Whether you like it or not, Windseekers are taking over the Cedar Fair chain; Six of out of the twelve theme parks currently operate or are building one. Cedar Fair is hooked on these 300 (excuse me, 301) foot swing sets, and it’s understandable why; simply put, it’s a gimmick, and the general public eats them up. I can already hear “Dude, did you hear some guy fell out of that thing?” “No way! Lets go ride it!” on the midways of Carowinds.

Anyway, the two Windseekers currently under construction are making decent progress. Both just hit the milestone of their first piece of tower being installed and have “gone vertical.” With the theme park season just around the corner, it’ll be fun to watch these things fly up. Hopefully they’ve worked out the kinks from the last set and these two will have a smooth season.

So, here are some pictures of the “30 or so feet of OMGs”:

Carowinds (via Carowinds Amusement Park on Facebook)

Kings Dominion (via @KingsDominionVA on Twitter)

Dollywood’s Wild Eagle is one of the most anticipated attractions for the 2012 season. The B&M Wingrider has been quietly, andcertainly quickly chugging along with construction and, what may come as a surprise to some, track work was recently completed. The final piece was lowered into place last week. These B&M’s seem to fly up in no time!

Photo: Dollywood

Along with the milestone, the park has also released some beautiful new animation of Wild Eagle:

Leave your Park Thoughts below!

In the latest poll, we asked for you, the readers, to decide what is the best Bolliger & Mabillard coaster at a Busch Gardens park.  Busch Gardens, has developed a love for the Swiss manufacturer over the years, importing a total of six coasters between it’s 2 parks: Tampa and Williamsburg.  The models ranged from the hyper style of Apollo’s Chariot, to the sitdown looper of Kumba, the two inverted coasters known as Alpengeist and Montu, and most recently the two dive machines, SheiKra and Griffon.

Proving to be one of our closest polls, it appears that fans were certainly divided over this collection of undoubtedly great coasters.  However, the readers have spoken, and with 27% of the votes, Apollo’s Chariot earns the title as the best.  The airtime filled coaster utilizes the park’s terrain for large drops with a relatively short lift hill.  Despite the inversions filling the other coasters, it appears airtime wins once again with Apollo’s 8 camelbacks.

Finishing out the poll  were Montu with 18%, Griffon with 17%, Kumba with 15%, Alpengeist with 11%, and lastly SheiKra with 12%.  This proved to be a much closer poll than many of our others showing just how solid of a collection each park has.  It’s also interesting to note that, in to this poll, Williamsburg claimed 1st, 3rd, and 5th place coasters, while Tampa claimed 2nd, 4th, and 6th place.

 2012 is clearly going to be a huge year for the amusement industry.  The biggest, most anticipated additions are the coasters that will soon dominate their park’s skylines, ones that represent a first of it’s kind, and certainly, additions that are expected to provide the best experience.  Two of the top contenders for 2012 are airtime filled, inversion-less models are SkyRush at Hersheypark and Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland.

Leviathan is B&M’s highly anticipated burst onto the Giga coaster front.  Towering at 306 feet, Leviathan will reach speeds of 90 mph.  In addition, the designers have taken a more distinct approach to the layout by eliminating the constant airtime hills with high-speed low to the ground turns, while still maintaing a few large camelbacks.

Hersheypark’s SkyRush will also be a first for it’s manufacturer.  The hyper coaster model will feature winged outer seats where riders on the outer most rows will have no floor below them as they race at speeds of 75 mph, over 5 airtime hills. Despite it’s size (compared to the competitor), Sky Rush is created by Intamin, who is proven to generate top of the line coasters.  Could this be yet another?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

So which of these super coasters do you think will be superior?  Vote now and on the side bar!  Leave a comment with your Park Thoughts below.

]]> /2011/09/07/poll-results-best-busch-gardens-bm/feed/ 0 /2011/09/05/six-flags-magic-mountain-announces-lex-luthor-drop-of-doom-for-2012/ /2011/09/05/six-flags-magic-mountain-announces-lex-luthor-drop-of-doom-for-2012/#respond Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:30:09 +0000 /?p=7146

In 2012, Six Flags Magic Mountain will add yet another world class thrill ride: Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom. Built on either side of the recently remodeled Superman: Escape from Krypton, these pair of drop towers will rise 400 feet, before dropping people back to earth while reaching speeds of 85 mph, making it both the tallest and fastest drop tower on the planet.

From the press release:

Fearless riders will be seated inside floorless gondolas on two vertical tracks flanking each side of the SUPERMAN: Escape from Krypton tower. Passengers on the gondolas will be pulled to the top of the tower, experience a brief pause before being released and dropped at speeds of up to 85 miles-per-hour. After five seconds of freefall, the gondola will be stopped by a sophisticated magnetic braking system just a few feet from the ground.

“Six Flags is known world-wide as the industry leader in delivering world-class thrills, and
Six Flags Magic Mountain is proud to be at the head of the pack, offering guests the biggest and the best,” said Bonnie Rabjohn, Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President. “We are excited to add another world record to our collection of record-breaking, first-on-the-planet attractions.”

Changing Magic Mountain’s legendary skyline, LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom will offer riders breathtaking panoramic views as they are lifted to the top of the tallest vertical drop ride ever built. Sitting eight abreast, riders will plummet 40 stories at an extreme speed before coming to a stop, all while the SUPERMAN: Escape from Krypton cars are blasted to the top of the same structure.

LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom is being manufactured exclusively for Six Flags Magic Mountain by Intamin AG of Switzerland.

Initial 2012 Thoughts:

Nothing to complain about here; this ride is going to be spectacular.  Imagine the launch on Xcelerator except vertical.  Essientally that is what Drop of Doom will be in terms of speed.  Plus, at 400 feet, the view is going to be spectacular.  Certainly going to be a great addition to the park for 2012, as it is always nice for the Magic Mountain to get some more (and much needed) flat rides.

Invasion of the Windseekers continue with Kings Dominion announcing a Windseeker for 2012.  The announcement comes just weeks after Carowinds announced they will be adding a Windseeker to their 2012 line-up.  Kings Dominion appears to be an identical version of the Mondial model standing at 301 feet, 32 carriages of 2 passenger seats, and the elaborate lighting/audio package.  Kings Dominion brings the total Windseeker count to 6 for Cedar Fair parks.

In addition to Windseeker, Kings Dominion will also add Dinosaurs Alive! animatronic dinosaur park.  Occupying 6 acres, this interactive educational experience will be a 3,000 foot walk through including 36 dinosaurs, 3 of which of interactive.  However, just like the Kings Island version which opened one earlier this year, Dinosaurs Alive! will require an additional fee with park admission (fun eh?).  Dinosaurs Alive will be located near the Grizzly wooden coaster.

Cedar Point also announced they will add Dinosaurs Alive!, with similar statistics.  At Cedar Point, the attraction will be located on Adventure Island, under Millennium Force.  In order to create access to the island, the park will have to remove the Paddlewheel Excursions attraction, which has generated some public out roar on the park’s Facebook page.

I have to say, Kinzel is leaving a mess for Ouimet to clean up.  Mass purchasing dysfunctional attractions, and now installing lame, up-charge Dinosaurs at several park is not particularly a grand exit leaving a great impression.  Nice to see that Cedar Fair is turning into Six Flags of the early 00’s.  I am certainly looking forward to a management change.

The biggest and most anticipated announcement from Six Flags this morning comes as news for Six Flags Great America. Next year the park will add a Bolliger & Mabillard coaster, called X-Flight. Press Release:

Gurnee, Ill.  (September 1, 2011)  – Get ready to take flight!  Six Flags Great America announces plans to add a state-of-the-art roller coaster for the 2012 season.  X-Flight is a ground-breaking wing coaster featuring cutting-edge technology. The Gurnee theme park is the first to announce plans for a wing coaster in the U.S.

X-Flight will take riders on a flight that defies gravity, with no track above or below them.  Riders sit in pairs, suspended on either side of the track with their feet dangling, as they begin their climb up a 12-story plunge launching them into speeds of 55mph through 3,000 feet of intense drops and five inversions, including a barrel roll and zero-g roll. One of the most adrenaline-pumping moments on the ride is an extreme fly-through where the coaster speeds straight toward a structure, before making a last-minute vertical flip to fit through a keyhole cut-out.

“Six Flags Great America has a long history of introducing legendary rides and first-of-its-kind roller coasters,” said Hank Salemi, Six Flags Great America Park President.  “What makes
X-Flight so unique is soaring through 3,000 feet of high-speed drops, loops and turns, with nothing above or below you.  The coaster’s train actually looks like a plane with seats suspended on either side of the track.  It’s like nothing you have ever experienced before.  We are thrilled to bring this revolutionary wing coaster to our guests for the 2012 season.”

X-Flight is designed by acclaimed Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, who also designed Six Flags Great America favorites: Raging Bull, SUPERMAN: Ultimate Flight and BATMAN: The Ride.  The wing coaster will make its home in the County Fair section of the park. Construction begins this Fall.  X-Flight is scheduled to open Spring of 2012.

Six Flags Great America is located between Chicago and Milwaukee and offers fun for the entire family with 14 heart-pounding roller coasters, a free 20-acre water park, spectacular shows, a nighttime illuminated parade and three children’s themed areas. Soar on X-Flight all season long with a 2012 Season Pass, now on sale for $64.99 for four or more.  Buy now and get a
2012 Season Parking Pass free. Sale ends October 30, 2011.

Intitial 2012 Thoughts – At first glance, it does appear to show a resemblance to The Swarm. Although Thorpe Park hasn’t released any concept art or a video for their ride yet, Six Flags Great America’s version looks decently intense with what should be a forceful immelmann.  The diving first drop is becoming a great signature B&M Wing Rider element.

With 5 inversions, as well as some solid theming, there’s no doubt this will be an excellent addition to the park.  Bravo Six Flags. Can’t wait to see this one take shape.

After a troubled final two seasons at California’s Great America, last winter, Great America announcd that Invertigo would not be apart of the park’s 2011 line-up and dismantled the ride.  Pieces were spotted at Dorney Park, indicating that Invertigo had found it’s new home.  And this morning, Dorney Park made it official unveiling the former Invertigo in it’s new form: The Stinger.

The Vekoma Inverted Boomerang places riders face-to-face thru the 6 inversions.  Construction is already underway with several of the footers nearing completion. The ride will also be receiving a new paint of a light teal and blue (Leviathan colors anyone?) and it also received one of the coolest logos for a coaster I’ve ever seen.  The Stinger will occupy the same plot of land as the former “Laser”

"The Stinger" was formerly known as "Invertigo" at it's former home of California's Great America.

Dorney Park’s last coaster addition was yet another “used”, inverted shuttle coaster Possessed (originally named VooDoo) which has been well received by park goers.  Having had a chance to experience Invertigo several time while it was back at my home park, I’m jealous of Dorney Park getting my coaster.

The Stinger represents a $10 million investment in the park next year.  Expect the ride to open with the rest of the park on opening day 2012.