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ATRA World News 2013

What was up in the World of Thrill Rides & Amusement Parks


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December 18, 2013

There Are Five New Additions to Hersheypark For 2014!
Hersheypark has announced a family coaster, tea cup ride, and family swing ride as well as Chickie's & Pete's, the legendary Philadelphia/South Jersey eatery known for their signature crab fries, and a frozen yogurt stand.
Read more from Hersheypark

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November 30, 2013

Worlds Tallest Coaster Coming To Florida-Poler Coaster!
A 520-foot-high roller coaster, the tallest in the world, will be built in Florida. We just don't know exactly where yet.
An official announcement will come in a few weeks, said Michael Kitchen, president of US Thrill Rides, the Windermere-based company that designed the ride. The coaster design, which US Thrill Rides refers to as Polercoaster, is tall and lean but has a small footprint, Kitchen said. The 520-foot version coming to Florida fits in a 150-foot diameter. At the top of the attraction is a double-decker restaurant and observation deck that can house retail outlets. People can travel by elevator to eat and shop up there without boarding the thrill ride. Riders board the eight-passenger vehicles at ground level, then work their way to the top in a spiral pattern. The descent is more thrill-packed with sharp dives, rolls, loops and inversions, Kitchen said. The top speed will be more than 60 mph.
Read more from The Orlando Sentinel travel blog

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November 21, 2013

Story Land Announces Roar-O-Saurus Roller Coaster!
A dinosaur is going to roar into Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire in the spring of 2014. Dubbed Roar-O-Saurus, this smaller wooden coaster twists and turns at a frenetic pace over its 1242ft (379m) long track. Dropping 38.5 ft (12m) passengers will experience 12 unique airtime moments in the ride's state-of-the-art Timberliner trains as well as fly through a curving tunnel.
Read the press release from The Gravity Group

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November 17, 2013

NEW FOR 2014: Lightning Run Roller Coaster At The New Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay!
After a four year closure, Kentucky Kingdom will be reopening under new ownership in 2014 and this Chance Rides Hyper GT-X steel coaster is being built as one of the park's new star attractions. The park hasn't released the stats other than the coaster will feature a 100 foot, 80-degree drop and is the first of this type of coaster the company will build.
Kentucky Kingdom is located in Louisville, Kentucky.
See YouTube video of Lightning Run

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November 15, 2013

The Singing Mushrooms Return For Kings Dominion's 40th Anniversary!
It is not every day that you get to write a news item about singing mushrooms, so let's celebrate! As part of their gigantic 40th anniversary celebration, Kings Dominion has announced that their famous singing mushrooms (and frog!) will return to the park next year.
Read more from NewsPlusNotes

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November 11, 2013

Circus Circus' New S&S Roller Coaster Packs A Thrill In Las Vegas!
When El Loco takes the place of the Rim Runner flume ride at the Adventuredome next month, it will be the second of its kind in the United States and the sixth in the world. The only one like it in America is the Steel Hawg, which opened at Indiana Beach in Monticello, Ind., in 2008.
Read more from Vegas INC.

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October 29, 2013

Kings Island Renames Flight Deck To The Bat!
Thirty-three years to the day it was first introduced in 1980, The Bat will fly again at Kings Island. The 364-acre amusement and waterpark is changing the name and colors of the Flight Deck roller coaster to The Bat. The change will take effect for the 2014 season. The newly named Bat is similar to its predecessor as a suspended roller coaster with the tracks above the trains. When the coaster train turns a corner, the cars are designed to swing out to the side, sometimes swinging the riders parallel to the ground. The new color scheme for The Bat will feature orange track with two shades of charcoal for the columns and structure. Black will be the featured color of the trains. Designed by the Arrow Dynamics Company, The Bat was custom designed for Kings Island when it debuted as Top Gun in 1993. Riders soar over the tree tops and through a hilly wooden terrain and a series of sharp turns on this seventh generation steel roller coaster. The attraction celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013, giving its 20-millionth ride in June. The Bat is one of 15 roller coasters at Kings Island, including the new world record-breaking Banshee set to debut in 2014. The original Bat operated for parts of three seasons from 1981 to 1983, giving 1.8 million rides.
Read more from the Dayton Daily News

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October 16, 2013

Thunder Run At Kentucky Kingdom Up and Running!
For five years, Thunder Run, one of the iconic roller coasters at the currently closed Kentucky Kingdom amusement park, was left to rot and rust. Specially invited passengers started to board the ride for its first public run as repairs and renovations continued across the park in anticipation of its spring reopening.
Read more from The Courier-Journal

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October 7, 2013

Flying Turns Takes Off at Knoebels Amusement Resort!
Knoebels’ Flying Turns finally opened on Saturday after seven long years of construction and testing. For the roller coaster fanatics who were some of the first riders ever, it was a ride worth the long wait. The line for Knoebels Amusement Resort’s newest attraction was long, some folks having to wait two hours to ride it. Considering how long it’s taken to get the roller coaster ready to roll, a couple hours was nothing. Flying Turns has been seven years in the making. All that time, engineers have been tweaking and testing, making sure the throwback to a coaster without rails was safe.
Read more from WNEP.com

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Long Beach Ponders Resurrection Of The Defunct Cyclone Racer Roller Coaster!
The Long Beach City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday to approve a request by Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske to investigate the feasibility of rebuilding the famed Cyclone Racer wooden roller coaster using plans by Downey resident Larry Osterhoudt. The city manager will report back to council members on the matter within 30 days.
Read more from The Press Telegram

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September 18, 2013

FunTown Pier Owner Pledges To Rebuild Scorched Seaside Fun Park!
Instead of throwing in the towel after two disasters, the owner of the FunTown Pier in Seaside Park said he wants to rebuild the boardwalk amusement park — and make it bigger than it was before both Hurricane Sandy and the blaze decimated it.
Read more from The Star-Ledger

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September 13, 2013

Massive Fire Consumes Part Of New Jersey Boardwalk, Including Fun Town Pier!
A raging fire tore through the boardwalk in Seaside Park, destroying four blocks of shops, stores and arcades and leaving helpless business owners and residents — still reeling from Hurricane Sandy only 11 months ago — wondering how much more they could take.
Read more and see video from The Star-Ledger

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September 5, 2013

Worlds Of Fun Announces SteelHawk For 2014!
Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, MO announces SteelHawk, a new ride that will take guests to breathtaking new heights! Get ready to take flight as SteelHawk soars 301 feet in the air and spreads its steel wings at a 45-degree angle at a speed of 8 rotations a minute swinging riders for a 60-second flight. The ride is being relocated from Knott's Berry Farm where it operated as Windseeker.
Read more on the Worlds of Fun web site

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Canada's Wonderland Announces Wonder Mountain's Guardian!
For more than 30 years, a familiar darkness has surrounded Wonder Mountain at Canada's Wonderland. Guests and employees alike have suspected a dark mythical presence hidden within this iconic landmark. In May 2014 the park will throw speculation about these myths aside and blast into Wonder Mountain to unveil a thrilling new interactive 4-D dark ride, Wonder Mountain's Guardian.
Read more from Canada's Wonderland

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August 29, 2013

Will Six Flags Great Escape Save Hoffman's Playland?
Could Hoffman's Playland become The Great Escape South, keeping the beloved kiddie park open after the owners retire? It's way too early to say, but there was a promising development today after the owners of Hoffman's in Latham, NY met privately with Albany County Executive Dan McCoy to talk about The Great Escape's apparent interest in the amusement park.
Read more from The Business Review

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Six Flags Announces 2014 Additions To All Their Parks!
Today Six Flags announced all the additions to their parks in 2014. Among the highlights are the record breaking Goliath wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great America near Chicago, a record breaking drop tower called Zumanjaro mounted to the structure of the Kingda Ka roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, a 400 foot SkyScreamer Star Flyer swing tower at Six Flags New England, and a conversion of the wooden Medusa roller coaster to Steel Medusa with three roll over elements at Six Flags Mexico. Six Flags over Georgia is adding an in-park Hurricane Harbor water park.
In a video announcement Six Flags Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Reid Anderson announces the additions for 2014 for all the Six Flags properties.

Park by Park Additions:
The Great Escape: Extreme Supernova swinging flat ride
La Ronde: Demon inverting flat ride
Six Flags America: New Mardi Gras Area with Ragin' Cajun
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Tsunami Soaker Aqua Twist ride Upgraded to Year Round operation
Six Flags New England: New England Skyscreamer 400 foot Star Flyer swing tower
Six Flags Fiesta Texas: Bahama Blaster
Six Flags Great Adventure: Zumanjaro Record Freefall on Kingda Ka structure, Rolling Thunder closure
Six Flags Great America: Goliath record breaking wooden coaster
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor LA: Bonzai Pipelines
Six Flags Magic Mountain: Kids coaster, expanded kids area, reversed trains on two coasters
Six Flags Mexico: Steel Medusa coaster conversion
Six Flags Over Georgia: Hurricane Harbor water park in-park location
Six Flags Over Texas: New kids area expansion
Six Flags St. Louis: Tsunami water flat ride

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Six Flags Great America Announces Goliath Roller Coaster!
Six Flags says Goliath will be the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world and feature the world's tallest and steepest drop. All totaled, the coaster will tout three world records. The ride will feature two inversions and an 85-degree plunge after Goliath takes riders up a 165-foot lift hill, then plunges them down a record-setting 180 foot drop, Six flags says.
Read more and see video from WLS/Chicago

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Six Flags Great Adventure To Remove Classic Rolling Thunder Wooden Roller Coaster!
Six Flags Great Adventure Park officials announced that the introduction of Zumanjaro Drop Ride spells the end of an era for one of the park's classic roller coasters, Rolling Thunder. The coaster, which opened in 1979, has delivered more than 42 million rides in its nearly 35-year history.
Read more and see video from WABC/New York

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World's Tallest Drop Ride Coming To Six Flags Great Adventure!
New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure will shatter the world record for tallest drop ride with the addition of the 41-story Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom in 2014. Connected to the iconic Kingda Ka roller coaster, the 456-foot monster that ranks as the world's tallest coaster and fastest in North America, Zumanjaro will hoist riders 415 feet into the sky and rocket them back to Earth at 90 miles per hour while Kingda Ka trains launch right toward them at speeds of up to 128 miles per hour.
Read more and see video from WABC/New York

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August 27, 2013

Bell's Amusement Park Uses Crowd Funding In Effort To Bring Back Zingo!
It was open for more than a half century, but closed when Tulsa County didn't renew Bell's lease at the fairgrounds. But a new campaign could mean the return of more rides, and ultimately, the return of Zingo. Fans of Bells' Amusement Park can play a role in the park's comeback. Since Tulsa County forced Bells amusement park from the fairgrounds in 2006, Robby Bell hasn't given up working to find a place, and a way, to reopen. Bell hopes to expand with the help of what's called a "crowdfunding" plan.
Read more and see video from KOTV/Tulsa

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NEW For 2014! Cedar Point Gemini Midway Improvements And 2 New Rides!
Cedar Point amusement park/resort, known around the world for its record-breaking collection of rides and roller coasters, announced several plans for the 2014 season, including introducing two new family rides, changes to the park's Camp Snoopy area and more details on a two-year renovation project to Hotel Breakers.
Joining Cedar Point's impressive lineup of rides next summer will be Pipe Scream – a Disk'O Coaster, and Lake Erie Eagles – a Flying Scooters ride. Located along the Gemini Midway, Pipe Scream is billed as "combining the best of a roller coaster and a flat ride in one." Riders will spin and coast over 302 feet of track, reaching a maximum height of 43 feet above the midway and a top speed of 43 mph! Pipe Scream is manufactured by Zamperla, Parsippany, N.J. Across from Pipe Scream, Lake Erie Eagles will also soar onto the Gemini Midway and will treat a new generation of Cedar Point's guests to a classic thrill ride. Riders on Lake Erie Eagles will sit in one of eight ride carriages that are suspended from arms located more than 28 feet above the ground. As the ride begins its cycle, the carriages will swing outward simulating the sensation of flight! A paddle on the carriages will allow guests to alter their flight experience from mild to wild! Lake Erie Eagles is manufactured by Larson International, Inc., Plainview, Texas.
In addition to the Gemini Midway improvements, Camp Snoopy, celebrating 15 years of family fun at Cedar Point, will also see enhancements. The kid-friendly Frog Hopper ride will be relocated to Camp Snoopy and re-themed as Woodstock's Airmail while the Jr. Gemini roller coaster will be renamed Wilderness Run and its entrance will be moved into Camp Snoopy. These two popular rides will join other family favorites such as the Tilt-A-Whirl, Lolli Swing and Camp Bus and will bring Camp Snoopy's ride count up to an impressive nine rides, many of which parents can ride side-by-side with their children.
"We are excited about these new additions to the park," said Jason McClure, incoming Vice President and General Manager of Cedar Point. "Following the successful introduction of GateKeeper, we believe these new rides and upgrades will continue to make Cedar Point the perfect vacation destination for families of all ages."
The beginning of a two-year Hotel Breakers renovation project will also commence this winter. Phase one will include upgrading a portion of the exterior of Hotel Breakers, while phase two will take place over the 2014-2015 winter season and will feature upgrades to both the exterior and interior of the hotel. Conveniently located between the sandy shore of Lake Erie and the mountainous roller coasters of Cedar Point, this popular family vacation destination boasts more than 500 rooms, many of which provide sweeping views of the Cedar Point Beach.
Read more from CedarPoint.com

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August 24, 2013

Sandblaster Roller Coaster Opens In Daytona Beach!
The reviews are in, and the Sandblaster rocks the boardwalk on Daytona Beach. The beach's first-ever roller coaster finally opened on the oceanfront after the state gave it the go-ahead around noon Friday. The Sandblaster only has three cars, and 12 people ride at a time. But those dozen folks can make a lot of noise. The ride joins a carnival of other attractions there that leaders hope will bring families by the droves to the beachfront. This Pinfari Zyklon coaster has operated at 4 other parks: Blue Diamond Park, DelGrosso's Amusement Park, Legend City, and Adventureland Park.
Read more and see video from WESH.com

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August 21, 2013

Dollywood Planning $300 Million In Upgrades, Including New Roller Coaster And Resort!
Country music singer-songwriter Dolly Parton told TODAY in an exclusive interview that aired Wednesday morning that she's expanding her Pigeon Forge, Tenn. theme park. As part of a 10-year, $300 million project, a new "family" roller coaster is in the works for 2014, said Parton, with a resort hotel to follow in 2015.
Read more and see video from The Today Show

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August 8, 2013

Kings Island Announces Banshee, The World's Longest Inverted Roller Coaster For 2014!
The world's longest inverted roller coaster, "Banshee," opens in April of 2014 at Kings Island. The first female-inspired thrill ride at a Cedar Fair Entertainment amusement park, Banshee will send riders screaming through 4124.1 feet of track and seven mind-bending inversions at speeds up to 68 miles per hour!
Read more from Kings Island

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August 2, 2013

Conneaut Lake Park To Open New Attraction!
Volunteers had been working all this week to restore areas of Conneaut Lake park as part of a TV show for the Travel Channel. And Thursday's fire won't have much of an impact on efforts to unveil a new attraction this Saturday. The Chairman of the Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park says, "We're very excited the Travel Channel has chosen Lucid media to do a pilot which will potentially air on the Travel Channel the work they've done up here has been very interesting."
Over 50 volunteers have spent the week here painting and restoring a lot of the parks signs, attractions and buildings.They're even working on creating and opening a new attraction that will be unveiled this Saturday night but right now that's all top secret.
Read more from WFMJ.com

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Conneaut Lake Park Banquet Hall And Beach Club Destroyed In Fire!
A restaurant and beach club at Conneaut Lake Park were destroyed in an early morning fire. A Crawford County emergency dispatcher said no injuries had been reported in the blaze, which started in the Dockside restaurant and spread to the Beach Club next door.
Read more from The Pittsburgh Post Gazette

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August 1, 2013

Turn For The Better: Knoebels 'Close' On Flying Turns After 7 Years!
Cross your fingers, thrill-seekers and coaster enthusiasts. Knoebels Amusement Park officials are optimistic that Flying Turns - seven years in the making - could open later this year or early next season. Joe Muscato, director of public relations, said tests have been done continuously this summer and there is confidence that a vehicle that will work has been developed.
Read more from The News Item

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June 30, 2013

Volunteers Help Spruce Up Beloved Conneaut Lake Park!
Conneaut Lake Park is on the upswing. At least, that's what volunteers will tell you as they plant flowers and paint fences at the park, beautifying it one piece at a time. Whether amateur or professional, painters, planters and landscapers from all over Pennsylvania and Ohio have offered their services to try and bring the park back to its glory days, with its rare collection of rides in full-swing and crowds numbering in the thousands. The park is catching up on ride maintenance and hopes to showcase the volunteer work and other park improvements at the Blue Streak Birthday Bash on July 20.
Read more from The Meadville Tribune

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June 14, 2013

Hoffman's Playland Owners Consider Selling Park!
The future of Hoffman's Playland in Latham, NY is up in the air as the longtime owners consider selling the popular amusement park. The owners, David Hoffman and Ruth Hoffman, are actively pursuing offers for the land where the family-friendly amusement park has been located on Route 9 (New Loudon Road) since the early 1950s.
Read more from The Business Review

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June 11, 2013

Falcon's Fury - RISING SPRING 2014!
Falcon's Fury is Busch Gardens® Tampa's newest thrill ride that lets you soar and dive like a magnificent bird of prey. You'll climb nearly 300 feet to an incredible view of the terrain beneath you, then pivot 90 degrees in midair to a daring dive position, eyes fixed on the ground far below. An instant later, you'll plunge at 60mph straight down to where you started, with speed, power and adrenaline like you've never experienced before.
Read more on the Official Falcon's Fury web site

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New Thunderbolt Roller Coaster To Join Cyclone At Coney Island!
Coney Island's world-famous roller coaster is getting some super-steep competition.
The city's Economic Development Corp. is bringing a sleek new version of the old Thunderbolt roller coaster back to Coney Island next summer – one that's faster, taller and smoother than the legendary, wooden Cyclone a few blocks down the boardwalk.
Read more from The New York Post

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June 8, 2013

Indiana Beach Relies On "Old School" Charm!
That "old-school" charm is something that Indiana Beach officials hope that guests pick up on this summer. Much of their off-season involved a delicate balancing act of bringing fresh ideas while still preserving the nostalgic feeling that longtime visitors have as they stroll along the boardwalk.
Read more from The Journal & Courier

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June 6, 2013

Atlantic City OKs Steel Pier's 200-Foot Observation Wheel!
Atlantic City may host the country's largest Ferris wheel, at least for a little while. The Planning Board has approved a redevelopment plan that would allow Steel Pier Associates to spend more than $12 million to expand the Boardwalk and install a 200-foot observation wheel on a pier over the beach. The wheel is part of Steel Pier's long-term effort to make the seaside amusement park a year-round attraction. The 42 gondolas on the wheel will be fully enclosed, as opposed to the traditional, open-air style of such rides, with heating and air conditioning that would allow them to be used year-round.
Read more from The Press of Atlantic City

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Ghost Town In The Sky Opening Delayed Again!
Employees with the N.C. Department of Labor were on-site May 30 and 31 looking over the chairlift that takes visitors to the mountaintop amusement park. Also on tap for inspections were a small train that runs around the Wild West Town and three kiddy rides. The chairlift failed the state review last week after inspectors found cracks in the chairs. Pressley will need to replace the broken chairs before they can be re-inspected.
Read more from The Smokey Mountain News

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June 2, 2013

Ghost Town In The Sky Misses Memorial Day Weekend Opening!
Ghost Town did not have its mandatory, yearly safety inspections on the kiddy rides or the chairlift completed in time for its hoped-for summer kick-off Memorial Day weekend. The reason? Ghost Town didn't submit a request for the inspections in time. The N.C. Department of Labor needs at least 10 days advance notice from amusement parks seeking ride inspections. Ghost Town and the state have different versions on when the inspection request was sent in. Now, a new official grand opening for the season has been set for June 1 if everything goes well with inspections. The chairlift passed state inspection and was open last year; however, the kiddy rides were not. This Thursday will test whether those rides are ready for passengers. Ghost Town, which was popular in the heyday of cowboys like John Wayne, fell into a prolonged period of declining visitation starting in the mid-1980s and persisting through the ‘90s. It eventually closed in the early 2000s. Since then, it was bought and reopened twice by investors trying to revive it. Twice, it failed. That is when Pressley, a longtime Ghost Town lover and Maggie Valley champion, decided to resurrect it. She purchased the troubled mountaintop amusement park in Maggie Valley out of foreclosure last year and has since spent more than $3.5 million on it, including the purchase price and repairs.
Read more from The Smoky Mountain News

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Coney Island's Luna Park Debuts New Water Mania Ride!
Water Mania starts spinning Saturday in Luna Park, giving People's Playground visitors a chance to get soaked even if they never set foot in the surf. The amusement is a riff on the famous teacups-style spinning rides — but it's got a battle royal vibe fitting for the place that gave the world Shoot the Freak.
Read more from The New York Daily News

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May 25, 2013

Fire Destroys Another Building At Wichita's Shuttered Joyland Amusement Park!
Wichita fire crews on Friday battled a blaze in a two-story building that housed offices and the skee-ball games at Joyland, the city's defunct amusement park. Joyland has been a target for vandals and arsonists since its closure in 2006. In August, a fire allegedly set by four teens in a maintenance building caused $15,000 in damage; another arson fire destroyed a building in 2011. The park is currently up for sale. A local nonprofit dubbed Restore Hope is actively raising funds with the hope of purchasing and revitalizing Joyland.
Read more from The Wichita Eagle

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Holiday World Retiring Its Last Original Ride!
The Freedom Train, the last remaining of Holiday World's original rides from the days when the theme park was known as Santa Claus Land, has taken its final trip. In operation since the park opened in 1946, company officials say the train has deteriorated too badly for repair and will be replaced.
Read more from The Evansville Courier and Press

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May 21, 2013

Arnolds Park Renovates 1927 Legend Roller Coaster!
Another sign that summer is almost here, Arnolds Park Amusement Park is getting ready to open. When it finally comes, the 13th oldest roller coaster in the world will deliver a less "rickety" ride. Arnolds Park Amusement Park has invested $250,000 so far to replace part of the track on this nearly 90-year-old ride.
Read more and see video from KTIV/Sioux City

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May 14, 2013

Jet Star Roller Coaster Being Removed From The Atlantic Ocean on New Jersey Shore!
In just a few days, the view of the Jet Star roller coaster in the Atlantic Ocean will be lost to history. Weeks Marine of Cranford will begin removing the Casino Pier ride from the water on Tuesday, more than six months after superstorm Sandy dropped it there and less than two weeks before Memorial Day.
Read more from The Asbury Park Press

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April 22, 2013

Western Playland To Introduce Hurricane Roller Coaster!
Local amusement park-goers will soon get a chance to take a ride on the Hurricane, and we're not talking about a violent storm. Western Playland will soon debut a new 55-foot-tall roller coaster that travels at more than 50 mph and has a G-force around four. Patrick Thomson, the owner of Western Playland, said he purchased the roller coaster last December from the Santa Cruz Beach and boardwalk in Santa Cruz California.
Read more from KFOX/El Paso

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April 20, 2013

New Rides Up And Running At Family Kingdom Amusement Park!
Thrill-seekers are finding a few more twists and turns at Family Kingdom Amusement Park this year. The park, off Ocean Boulevard at Third Avenue South, has added four new rides, including a Wild Mouse-style steel roller coaster, two kiddie rides and the Kite Flyer, where riders lay face-down in gondolas.
Read more from The Sun News

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April 7, 2013

Cedar Point's GateKeeper Roller Coaster Testing Ahead Of Schedule!
With just more than a month before Cedar Point opens for the season, construction of the Sandusky amusement park's signature ride for this year, the $26 million GateKeeper roller coaster, is ahead of schedule and wowing its builders, which includes a Toledo-area contractor.
Read more from The Toledo Blade

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April 6, 2013

Wildwood Virtually Unaffected By Superstorm Sandy, Adds Many New Attractions For 2013!

PRESS RELEASE

As summer quickly approaches, the Wildwoods announced that they've once again added new attractions, activities and eateries for the summer 2013.

The Wildwoods are pleased to report that they are open for business – and are planning an event-filled summer of fun in the sun. This five-mile island, virtually unaffected by Superstorm Sandy, is ready to welcome visitors for the 2013 season with all of their favorite rides and attractions ready for enjoyment – plus some great new ones as well.

Splash Zone Waterpark has added a major addition – Flow House, a $1.9 million venue that will feature entertainment, music, food and beverages, and most importantly – The FlowRider Double. This attraction is the largest expenditure in the park's history. Scheduled to be open Memorial Day Weekend, Flow House will allow anyone over 42" an opportunity to try out flow boarding – a hybrid form of the sport of boarding combining concepts from surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding.

This addition to Splash Zone Waterpark is only one of five in the world and will be a must-attend attraction in the Wildwoods!

Morey's Piers continues to be a source of never-ending fun, and recent renovations and new additions to their nationally recognized attractions ensures that summer 2013 at Morey's Piers will not disappoint.

They have completely renovated the Zoom Phloom – one of the longest, tallest and steepest log flumes on the East Coast. The flume ride at every corner will now be surrounded by a themed environment called the "Sea of Life."

Hand-carved seals and other sea life by artist Joe Pez of Concrete Links – the same artist who carved the rocks, logs and waterfalls of River Adventure in Disney World with a steak knife – are being incorporated all around the flume waterway, so that at every turn and corner, riders will catch a glimpse of this magical sea adventure, populated by dozens of seals, turtles and other sea creatures inhabiting the "Sea of Life."

Morey's popular Boat Tag boardwalk game - where participants can shoot balls at boats from the perimeter, or pilot a boat and win the battle - has also undergone a complete renovation for 2013, with repurposed Apache helicopters, new bombs, depth charges, a floating mine and much more to deliver more boom, bang and pop this summer!

Morey's Piers has also added art to the Boardwalk with their Exit Zero Art Colony. This attraction will be constructed out of repurposed shipping containers and feature artists' studios where local artists will create and showcase their works of art all summer long. The Art Colony will also feature a retail shop, gallery and café.

At Mariner's Landing and Surfside Pier, new shade structures will be installed so guests can seek relief from the heat all summer long. Mariner's Landing will also feature new interactive benches where guests can learn more about Morey's Piers history by using their Smartphone to scan the QR codes featured on each bench.

Digital advances such as these can be found throughout all of Morey's Piers this summer. Guests will be able to download FREE iPhone and Android apps as they explore the piers that will include leader-boards, badges, tracking capabilities, photo sharing and more.

Morey's Piers has also enhanced their eatery options. Joe's Fish Co., located on 26th and the Boardwalk, is adding a roof to their second-floor restaurant to keep diners protected from the elements; and soft serve ice cream will be making a debut to Morey's Piers Raging Waters Waterpark. Guests will be able to enjoy a flavorful River Float as they cruise around the River Adventure.

The new Soggy Dollar Beach Bar at Ocean Oasis Waterpark, will feature a wide selection of lively libations with a local flair. The Soggy Dollar Beach Bar will be easily accessible from the beach or boardwalk for general public access.

Just when you think the Wildwoods already offered everything one could possibly want to eat, new restaurants throughout the Wildwoods in 2013 will offer even more options for Wildwoods guests.

The Establishment at 100 in North Wildwood located at 100 Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood, NJ; A Brick Oven Pizza restaurant at the site of the old Casba Comedy Club at 3810 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood, NJ and Sofia's Italian Restaurant at the former Gia at Glenwood and Pacific in Wildwood will all make their debut this summer.

Also, the much-anticipated Amish Market of North Wildwood opened its doors in late March at 6th and New Jersey Avenues and will be selling fresh baked goods, organic meats and produce, fruit, sandwiches and dinners all summer long.

And returning this year is Jamaica Me Hungry, a popular restaurant located in the Regal Plaza Hotel, 9501 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. Jamaica Me Hungry will open Memorial Day Weekend and is ready to serve its loyal customers again.

Don't forget while you are vacationing in the Wildwoods to take advantage of the Wildwoods' ‘Bikeability.' Bike along the 12-mile round-trip bike path – expanded late last summer and now stretching from Wildwood Crest' Dunes Bike Path, down the Wildwoods Boardwalk to North Wildwood's Mulbury Bike Path to the North Wildwood Sea Wall, allowing Wildwood vacationers the option of a leisurely, or athletic, bike ride throughout the Wildwoods.

The Wildwoods continue to grow and expand, creating more family-fun opportunities, so pack your family up and book your trip to the Wildwoods this summer!


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Sustainable Playland Has Tentative Agreement To Run Playland Park In Rye For 10 Years!
Declaring that Playland Amusement Park will die without reinvention, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has announced a 10-year asset-management agreement with the nonprofit Sustainable Playland to operate the historic amusement park and surrounding parkland. The agreement comes with a second 10-year option and would bring $34 million in new investments to the park. Sustainable Playland would also pay the county $4 million upfront and an annual payment estimated to reach $1.2 million once the new plan for the park is fully operational.
Read more from the Westchester Journal News

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April 2, 2013

Bell's Amusement Park Rebuilding Slowly But Surely!
The "Tilt-A-Whirl" and "Zingo" are familiar names for those who grew up in Tulsa. It's been seven years since Bell's Amusement Park lost its lease at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds and had to shut down. But Robby Bell, the grandson of Robert Bell, who started the original park, is bringing Bell's back to life at the Saturday Flea Market in west Tulsa. He has four rides back up and running, and will have two more, the helicopter ride and the "Tilt-A-Whirl" back in service within a few months. While he doesn't know how long that will take, Bell did mention his father is 73 years old, and he plans to be able to ride the 'Zingo' one last time together with his dad before he's too old to handle the wooden roller coaster.
Read more from KMYT/Tulsa

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March 15, 2013

Silver Dollar City Previews Outlaw Run!
Outlaw Run, the new hybrid coaster opened today at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. It is a record-breaking wooden coaster built by Rocky Mountain Construction that features three inversions and travels 68 MPH.
See POV video from WGN Chicago

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March 7, 2013

Petitioners Voice Opposition To Scaling Back Rides At Playland Amusement Park!
More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition against reducing the number of rides at Playland Amusement Park — one of the changes in store under Westchester County's redevelopment plan. Scaling back the amusements would damage the park's heritage, say many of comments posted along with the petition.
Read more from The Journal News

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New Ride Coming To Bay Beach Amusement Park!
The Sea Dragon could make its new home on Green Bay's waterfront by this summer. The Green Bay City Council agreed Tuesday to spend $670,000 to acquire the new swinging boat ride as the latest addition to Bay Beach Amusement Park.
The City Council voted unanimously to pursue the purchase of the Sea Dragon, which would become the first new ride added at Bay Beach since a blockbuster deal three years ago that brought the Zippin Pippin roller coaster here.
The Zippin Pippin, which cost more than $3 million, has been credited with boosting attendance and revenue at the park.
Read more from The Green Bay Press-Gazette

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Geauga Lake Land Will Be Sold -- In Pieces!
About 500 acres at the closed Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora and Bainbridge is back up for sale as the real estate market makes its slow ascent from the depths of the recession, though at a far shallower rate than the roller coaster that made the park famous until it closed in 2007. Marcus & Millichap associate Cliff West has started marketing the property, but with a new strategy.
Read more from Crain's Cleveland Business

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Knott's Revamped Boardwalk Area Will Open With 3 New Rides And 1 Returnee!
Knott's Berry Farm will open three new rides in time for summer, with the iconic log ride reopening at the same time. The Buena Park theme park has set a debut date for the rides of May 25, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Crews are building the three rides and renovating Timber Mountain Log Ride, which opened in 1969 as Calico Log Ride. It closed this year so new scenes and animatronics can be added. The three-ride project is going in the Boardwalk area where Perilous Plunge ran until it closed after Labor Day.
Read more from The Orange County Register

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February 28, 2013

Conneaut Lake Park Ride Operator Says Improvements Will Take Time!
The family that operates rides, games and concessions at Conneaut Lake Park has expressed confidence in park trustees and the future of the venerable amusement park. Their statement follows a call by Hotel Conneaut and Beach Club operator Greg Sutterlin last week for trustees to resign because of $850,000 in property taxes owed on the park and the "total disarray" of park grounds.
Read more from The Erie Times-News

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February 14, 2013

Miracle Strip Owners Seek To Expand And Bring Back Starliner Roller Coaster!
In its five years in operation, Miracle Strip at Pier Park has been so successful that owners Teddy and Jenny Meeks are looking to expand — and bring back even more of the iconic rides and attractions from the original Miracle Strip Amusement Park, which operated on the beach from 1964 to 2004. And there's no room for the Starliner roller coaster in their current location. They started off purchasing the original carousel from the old park in 2008 and have been adding to their vintage ride lineup ever since. Although the project is still in the planning stages, the Meeks hope to move their 11 current rides to a bigger space by next year and have the Starliner up and running by 2015.
Read more from The News Herald

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February 8, 2013

New Roller Coaster Coming To Adventuredome At Circus Circus!
Hold on, Las Vegas. A record-breaking roller coaster is speeding into the Adventuredome at Circus Circus. El Loco roller coasters are famous for their steep drops and unique twists and turns. Cars feature an open design meant to give riders a feeling of flying during the 75-second ride. There are only five other El Locos in the world. Construction on the new El Loco roller coaster is set to begin in the coming weeks, and is expected to be completed this December.
Read more from KVUU Fox5

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January 25, 2013

Kentucky Governor Approves Of Plan To Reopen Kentucky Kingdom!
Gov. Steve Beshear says he approves of a plan to reopen the Kentucky Kingdom theme park. The final details of a plan may change depending on negotiations between state officials and the lone group - led by businessman Ed Hart - to respond to the state's request for proposals. Beshear says he's behind the deal and he expects the fair board to approve.
Read more from WFPL/Louisville

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January 23, 2013

Silverwood Theme Park Adding Two New Rides In 2013!
Silverwood Theme Park is adding a rotating, swinging behemoth of a thrill ride that will test riders' courage and stomach strength, as well as a far gentler ride for kids and families. The park near Athol, Idaho, will spend $2.2 million on the new attractions and expects to have them up and running at the start of the upcoming season.
Read more from The Spokesman-Review

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January 22, 2013

Family Kingdom Amusement Park To Get Four New Rides In 2013!
The largest amusement park along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach is upgrading for the summer season by adding four new rides. Family Kingdom Amusement Park will debut the Twist ‘n' Shout Wild Mouse-style steel roller coaster, which officials say offers a different experience than its other, well-known Swamp Fox Wooden Roller Coaster.The new Zamperla Wild Mouse previously operated at Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Also new for this summer: Kite Flyer, a lay-down passenger gondola ride; Flying Tigers and the Frog Hopper.
Read more from The Charlotte Observer

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January 16, 2013

Conneaut Lake Park Faces Public Auction If Taxes Aren't Paid!
More than $850,000 in back real estate property taxes and interest Conneaut Lake Park owes to various municipal governments may come to a head next month. Commissioners said Tuesday that a plan needs to be presented or the more-than-100-year-old amusement park's real estate could be sold for back taxes at the annual tax delinquency sale in September.
Read more from The Meadville Tribune

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January 8, 2013

Knoebels Adding StratosFear Tower in 2013!
Great News! Knoebels has announced that they will be adding a 148 foot tall free-fall ride for the park's 2013 season named StratosFear. The park posted on their Facebook page, really with no other details than a comment that it will be located across from the bridge that leads to Twister, which puts it in an open space near Flying Turns.
Read more from NewsPlusNotes

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