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Dorney Park held their first-ever Winter Chill Out event this past weekend, and it was an amazing backstage look at the park and the new
Iron Menace roller coaster. Best of all, the event raised a cool $10,000 for the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital!
The event featured a great presentation and q&a session with the park's Communications and Public Relations Manager Ryan Eldredge, and the park's Vice President and General Manager Jessica Naderman. They were very frank in answering some great questions about the development of Iron Menace, including other rides that were in the running along with a B&M dive coaster, how the ride's name was developed, colors chosen and much, much more. Huge props to the park for really connecting with their fans in this way!
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But how about that new roller coaster, eh? Iron Menace looks fantastic up close and personal, just as you'd expect. The lower part of the park has been forever changed again with the addition of this ride. It's going to be the start of a new chapter for the park, no doubt.
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As you approach the ride you immediately notice how much further out into the midway it is than Stinger used to be. They've also widened the start of the midway heading toward the ride to account for the thrill seekers passing through this way. Above is the area where the ride's marquee will be, we didn't get a preview of it but knowing Dorney's graphic artists and amazing sign shop we know it will be impressive.
The park also had out this test seat for visitors to sit in for photos - this is NOT the test seat's final location.
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At the base of the first drop there is a concrete pad poured just like we saw in the original drawings. The park did confirm that some sort of theming element will be placed here, but I wasn't able to get a full description of exactly what is planned. Looking forward to seeing what happens here!
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Iron Menace's station is coming along quickly, and it's looking more and more detailed with additional theming being placed. One of Cedar Fair's designers was on hand as well to explain more about the elaborate backstory of the ride. Visitors will be entering the old steel mill after some bloggers already went exploring there - and disappeared. There will be traces of them in the queue and some of their findings on the queue monitors. But they're gone...
The park recently installed that 39 foot tall smoke stack on the side of the station - it will be themed now that it's standing. They're not messing around with theming for this ride!
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This side view of the station is pretty cool not only to see inside at some of the theming but also to note that the large tank on the far right of the photo is actually one of the air compression tanks from the park's old Screamin' Swing attraction. Its being reused and rethemed to be part of the steel mill vibe. Awesome!
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The views from all around the station area are impressive. The park did mention that two of the other top names that were in the running for the coaster were Iron Inferno and Iron Raven. They've both cool and maybe it's just because I feel like I know the ride now, but I'd still choose Iron Menace.
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Legit theming! This is really and truly a new era for Dorney Park! And honestly, I'd never have had "park adds a themed ride in a newly themed area" on my bingo card! Couldn't be happier about it, though.
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On the backside of the ride you can see the tilted loop and final corkscrew in place. The park has started to pour the queue for the ride (2nd pic) but has a lot left to go. This will be a neat area to way for the ride with the going all around you.
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As we know the ride's two trains (each will feature bigger seats in the last two rows) are on the track and ready to go. The park actually hoped the ride would run the first time on Saturday evening, but that was pushed to this week. So at any time we could get word that Iron Menace has completed the track!
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Just cannot stress enough how much this ride has changed the lower part of the park. It is beautiful!
Other notes on Iron Menace (though some I won't repeat as a bonus for those who attended): A 95 degree drop wasn't in the original design, but the park worked with B&M to get it added, there was a 200 foot tall version of the ride but having it that tall meant it lacked a "dynamic" layout, Iron Beast was another popular name for the ride during development, and of the three proposals from B&M Iron Menace is "alternate c" - with the park passing on "a" and "b." Love this nerdy stuff!
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The Steel Yard is a brand new themed area coming together around Iron Menace. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I still cannot believe I'm writing about a themed area at Dorney Park! Above is a concept (not final design) for the entrance sign to the Steel Yard themed area. It will start at where the Monster formerly was and extend all the way back to Iron Menace and Ghost in the Machine.
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The flyers have been rethemed and are now known as MT Buckets - 'empty buckets' because ghosts are riding the ride!
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The new design of the flyers themselves could be seen in one of the pavilions that the park uses for off-season storage. They're all ready to go, just waiting to be assembled on the ride!
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This is the location of the former Monster ride, it already has tables out on it since it will be a seating area this year to support the new restaurant next door. The fate of the Monster ride has not been revealed yet, but at this point it is pretty certain if it stays it will not be in operation in 2024.
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Iron Mill Grill & Bar is under heavy construction at the moment. The park is expanding the building slightly toward the midway and has already added the new thematic roof seen above. The new restaurant will serve local favorites such as pierogies and flat breads. Oh, and fried TastyKakes!
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Steel Yard Gifts has made major progress on the exterior renovations, and the inside is said to have made a ton of progress as well. This new gift shop will offer a ton of Iron Menace related merchandise but also other general Dorney Park items.
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Some new signage had just started to go up in the Steel Yard area that will help visitors understand the backstory to the area. You can read more on the above image!
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Dorney Park leaders have made a commitment to featuring Cedar Creek more and to do that they've started to clear out items that blocked the view of it. The ladder balance game is already gone and the above basketball game is on the way out too. The park is placing lots of seating along the creek for guests to enjoy and take a break.
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The opening up of the view of Cedar Creek from within the Steel Yard also includes the renovation of this old picnic pavilion. It recently held the Possessions gift shop and a storage area (and a few old coin games) but has been gutted and is being dirtied up and themed for the area. It will be a massive area for guests to relax next to the creek under the shade. Also the fencing along the creek is all new, with the intent being that guests can enjoy the space closer to it.
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Thunderhawk is turning 100 this year! The park fully intends to celebrate it quite a bit, just further in the summer when some of the Iron Menace buzz cools. The park doesn't want a historic anniversary like T-Hawk's 100th anniversary to get overshadowed. Guests to Winter Chill Out got to see and sit in the ride's train decorated for the event - including slick new decals on the side and a special logo on the front. Watch for more info coming later on the celebration, it sounds like a whole weekend celebrating the ride is being planned.
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Another stop during the event was to go inside the electrical room for Possessed and hear directly from the park's lead electrician who maintains the ride. The amount of high voltage thingies in that building is crazy! A really cool benefit to the event.
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Getting to get a lights on tour of Ghost In The Machine - the park's uber popular new haunt last year that teased the Iron Menace backstory - was a very neat thing we got to do too! The level of detail in the maze is incredible. And the park is proud to point out that a team who worked on Knott's Berry Farm mazes created this one for the park.
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The last stop on the tour was the road that heads back behind Hydra and Steel Force's helix. Many awesome photo spots could be found back here, like not often available shot of Hydra's first inversion from below. Steel Force was testing too - the ride is getting and all new control system and is currently working on new programming which appears to include a much speedier lift hill!
A couple other notes before we wrap up here.
• The park's candy store on the edge of Planet Snoopy is becoming a Sweet Spot... similar to ones in a couple other Cedar Fair parks.
• The Chickie's & Pete's sports bar is turning into White Water Tavern with an all new menu this year. The Chickie's in the lower park and water park will remain.
• Zephyr will need until closer to Memorial Day to get its track replaced and reopen to guests.
• The Summer Nights event that is replacing Grand Carnivale will run Fridays through Sundays and the park previewed some of the special foods being designed.
• Tricks and Treats will be spread out in the lower park starting from around Center Stage and going all the way toward Steel Force.
• The old Speed Slides in the water park have been removed (they did not operate in 2023).
Congratulations to Dorney Park and its team for a very successful inaugural Winter Chill Out! The park intends to make it an annual tradition so I highly recommend getting tickets before they sell out next year!
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