Dollywood's Summer Celebration to Feature Sweet Summer Nights Drone Show

© Dollywood

Dollywood's upcoming Summer Celebration event, running at the theme park from June 25th through July 31st, will feature a brand new production in the sky - Dollywood's Sweet Summer Nights 3-D drone show.  Powered by Intel Drone Light Shows (follow this link to get a taste of their previous performances), the Sweet Summer Nights show will feature hundred of drones dancing in the sky to make an unforgettable nighttime experience.

The performance will take place each night during the Summer Celebration festival.  The park describes Sweet Summer Nights as "a multi-sensory drone light show that creates a symphony of light in the sky above the park.  The sensational show really does mark a true evolution in traditional theme park entertainment, as it uses nearly 400 drones to animate a spectacular Dollywood-exclusive story.  The drone performance is integrated into a choreographed firework show, creating a visual and audial event of epic proportions."  Dollywood reports that they have invested around a half a million dollars into creating the Sweet Summer Nights performance.

Each night before everyone's eyes head toward the sky the park will create a party like atmosphere in the Wildwood Grove section of the park.  DJs and dancers will have guests moving and grooving during a 30 minute party that leads up to the spectacular finale in the sky.

Drone shows are a spectacular form of entertainment that have thus far only shown up at some of the biggest theme parks in the work, so it is both amazing and impressive to see Dollywood create such a unique experience for their visitors!

Fun Spot Atlanta Working with Rocky Mountain Construction on New Roller Coaster for 2022

© Fun Spot

Here is a great surprise announcement - Fun Spot Atlanta has revealed that they are currently working with Rocky Mountain Construction on a brand new roller coaster for the park's 2022 season.  Still in the design process phase, the park and RMC are not yet giving more details on the coaster, only stating that it will be a "huge" addition to the park and will open in 2022.

Well, actually there was one more interesting detail in the press release, and that is that the new coaster will be Fun Spot's "largest roller coaster investment ever."  Fun Spot has added White Lightning, a Great Coasters International wooden ride, to Fun Spot Orlando and Mine Blower, a Gravity Group wooden coaster, to Fun Spot Kissimmee in the past.  Specifically, Roller Coaster Database says that Mine Blower costs $6 million, so this new project would be above that figure.

 

© Fun Spot

Notably, it has not yet been revealed if the RMC ride at Fun Spot Atlanta will be a wooden coaster, which could have different styles of track, or a steel Raptor ride.  Or perhaps even something new.  Fun Spot says that the new coaster will be the first of several "marquee" attractions added to Fun Spot Atlanta in the coming years.

Fun Spot Atlanta is currently pursuing a naming rights deal with one of the Atlanta area's major sports teams for the new ride.  More details on the project will come in the future, so stay tuned!

The Jersey Devil Coaster Now Testing at Six Flags Great Adventure

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure started testing on The Jersey Devil Coaster late last week, and has shared some amazing aerial footage of the event.  The new coaster, which is a triple record-breaking instillation, was sent roaring through the Pine Barrens on its journey over 3,000 feet of thrilling track.

 

The park's engineering and maintenance staff are working to complete an extensive testing schedule on the world's tallest, fastest and longest single-rail coaster.  The park is currently loading water filled test dummies to simulate human passengers, and these can be seen in the in-line trains in the footage.

The Jersey Devil Coaster stands 13 stories tall, hits a maximum speed of 58 miles per hour and a trip on the coaster is highlighted by five intense elements including three inversions.  The ride will use twelve passenger trains, with each car seating only one person with their legs straddling the monorail track.  The coaster's first drop dives toward the ground at an impressive 87 degrees.

Check out the amazing footage below!

  Six Flags Great Adventure has also released some point of view footage of a ride on The Jersey Devil Coaster, you can see that at this link.  The park plans to announce an opening date for the roller coaster soon.

Dorney Park Opens for 2021 Season - A Look at the Park's New Season of Fun

© NewsPlusNotes

After a much shorter season than usual in 2020, which saw a pandemic forced late opening and no fall season - plus no Wildwater Kingdom, Dorney Park is back and better than ever - ready to have a longer season of fun in 2021.  While things still aren't 100% back to normal, things mostly are at the park and if the crowd for today's opening day and Welcome Back Weekend is any sign, the public is ready to embrace their local park with open arms.

As is the usual, we took a stroll around the park and checked out everything that is going on - and even got a preview of some changes in Wildwater Kingdom that are new for 2021.  This is a long one, so get a snack and maybe a beverage and read on!

© NewsPlusNotes

Up first, Dorney Park's Antique Carousel is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.  The ride dates back to 1921 and was created by William Dentzel who's very famous for his now treasured carousels located around the country.  The park has added new historical signage and festive decorations on the Antique Carousel to mark this major anniversary.

© NewsPlusNotes

Dorney Park never disappoints with their celebrating of their historical rides and attractions, and additional signage celebrating the Antique Carousel can be found near the main entrance.  The ride originally called its home Illinois, then Cedar Point for a couple decades before finally calling Dorney Park its home.  Make sure you take a ride on this classic to celebrating it's 100th anniversary!

© NewsPlusNotes

Over on the other side of the Carousel the park had their Welcome Back Weekend festivities in full swing.  The park had special Alfundo cornhole games set up, a giant checker board, coloring tables and more as part of the event.

© NewsPlusNotes

And as you probably noticed in the background of that first photo, yes, Alfundo is back during the Welcome Back Weekend event!  He's happy to meet everyone and post for photos, and he really seems genuinely excited to be featured at the park again.  If you're still not familiar, Alfundo was the park's mascot for many years, mainly the 1960s through the '80s, and stands for ALlentown has FUN at DOrney park.

© NewsPlusNotes

If you were at the park today you might have seen a lot of stuffed unicorns of different varieties that met their new owners and that's also a part of Welcome Back Weekend.  The park has set up a play-till-you-win "Unicorn Round Up" game right on the midway and what you win is, you guessed it, a unicorn!  Cute idea and kids love winning, so that works out nicely.

© NewsPlusNotes

Another milestone has been reached in 2021 as Talon is celebrating its 20th anniversary at the park!  I remember watching the ride be constructed at the park so... feeling old over here!  Regardless, the park is celebrating the ride with special merchandise and plenty of special signage.

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Talon's plaza is nicely decorated for the event, with a giant banner at the ride's entrance proudly recognizing the ride's 20th anniversary.

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Elsewhere in the ride's plaza is a big banner that has some of the ride's featured statistics and a bunch of cool construction photos of the attraction.  Many of them I can recall from the park's website for Talon, which was super in-depth as the interwebs were much younger then and really detailed new ride websites were common.  Again, I feel old!

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Actually if you back up a bit there's another nice celebration sign at the main entrance, again with the ride's statistics and some additional construction photos.  The park really does an awesome celebrating things like this!

© NewsPlusNotes

So a quick update on the pandemic and how the park is operating this year - earlier I said things are mostly back to normal, and that includes now loading every row on all coasters and other rides to offer 100% capacity.  There are plastic dividers up in the coaster stations, as seen above in Steel Force's loading area.  No big deal there, as we are all pretty accustomed to these at, well, everywhere.

© NewsPlusNotes

With regard to masks, last week Dorney Park (along with many other Cedar Fair parks, giant parks in Orlando and parks all over the place) adapted CDC guidelines and suggest that vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask at the park.  I don't touch any sort of mask debate with a ten foot pole, but I saw no issues at the park, never felt uncomfortable and actually saw a significant amount of people wearing masks on the midways - for what its worth.

© NewsPlusNotes

Back to other changes spotted around the park - down at the end of the Main Midway there is a new stand called The Candy Bar, which offers guests bulk candy and other treats.

© NewsPlusNotes

Dorney Park's food truck will be located in front of White Water Landing this season and will be part of a much larger culinary event called Midway Eats.  The event will feature different foods that represent different Cedar Fair parks across the country and will go on for the entire summer season.  Some of the offerings sound really delicious - you can read more about it on Dorney Park's website.

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Dorney Park is also debuting a new custom brew this year, called Ale-Fundo.  It's an Alfundo kinda year!  This one is brewed specially for the park by HiJinx Brewing in Allentown.  It's available at Chickie's & Pete's.

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Meteor has returned this season after taking last year off.  The ride has received some refurbishment and is once again ready to turn visitors head over heels over and over again.  And while on the subject of operating rides, the only attraction that wasn't ready for opening day was White Water Landing and that should be ready in the next couple weeks or sooner - that ride had a bunch of structural improvements done this offseason.

© NewsPlusNotes

The UpRights are back again this season at Center Stage, and were drawing a nice crowd today.  The dueling pianos were an instant hit at the park last year, and for 2021 the viewing area has been made even better with the additional of patio style sofas so that families can give their feet a rest while enjoying the show.  The atmosphere the park has created with this space keeps improving, great work on their part!

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Dorney Park's live entertainment has changed over the years, less focused on large stage shows and more on unique performances in renovated settings.  A smart move.  In addition to the UpRights and plenty of Snoopy meet and greets, the park will also feature the Coastal Currents in Wildwater Kingdom - more on that in a bit.

 

Plus, don't forget, Grand Carnival makes its return in 2021 starting July 24th and running through August 8th!

© NewsPlusNotes

Possessed is running again this season, rejoice!  The Intamin Impulse lives on, blasting rides backward and forward much to their delight.  

© NewsPlusNotes

In case you were wondering, nope, nothing here, no changes.  Just keep your fingers crossed!

 

© NewsPlusNotes

The park has also stepped up their merchandise game, at least in my opinion, and is featuring a bunch of retro and Alfundo items - some of which can be seen above.  I love this kind of stuff, so it's a major win for me.  We've seen Cedar Fair parks really reach back to their roots and celebrate their histories - I hope Dorney can keep moving in that direction!

© NewsPlusNotes

And now for some of the changes guests will see when Wildwater Kingdom opens next weekend.  Up first, here is the new area, tucked near the Wildwater cove wavepool, where the Coastal Currents will be performing.  Adjacent to The Oasis, this will be perfect for enjoying a beverage and some great live entertainment.

 

© NewsPlusNotes

The park notes that the Coastal Currents are a family friendly duo (seen practicing above) that cover "current hits and golden oldies" that everyone loves.  This will be a popular spot in Wildwater Kingdom this year, no doubt!

 

© NewsPlusNotes

Last year's new attraction, and now this year's new attraction, is Seaside Splashworks, a giant new interactive water area that I was able to check out today.  Note that while I got these photos the attraction wasn't "running" - for lack of better terminology - so it will be a bit more impressive when up and splashing.  This is the redeveloped toddler area, a vast improvement over what was here before.

© NewsPlusNotes

The park is also surrounding the toddler area, and the entire Seaside Splashworks area, with Adirondack chairs for guests to relax on.  It makes for a nice setting that families can make their 'homebase' during a visit to Wildwater Kingdom.

© NewsPlusNotes

The star attraction is the actual water play house area, which is too large to fit into one photo.  This is the far side of the attraction which has three large waterslides attached on the back end.  In total there are 75 different play elements built into the structure seen here.

 

© NewsPlusNotes

© NewsPlusNotes

These next two photos are the rest of the structure moving from left to right - Seaside Splashworks is a much larger structure than what it replaced.  It should be able to handle considerably more guests which will be a big bonus for the park.  There are also several small waterslides built into the attraction as well.  Overall a ton for kids and families to discover!

© NewsPlusNotes

Here is a view of the bigger kid water slides that extend off the back of the tallest part of Seaside Splashworks - there are three body slides in total.  These will be perfect training slides for kids before they are ready for the big attractions like Aquablast and Snake Pit!

© NewsPlusNotes

Other changes in Wildwater Kingdom this year include some new family changing areas near Seaside Splashworks - seen above, which are another great offering for visitors.  Another set of restrooms have been totally renovated and modernized as well for 2021.  Small changes like this build into a much nicer experience for visitors over the long haul!

© NewsPlusNotes

It'll be perfect to stand at this spot and watch that bucket drench visitors below in just a week!  Thanks for checking out what's new at the park with us!  We will have more as the season progresses, as always.

Xpedition Dino to Open at Six Flags Great Adventure on May 28th

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Six Flags Great Adventure is giving park guests yet another thrilling attraction to explore as the park will debut the Xpedition Dino experience starting May 28th.  The special attraction will be at the park for visitors to experience through September 7th.

The family-friendly activity treats guests to a "Jurassic adventure" and will feature some 30 life-sized dinosaurs with realistic movement and sound.  Visitors will be able to choose whether they want to drive through the attraction in their own vehicles as part of the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure, or explore it by foot.

© Six Flags Great Adventure

During the day visitors will partake in Xpedition Dino as an add on to the Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure, safely from their own vehicles.  The private wooded path, filled with dinosaurs, will be accompanied by a custom soundtrack that guests can stream from any mobile device while in their vehicle.

Once the safari closes each day the Xpedition Dino attraction will become a "thrilling and educational" add-on to the theme park.  Guests can venture down the wooded path and by the dinosaurs at their own pace, enjoying detailed information at each dinosaur - plus all the photo opportunities that come with a walking expedition.  Dino selfies!

© Six Flags Great Adventure

Included among the 30 different dinosaurs along the trail guests will see a Tyrannosaurus (T. Rex), Triceratops, Brachiosaurus, Megalosaurus, Utahraptor, and an Iguanodon - plus many more.

Xpedition Dino is a small upcharge to Memberships, Season Passes and daily tickets.  Tickets and reservations should be made in advance on the park's website.

Stunt Pilot Makes First Test Run at Silverwood Theme Park

© Silverwood Theme Park

Silverwood Theme Park has successfully completed the first test run of Stunt Pilot, the park's brand new Rocky Mountain Construction Raptor style coaster.  Obviously this represents a very big moment for the park!  The ride made it through the first test run with ease, with the in-line single seater train roaring through the ride's layout with no issues.

The park immediately released a video of the ride taking on the course, check it out below!

First test run!!! 🙌😍💯 pic.twitter.com/E5WUIdcTeJ

— Silverwood Theme Park (@silverwood4fun) May 13, 2021

The new video also gives us a great look at the changes made to the 180 degree turn that takes place at the top of the lift before the first drop.  The previous Raptor models featured a swooping turn with a hill that leads into the drop, but with the longer trains there is a more subdued, level turn followed by the steep drop.  Still looks like there will be incredible air-time on that drop on the seats near the end of the trains!

There are some additional small design changes that are incorporated into the ride to accommodate the ten seater trains, but the general layout follows that of the earlier models of the Raptor.  The park is planning on opening Stunt Pilot on May 29th!

Six Flags St. Louis Honoring 50 Years of Thrills this Summer

 © Six Flags St. Louis

Six Flags St. Louis is honoring a special milestone this summer as the park celebrates 50 years of thrills, which technically happened during the pandemic as the park opened in 1971, however if you're looking at it from an anniversary perspective then this year is indeed the big 5-0.  But who cares about that, it's awesome to see the park reach this milestone and to help celebrate it's planning special events spread throughout 50 days of the park's spring and summer season.

 

To kick off the 50 days of fun the park will hold a special event on June 5th to honor the date the park opened back in 1971.  The first 1,000 guests to enter the park will receive a special gift, and that night at 8:45 the park will host a spectacular fireworks show.

© Six Flags St. Louis

Other celebration additions include the new Memory Museum in the park's Palace Theater lobby, and we all know history exhibits are fantastic for park nerds like myself!  Can't wait to see some photos of what the park has to show off from their 50 years.  The park will also be hosting two new live shows this year on the Palace Porch and visitors will be excited to meet Bugs Bunny in person once again and he makes appearances at the park. 

As the 50 days of celebration roll on there will be additional events held. On June 11, July 9 and 23 visitors can attend an After Hours Anniversary Bash that will have music, costumes, food and exclusive ride time on some old and new favorites.  Other events include dive-in movies, more fireworks and even a Vow Renewal Ceremony to honor those who have met and fallen in love at the park over the past 50 years.  Cute!

Six Flags Great America to Give Away 50,000 Tickets to Those Who Get Vaccinated

© Six Flags Great America

Six Flags Great America has announced that they will be giving away 50,000 tickets to individuals who get vaccinated in coming weeks.  The total tickets given away are valued at around $4 million, so the park is making quite a commitment to helping the vaccination effort.

And of course the park has not only a motive to help public health, but also to help return things back to normal - which of course might include a trip to the park.  Whatever the reason, it's a large scale promotion that has gotten a lot of media attention today.

© Six Flags Great America

This news story reports that the tickets will be distributed in-state through county health departments and mobile vaccination clinics.  There is a push to motivate younger teens, who were just cleared to receive the Pfizer vaccine this week, to take part in the program with a free visit to the park.  Starting in June there will be clinics held right at the park, making the process even easier!

The article also clarifies that guests can use the ticket either at the theme park in Gurnee, or at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Rockford.  The promotion comes as many states are looking for ways to motivate those still eligible to get vaccinated, including million dollar lotteries in Ohio and other programs.  I have a feeling this won't be the last promotion from a park that we will see this year - probably just the start of them.

Wild Adventures Theme Park to Debut Great Pumpkin LumiNights This Fall

© Wild Adventures

Wild Adventures Theme Park is excited to hold their first Great Pumpkin LumiNights event this fall, a family friendly affair that is already super popular at other Herschend Family theme parks.  The theme park will spend $700,000 in order to bring the event to life, which feature plenty of family fun and many "larger-than-life pumpkin sculptures" throughout the park.

 

“With Great Pumpkin LumiNights, we are bringing a world-class fall event to Wild Adventures,” said Patrick Pearson, director of sales and marketing. “Thousands of illuminated pumpkins will come together to create amazing, towering sculptures, and around every corner families will find glowing surprises everyone will enjoy.”

 

© Wild Adventures

Among the displays will be giant animals made of carved pumpkins, including a spider, a 12 foot tall giraffe, and 11 foot tiger, 8 foot alligator and plenty more.  These will be combined with decorative lighting and expanded Trick-or-Treating for kids.  The park will also bring back the Pumpkin Spice Festival, a food festival focused on the popular and prevalent pumpkin spice flavor.

Great Pumpkin LumiNights and the Pumpkin Spice Festival will begin on September 24th and continue on select dates through October 31st.  The event officially replaces Terror In The Wild, the park's former scary Halloween event.

Dorney Park Plans a Host of Special Events and Treats at Welcome Back Weekend

© Dorney Park

Dorney Park is excited to welcome guests back to the park when they open for the 2021 season on May 22nd, so excited in fact that they are holding a Welcome Back Weekend full of special celebrations.  From special entertainment to special food treats, the park will offer plenty of limited time offerings the weekend of May 22nd and 23rd, and are also extending the fun to include May 29th through the 31st.

To sweeten the deal the park is giving out special Pass Perks during this time for season pass holders.  Those with season passes who visit during the Welcome Back Weekends will have a chance to have special Perks loaded to their pass that are valid from June 4th through September 6th.  One lucky winner will be awarded a special behind the scenes tour of Grand Canivale for themselves and up to 4 friends.  To top it off, everyone who visits during the event will receive one free single-day Fast Lane that can be redeemed from June 4th through September 6th.

© Dorney Park

Alfundo will also be on hand during the event to meet guests, plus there will be special trivia and games, and even a dance party on the Main Midway.  The park's dueling pianos, The UpRights, will also perform during the event.

Fans of midway games will rejoice at the chance to take part in Welcome Back Weekend games, with a chance to win their own unicorn and one of the increasingly popular Squishmallow characters.  The special unicorn roundup game lets you play until you win, and a special game card will award a free Squishmallow after 8 plays - plus one free play is awarded after 4 games.

© Dorney Park

Looking for special merchandise?  The park has you covered.  Guests will be able to find treasures such as Dorney Park face masks, new t-shirt designs, Talon 20th anniversary items and the Alfundo plush that can be seen above.  He's definitely coming to my house.  Guests who purchase their admission online are able to add a special 2021 shirt for only $8.99, or in the park as a buy one get one free at $19.99.

But what about food?  No worries there.  The Dorney Park Food Truck will be showcasing new food items located throughout the park this year which include a Patty Melt, Signature Chicken Tenders, Stromboli, Twister Potatoes, and Ice Cream Blitzes.  The park will also be offering their latest signature brew, ALE-Fundo, created specially for the park by Hijink Brewing.

Dorney Park will also have several special limited edition treats available only during Welcome Back Weekend while supplies last.  These include a Lemon Pound Cake Extreme Milkshake, Funnel Cake Fries, Apple Crisp Sundae and Brownie Waffles & Ice Cream.

Columbus Zoo Building New Tidal Twist Family Roller Coaster for 2021

The Columbus Zoo is working on adding a new family roller coaster, named Tidal Twist, in time for their Summer season.  The park has released only limited details on the new coaster so far, stating that it will be of the spinning variety, stand 36 feet tall and hit a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour.

The new ride will be replacing the park's Redwood Falls log flume, which already been removed from the park.  The log flume was a newer attraction at the park, having opened in 2008, so in the end it didn't have a very long life at the Zoo.

© The Park at OWA

Going off of the Tidal Twist's statistics, it was quickly matched up to be one of Zamperla's family spinning roller coasters.  A similar model can be found at The Park at OWA, seen above.  The small coaster will be a fun family alternative at the Adventure Cove section of the Columbus Zoo.  

Recent photos from inside the Zoo show that they have already poured a large rectangular foundation for Tidal Twist to be built on.  The Columbus Zoo is also home to the Sea Dragon, a PTC wooden roller coaster that dates back to 1956 and was a part of Wyandot Lake park.