Thursday, April 30, 2015

Large Expansion Project Announced for Indiana Beach



Indiana Beach has announced the addition of a water park area named Beach Bay, to be located in a former parking area located behind the Steel Hawg roller coaster.  The mini-water park will open sometime during the Summer of 2015.

© Indiana Beach
The amusement park released this aerial view of Beach Bay, showing off all it has to offer.  The centerpiece of the expansion is Breakers Beach, a 25,000 square foot wave pool that will hold over 800,000 gallons of water.  Located next to the wave pool will be a single slide tower that will have a set of racing slides, and also a traditional bowl water slide.  Lining the opposite side of the wave pool will be a row of cabanas that will be available to rent.

The addition of Beach Bay represents a multi-million dollar expansion, and will be included in the Funday single admission ticket.  Indiana Beach already has several waterslides located on the park's grounds.  The park promises to keep everyone updated as construction continues on the project.


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Wicked Cyclone Roars to Life at Six Flags New England


We've been treated to our first look at the Wicked Cyclone at Six Flags New England running its course - in fact this video is of the coaster's very first test run:

As you can well see from this video the park released, Wicked Cyclone's trains keep good speed throughout the entire course.  And since this was the very first test run, the trains are sure to gain speed as they break in as well.  The coaster's three inversions also look to provide an excellent amount of hang time - notably the final heartline roll.  It is amazing how many wild twists and track banks Rocky Mountain are able to fit into one ride!

Six Flags New England has been hurrying to finish the details of Wicked Cyclone now that the ride is completed and running.  The structure is being painted gray at a fast pace, and other items like the queue, station and a giant glowing emblem on the side of the lift are moving forward.  For additional recent pictures, check out this update.


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Knoebels Debuts New Custom Steel Roller Coaster: Impulse


Impulse from the adjacent midway.
Saturday April 25th, 2015 marked the opening of one of Knoebels Amusement Resort's largest ever projects, a brand new, custom designed steel roller coaster named Impulse.  To say the park and its guests were excited is a great understatement, and despite temperatures hovering around 40 plenty of people showed up hours before the ride was set to debut.

A unique view of the ride once the sun came out!
Eventually the skies cleared and the sun warmed riders who swarmed the new coaster, creating a long queue - much to the delight of the park, no doubt.  In a show of true Knoebels dedication, crews worked late into Friday night to finish up the station and queue areas, with Impulse having already received the State's official sign off.  Scott, Carol and I were able to meet up for the ride's premier, which started early in the day with a first rider auction.

The first-rider auction winners on the first train out!
Knoebels is a true family destination, and so it makes sense that they would support Florida's Give Kids The World with the funds raised in the auction.  Twenty four seats were auctioned off, filling the first three trains out of the station.  In the end the event raised an impressive $7,325 for Give Kids The World, which provides lodging, entertainment and park tickets to families with ill children while they are in Orlando.

Riders heading up the lift hill.
Impulse is an especially special project for Knoebels since it is the first big ride constructed under the leadership of the "next generation" of Knoebel family members, including Dick Knoebel's sons Brian and Rick and Buddy Knoebel's son Trevor.  The new leadership team made quite a splash with their first big purchase, going all in on a modern steel roller coaster.  At the ride's opening the team described shopping at IAAPA for the perfect ride and encountered manufacturer Zierer.

Scott was able to speak with Rick Knoebel about the process of selecting Zierer as the ride manufacturer, how Impulse's colors were chosen (simpler than you'd think!) and also more on the ride's cars.

Taking the plunge!
To fit Impulse into Knoebels' layout, a couple of older attractions were retired.  By utilizing the large areas consumed by the Bumper Boats and Boat Tag, the new coaster would fit in perfectly.  Its compact layout can be easily seen from both the park's entrance road and parking areas, drawing in guests as they arrive.  The back portion of the coaster actually directly borders the entrance road - I wonder if the park will find that cars will slow down to watch Impulse in action!

Completing the vertical loop.
From what we heard in Rick's interview above, it sounds like several ride manufacturers were considered before the park ultimately contracted with Zierer.  The Germany company has many rides in Europe, and is still breaking into the North American market - at least in terms of large coasters.  Two of their more noticeable projects in recent years in the U.S. include Wicked at Lagoon and Verbolten at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

These riders appear to be having a blast!
Naturally with such a large ride opening a representative from Zierer was on hand.  Scott was able to speak with Martin Weichselgartner, Managing Director at Zierer:

As you can tell from this interview, Zierer is very excited about possibly expanding into the U.S. with more rides - and after seeing their recent creations I would agree.  The company was able to create a perfect ride for Knoebels, unique and thrilling but still family friendly.  Best of all, Impulse has a 48 inch height requirement so a huge portion of the park's guests are able to ride if they like.

A close look at the trains.
In Scott's interview with Martin he spoke about a recent redesign of the bogey wheels, which lead to the extra smooth ride experience.  Here is a close up photo of the design, showing off the bogey wheels which can pivot, allowing them to keep in contact with the track and thus smoothing the ride.

Impulse was exceptionally smooth, and with the comfortable restraint system the ride experience is top-notch - I can't stress that enough.


Another interesting item pointed out by Scott, the lift motor is mounted vertically instead of horizontally.  The perimeter of Impulse is fenced off, but you can still walk the outside of it which allows for some neat views of the ride mechanics.  It also doesn't hurt when you are taking photos of the ride - I posted on social media that Impulse loves to be photographed, and I meant it.  When the sun is out the ride's bold colors pop beautifully.

The cobra roll greets riders after the drop.
As for the ride experience, as stated earlier it is thrilling and smooth and perfectly fills a gap in Knoebels' already stellar ride catalogue.  Impulse uses eight seater trains, two rows of four per car.  The lift hill is vertical to save space, and the cars climb to 98 feet above the ground in no time.  There's barely time to take in the view of the mountain in front of you before the trains dip and dive straight down, reaching 55 miles per hour.

The vertical loop.
Next the trains head through two separate inversions during a large cobra roll that faces outward toward the entrance road.  After zipping through the element, riders are once again turned upside down in a classic vertical loop.

Comfortable restraints, even in this element.
After three inversions in a rapid-fire succession, passengers get a few moments of relief in the form of a large fan turn that points trains back 180 degrees.  Another helix follows that, though in the opposite direction.  The twists and banking are fairly extreme, but due to the smooth ride and comfortable trains it is almost hard to notice.

The final inversion.
There's still one more inversion on Impulse near the end of the ride, an extended in-line twist that gives some tremendous hang time.  A 540 degree helix ends the ride and then the trains hit the silent brakes.  The ride stretches 1,975 feet in length from start to finish.  Here's a short video of the ride in action on opening day.

Many thanks to Knoebels for having the NewsPlusNotes team on hand for the ride's opening - a perfect start to their 79th season.  After taking a spin on Impulse we already know the park has a hit on their hands.  This Summer is sure to be a busy one as word of Impulse spreads!  This season also features other changes such as a new LED show on the Ferris wheel, the return of Power Surge, the 30th anniversary of The Phoenix and a 4th train on Flying Turns.

Knoebels recently debuted a new website, perfect for planning your own trip.  Check it out!

One final shot of Impulse at Knoebels.


Sunday, April 26, 2015

New Avatar Based Touring Exhibition Kicking Off in Fall 2016


A brand new, state-of-the-art touring exhibition based on Jame Cameron's Avatar franchise will debut in the Fall of 2016, Global Experience Specialists and Fox have announced.  The tour has been "inspired by the amazing creatures and environments of the world of Pandora first introduced in the record-breaking film" and is being developed with consultation by Mr. Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment.

© GES / Fox
The world and many wonder of Pandora will come to life in the exhibition through immesive and interactive displays, all of which present Pandora as a real place that guests are able to "visit and study."  The tour will cover 10,000 square feet and present 45 minutes of "guest engagement."

The press release covers some of the more interesting features of the touring exhibit:
  • An examination of the Alpha Centauri system, home to the fictional planet Polyphemus and its moon Pandora, that offers visitors a multimedia journey into the world's discovery and the challenges of space travel to reach it from Earth.
  • A Bioluminescent Theater, where visitors experience a recreation of Pandora at night and learn about its beauty, danger and the connections among the many organisms that inhabit the moon.
  • An Amplified Mobility Platform suit for guests to step inside to experience the challenge of surviving on Pandora as a human.
  • Na'vi culture depicted through careful reproductions to provide an in-depth look at these humanoid inhabitants and how their clans have created unique ways of connecting with nature.
  • More than a dozen hands-on interactive components that will appeal to everyone from the most avid fan to newcomers to this compelling world
The traveling exhibition will be sent to "global markets," so this is not only a U.S. based experience.  The first of three sequels to the original 2009 Avatar film will be released in 2017, the same year that Disney's Animal Kingdom will open their Avatar themed land.


Saturday, April 25, 2015

Thunderbird Now Launching at Holiday World


Holiday World, located in Santa Claus, Indiana, is now open for the 2015 season and that means that Thunderbird has officially debuted to the public.  The very eager public.  Last night was a sneak preview of the new launched roller coaster for season pass holders, and today everyone got their chance to fly.


These photos, supplied by Holiday World, show off just some of Thunderbird's aerial moves.  Above is the initial launch, which takes place just after the trains are dispatched from the station.  Some special effects take place and then bam - trains are sent out at 60 miles per hour, reached in just 3.5 seconds.  This is manufacturer B&M's first launch coaster, a big move for the famous roller coaster designers.


Thunderbird features a 140 foot tall Immelmann inversion immediately after the launch, which feeds into the 125 foot tall vertical loop seen here.  Two more inversions follow during the course of the ride, a zero-g roll and barrel roll.  The wing coaster style of the trains keep riders outside the track area, with nothing above or below them.  Thunderbird is the Nation's first launched wing coaster.


Holiday World park President Matt Eckert notes that “a wing coaster creates a feeling of incredible freedom," and is proud of the company chosen to build Thunderbird.  He calls Bolliger & Mabillard the “Cadillac of roller coasters, known for their safety, quality and reliability. We’ve dreamed of adding a B&M steel coaster for many years and are excited that Thunderbird will be B&M’s first launched coaster.”


This final shot of Thunderbird swirling riders through one of the experience's "keyhole" elements shows just how well the unique trains are utilized.  Trains actually pass through this structure twice during the ride - once upside down as you can see.  The new coaster represents a $22 million investment in the park - more than any other single ride in the history of Holiday World.

Thunderbird is a part of the park's Thanksgiving section, where a new restaurant, the SmokeHouse, and a shop named Hevron’s Mercantile have also been built. Also new this season is George’s Gluten-Free Pizza & Snacks, the park’s latest effort to provide menus for those with special dietary needs.

For more on Thunderbird and Holiday World, check out the official website.


Friday, April 24, 2015

SeaWorld Orlando Building Area's Largest Roller Coaster in 2016



A big surprise announcement came this morning when SeaWorld Orlando sent out a short press notice that the theme park would be building a large new roller coaster for the 2016 season.  Very brief, here's the release from the park:

"Something is stirring beneath the surface at SeaWorld Orlando, preparing to rise from the ocean depths and soar to thrilling new heights. Get ready for the frenzy of SeaWorld’s new 200-foot-tall coaster. In 2016, this thriller will take its place atop the food chain as Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest coaster.  More details on the new addition will surface in late-May.  SeaWorld is a one-of-a-kind theme park with a variety of attractions including awe-inspiring animal encounters, thrilling rides and spectacular shows.  Follow #nothingfaster as the frenzy starts."

The new ride, looking at the statistics on RCDB, will have to be longer than Expedition Everest, which is 4,424 feet, and faster than the Incredible Hulk's 67 mile per hour top speed to meet the claims in the release.  Obviously, 200 feet is taller than any ride, with Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit the tallest in Orlando now, at 167 feet.


There have already been recent rumors of site work and markings inside SeaWorld Orlando, around the Shark Encounter building.  Above is an aerial of the park with an orange dot where a station for the coaster might go, with Shark Encounter on the left and the Nautilus Theater on the right.  This area would give the ride the ability to go out into some open space along a retention ditch in the back of the park.

The orange area highlighted, which seems more likely to me, would give the ride plenty of space to travel out and back.  The pink is smaller, which to me makes it less likely.  Perhaps a combination of both will end up being used.

As for the type and theme, well it sounds like a hyper coaster based on height and speed - perhaps B&M as the park already has two, or the greater SeaWorld company has used Mack recently as well.  The park's release hints at sharks - top of the food chain (after killer whales which I refuse to believe they would name a coaster after right now) and also the word "frenzy" - often used to describe shark's "feeding frenzy."  Plus they already have Great White as a coaster name in Texas.

We won't have to wait too long to know what's being planned, since more will come at the end of May!


Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Heard On... Six Flags Q1 Earnings Conference Call



Today Six Flags Entertainment announced strong first quarter 2015 results.  These include total revenue that increased by $11 million or sixteen percent.  The increased revenues came from a 17% increase in ticket sales, 9% increase in in park revenues, and an extra $3 million in licensing revenues - from the overseas park deals.

A call was held today to go over these results - here's some notes:

• Season Pass sales and memberships have remained strong, growing the number of active pass holders by 53% at the end of March.  That's a really big increase in the number of overall pass holders and to me means that many of last year's memberships were renewed.

• The company is also continuing to increase the number of surveys it sends out each year, reaching over one million people surveyed last season.

• First quarter attendance was up 13%, or 181,000 visitors.  Admission per capita was up 83 cents, while in park spending per capita was down 74 cents.  The per capita figures were negatively affected by the strong dollar, making earnings from Six Flags Mexico pull down the numbers.

• Holiday In The Park, as previously announced, will come to Six Flags Great Adventure this winter.  The experience opened at Magic Mountain and Over Georgia last year and was a big success for them.

• An all-season shopping pass, which gives discounts throughout the year for retails purchases in the park, is being tested currently.  Six Flags is also debuting an all-season picture pass as well.

• While a handful of Six Flags parks have significant extra land attached to them, the company does not see any additional solar fields being built after Six Flags Great Adventure's.

• More international licensing deals are being worked on, though the only area that is specifically mentioned is Malaysia.  It sounds like there are a lot in the works, though.

Management believes that the diverse capital additions at all the parks for 2015 will lead to another record year.  Let's hope so!



Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Canada's Wonderland's SkyRider Standing Tall in New Home


© Cavallino Matto
The ride known as SkyRider at Canada's Wonderland may just be a memory in the minds of visitors to that park, but it's an exciting new attraction at a park across the globe.  Located in Italy, Cavallino Matto is a small amusement park that picked up the coaster when the Canadian park was ready to retire it.

Now known as Freestyle, the stand-up coaster was designed by Togo and operated at Canada's Wonderland from 1985 to 2014.

© Cavallino Matto
Freestyle has received a bright new paint job, with electric yellow track that can be seen for what looks like miles - even brighter looking when set on the black supports.  The park has cleared out a highly wooded area that's just large enough for the ride's track, which includes a vertical loop and large helix.

For more photos of Freestyle's construction, follow this link.


Monday, April 20, 2015

Major New Attraction Announced for Mall of America



The Mall of America has announced that an exciting new $23 million advanced flight simulator attraction, FlyOver America, will open in Spring 2016.  The new attraction will be a stand-alone operation, but will be built in the Southwest corner of Nickelodeon Universe.  FlyOver America will have a separate admission ticket from Nickelodeon Universe.

The ride experience is described as similar to the uber-popular Soarin' ride at Epcot in Disney World, and suitable for riders 4 years old and up.  FlyOver America's press release calls the ride a "flight simulation ride that brings guests on a breathtaking, aerial tour of some of the greatest landmarks and regions throughout the United States in virtual flight technology. The attraction will be a fully immersive experience including wind, mist and even scents while soaring across some of America's most spectacular sights."

The ride seats will be elevated 10 to 25 feet above the ground in front of a giant half-spherical screen, and their motion in combination with the film and special effects will make passengers feel as if they are flying.


The new attraction is being created by a group that includes well know former Disney Imagineer Rick Rothschild.  Crews will be out during the course of this year filming segments for the attraction all over the U.S. from a helicopter.  FlyOver America will be based on the success of FlyOver Canada, which is already operating in Vancouver.  The Canadian version boasts a 30 minute experience, including preshow, with the flight simulator portion lasting 8 minutes.

"The addition of FlyOver America will offer guests a one of a kind experience while adding to the many lifelong memories we are committed to helping our guests create during each visit to Mall of America," said Jill Renslow, Senior Vice President for Mall of America. "The innovative technology and talent behind the attraction reinforces Mall of America as a must-visit tourist destination."

Construction on the new attraction was scheduled to start today.  There's some additional details on the experience in this news article.  This sounds like a great ride - here's hoping it is a hit so other versions may open around the country!


Sunday, April 19, 2015

Darien Lake Ready to Rock with Rolling Thunder


© Darien Lake
Darien Lake will open for its 2015 season on May 9th, and has already completed one of its new attractions.  Rolling Thunder, seen above, was installed very quickly and began testing right away.  I would think the largest part of the project was the foundation - at least in terms of construction time.

The new ride will be joined by a pair of new trap-door drop water slides, called Brain Drain, which will open later this season.

© Darien Lake
This aerial view gives us a great idea of just where Rolling Thunder is located inside the amusement park.  The ride, which stands 73 feet tall, is a Giant Loop manufactured by Larson International.  It replaced Darien Lake's older UFO spinning ride.

© Darien Lake
Here is another way we know that Darien Lake has the ride pretty much ready to go - they released this on-ride photo of Rolling Thunder testing!  The ride will send the train through several full rotations, fully inverting riders as it does.  It will also perform the same tricks backwards, so that all riders (who are seated face-to-face) will experience both directions of travel.

This season is an exciting one for the park, with two new attractions opening.  The park is advertising them under the slogan "One Wet One Wild," fitting for the additions!


Saturday, April 18, 2015

Bigger, Better Planet Snoopy Now Open at California's Great America



With the 2015 season now underway, little visitors to California's Great America are already enjoying a greatly expanded Planet Snoopy.  The California theme park has expanded Planet Snoopy into the former KidZville area, making one large, cohesively themed wonderland for kids and their families.

In addition to retheming several existing rides and repainting and refurbishing the land's structures, the expansion also brings three new rides to the park.  Snoopy's Space Buggies features lunar bopping cars that spin in a circle, Gr8Sk8 is a giant skateboard that simulates nearly going off the edge of the track, and the Peanuts 500 is a race car themed mini-whip ride.

California's Great America created this video which shows off the festivities they had for the Plant Snoopy expansion opening, and also of the new rides.  They certainly look like they are a hit with visitors to the park!

This year mark's the park's 40th anniversary, a big milestone for sure.  They have not only expanded Planet Snoopy, but are also featuring longer operating hours, new live entertainment and food offerings such as a Starbucks. It is so wonderful to see current Cedar Fair management believe in the future of the park - I'm sure more great things are on the horizon!


Friday, April 17, 2015

New Clyde & Seamore Show Opens at SeaWorld Orlando


SeaWorld Orlando has opened an all new sea lion comedy adventure show, named "Clyde & Seamore's Sea Lion High."  The show features several of the park's sea lions, walruses and otters and is set in an aquatic high school where fun, laughter and education come together.

© SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld is already home to a 40 year legacy of sea lion shows, and this new one is true to those that have come before it.  The big personalities of the animals and their trainers are first discovered by guests in a pre-show that salutes "teachers from all over" and gives them "information about the animal stars, their relationships with the trainers, and how the animals are trained."

The show's antics - which include plenty of laughs - often inspired guests to learn more about the animals featured.  The show features a two story tall set with sea lion sized waterslides and even elevators for otters.  The show's stars, Clyde and Seamore, win scholarships to Ocean University, and must take crash courses in science, dance and gym in order to make the grade.  The show features subtle lessons about the world around us, including the importance of keeping oceans clean.

© SeaWorld Orlando
“We love creating a show like ‘Clyde & Seamore’s Sea Lion High’,” said Kelly Flaherty Clark, curator of animal training.  “Finding entertaining ways to encourage guests to care about these animals is what we do, and this show does it in a way that makes you smile and laugh.”

The new show is now open at SeaWorld Orlando, for more information click here.


Thursday, April 16, 2015

A Plan for Rye Playland's New Operator Announced


Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has announced that Rye Playland will be managed by Standard Amusements for the next 15 years, if the Board of Legislators approves the deal he has created.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise as many expected the County to move forward with Central Amusements, the park operating arm of Zamperla.

The new deal with Standard Amusements will see $23 million invested in the historic amusement park over five years.  The company will also pay the County over $2 million up front, $300k a year, and 7.5% of profits once Standard recoups their investment.  The deal can be renewed after 15 years, but Standard can also pull out of it in October of this year after co-managing the park this Summer with the County.

Playland will be operated by United Parks, with CEO Jack Falfas (former Cedar Fair executive) running the show.  

Example UniCoaster
But how about new rides?  Well I can't find any details that are as elaborate as what Zamperla showed, but a mini-water park, a Double AquaLoop slide, and a UniCoaster are specifically listed in this story.  I only know of one UniCoaster that opened, inside Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America.

The plans is to keep the park ungated, leaving guests to purchase all-day wristbands or just ride tickets if they want.

The Board of Legislators have 60 days to approve the deal.  If they do, Standard Amusements will become the sole operator of the park on November 1st.  There are already some folks poking holes in the deal, though, so this may not be the end of the story.


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Dark Rides To Sprout Up at All Cedar Fair Parks



The L.A. Times has run a must-read article for any fan of dark rides or Cedar Fair parks, revealing that current CEO Matt Ouimet plans to have dark rides built at all the parks - eventually.

As we have covered, Cedar Fair is rolling out 4-D gaming style dark rides under the Amusement Dark brand, with the first ride opened last year at Canada's Wonderland, named Wonder Mountain's Guardian.  A month from today Knott's Berry Farm will open the second, Journey to the Iron Reef.

The article has some fantastic quotes from Mr. Ouimet, and I don't want to share them all here - but it sounds like continuing to use original storylines will take place at other parks.  There's even talk of bringing animatronics into the fold on these $10-$15 million attractions in the future.

So this is great news in my book! It sounds like we won't see the next instillation until at least 2017, however.  But good things come to those who wait!

Click here to read the full details from the L.A. Times.


Scott And Carol Present - American Heroes Recognition



At this time 73 years ago, eighty brave members of the "Doolittle Tokyo Raiders" were steaming towards Japan on a top secret mission aboard the USS Hornet. Their mission was to strike the first blow against the Japanese homeland. Like most plans during wartime, they adjusted on the fly by leaving early once they had been sighted, despite the extra miles it added onto their flight. Taking off in their B-25 land-based bombers, they achieved a surprise attack, causing the Imperial Navy to redeploy the Japanese warships, and providing a much needed boost to American morale after Pearl Harbor.


Today, at 3:00 PM EDT, leaders of the US House and Senate will present a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of heroism of these brave men and their service to their country during World War II. You can watch the ceremony  live at http://www.speaker.gov/live  Lt. General John "Jack" Hudson, Director of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, will accept the medal on their behalf.“ It is a tremendous privilege to be invited to accept the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders,” Hudson said. “The medal is a well-deserved honor for these amazing World War II heroes.


On Saturday, 4/18/2015, at 6:oo PM EDT, the 73rd anniversary of the Doolittle Raid, Lt. Colonel Richard "Dick" E. Cole, Colonel Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot, will present the medal to the National Museum of the United States Air Force to be placed in the diorama showing a B-25 on the deck of the USS Hornet. The museum is the largest military aviation museum in the world, for it is entrusted with the keeping of the stories of countless American flying heroes. You can watch this ceremony LIVE, at  either www.af.mil/live.aspx or www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. Please joins for one or both events. A follow up story with more pictures will be posted next week.


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Scott And Carol Present - A ZDT Switchback Update!





The latest news from ZDT's Amusement Park is... Switchback officially went vertical this past weekend! In the next couple weeks, the structure and tracking near the over banked turn should rise up to near completion. And then the wood track can begin.


At this point it looks more like an Erector set, but once the metalwork is assembled the rest should move very quickly. Is anybody ready to ride?Our thanks to the Donhausers at ZDT's for continuing to keep updated on this unique roller coaster designed by our friends at The Gravity Group. 


Monday, April 13, 2015

Six Flags Over Texas Shows Off New Justice League Dark Ride


Things are coming together nicely, very nicely, with the Justice League: Battle for Metropolis dark ride at Six Flags Over Texas.  The ride, which is also being built at Six Flags St. Louis, was featured in this video story from the Star Telegram.  A highlight, though there are several, is seeing the Joker all set up inside the ride.

The accompanying story gives more details on the new dark ride, and can be see at this link.  Riders will be seated in six passenger vehicles that provide a "stun blaster" for everyone.  These will be used to "stun" bad guys during the adventure, which will include elaborate 3-D sets and projection sequences.  The cars will feature different platforms of motion, allowing for an extra thrilling experience.

Six Flags Over Texas expanded their former simulator ride building in the front and back to create 17,000 square feet of ride space for the Justice League.  The park plans to accommodate 800 riders per hour when the ride opened toward the end of May.  A formal opening day announcement will be coming soon.


Sunday, April 12, 2015

Six Flags New England's Wicked Cyclone Nearing Completion


© Six Flags New England
This weekend marked the opening of Six Flags New England for the 2015 season, and that also means that guests got their first up-close look at Wicked Cyclone.  The track has been steadily applied to the structure in the last couple weeks, and just recently the final heartline roll was put into place.  That's what you can see above, shared by the park on social media.  I love how the roll is totally buried within the ride's structure, adding head, arm - everything choppers to the experience!

SFNE Online has published a great report on the status of the ride form this weekend, covering A to Z about the coaster, including the area surrounding it.  This is going to be one mighty ride when it opens!  The site also has published a look at other changes that have been made around the park, including the removal of the park's sky ride and more.