UPDATE – 4/02/10 Intimidator 305’s open! Watch a POV video and leave or read a review here: Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 Reviews & POV Video
UPDATE – 3/30/10 Intimidator’s open! Watch an official POV video and read some reviews here: Carowinds’ Intimidator Reviews & POV Video
Let the speculation begin! Two Cedar Fair owned parks have been clearing land. Every year, bulldozers and hard hats cause roller coaster enthusiasts to salivate as we begin the guessing game of what new attraction the theme parks in question are going to build. Official announcements aren’t likely to be made for several months, but that won’t stop the rumor mill. So far, both parks are rumored to get the one major roller coaster type that they don’t have: a hyper coaster.
Aside from adding a missing ride to their lineups, Cedar Fair has been adding hyper coasters to their other parks in recent years. Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in 2008 and Diamondback at Kings Island this year, may have set the tone for additional hyper coasters in 2010. Hyper coasters are 200-feet plus (20 stories or more) steel roller coasters that emphasize height, speed, and airtime. They’re one of my favorite coaster types so if the rumors are true, I’ll be very happy next year. I live pretty close to Carowinds and about 4 hours from my old home park Kings Dominion.
Carowinds 2010 Roller Coaster
UPDATE – The day has come and Carowinds has made their official announcment. Looking for information on Carowinds Intimidator? Visit my post here.
While attending the Carolina Cobra Media Day last month, a few enthusiasts and I got an early look at the Carowinds 2009 park map. We confirmed news that the log flume had been removed. In addition, I took the opportunity
while at the media day to try to get some early information out of Carowinds’ Public Relations Manager, Dani Swords. She stated that Carowinds is in one of only two growth markets (Charlotte, NC) in the whole Cedar Fair chain. The other is Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto which received the impressive Behemoth in 2008. She mentioned that Cedar Fair will be looking to invest especially in these markets because that’s where they can see the most potential. While she stopped short of spilling any details or even hints of the park’s 2010 plans, her statement reinforces the notion that the park will recieve some attention from the Cedar Fair management. And attention often equals new roller coaster! Just this week, the park has started their teasing campaign with signs on the construction wall surrounding the site. Carowindsflyer has several construction site photos taken from the Skytower posted here.
UPDATE – 7/21 A photo was posted on CarowindsConnection yesterday that has caused quite a stir in the coaster enthusiast community. It is supposed to be a ’spy photo’ in a marketing office at the park. It’s said to show the name and theme for the Carowinds’ yet tobe revealed 2010 roller coaster. Read more..>>
Kings Dominion’s 2010 Roller Coaster
More recently, Kings Dominion has started clearing land beyond Flight of Fear and Anaconda. Aerial shots have emerged of the land clearing and now a local government document has solidified the rumors a bit. The document mentions a “new roller coaster,” but nothing additional.
UPDATE – 6/2/09 – There’s been a pretty major development at Kings Dominion. Today, yellow supports were seen being unloaded from trailers. Go to KD Fansite for the first ‘spy’ photos of this project. The supports don’t tell us too much about what the coaster will be. We do know that won’t likely be a Bolliger & Mabillard coaster. Many have compared the structures to that of iSpeed at Mirabilandia. If it’s an Intamin, that would support my theory of an Intamin hyper or Mega Lite coaster. But no one knows anything for sure.
UPDATE – 6/5 –Clint Novak from CoasterCrew has uploaded a video of the supports and of the land clearing. No track yet.
UPDATE – 6/11 In a strange turn of events, the yellow supports that showed up at Kings Dominion have been loaded back onto trucks and removed from the parking lot. Rumors suggest that the wrong roller coaster was shipped to Kings Dominion and it actually received the supports for Carowinds’ roller coaster, but no one has confirmed this. Check out another great video by Clint from KDFansite.com. He was pretty shocked as he thinks that they’re about unload new track pieces and instead they start removing the supports.
UPDATE – 6/12 Kings Dominion pulled the old bait and switch. Recently, actual track not just supports this time, was unloaded in the parking lot. Now there’s still the debate of the ride’s make. Most are arguing for either Intamin or Premier, while others are throwing in the wild card of the prototype Vekoma hyper coasters. I’m no trackologist and I really can’t bring anything new to the discussion. I’m still leaning towards Intamin. Here’s a link to an image of the red track for Kings Dominion’s 2010 coaster.
UPDATE – 6/22 A poster from ThemeParkReview has discovered what may confirm the Giga coaster rumors. He zoomed in on a package of washers. On the packing slip was ‘Giga Coaster’ in the lower left hand corner. It will likely be a while before this is confirmed, but this is about as close you can get to concrete proof. Rejoice Kings Dominion fans and any coaster fan living in the Mid Atlantic. There’s a monster on it’s way to Central Virginia! People are speculating that the double spine red track may be Intamin’s new stronger design that is said to require fewer supports. Read the full update: Kings Dominion to Get a Giga Coaster in 2010
UPDATE – 7/10 Footers have been poured and several are visible in the construction zone. Also, more track has been unloaded in the parking lot. Last and most importantly, the crest of the lift hill track has been delivered. The lift hill track looks very similar to Millennium Force’s further solidifying the Giga coaster theory. Any kind of launch coaster is pretty much out of the question now.
Here’s KDFansite’s latest video report of construction of the new Giga Coaster:
My Early Guesses
I’m very surprised that Kings Dominion would get another roller coaster at this point. I would have said that the clearing is for some support buildings of Halloween-themed buildings like those installed at Carowinds recently, but with the Hanover County document, there must be a roller coaster in the works. Currently, I’m leaning with the rumors that Kings Dominion will get a hyper coaster.
For Carowinds, I really do believe that they will get a hyper coaster. It could really help to put the park on the map moreso that it already is. Six Flags Over Georgia has Goliath about 4 hours away and Carowinds could match the magnitude of that ride with a hyper coaster of their own.
UPDATE 8/12 – A new ‘sponsor’ appeared on Cedar Point’s sponsor page. Crystal Rock Bottling Company is now listed and their logo takes you to a one page site describing Whyte Lightning; a Bold, Exciting, & Refreshing beverage. So which of the new coasters is this a hint for? Visit WhyteLightning.com.
Carowinds & White Lightning
White Lightning has been thought to be the name of the Carowinds coaster. Since Carowinds had a coaster named ‘White Lightnin’ in the past, the whole “Lightning Strikes Twice” thing would be the expected motto of the ride. Also, this leaked teaser photo was said to be from taken at Carowinds. In addition, NASCAR is huge in the Charlotte area and the image invokes the history of the sport that involved moonshine smugglers. We’ll find out when the park releases all of the details on August 26th!
Kings Dominion & White Lightning
The invitations for the announcement at Kings Dominion on the 20th were shaped like a race car and in the invite, a NASCAR driver was mentioned to be in attendance that day. Also, some have looked closely at the moonshine bottle in the image and noticed an upside-down Millennium Force logo. With the new Kings Dominion coaster rumored to be a Giga Coaster, and with this being teased by Cedar Point, could they be giving a nod to Millennium Force’s new big or little brother? Stay tuned because in one week we’ll know. On August 20th, Kings Dominion will finally spill the beans.
UPDATE
I’m closing comments here. Please direct discussion of the new coaster here: Kings Dominion Announces Intimidator 305 And direct Carowinds 2010 comments here: Spy Photo Reveals White Lightning Name.
What’s Your Take?
Heard any good rumors? What do you think Kings Dominion and Carowinds will get in 2010? Leave a comment below.