Two of the biggest roller coaster projects that opened this past year were not new rides, but re-openings of once popular wooden coasters. GhostRider at Knott’s Berry Farm and The Legend at Holiday World both received major refurbishment this offseason to bring...
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Ozark Wildcat Wooden Roller Coaster Torn Down
In a controlled collapse, the Ozark Wildcat wooden roller coaster at the defunct Celebration City amusement park in Branson, MO, met its demise over the weekend. Branson local media reported the looming deconstruction in October. Hershcend Family Entertainment (HFE), which...
Continue reading...We Say Farewell to Roar on National Roller Coaster Day
August 16th was the final day of operation for Roar, the Great Coasters International wooden coaster that has carried over 11 million riders at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom since it’s opening on May 15, 1999. While it doesn’t have quite...
Continue reading...Zippin Pippin: Then and Now
My first ride on the Zippin Pippin was a blur. Only five years old, I was unknowingly coaxed onto the old wooden roller coaster at Libertyland in Memphis, Tennessee. I remember seeing the backs of the riders in front of me....
Continue reading...Goliath On-Ride Video Released
Six Flags Great America today released a first-person point-of-view video of Goliath. Crews have been testing the Rocky Mountain Construction wooden coaster sporadically over the past week, and luckily now we know what it looks like to be on one...
Continue reading...Goliath Six Flags Great America Testing Video
After hours of waiting and watching wood and steel rise into place, I finally caught a glimpse of Goliath making several test cycles at Six Flags Great America yesterday evening. Watch the video of the testing below: The park has...
Continue reading...Goliath Construction Continues Around the Clock
Construction crews are working at all hours of the day to make sure that Goliath is ready for riders soon — hopefully by next Thursday’s scheduled media day event. I stopped by the park today to see what progress had...
Continue reading...A-Z Coaster of the Week: Thunderhead
This week’s A-Z Coaster is none other than Thunderhead at Dollywood — which is celebrating its 10th year of operation in 2014. Opened in 2004, The twisted wooden coaster is a product of Great Coasters International (GCI). Thunderhead’s debut marked...
Continue reading...Goliath Lift Hill Topped Off
Six Flags Great America construction crews are working quickly to prepare Goliath for its rumored early June opening. Early June? According to a “midnight premiere” promotion the park is running (see the photo below), Goliath is expected to be operating...
Continue reading...Goliath Construction Update: Lift Hill Almost Complete
I braved below-average temperatures at Six Flags Great America today to see how Goliath had progressed since my visit last Saturday. The most noticeable change was the narrowing gap between the lift hill and the first drop. Throughout the day, construction crews...
Continue reading...Dad Builds 180-foot-long Backyard Coaster
Many coaster enthusiasts dream of building a roller coaster in their backyard, but few are able to turn the dream into a reality. Meet father-of-two Will Pemble. After 300 hours of work, he built a 180-foot-long, functioning roller coaster, dubbed...
Continue reading...Kolmården Building Looping Wooden Wildfire in 2016
For many of us, the 2014 coaster season is just beginning. But one Swedish theme park is already unveiling big plans for 2016. Kolmården Wildlife Park in Sweden announced plans today for Wildfire, a Rocky Mountain Construction coaster that will...
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