Not the ride at California's Great America, but the same type from Vekoma's website
I don't really go after rumors much here on NewsPlusNotes, mostly because there are sites out there that do it better than I ever could. Case in point, soon after the news broke that California's Great America was removing Invertigo, Screamscape
posted a rumor that Dorney Park would be the 'lucky' recipient.
But since Dorney Park is my home park and just a few miles from where I type this, my ears naturally perked up at the rumor.
As for that rumor part, well, I'm here to spread it I guess. I've been told that the ride is indeed coming to Dorney Park, and will reside in the former home of Laser. Apparently the park is already making moves to get ready for its arrival, which will be sooner than later.
A spot is already cleared, how nice
How much sooner? Well that's where things get really surprising - I was told that the plan is to open Invertigo at Dorney Park in summer 2011, not summer 2012. Yes, the rumor is that a rush job of massive proportions will take place to have the ride up and running by June of this summer.
I can't speak as to why this is happening, that is if what I'm hearing is indeed true. To move a ride so late in the off-season is just odd - and will this affect any plans the park had for 2012?
As for the ride's location, Laser sat on the edge of a 100 year flood plain, which made gaining approval for it back in 1986 tricky at best. Quickly looking back at old newspaper articles Dorney had to have several planning meetings in order to build Laser as well as the nearby picnic groves and restrooms, and didn't get approval until March.
Also from Vekoma's website, but this is the ride at CGA
That ride was portable but Invertigo will require permanent foundations. It is yet to be seen if a new debate will arise over the flood plain, or if those problems will not be repeated. I do know that nothing has appeared on South Whitehall Township's planning commission agendas, but the one for February's meeting is not yet posted.
Invertigo opened at California's Great America in 1998. It is one of three operating Vekoma inverted-boomerang designs; the others are at Kings Island in Ohio and Sommerland Syd in Denmark. A fourth ride operated at Six Flags America but has since been removed and has not reopened elsewhere.
The coaster stands 132 feet tall, has 1,014 feet of track, and the trains hit 50 miles per hour. The trains have riders sit face-to-face as they traverse the track both forwards and backwards through three inversions.
Invertigo would be Dorney Park's third recent transplanted attraction following Possessed from Geauga Lake in 2008 and Demon Drop in 2010 from Cedar Point. The last new ride added to the park was Hydra in 2005. Invertigo would also be the park's third inverted coaster along with Possessed and Talon, and the second shuttle ride as well.