro is thrilled about the rehab to one of the parks classic coaster. “It needs a new life and we’re going to breathe new life into it.” This will be the biggest rehab for any Six Flags ride and hopefully the most successful.

Saw needs to Sharpen Up
Thorpe's new thriller falters

Thorpe Park 03/15/09 - By: Ryan Shrout -

The stage was set for the biggest unveiling at Thorpe Park since Stealth debuted in 2006. The much anticipated Saw: the Ride was going to show off before a host of celebrities.

But the ride named after the horror film franchise that has spawned four movies decided to put on a little horror show of its own. The computer programming that runs the attraction momentarily failed causing riders to be stranded on the attraction for 15 minutes.

During that time period, one woman on-board suffered a panic attack which brought paramedics to come and escort all of the passengers off of the attraction. The ride vehicle had stopped just a few meters out from the loading platform.

Thankfully nobody has hurt as a result of this incident, and the woman who suffered the panic attack is now fine. The Thorpe Park officials however were completely embarrassed by the opening day flop of their 13.5 million pound investment.

Hopefully the "World's Most Frightening Roller Coaster" will soon be fixed and begin to frighten its riders for the right reasons.

Test Track may need a new sponsor
GM may not resign liscensing agreement

Epcot, Walt Disney World 03/08/09 - By: Ryan Shrout -

Test Track opened 10 years ago at EPCOT in the Walt Disney World Resort complex providing a much needed thrill ride to the park. The ride, which puts test cars (and passengers) through a rigorous series of automotive trials, has been sponsored by General Motors since its introduction.

The contract that GM signed with Disney was good for 10 years. That time is now up, and the two parties are currently in negotiations to try and strike a new deal, but the price of sponsoring a Disney attraction combined with the poor economy has things up in the air.

In all probability, a new sponsor would mean that certain changes would be made to the ride to give the new sponsor their own spin. It would also mean a lengthy period of down time for the top drawing attraction at EPCOT.

The real dilemma though, is that while GM may not feel financially capable to sign another long term contract with Disney, every other automotive company is being hit by the current recession just as hard. It is possible that the ride may be sponsorless for a time.