Conneaut Lake Park Finishes Strong 2018 Season + New Family Ride for 2019

© Conneaut Lake Park

The little park that could, also known as Conneaut Lake Park, is still chugging along, having recently wrapped up their 2018 season with impressive signs of growth.

The park saw total revenue in 2018 increase 18%, up to $838k from $708k in 2017, according to the Meadville Tribune.  That growth comes on top of 24% revenue growth in 2017 versus the 2016 season.  During 2018 the park's sales of wrist bands, which give access to rides and water park features, were up 21% and the gift shop saw sales rocket up 45%.

Conneaut Lake Park is technically still in bankruptcy, with an approved nonprofit organization running the property.  It has worked to fully pay back taxes it owed local municipalities, and is continuing to chip away at secured debt that is owed from the bankruptcy, currently at a balance of $1.3m, down from $2.9m.

The park credits the support of their local residents as a key to their success, also the reopening of the water park which resulted in great increases in wrist band sales.

© Conneaut Lake Park

While this is great news, the park will remain in bankruptcy for some time to come, hopefully with future seasons seeing additional increases.  The park has been helped by fans as well, with the American Coaster Enthusiasts donating $7,000 so the Blue Streak wooden coaster could get new wheels.  The coaster had its second hill rebuilt in 2018, and the third hill will be rebuilt in 2019.

Next year Conneaut Lake Park will add a Ferris wheel to its lineup, seen above having already arrived at the park.  It will carry a minimal fee of its own and be installed near the lake to offer picturesque views.

Other improvements, such as repaving the midway, upgrading sewer lines, paving park roads and rebuilding dilapidated buildings will have to wait, at least for now.  But new income can be generated next year through 29 full-service camper hook-up sites that are being built in Camperland.  The area is already popular and has needed more capacity, but the park had to wait until they had funds for the project.

Most ride fans enjoy the classic attractions the park offers, such as the Tumble Bug, Devil's Den and the Blue Streak classic wooden roller coaster.

Scott and Carol Present Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure

Welcome back my friends, 

To the show that never ever ends. Come inside, come inside the  show at Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest is about to start, You gotta see this show!

Here's Scott hanging out with some new ghoul friends.

If you want to talk scary, the parks newest very scary ride,  Cyborg Cyber Spin is guaranteed  to blow your mind! 

Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure has two great shows, Unleashed, takes you to an underground steampunk world filled with unique cirque variety like you've never seen before. 

Taking the journey through astonishing acts of acrobatic artistry and energizing dance styling's, are sure to leave you breathless. Death defying feats that you will experience will leave you on the edge of your seat always!

Quite the cast of characters emerges from the graveyard each year to entertain us with their playfulness, passion, lust, deceit and more. The drama beyond the headstones is just getting started, so come grab a front row seat to see how it plays out!

And, as the sun sets behind Nitro we would like to thank the wonderful PR people and Six Flags Great Adventure for the ghoulishly, gory good time.

New Details of Cedar Point's Forbidden Frontier Emerge From New Map

Today starts the off-season for many amusement parks fans, myself included.  This is when we really turn our heads toward the exciting additions that are planned for the 2019 season, and happily for us they are plentiful again this year.  Cedar Point has kicked things off by including a new image of Forbidden Frontier on Adventure Island in a mailer they sent out, giving us our first look at a map of the development.

© Cedar Point

There are some details available on here that can only really be seen if you click through to the larger image.  Those include the entrance to the attraction, named areas, Millennium Force's layout, and more.

First, the map gives us a look at the island and it doesn't take long to realize that Forbidden Frontier looks like it will be accessed from Frontier Trail, meaning the floating bridges that currently give access to the island from Camp Snoopy will be moved.  That makes sense as this is to be a highly themed interactive journey with hints of escape room mixed in, and Frontier Trail is already themed nicely. 

© Google Maps

Looking at a map of the park, and rotating it to match Cedar Point's image, you can get a better sense of the island.  It looks like the entrance may use the station from Shoot The Rapids, then cross the bridges onto the island.

Then visitors are greeted by the large lake that the log flume used while on the island, and the graphic seems to indicate that they will cross it... somehow.  Boat?  More Bridges?  That's not known yet.  After that the path appears to follow the one in place for Dinosaurs Alive, recently retired from the park.

The map also has some areas of the park labeled, which seem to coincide with the attractions existing there.  Cedar Creek Pass is located where the Cedar Creek Mine Ride is, Fort Sandusky is located already along Frontier Trail, Sitnam Point is kinda near Rougarou, which was Mantis, and Mantis Backward is Sitnam.  Finally, Strataman's Ridge is where Top Thrill Dragster is, and that is indeed a Stratacoaster.

Now that Cedar Point is closed for the season, I'm sure that this is just the first of plenty of new information that will be released on Forbidden Frontier!

Kentucky Kingdom Fights for New Roller Coaster + Great New Documentary

© Kentucky Kingdom

Last week while I was away Kentucky Kingdom had a bit of a public tiff with the Fair Board over the construction of the park's new wooden roller coaster, the Kentucky Flyer.  The family sized coaster was just recently announced and the park had already started construction when the Fair Board, who is the park's landlord, told them to stop work.

The disagreement sounds like it was motivated by the existence of Kentucky Kingdom's lawsuit with the Fair Board over parking availability, and I'm not going to get into the details here.  This article sums up the initial set of news nicely.  Kentucky Kingdom sent out a detailed press release along with a few images (including how the Kentucky Flyer will look from within the water park, up top) and just one day later the Fair Board conceded and gave the park permission to continue work.

© Kentucky Kingdom

It is sad that in the middle of the resurgence of the amusement park there is still drama with the Fair Board, but at least we now got a good look at the location of the Kentucky Flyer.  The above image shows the ride's location in the park, which is back beyond the most recent expansion of the water park.  Just a bit of the ride sits on the land that has been set aside for Kentucky Kingdom to expand onto.  That land is the large red area seen above, giving the park plenty of breathing room for the future - though with proximity to the airport I don't see anything tall being built here.

While we are on the subject of Kentucky Kingdom, Coaster Studios, along with the park, created a fantastic documentary on the property's history that is a must-watch for any fan.  It traces through the history of Kentucky Kingdom, including several closures and reopenings and its current modern day success.

Quassy Amusement Park Adding New Family Ride + Other Improvements in 2019

© Zamperla / Quassy Amusement Park

Quassy Amusement Park has announced that for the 16th consecutive year the park will expand for their 2019 season, adding a new family ride along with other improvements.

“We’re pleased to announce the addition of another new family ride for 2019 as well as some other enhancements at the property,” Quassy President Eric Anderson said today.  “It has a unique and lively action like nothing we’ve offered before,” the park official noted.  “The dune buggy themed vehicles will accommodate both youngsters and adults, making it an ideal fit for our demographic.”

The all-new Bouncing Buggies will be located in the center of the park, and will be manufactured by Zamperla - one of their Jump Around models.  Each of the six vehicles will seat up to four children or one adult and two children.

In 2019 Quassy Amusement Park will also totally refurbish their popular Ice Cream Parlor.  They will also more LED lights to existing rides in the park.  Just last season the Yo Yo Super Swing ride and Tilt-A-Whirl were given these lights, which not only save energy but also look spectacular.

This past season the park made a major addition with the Category 5 Waterslides in the Splash Away Bay water park.

What is Knott's Berry Farm Teasing for 2019?

© Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Berry Farm usually announces projects after the park's Halloween season ends, so it isn't a surprise that we haven't heard much yet about the park's plans for 2019.

We just got our first clue as to what the park may have in store, in the form of this poster the park released on social media.  The poster is an advertisement to adventurers looking for a "marvelous opportunity" to discover unspoiled wilderness in the Calico River Territory.

Adventurers are promised 'bountiful wonders" over "millions of prime acres" of land.  The promoter says that excursions of the area are encouraged, complete with maps and guides available.

© Knott's Berry Farm

There is only one image on the poster, and it's of the beautiful wilderness that it advertises could be used for mining, timber and homesteads - of course with a river running through the image as well.

Soon after the park posted this speculation began that the park's river rapids ride, Bigfoot Rapids, could be totally rethemed in 2019.  While a rumor, this certainly does make sense from the poster.

The ride's current theming, lightly based around Bigfoot, makes little to no sense with the attraction on the edge of the Ghost Town and Calico Park themed sections.  Looking back at old maps the attraction was a part of a small Wild Water Wilderness themed section, which it doesn't look like the park has recognized in some time.  Currently (below) the right looks like it is a part of Ghost Town, if anything, though Calico Park is labeled just off to the right.

Current Park Map © Knott's Berry Farm

The poster's focus on the river, along with expeditions and a call to adventurers - it seems like perhaps Bigfoot Rapids could become a part of Ghost Town or Calico Park with a new name and more solidified theme.  After all, 2019 is going to be a pretty big year for Southern California theme parks, so it would be helpful for the park to have something to advertise.

Can't wait to find out more!

Kings Island Offers a Closer Look at 2019's Kings Mills Antique Autos

Fans of Kings Island are eagerly awaiting the return of one of the park's most beloved attractions, arriving in 2019 as the Kings Mills Antique Autos.  Previously we only knew that the attraction would be residing within the Coney Mall themed area, but the park recently offered a much more detailed look at the family ride.

© Kings Island

You'll have to click this image for a larger view, but the park shared the actual plans for the ride, leaving no detail hidden.  As expected the ride's station will be located along the midway, where two planters and a game stand previously were.  The ride's layout will move past a brand new gas station area, over a covered bridge, around a decent sized pond and past several billboards.  Of course, the area will be filled in with new landscaping as well.

© Kings Island

The plans have allowed us to get a final idea of the part of the park that has been cleared out for the Kings Mills Antique Autos.  The entire area in the teal box above has been totally razed in order to make room for the ride.  It's a great use of some space that had plenty of open spots previously.

Visitors to Kings Island have had plenty of opportunities to check out the space that will become home to the Antique Autos.  As the park shared in the above video, the work to clear out the space seemed to take no time at all.  Now the park has a big open area to start to build in, which is when the fun begins!

If you want to see some demolition photos along with a link to the full packet of plans for the Kings Mills Antique Autos, follow this link over to KI Central.

Also, things will be quiet for a few days around here as we head off on a short Fall break.  See you soon!

Canada's Wonderland Completes Yukon Striker's 245 Foot First Drop

© Canada's Wonderland

Today marked an exciting moment in the construction of Canada's Wonderland's new vertical dive roller coaster, Yukon Striker.  The park installed the final pieces of the ride's first drop, which stretches 245 feet tall and ends with an underwater tunnel.

© Canada's Wonderland

The construction of the highest portion of B&M dive coasters are always a bit complicated, requiring several cranes to get the job done.  The rides are designed with minimal supports for both aesthetic and cost reasons, but that makes putting them together a bit tricky.

First the park secured most of the first drop pieces with cables to keep it steady, then the ride's tallest vertical support went in.

© Canada's Wonderland

With those items safely in place, another crane hoisted the very top of the drop, which also holds the brakes that keep the trains dangling over the edge.  These neat photos that the park shared show that piece being carefully attached to the support and drop.

I would imagine that tomorrow the park will add the final pieces of the lift hill, along with the rest of the track that turns 90 degree to the right before the big plunge.  Then the lift and first drop sections will be finished!

For more on Canada's Wonderland's new Yukon Striker dive coaster, check out the park's official website.

Carowinds Announces the Return of a Fan-Favorite Ride in 2019 + Copperhead Strike Grows

© Carowinds

As if a brand new roller coaster, Copperhead Strike, a new themed area with a renovated restaurant and new hotel wasn't enough, Carowinds has gone ahead and also announced the return of a classic ride for their 2019 season.  Now known as Mountain Gliders, the park's set of Flying Scooters will join Copperhead Strike in the new Blue Ridge Junction area.

After operating at the park for many years, the ride was removed to make way for 2018's Camp Snoopy transformation, and did not operate at the park this year.

© Carowinds

When the attraction reopens as Mountain Gliders in 2019, it will have a brand new look (seen above in concept art) which matches its new themed home.  Many fans of the ride have expected the park to make this announcement at some point, considering the ride foundation has been visible on the Copperhead Strike webcam for some time now.  Flying Scooter rides allow visitors to ride in individual cars that have controls that let them swing high in the sky, with a little practice, of course.  The family-friendly ride has long be a favorite of Carowinds visitors.

© Carowinds

As part of sharing the good news about the debut of Mountain Gliders, Carowinds had some media out to the park today to see the latest Copperhead Strike construction as well.  Above is one of the photos that the theme park shared today, showing the view looking straight down the initial launch.  The first vertical loop is currently being built, with several pieces already in place - plus a whole mess of supports are standing for different sections of the coaster as well.

For more photos of Copperhead Strike, the park's new dorms and hotel, check out this article from Coaster 101.

Legoland Florida Reveals Full Details of New Lego Movie World Themed Expansion

© Legoland Florida

Legoland Florida has announced all the details of their new themed land, the Lego Movie World, which is slated to open this spring at the Florida theme park.

Set in the streets of Bricksburg, the new area will feature the sights and sounds of the town made famous in The Lego Movie, and also the upcoming The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.  Legoland Florida had previously announced the expansion, but how is giving all the details of what will greet visitors once it opens.

The concept art up top shows the entire new area.  The large building in the middle of the area is a brand new attraction, called The Lego Movie: Masters of Flight.  Riders will sit on Emmet's flying triple-decker couch on this new flying theater ride.  Guest will be treated to an "action-packed adventure on a suspended ride with a full-dome virtual screen, giving the sensational feeling of flying alongside some familiar and some new faces."

© Legoland Florida

The theme park has totally renovated their splash battle attraction and announced that it will now be known as The Battle of Bricksburg.  Duplo aliens have invaded Bricksburg and passengers are invited to stop the alien invasion by blasting targets with water while on the adventure.

© Legoland Florida

Another new attraction is Unikitty's Disco Drop, pictured above.  The ride will take passengers up to the top only to drop then bounce them back toward the ground.  The ride gives a hint of thrills but is still meant for the entire family.

The rest of the Lego Movie World will contain a meet and greet area at Emmet's Super Suite inside his apartment, where Emmet and all his friends will be available.  Empty stomachs can be filled at the Taco Tuesday Everyday eatery, and unique souvenirs will be found in the Awesome Shop.  There will also be a space themed playground area based off of Benny's spaceship.

Terror Returns to Six Flags Great Adventure with Fright Fest 2018

© Six Flags

Fright Fest has once again returned to Six Flags Great Adventure, bigger and better than ever before.  The annual scare-fest features a lineup of frightening attractions, pulse-pounding scare zones, live entertainment, and plenty more.  In total Six Flags Great Adventure offers more than 25 special attractions during the Halloween season.

This year the event takes place each Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, along with bonus days of the 30th and 31st.

© Six Flags

The spooks are out at night, that's for sure, but during the day the park is decked out for families with scare-free entertainment as well.  Kids will love trick-or-treating with the Looney Tunes characters, and shows such as Professor Slithers' Creepy Critters and the Spooky Kooky Magic Show are designed for the whole family.

Once the sun starts to set the park kicks Fright Fest into high gear as the monsters and ghouls start to roam the park.

This year there are three new haunted attractions, each sounding a bit more scary than the last.

© Six Flags

Reflects of the Dead is a new maze where visitors "come face-to-face with themselves as they desperately try to escape this modern-day mirror maze holding spirits from beyond the grave. This labyrinth of mystery and mayhem includes glowing LED lights, vanishing images, and confusion around every corner."

© Six Flags

Another attraction making its debut this year for Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest is named Fears.  As one would imagine from the name, the maze it all about visitors having to face their darkest fears inside, such as "creepy, crawly spiders to cramped spaces, from popping balloons to squirting blood."  The park is at their most devious with Fears, wondering if visitors can "fight their fears and make it to the end without crumbling?"

© Six Flags

The park's third new haunted attraction is a major tie-in to the Hell Fest movie, currently in theaters.  The maze depicts scenes straight from the movie, including the Mausoleum, with increasingly narrow corridors that force guests to feel the touch of death, The Mask Room, filled with floating white faces that suddenly spring to life, the Doll Room, with creepy dolls straight out of a nightmare, and The Torture Chamber, which sounds as gruesome as the name would imply.  Visitors must pass these rooms, and more, in order to escape "The Other," the movie's crazy bad-guy.

© Six Flags

Also new this year is a live show titled Blood Drums.  The performance features "driving techno beats and live drums that mix with rhythmic power tools and fire artistry to create a unique, pulse-pounding percussion show."

© Six Flags

The 2018 season is also the 20th season of Dead Man's Party, which is the park's premier live show during Fright Fest.  Hosted by Dr. Fright, the "rock concert-meets-Broadway-style live show" draws a large crowd each performance.  This year it will "feature new music, eye-popping special effects including lasers and pyrotechnics, a dynamic cast and all-new choreography by renowned dancer/choreographer Theresa Stone."

The new additions join returning favorites such as Aftermath, The Manor, Wicked Woods, Cell Block 6, Big Top Terror in 3D and scare zones like Demon District, The Bloody Fountain and more.  Plus, more live shows and the theme park's towering thrill rides are sure to give their own frights.

To learn more about Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure, click here.

Lakemont Park to Reopen Two Classic Roller Coasters in 2019

© Lakemont Park

Pennsylvania's Lakemont Park, which has sat closed for two summer seasons now, is planning on reopening in 2019 - but not in the exact same form as when it closed.

The park is aiming to be more of a community center with an open campus that can host many events, family reunions, summer camps, and sports games on new basketball and volleyball courts.  So definitely not a traditional amusement park, but some of the most important rides will remain.

Leap The Dips, which was known as the world's oldest operating roller coaster, will still be at the park, along with Skyliner, a wooden coaster from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters built in 1987.  As a bonus, the park will also be keeping their children's coaster, the Little Leaper, an Allan Herschell ride.  The coasters, along with other attractions, will operate on an individual ticket basis.

As the map featured up top reveals, the park will reopen with several new attractions such as a a full sized miniature golf course, a children's mini-golf course, new water play area next to the pool and slides, go-karts, a walking trail, train ride, basketball and volleyball courts and a couple kiddie rides.

Before the park opens next year, it will host its annual Holiday Lights on the Lake celebration this winter.

The existing Lakemont Park © Google Maps

Holiday World Announces Details of $5.5 Million Expansion for 2019

© Holiday World

Indiana's Holiday World theme park has announced that they will spend $5.5 million on expanding the park in 2019.  The focus of the work will be in the Christmas themed area, which will receive a sparkling new theming package, along with Santa's Merry Marketplace, a giant dining location.

In order to create Santa's Merry Marketplace, the park will retire Kringle's Kafe.  The concept art above shows the area around the addition and Christmas area plaza, which is receiving new holiday theming from top to bottom.

© Holiday World

The festive atmosphere will cover the area, magically transforming it into the pinnacle of holiday cheer.  This concept art shows how a portion of the renovated area will look when complete.  It appears as though many buildings will receive new facades, and new decorations will be strung up throughout.

© Holiday World

Santa's Merry Marketplace will be a large dining establishment, and the holiday cheer will continue inside the new location.

“We’re ramping up the theming and the menus for next season,” says park president Matt Eckert. “Santa’s Merry Marketplace is nearly 50 percent larger than Kringle’s and will include more menu items plus a coffee shop, bakery, candy store, and ice cream shop."

© Holiday World

“With Santa’s Merry Marketplace, we’ll start a new tradition at Holiday World, as Santa Claus greets park Guests each morning from the bell-tower balcony,” says Eckert. “We also plan to work in some reminders of our Santa Claus Land days and other magical surprises.”

The interior of the Marketplace can be seen above, and it will feature five different serving stations offing distinct menus.

© Holiday World

Santa's Merry Marketplace will have even more than the different serving locations, such as the Sugarplum Scoop Shoppe, which is seen here.  The ice cream store features frosty treats that are sure to hit the spot on a summer day.

© Holiday World

This is the Candy Cane Confectionary and also Polar Expresso, offering a mix of sweet and baked goods, along with the caffeinated beverages needed to enjoy a full day at Holiday World.

This is Holiday World's pun-filled announcement video, which gives even more details about the work they have planned for the 2019 season in the Christmas area.

But wait, there's more! The park has also announced other changes for 2019, including:

- New “Kids World” event for five weekends starting in mid-August
- On-ride photos for Gobbler Getaway dark ride
- Candy Cornucopia store and Dippin’ Dots Sundae Shoppe in the Thanksgiving section
- Track improvements for The Voyage, the world’s second-longest wooden roller coaster
- Additional Cabanas

Holiday World is currently holding their family friendly Happy Halloween Weekends through October 28th.

SeaWorld San Diego Building New Tidal Twister Thrill Ride for 2019

© SeaWorld San Diego

Visitors to SeaWorld San Diego in 2019 will be able to "ride the tide" in 2019 on the park's new Tidal Twister thrill ride.

As predicted by many, the new ride will be one of Skyline Attraction's Skywarp Horizon models, the first of its kind and only the second Skywarp to be built.  According to the manufacturer's website, the Horizon model stands around 30 feet tall, with two sixteen passenger trains that feature face-to-face seating.

The ride will see the trains moving at a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour around a figure eight track.  The cross point of the layout features an air-time hill on top and a full zero-g roll on the bottom.  Trains will load at either end of the figure eight layout.

SeaWorld San Diego is classifying Tidal Twister as a roller coaster, and note that it has a 48 inch height requirement, allowing some younger visitors to take a spin.

The Tidal Twister will be located adjacent to the Aquaria touch tank and aquarium and feature "elements encouraging oceanic conservation and sustainability from Rising Tide Conservation, a collaborative aquaculture research effort SeaWorld launched in 2009. Rising Tide Conservation seeks an alternative to the collection of wild fish and the damage it can cause to coral reefs."

Carowinds' New Copperhead Strike Coaster Taking Shape

© Carowinds

It was just last week that the very first pieces of track and supports for Carowinds' new roller coaster, Copperhead Strike, went into place.  The park has been adding new track and supports since then at a seemingly record pace, with a significant amount of the ride now standing.

The above image is from the theme park's webcam that is focused on the construction site, proudly showing off all that has been accomplished thus far.

The park started with the track and supports for the station area, and then moved onto the ride's Jojo roll, a complete heartline roll directly out of the station at slow speeds.  The 180 degree turn then went in, and the first launch track was up next.

Now the park is working on building supports for the ride's first vertical loop, which is up first after the initial 43 mph launch.

Construction is [Jojo] rolling along!

1⃣2⃣ of the 1⃣0⃣2⃣ #CopperheadStrike track pieces are in place. https://t.co/MGLM3cJKLV pic.twitter.com/6JSObqruQ5

— Carowinds (@Carowinds) October 3, 2018

Carowinds has been keeping fans updated no only via the webcam, but also through several videos shared on social media.  These give nice close up views of the track being put into place.

When Copperhead Strike is complete it will feature two launches, a total of 5 inversions and 3,255 feet of slithering track.

Fear Is Waiting For You at Dorney Park's 2018 Halloween Haunt

© NewsPlusNotes

Ah, the fall.  Crisp, cool air takes over, darkness sets in earlier and earlier each day, the leaves begin to change... and on Friday and Saturday nights if you're near Dorney Park the screams can be heard for miles.

Well, perhaps not really miles, but with Dorney Park's annual Halloween Haunt scare-fest taking place this time of year, they're certainly not hard to hear if you're at the park.

Running during October on Fridays and Saturdays until the 27th, Halloween Haunt turns all of Dorney Park into a fog filled, nightmare version of its daytime self.  The event includes many haunted houses, scare zones, special entertainment, activities, decorations and the park's rides as well.

© NewsPlusNotes

This year in addition to changes with several attractions, Dorney Park's Haunt features a nice array of new decor, which gives the park an even more spooky atmosphere.  There's also a renewed focus on entertainment and gathering spaces, which has helped the event move up a notch further in my book.

© NewsPlusNotes

Of the various decorations that have been added, the Main Midway has several, with the returning of several older pieces as well.  This new version of the headless horseman replaces one that was at the park for years, complete with a glowing pumpkin head.

© NewsPlusNotes

The giant lantern boxes we saw under construction during the summer are out and look great lining the flower beds down the center of the midway.  Their colors are just bright enough to draw attention, and they blend in with the fog wonderfully.

© NewsPlusNotes

Near the park's Waveswinger, this new photo opportunity has been set up.  Set inside an elaborate greenhouse structure, there are an assortment of creatures to have your photo taken with.  There are witches located here at times, but also the event's special haunt crew.  Above are some masquerade characters that I bet everyone wishes had kept their masks on!

© Dorney Park

Even as the event progresses new props are coming out into the park.  Just this weekend saw the addition of a brand new haunted trolley on the Main Midway.  It is a throwback to when Dorney Park was one of hundreds of trolley parks that existed in North America.  Granted the ghouls on this trolley are quite different than the visitors that came in flocks to Dorney Park ages ago.

© Dorney Park

Dorney Park loves to celebrate their long history, and this trolley is a great example of that.  The graphics on the new prop are all real historical items plucked from the park's archives.  Here is one of the posters on the trolley that was an original advertisement for the trolley line that ran to Dorney Park.  It's a great read if you're at the park and want to take a moment to check it out.

© Dorney Park

Dorney Park has also taken some of their Halloween Haunt food offerings up a notch, including this extreme pumpkin milkshake, available at Coasters Restaurant.  Yes, that's an entire piece of pumpkin pie, sugar cookie and a donut on top!  This one might be a good item to share with a friend, or perhaps the whole family!

© NewsPlusNotes

Each night of Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park kicks off with the Overlord's Resurrection show, greatly new and improved for 2018.  The park has crafted a brand new stage for the show, and moved the production to Hydra plaza so there is room for all to watch.  The show starts at 7:00 and is the official kick-off to the night's scares.

© NewsPlusNotes

The Overlord is quick to join the stage and let the crowd know that he and his minions will soon be taking over the park.  He is joined by characters of both good and evil, and it is probably not too hard to figure out which wins at an event like Halloween Haunt!

© NewsPlusNotes

Before the show ends there is some great fire and pyro that goes off, and then the Haunt monsters, which have silently gathered around the area, are officially unleashed on the crowd.  All the haunted attractions open shortly after the end of the show.

© NewsPlusNotes

New in 2018 at Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt is a scare zone maze hybrid, known as Necropolis.  The attraction is located on the site of Grave Walkers, and shares a similar theme.  The actual attraction is totally different however, and that required a new name to be given to it.  Visitors begin by entering under the sign seen in the photo above, then move into the yard of a Gothic church.

© NewsPlusNotes

And that yard is pretty darn full of fog... making it hard to get a great photo of the facade of the attraction.  But as you can gather from this, there is a large entryway in the middle of the lighted faux glass windows, and that's your ticket into the graveyard of the undead.  Once inside you follow a more streamlined path past both old and new props, with plenty of zombies popping out at all directions.  The lighting and mood of Necropolis is a big improvement to me, and it includes one indoor segment that's pretty creepy and totally filled with skeletons!

© NewsPlusNotes

Also new this year is the reimagining of the park's former scare zone, Cut Throat Island, into a new experience named Port of Call.

Located along the Possessed midway, the park is still using the giant pirate ship props they created for the scare zone, but have now used them to create an entertainment area for guests to gather in.  It's also the home of a live entertainment show, Jolly Rogers.

© NewsPlusNotes

The giant pieces of the pirate ship are arranged to create a space that can be used for watching the Joly Rogers show, grabbing a drink and relaxing at one of the hightop tables, or enjoying a little warm up time at the many flame heaters.  There's also a DJ on the top of one of the pirate ship that keeps the crowd entertained and some haunted pirate characters milling about the area - but not scaring.

© NewsPlusNotes

© NewsPlusNotes

Several times a night the Jolly Rogers show takes place in the area, which is a cirque-style show filled with comedy and pirates.  More upbeat than the haunt show using the same stage in years past (located by Hydra), Jolly Rogers keeps the best of the former shows and adds in plenty of laughs.  In addition to a fake knife throwing act involving a park guest, the show includes the popular trampoline act that is totally high-energy and a spectacle in its own.

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For the first time the park has also added a bar to the Port of Call area, aptly named the Port of Call Pub.  It features wine, cocktails and beer - including the park's three original brews:  Epic Ale, Lazy Lager and for Halloween, Haunted Hops.  The bar is decked out in pirate theming as well, and is located in the center of all the action.  One of the coolest drinks is named Pirate Gold, a "shimmery white sangria" with a dry ice stirrer.

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Even if you're not in the mood for a drink I suggest taking a look at the bar top in the Port of Call Pub.  The park has once again added some great historical touches to the theming of the bar, including treasure maps that includes old ride names such as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Gold Mine, along with an old hand-drawn map of the park.

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The Dorney Park Pumpkin Spectacular has been added to this year's activities, and while not a scary area it's a huge plus to the overall event.  The park has taken thousands of both real and fake pumpkins to create a whole midway decorated head to toe with them.  The attraction is located along the walkway to the Urgent Scare haunted house.

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The walkway also has this great new photo location added to it - it's great to see the park embracing the fact that everyone takes photos of everything and everyone!  The crowds were lined up to pose with these characters, I was lucky and grabbed a photo in between guests.

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The pumpkins, as you can see they're really all over the place, are arranged in different patterns (can you make out Snoopy in one of these?) and glow brightly in the night.  Lots of people just stop and take it all in while on the midways - I hope that this is just the start of a tradition the park does that will only grow with the years!

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2018 is also the first year for the park's Trick Or Treat haunted house to have a new "Lights Out" tagline added to it.  The house, which follows the storyline of missing children that went trick or treating at a witch's house and never returned, is now much, much darker than it has ever been in the past.  Visitors are given tiny flashlights that only provide a dim path for them to make their way through.  The house has received several new special effects and props to go with the lights out theme, and has given fresh new life into the house.

In total, the 2018 Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park features 3 live shows, 1 entertainment area, 6 indoor haunted houses, and 4 outdoor scare zones.  We've already detailed what what new for this year, but that leaves a lot of returning favorites as well.  Such as...

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Tourist Trap, which was last year's scary new haunted house...

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The ever-popular CarnEvil scare zone, filled to the brim with the clowns that nightmares are made of...

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My personal favorite Blood On The Bayou, make sure to watch out for that alligator...

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The pulse pounding and blood thumping Blood Drums live show...

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And no trip to Halloween Haunt is complete without a trip through CornStalkers: Barn Bred & Blood Fed.  Plus, there's also the Chamber of Horros, Urgent Scare, Blackout and Age of Darkness in the lineup as well.

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And that brings us to the end of our look at this year's Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park.  If you want to plan your own trip before the season ends, get all the details you need from the park's official website.  Many thanks for the park for their assistance in this story, and happy haunting!