Back in October, we posed the question “Which park is the ‘B&M Capital of the World‘?” After coming up with a semi-arbitrary formula to declare Six Flags Great Adventure as the winner, we thought we were done with declaring parks...
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Beyond the Track: The Smiler at Alton Towers In-Depth Analysis
Welcome to the second installment in a four-part “Beyond the Track” series by Coaster101 guest writer Ryan Cataldo. There is more beyond the surface of a roller coaster than just hills and drops. Every functional coaster on earth has scrutinous...
Continue reading...Wicker Man Wooden Coaster Opening at Alton Towers in 2018
Alton Towers formally announced plans today for Wicker Man, a wooden roller coaster that will “fuse fire and wood” when it opens in the spring of 2018. While specific details about the Great Coasters International wooden coaster are limited, Alton...
Continue reading...A-Z Coaster of the Week: TH13TEEN
We’re heading overseas for our A-Z Coaster of the Week for letter T, as we take a look at “TH13TEEN” at Alton Towers in England . A First of Its Kind Opened in 2010, TH13TEEN replaced the aging Corkscrew at Alton Towers,...
Continue reading...Alton Towers to “Launch” New Wood Coaster in 2018
Alton Towers has submitted a planning application to their local government to build a new wooden roller coaster scheduled to open in 2018. Code-named “Secret Weapon 8”, the plans show what appears to be a Great Coasters International terrain-hugging, twisted...
Continue reading...Alton Towers’ “Air” Flying Coaster to become “Galactica” Virtual Reality Coaster in 2016
Alton Towers’ Bolliger and Mabillard Flying Coaster “Air,” which has been thrilling park guests since 2002, will receive a new name and theme this year. Now called “Galactica,” the flying coaster will be the first flying coaster in the world entirely...
Continue reading...Alton Towers Opening Rollercoaster Restaurant in 2016
Roller coasters and food? Count me in. A unique dining experience is coming to Alton Towers — a “roller coaster” of a restaurant, to be more precise. This May, Alton Towers will open the “Rollercoaster Restaurant,” an eatery “set below...
Continue reading...Two Trains Collide on Alton Towers’ “Smiler”
According to the United Kingdom’s Sky News, Around 2:00pm local time (9:00am EDT), four teenagers were seriously injured after two trains on The Smiler roller coaster at Alton Towers collided. According to the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), there were 16 people...
Continue reading...A-Z Coaster of the Week: Rita
It’s time for the “R” A-Z Coaster of the Week! © roger blake Originally known as Rita: Queen of Speed, this Intamin accelerator coaster opened at Alton Towers in April of 2005. Launching riders from 0-61 mph in 2.5 second,...
Continue reading...Curse of The Smiler
Since the completion of The Smiler at Alton Towers, the world record-breaking roller coaster has faced multiple mechanical and technical issues. Before we take a look at the most recent incident, and most dangerous, let’s review its plagued past: 18th...
Continue reading...Creating My Own Nemesis Review
John Wardley is a world renown roller coaster designer. His most famous creation is the terrain hugging inverted coaster, Nemesis, at Alton Towers in the United Kingdom. John recently released his autobiography, appropriately titled “Creating My Own Nemesis.” The story...
Continue reading...Smiler Begins Testing
Alton Tower’s record-breaking Smiler coaster is nearing completion, and we’re beginning to see video of the coaster in action. The video below taken from the midway shows the 16-person Smiler trains maneuvering through the 3,840-feet of track and 14 inversions....
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