In a surprise announcement, ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide announced the return of an old Arrow Dynamics classic.
The returning coaster model is known as a Steeplechase, a vintage variety of roller coaster that dates all the way back to the early 1900s.
As of right now, the only one of these currently in operation is the one at England’s Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
This coaster was made by Arrow Dynamics and opened all the way back in 1977. Shortly after the compamy went bankrupt in the early 2000s, S&S aquired the rights to produce Arrow’s designs. Therefore, they will be bringing back this concept for a whole new generation.
According to S&S, the new variation of this model will feature a new vehicle and restraint design. The new concept is set to be revealed at this year’s IAAPA conference in Orlando, Florida.
Hours ago, park officials at Cedar Point posted a blog detailing their plans for the 2017-2018 off-season. These plans involve tearing some things down and building some things up. According to the park’s official website, the following changes will be made:
1. Sandcastle Suites is being torn down.
Located at the tip of Cedar Point’s peninsula, this hotel will be completely demolished by 2018. The nearby Breakwater Cafe will also be torn down. It is unlikely that any sort of new ride will replace this hotel since it is a considerable distance from the park. Officials didn’t reveal what will replace the hotel. Considering the recent expansions to both the Breaker’s and Express hotels, it’s likely that they don’t need it.
2. The Extreme Sports Stadium is also biting the dust.
After a long history of dolphin shows and extreme stunt spectaculars, the Extreme Sports Stadium to being demolished. Located next to Wicked Twister and Windseeker, this venue was the location of an extreme stunt show called “All Wheels Extreme.” While the venue itself is being leveled, the show it housed may not be leaving too. According to Cedar Point’s official website:
“If you’re curious about the “All Wheels Extreme” show that called this venue home, we’ll have more on our entire entertainment lineup for 2018 as we get into the new year. Stay tuned.”
3. The Cedar Point Boardwalk is getting an expansion.
The park’s famous boardwalk, which runs from Sandcastle Suites to Windseeker, is being expanded to reach the main parking lot. Park officials say this will give guests excellent access to watersport activities (parasailing and jet skiing) as well as the newly renovated Cedar Point Shores waterpark. This expansion is set to be completed by 2018 and will allow for a much more efficient guest experience.
For more details on the park’s newest expansions, you can visit:
In 2018, the fine folks at Rocky Mountain construction will debut the much-anticipated raptor model. This single rail coaster is said to be just as smooth and intense as the company’s other attractions, and it will premiere at two parks: Six Flags Fiesta Texas and California’s Great America. The one coming to Texas will be Wonder Woman: Golden Lasso Coaster, and will feature yellow track with a Wonder Woman theme. Meanwhile, Railblazer will be themed to the California coast.
Just recently, park officials have revealed that the coaster’s orange track is on it’s way to be installed. Can’t you just already see it winding in and out of the proposed scenery? I know I can.
It certainly looks like the 2018 hype train isn’t stopping any time soon. You can check out an animated POV of the upcoming coaster below.
Busch Gardens Tampa’s very own water park (as well as my personal favorite water park) is getting a massive new attraction to ring in the 2018 season. This attraction will be an all new slide complex named Vanish Point. The complex will be made up of a pair of trapdoor slides that are each 70 feet tall and over 400 ft. in length. It will share the name of a similar slide complex at Water Country U.S.A. near Busch Gardens Williamsburg (seen above).
This will be the first attraction to come to the water park since the massive Colossal Curl opened in 2015. It will also be the first set of water slides to go to a SeaWorld park since Breakaway Falls debuted at Orlando’s Aquatica in 2014. In recent years, trapdoor slides have proven to be extremely popular among water parks. Just recently, Cedar Fair installed several of these slides at parks like Cedar Point Shores and Knott’s Soak City. It’s pretty clear that the adrenaline rush and pure suspense that these slides provide has proven to be a favorite among park guests.
Water park lovers, get ready to drop in and splash down in 2018!
Good news for coaster enthusiasts and Disney fans: that much-anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy attraction coming to Epcot will indeed be a roller coaster. At the park’s 35th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, Vice President of Epcot, Melissa Valiquette confirmed to the media that the ride replacing the former Universe of Energy will be a brand new coaster experience. The ride’s manufacturer is currently unknown.
As of right now, Epcot is the only Disney theme park in the world not to have a roller coaster. While Test Track is a high-speed thrill ride, it is technically a powered slot car attraction and does not classify as a coaster. With this new attraction though, Epcot will finally get an RCDB page of its own.
As stated before, the ride, which was announced at this summer’s D23 event, will be built on the former site of the Universe of Energy. The pavilion, up until recently, was home to an arguably outdated show called Ellen’s Energy Adventure, a show that involved Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye talking about the wonders of fossil fuels…oh and there’s a dinosaur diorama worked in there somehow. After years of waning popularity, the pavilion closed earlier this year in order to make way for this brand new attraction.
If you ask me, it’s about time that the park received a massive E-ticket attraction like this. I always thought that Epcot could have used a roller coaster, and with the fine folks at Disney Imagineering involved, this one in particular is sure to blow you away.
