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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!

Millennium Force Lift Malfunction
Ride Is Now Reopened

Cedar Point 05/30/09 - By: Tyler Carlton -

Millennium Force suffered a severe lift cable malfunction on Thursday, May 28 and is currently closed. No details are known about the extent of the damage caused by the malfunction.

Although the exact details of the incident have not been released by the park, pictures and information from guests at the park on Thursday suggest that the error may have involved the catch car, which is used to attach the train of the coaster to the lift cable. After the malfunction, the lift cable and catch car could be seen hanging off the end of the lift and out of the trough it normally runs up and down the lift in. If the catch car and track suffered any serious damage then it could be a long time before Millennium Force is up and running again.

Millennium Force also suffered a lift malfunction in September of 2001, however these two incidents appear to be unrelated.

Cedar Point has not released any details of when Millennium Force will be open again, but Tony Clark and Tyler Adams from the OnPoint blog have given us this information, "Millennium Force is currently down for mechanical reasons. We'll update you on when it will reopen. The Platinum Pass ERT ride night on Millennium will be re-scheduled."

We will keep you updated on the situation and will let you know when Millennium Force will be operating as soon as we find out.

Millennium Force has now reopened and is operating normally. No information regarding the exact details of the incident have been released by Cedar Point.

A New life for Six Flags New Orleans?
Southern Star Amusements interested

Six Flags New Orleans 05/29/09 - By: Aaron Hanke -

Southern Star Amusements, the same company that last year had interest in redevoloping Six Flags New Orleans, has started talks with the city of New Orleans to buy the theme park.

Chief financial officer Tonya Pope stated, "We've approached them, and are about to start some formal meetings."

Back in 2008, Southern Star Amusement submitted a $70 million plan to the city of New Orleans and Six Flags that called for a new waterpark and doubling the number at rides at the park, which has been closed ever since Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. The company gave up on the plan, however, when they were unable to reach agreements with both the city and Six Flags.

Pope did not say how much Southern Star Amusements would be willing to offer New Orleans in order to buy the land. She did say, on the other hand, that any amount offered would not cover the city's loan because "the property is not worth that much."

The company has recieved bids on restoration of the property with a May 2010 reopening projected, Pope stated.

Freestyle Music Park
Opens today!

Myrtle Beach, SC 05/25/09 - By: Tyler Mains -

Today is an honorable day for those who fought and died for our country. First off I'd like to say that in ever post in the forums made and every action we take today will be in remembrance to them. Today is also another special day of the grand opening of the former park Hard Rock Park. It was inspired and operated by Hard Rock Cafe.

It is opening once again except it's not just rock. It's all the years of wonderful music filling the air as it's now known as Freestyle Music Park. Freestyle by meaning the all around general music genre hits throughout the years. A lot of the rides remain the same but name changes had to occur when changing from rock to all-around music.

Some familiar roller coasters at the park have all changed names. Vekoma's junior coaster Shake, Rattle, and Roller Coaster is now Hang Ten. Vekoma's mine train-style coaster Eagles life in the Fast Lane is now Iron Horse. Premier Ride's Maximum RPM! is now Round About. Premier Ride's elevator lifted water coaster Slippery When Wet is now Soak'd. Bolliger & Mobillard's twister coaster Led Zeppelin - The Ride is now Time Machine.

A lot of changes also happened to the park's flat rides. The new owners, FPI MBE, are trying to make it a better place than it was before. New additions may occur in the near future to the park.

HellCat
Timber Fall's renames their ultimate woodie

Timber Falls Adventure Park, Wisconsin Dells, WI 05/22/09 - By: Tyler Mains -

July of 2004 debut the fastest and tallest wooden coaster in Wisconsin, Avalanche. It was one of the wildest woodies around. It didn't last long when Mt Olympus in 2005 built Hades. Avalanche will stop rolling this Memorial Day, but the "new cat" is in town!

Coming this Memorial Day is the return of the Dells ultimate wooden roller coaster. Previously known as Avalanche, a wooden roller coaster that takes you past 100ft. into 90 and 70 degree banked turns which is some of the steepest wooden coaster turns in the world. It's being turned into the new beast, HellCat. Now, you may not notice much of difference other than the name now matches what you'll feel when you ride this 10 story wooden coaster.

It's known as the Dells best wooden coaster. It's won many awards, polls, and contests. Also recommended by ACE and many other coaster groups. You will have a "time of your life."

Stranded on Le Monstre
28 people were trapped on famous roller coaster

La Ronde 05/21/09 - By: Aaron Hanke -

Twenty-eight people got stuck on the famous Le Monstre wooden roller coaster Monday at two p.m. The riders were stuck for close to an hour when, after climbing a steep peak, suddenly stopped midway up the hill

A special team of firefighters was called to the scene to rescue the riders, most of whom were children. The mission took about an hour. Luckily, no one was injured.

Le Monstre is the world's tallest two-track, wooden roller coaster. It currently uses lap-bar seats. The roller coaster opened for the first time this year on Saturday along with the park.

This is not the first time this has happened to Le Monstre, however. In 1999, ten years prior to this incident, nearly thirty people were stuck on the roller coaster for a half an hour after the train motor failed.

Potts Park to Add in 2009
Potts to build suspense in 2009

Potts Park, Minden, Germany 05/21/09 - By: Tyler Mains -

© Potts Park

Turbo-Drachen's Car:Turbo-Drachen will use a new type of car design to give you that perfect flying feeling!

A German park known as Potts Park is soaring in this summer with more than just another summer with its the same old rides. ABC Rides started back in 2005 with an idea of making a coaster to give riders a flying sensation. This is no Bolliger & Mobillard flyer. Rather, something more to give the riders the last touch of flying.

Currently, the only everyday thing to fly in is an airplane. So, ABC Rides started to get motivated on how they could make that into a thrill ride. The model is known as a Dynamic Swing Glider. This will be ABC Ride's 3rd coaster and the park's 2nd current coaster.

This suspended roller coaster known as Turbo-Drachen, will take you on a 1,542' journey over the park. It features several heart-pumping turns. It reaches the speeds of over 20 m.p.h. It's located directly on your left when you enter the park.

With its already airplane themed cars, it will take you more on a "turbo" filled ride. Near the middle of the ride will feature a life-sized airplane that you will "fly" past on your journey. Put on your helmets, goggles, and buckle up! It will take you on the wild side!

Kiddleland to Close for Good
Iconic Chicago park's lease to expire

Kiddieland, Chicago, Illinois 05/20/09 - By: Stephen McCarthy -

An iconic park in the Chicago area is closing its door. Kiddleland, located in Melrose Park, has confirmed that it’s closing at the end of the 2009 season. The park, which opened in 1929 by Arthur Fritz, was experiencing economic difficulty before closure.

The reason for the closure is due to a lease not being extended. Tom Norini stated that the owners, Shirley and Glenn Rynes, decided not to extend the lease between a long lasting feud between them and Norini’s wife, Cathy, and Cathy’s brother Glenn Rynes Jr. In 2004, Shirley and Glen Rynes filed a suit to have the park removed due to insurance, but the court ruled in favor of the park. Shirley and Glenn Rynes have been said to have a construction project planned for the site.

Among the rides to be lost include Little Dipper, a rare wooden junior coaster made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. The ride is 28 feet tall and 700 feet long. An Ace Coaster Classic, it is currently one of two of its kind left, the other being Meteor at Little Amerricka in Marshall Wisconsin. All rides are to be removed by October of this year

King Kong is Coming Back in 2010
A high tech make over for an old friend.

Universal Studios Hollywood 05/20/09 - By: Ryan Shrout -

© Universal

Kong - the Next Generation: Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour will get an old friend back in 2010 .

Last summer, a fire engulfed half of the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot. Gone where the sets and facades, as well as USH's landmark attraction. King Kong had been a staple of the studio tour since 1986. And now, he's coming back.

Larry Kurzweil, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios Hollywood, said that “We’re very excited to announce that not only are we re-introducing King Kong, but we’ve completely re-imagined the experience and will incorporate this legendary icon into a truly innovative Studio Tour attraction.”

Upon arriving at a darkened sound stage, guest will be instructed to put on special 3-D glasses. Once inside the sound stage, those aboard the trams will find themselves magically transported to Skull Island from the 2005 version of the popular Kong franchise.

Surround Digital 3D projection will bring guests face to face with a swarm of monstrous bats, King Kong, and finally, a ferocious battle between the great ape and a 35' tall T-rex.

This will be the world’s largest Surround Digital projection system and will work similarly to the Spiderman ride at Islands of Adventure, treating guests to thrilling visual effects. When King Kong makes his return in the summer of 2010, he is coming back with a vengeance.

Ex-Owners of Hard Rock Park file lawsuit
Trademark Violations are the cause

Freestyle Music Park 05/20/09 - By: Aaron Hanke -

The ex-owners of Hard Rock Park, now Freestyle Music Park, are suing the new owners for trademark infringement and unfair competition. A move that could put Saturday's grand re-opening in danger.

Steven Goodwin, Hard Rock Park's former CEO, and Jon Binkowski, its former chief creative officer, are asking for undetermined damages from a Delaware federal court because they allege the park's new owner, FPI MB Entertainment, has not done enough to restyle the park. They want a preliminary injunction to stop FPI MBE from using what they say is their intellectual property at the park until the case has been resolved.

FPI MBE denies these claims, however, stating that it isn't using the intellectual property that belonged to the owners of Hard Rock Park. Cherie Blackburn, an attorney for the new owners, declined to speculate on the impact a ruling could have on the park's opening until after the judge makes his decision, which could be shortly after the hearing.

The disagreement is over the meaning of that ruling. HRP Creative Services says it clearly shows it owns "much more than the license of just names." A judge ruled that a company founded by Goodwin and Binkowski - HRP Creative Services Co. - still had at least some intellectual property rights over the park's overall layout, theme and design.

Kevin Parks, an intellectual property specialist in Chicago, states that the park will not be able to open if the injunction is granted, although the case seems to be in FPI MBE's favor.

Port Aventura Employee Run Over by Stampida
He later died from the injuries he sustained.

Park Aventura 05/20/09 - By: Ryan Shrout -

In one of the first coaster related deaths of the season, a maintenance worker was run over by a coaster train. This sad news comes from one of Spain's premier theme park, Port Aventura, which is also home to Dragon Khan, the world's only 8 inversion B&M coaster, and Furious Baco, the world's only Intamin wing-walker.

At approximately 7 o'clock on Monday morning, 55 year old Diego S.B. was walking the rails of the park's racing woodie, Stampida, doing a routine track check, when he was hit by one of Stampida's trains. A park spokesperson has said that the accident was "not the result of faulty equipment," but local police investigators have yet to provide an explanation for the incident.

Stampida was built in 1997 by Custom Coasters International, Inc., along with the park's other wooden coaster, Tomahawk. The wooden racer stands 84 feet high and has a top speed of 46 miles an hour. The coaster as well as the Far West area of Port Aventura that encompasses it have been temporarily shut down while the investigation continues.

Freestyle Music Park: the Update
Myrtle's music park is back!

Freestyle Music Park 05/13/09 - By: Ryan Shrout -

© Freestyle Music Park

Hard Rock: Take Two-With a new logo and slightly modified theme, Myrtle Beach's biggest attraction is ready to rock.

Thirteen months ago, Hard Rock Park opened its gates for the first time, ready to wow the world with the first full-scale music themed park. But before the season could come to an end, HRP was forced to shut its gates for lack of revenue. In a few short months they had filed for bankruptcy. Enter FPI MB Entertainment LLC.

For a mere $25 million, they purchased the park and everything in it except the names. After a short battle over licensing agreements FPI decided that it would re-theme everything themselves.

The park's keystone coaster, formerly known as Led Zeppelin - the Ride, has become The Time Machine. After entering into the freshly painted pink blimp, riders will board the coaster and be treated to one of five soundtrack selections from the groovy music of the 60's to the pop hits of the 2000's.>

While The Time Machine may be the most changed of the parks coasters, the others bear mentioning as well. The Eagle's - Life in the Fast Lane has become Iron Horse; Maximum RPM is now Round About; Slippery When Wet will now be known simply as Soak'd; and Shake, Rattle & Rollercoaster is now labeled Hang Ten.

The park's four themed lands, going clockwise around the lake and starting at the VIP Plaza entrance are Myrtle's Beach, Across the Pond, Kids in America, and Country USA. You can see all of the other changes in names and themes for Freestyle Music Park on their official park map at www.freestylemusicpark.com/blog.

Freestyle Music Park will have its grand opening on Saturday, May 23, with adult admission being set at $39.95 and only $29.95 for kids. FPI MB Entertainment LLC's attendance goal for this year is 1 million park guests. Hopefully they will make it and this musical park will be rocking for years to come.

New Orleans vs Six Flags continues
Restraining order filed

Six Flags New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 05/13/09 - By: Mike Strobel -

© PHOTOGRAPHERNAMEHERE

Attempt to revive:The legal fiasco continues as New Orleans files a restraining order against Six Flags.

Following the lawsuit filed against Six Flags, Louisiana has made it more clear to the park making giant that Six Flags New Orleans is ment to stay.

Now that New Orleans has somewhat recoverd from being battered by hurricanes in 2005, they have found that Six Flags has been unwilling to continue development on the property. With the breach in the contract, New Orleans felt it proper to file the lawsuit, making Six Flags pay $14 million. The park's lease to Six Flags was to last until 2017, at $1.4 million a year.

The city of New Orleans also says Six Flags passed up a deal of $14 million to buy back the park from Six Flags in an attempt to find another owner, but Six Flags passed the offer. Under their current fiscal situation, they feared filling chapter 11 bankruptcy which would put a major dent in the park giant.

Another deal stated that Six Flags was to re-open the park a year after Katrina, but that never came to pass as well. Six Flags has gained $27.5 million in insurance proceeds that could have been used to refurbish the park as well which were not put to use. Rides have been removed, most notably, the inverted coaster Batman: The Ride which was relocated to Six Flags Fiesta Texas as Goliath, all against the express consent of the city. There are more facets of this legal pursuit of which New Orleans has enacted.

H1N1 closes Six Flags Mexico
Mexican government shuts down economy, park included

Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City 05/02/09 - By: Stephen McCarthy -

The H1N1 outbreak in Mexico has closed Six Flags Mexico in Mexico City. The 110 acre site has been closed in order on coincide with Mexican’s government’s call to shutdown the economy. The economic shutdown was designed by the Mexican government to contain the new strand of the flu, which has been estimated to have killed 101 people in Mexico.

Six Flags Mexico was not open on 30th, the day the Mexican Government made its announcement. The park is not allowed to open until at least the 5th, pending the control of the flu. There were no indications that the virus was spread at the amusement park. Six Flags Mexico confirmed it would close its restaurants and show venues in regards to the H1N1 virus, but never opened since the announcement.

The new strand of H1N1 Flu has been suspected to infect around 2,500 people in Mexico, killing 101. The virus originated in Veracruz, Mexico and spread around the country. Mexico City, the area where Six Flags Mexico is located, was particularly hard hit, with up to 13 people killed. The virus has spread to the United States, Britain, Canada and 14 other countries, suspected to have infected 4,900 worldwide.