Riders Stuck on Rip Ride Rockit
Earlier this week, 12 riders were stuck on Universal Studio’s Rip Ride Rockit. The train had stopped near the top of the ride’s 90-degree vertical lift some 150 feet in the air. Firefighters rescued the riders nearly 3 hours after the incident began. Here’s a news story including the 911 call:video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player There are no details on the ac...[Read More]
Thoughts on Cedar Point's New Rides for 2014
After a World-record setting wing coaster in GateKeeper, it’s only natural that Cedar Point’s going to focus on families for 2014. The park will be adding two new flat rides in Pipe Scream and Lake Erie Eagles. They’ll also be relocating and re-theming a few kiddie rides. Appropriately, Cedar Point had the Faile family announce the 2014 plans: A Coaster-ish Flat Ride Pipe Scream ...[Read More]
Six Flags Great Adventure to Boast World's Tallest Drop Ride
Last week, Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey) announced that they will be building the World’s tallest drop ride in Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom. Zumanjaro will be attached to towering roller coaster Kingda Ka, much like sister park Magic Mountain attached Lex Luthor Drop of Doom to their Superman coaster a few years back. Zumanjaro will utilize the structure of the tallest roller co...[Read More]
Carowinds Announces New Water Slides & Upgraded Dining for 2014
Today, Carowinds announced what we can expect from the first year of the 3 year $50 million dollar investment. In 2014, Carowinds will open two new water slides in the park’s water park Boomerang Bay. Surfer’s Swell and Dorsal Fin Drop will bulk up the park’s water slide offerings. Here’s more from the official press release: Surfer’s Swell will travel a total of 263 feet; ...[Read More]
After Texas Giant Accident, Amusement Park Regulations Questioned
There’s been a lot of discussion about the horrible accident that occurred last Friday when a woman fell from the Texas Giant and died. Many have been surprised that there will be no state or federal oversight during the investigation into the accident. States differ in how they regulate amusement ride safety. In Texas, it’ll be up to Six Flags to conduct their own investigation now th...[Read More]
Accident at Cedar Point; Shoot the Rapids Ride Flipped Over
Seven people were injured in an accident at Cedar Point on Friday evening. A boat on the Shoot the Rapids water ride came back down the lift hill and flipped over. Several people jumped into the water to help the riders. Here’s a video with WKYC’s coverage of the accident: Shoot the Rapids is a log flume ride that opened in 2010. Guests ride flat bottom, 10-passenger fiberglass boats t...[Read More]
Woman Dies After Accident on New Texas Giant
Six Flags Over Texas was the site of a tragedy today when a woman died while riding the New Texas Giant. The park hasn’t released details about the accident or how the woman died, but they did release a statement: “We are deeply saddened to share that earlier this evening an adult woman died in the park while on the Texas Giant,” wrote Sharon Parker, communications manager for Si...[Read More]
Kentucky Kingdom to Reopen with New Coaster in 2014
There was some exciting news out of Louisville last month when it was announced that Kentucky Kingdom will reopen on May 24, 2014. After several starts and stops, it looks like it’s really going to happen this time. In fact renovations are already well underway. The plans for the parks return are interesting. Kentucky Kingdom’s Plans for the Future & The Park’s Surviving Rol...[Read More]
Busch Gardens Tampa Announces Falcon's Fury
Today Busch Garden Tampa announced Falcon’s Fury, a new drop tower ride coming Spring 2014. Falcon’s Fury will stand at 335 feet and take riders soaring 60 mph straight down. Located in the Timbuktu™ area, Falcon’s Fury will be visible from any location in the park and even across the Tampa Bay area. At the ride’s highest point Busch Gardens has added an element of surprise. Like its bird of...[Read More]
Cool Concept for Vertical Theme Parks
I’ve been championing more urban roller coasters and amusement parks, but this concept takes the idea quite a bit further. One of the most interesting segments of The Travel Channel’s show Future Scream Machines was Ju-Hyun Kim ‘s concept of the vertical theme park. Currently, more than half of the World’s population lives in urban areas and that number’s projected to...[Read More]
World's Tallest Swing Ride Opens at Six Flags Over Texas
SkyScreamer, The Tallest Swing Ride in the World Opens at Six Flags Over Texas Down in the Lone Star State, where everything is bigger, Six Flags Over Texas just opened the World’s Tallest Swing Ride with the opening of Texas SkyScreamer. Texas SkyScreamer is Six Flags’ seventh towering swing ride. Setting a World record, it surpasses the Great Adventures and Georgia’s SkyScreame...[Read More]
Wealthy Hire Disabled to Skip Lines at Disney World
In, “I can’t believe I’m typing this” news, according to a New York Post article wealthy parents in Manhattan have been hiring the disabled in order to skip lines at Disney World. The disabled pose as family members so that they can all skip lines. At theme parks across the country, disabled guests are often permitted to bypass lines completely or enter rides through statio...[Read More]