Steel Pier Planning Giant Ferris Wheel

© Steel Pier

Atlantic City's Steel Pier is planning to build a giant Ferris Wheel, and has received the proper approvals to do so.  Part of a $12 million plan, the wheel would sit on an expanded portion of the pier and overlook the beach and ocean - providing some amazing views from the top.

There's a lot of technicalities involved, but the park has said that the wheel could be the Nation's largest if it opens before one in Las Vegas, which will be considerably larger when complete.  Standing 200 feet tall, but elevated due to being on the pier, the total height of Steel Pier's wheel could be 220 feet.

The wheel in Atlantic City will have fully enclosed cabins, allowing it to attract visitors year round.  You can see some art for the wheel and expanded pier as part of this story.

The photo at the top is actually of the Flying Dutchman, one of Steel Pier's many new rides for 2013.  Several have already opened, such as the Loco Motion kiddie coaster, and others will come online soon.

Steel Pier Announces New For 2013 Rides

In 2012 Atlantic City's Steel Pier embarked on a multi-year renovation that will eventually transform the location into an entertainment and ride destination.  New rides were added this past season that included attractions aimed at all ages, from kids to adults, including a wild Fabrri Booster.

For 2013 the Pier is adding even more new rides, many of which they have just detailed for park fans.

This one looks aimed at thrill seekers for sure, a contraption called the Turbo Twist.  I searched through a bunch of flat ride manufacturers but did not see anything quite like this - so I'm really not sure who's making this one.  If anyone knows, fill me in!

Edit: Thanks to one of our readers, Michael, for tracking this one down.  Turbo Twist appears to be a Tekno Fly from SBF Visa Group.

Another new ride will be called Surf's Up, an attraction that quickly spins riders seated in a long row around and around.  There's many variations of this style of ride out there, so I'm not sure of the manufacturer of this one either.

While the plans for a big roller coaster may still be off in the future for Steel Pier, there will be a new credit named Loco Motion this Summer.  The kiddie coaster seen above will feature a double helix layout and mine train themed cars.

Bumper Cars are an amusement park staple, or at least I think they should be!  Steel Pier will now have that covered with Demo Derby, a large adult style set of bumper cars.

Other new rides include Dodgem, a kid's sized set of bumper cars, the Flying Dutchman swing ship attraction, and the Swing Carousel which is a wave swinger style ride.  When the expansion was originally announced plans included a record breaking Star Flyer and new adult coaster - so the future seems even brighter for Steel Pier!

The Mix: Fabrri Booster Open on Steel Pier

The 2012 Summer season was the first in a series of years that will see Atlantic City's Steel Pier be completely transformed into a modern amusement and entertainment destination.  And that means new rides!

The Mix being built.  © Steel Pier

Steel Pier opened several new rides this past spring, with the promise of one more still to come later in the year.  That ride is a Fabrri Booster, named The Mix, and the park is promoting it as the only one of its kind in the States.

The $1 million ride, just recently opened to the public, seats four riders at each end of a 140 foot tall arm.  Once situated, the arm starts to rotate, flipping the individual cars upside down at the very top.  In the case of the ride at Steel Pier, the positioning of the ride makes for an over-the-ocean experience as the arm rotates.

Fabrri Booster at another park. © Fabrri Group

The giant propeller-like arm rotates several times both forward and backwards, adding to the thrill.  The park released an on-board video of the ride before it opened, which gives an idea of the amazing view that riders get (perhaps inverted, though).  The mix is located near the back of Steel Pier, which was done on purpose to help spread out the crowds.

The addition of the Mix and other new rides is only the start of a much bigger expansion.  As detailed earlier this year, much of the pier will slowly become covered for all-season operation, and talk of a new roller coaster and 385 foot Star Flyer has already taken place. 

Weekly Rewind 4.15.12

A Universal Studios Russia?  If plans actually work out it sounds like it will be a reality, yes.  The indoor park would be much smaller than the other parks, but still have plenty of cool rides.  Read more here.

Amusement park treat favorite Dippin' Dots has been purchased for $12.7 million, bringing the company out of bankruptcy.  That's some expensive ice cream of the future.

2012 is seriously turning out to be the year of the mat racer water park slide!  Lake Compounce is showing off their new one, named Riptide Racer, going up at the park.

Universal Studios Hollywood gave a bit of a preview of their new Transformers The Ride yesterday.  The inside of the 4-D attraction looks pretty great!

Check out the Funland Blog's preview of the Steel Pier's expansion.  They've detailed which rides will be added already this year including a Fabbri Booster.

The new AquaCourse going into Alabama's Splash Adventure water park will actually be the world's first, and be provided by WhiteWater West.  I have a feeling these are going to be quite popular quite soon.


Here is how to make the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland expansion in 45 seconds.  Pretty neat, huh?

Clementon Amusement Park is making quick work of creating their new Big Wave Bay wave pool, the park's new attraction for 2012.  Lots of mud right now, but still moving along quick!

I'm still not quite sure what to make of Mirabilandia's new DiVertical hybrid water coaster.  Perhaps it's the colors or something, it just strikes me as a bit of an odd looking ride.

Six Flags Magic Mountain has started installing pieces onto the Superman tower for their new freefall, to be the world's tallest.  Photos can be seen here, and also at this link.

Steel Pier's New Coaster: A Zac Spin?

© Steelman Partners

Have you guys bumped into this concept art for the new Steel Pier, located in Atlantic City, New Jersey?  Previously it was announced that the famous ocean-side amusement pier would be seeing a massive renovation that would elevate the park from its current status into a destination.

In order to do that most of the pier would eventually be enclosed, which is clearly seen above.  Additionally some rides were mentioned, such as the world's tallest StarFlyer ride and a 250 foot tall Ferris wheel on top of the structure, both of which you can also see above.

Most interesting to moi, however, is the coaster they decided to use in this art.  Plans called for the new ride to go up in 2013, and clearly what's been used in the photo is an Intamin Zac Spin.  The only Zac Spin in North America is at Six Flags Magic Mountain, so it would certainly be a new ride type for its market.

We'll be sure to keep following this story as plans move forward.

Steel Pier Looks Toward the Future

Atlantic City, NJ, is about to embark on a mission to rejuvenate itself, and the famous Steel Pier will be right there along with them expanding and modernizing.

Well, maybe modernizing is the wrong word, as the park's plan is to carefully mix the past with the present and create a better than ever amusement pier as a result.  Recently purchased from the Trump organization, the park is now finding itself a part of a $100 million expansion that will take years, but when complete will fully transform Steel Pier forever.

The Catanoso family, under the name of Steel Pier Associates, wants to make the pier a major tourist draw as it was during it's 100+ year history.  One thing that is planned to return this Summer is the diving horse performances (to much debate, naturally).  Other rides will come in as well, along with infrastructure improvements and plenty of paint.

Steel Pier, currently

But beyond that the park is getting ready for some bigger expansions, the kind we park folk like.  Already mentioned for 2013 is a new roller coaster (the park currently has a spinning wild mouse), and a 385 foot, yes you read that correctly, Star Flyer, which would be the tallest in the world by a couple feet.

Later years could see the addition for a 250 foot Ferris wheel, large ballroom for weddings and events, along with a museum and more rides under cover to push toward a year-round operation. 

It is an ambitious plan, no doubt.  And sadly we've seen many ambitious plans announced, and subsequently fizzle, over the years - but you can be sure if that Star Flyer is built I'll be there opening day!

Weekly Rewind 8.6.11

The new B&M Inverted ride being built at France's Parc Asterix is moving along at a rapid pace -  almost have the ride's track is now in place.  I have to say it looks like one of B&M's better designs in quite some time.

Legoland Florida has announced a new Senior Pass for guests age 60+, which is only $60 for a whole year of fun.  The park also recently had another media tour, showing off their progress.

Bill Nye The Science Guy was on hand for the launch of the Atlas Rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and attendance at the center for the day was double the usual. 

Busch Gardens has launched a new iPhone application that helps guide guests through both of the company's theme parks.  An Android version will be released soon.

Storybook Land, NJ, has opened a custom themed Frog Hopper from S&S called Beanstalk Bounce, and is themed to Jack and the Beanstalk. Another new ride, an SBF Drop N'Twist tower will open this year, too.

Excellent news from Silverwood Theme Park - they are on track to have another record breaking season if their current attendance trends hold up.  Things could finish in the 650k range this season.

Atlantic City's famous Steel Pier has been sold to the group that's operated it for two decades for $4.25 million.  Best of all, there's already talk of a new coaster for next year.

Cedar Fair has announced solid operating results for the second quarter of 2011, as well as the month of July.  The chain's Western parks, especially, are being noted for great results.

A nice treat for teachers - Six Flags America is offering educators from Maryland, Virginia, and DC free admission to the park this month.  Read more here for additional details.

California's Castle Park has opened a new waterplay area named Buccaneer Cove.  The 20,000 sq. foot play area features tons of interactive features along with a giant tipping bucket.

Here is a link to some recent and high quality shots of the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland.  Things are coming together - the coaster in Grizzly Gulch look especially promising!

A lot of footings and one rather large trench, that's what I'm seeing from these new photos of Europa Park's construction of a new GCI wooden coaster.  Lookin' good!

Steel Pier on Auction Block

Atlantic City's historic Steel Pier is up for grabs on the auction block. According to this article, Trump Entertainment will be utilizing the firm CB Richard Ellis to sell off the 24 rides and attractions on August 25th, and a minimum bid will start at $2.5 million for the facility, a small fraction of Trump Entertainment's $300 million debt.

Steel Pier is home to a wonderful collection of rides, including a Reverchon Crazy Mouse, a large Ferris wheel, Disk-O, and slingshot attraction. The current operation agreement states that Steel Pier will run through at least 2016, so a sale before then would not affect the park's daily operation. We expect more news to follow as the date of the auction approaches.