Author Archive: didonatope

Officials at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado are taking new steps to prevent unruly teenage guests from starting trouble at the park.

According to the park’s official website, children under age 16 must me accompanied by an adult chaperone at all times.

The park’s new policy reads as followed:

“All minor guests aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by an Adult Chaperone defined as a parent, legal guardian or other responsible, supervising adult at least 21 years of age who traveled to the park with the minor’s party.

Beginning at 3:00pm, all minor guests aged 16-17 years must also be accompanied by an Adult Chaperone defined as a parent, legal guardian or other responsible, supervising adult at least 21 years of age who traveled to the park with the minor’s party.

Adult chaperones must be able to provide valid ID, including a photograph and date of birth.”

Park officials say the policy change is meant to maintain the overall guest experience for all ages.

Remember the legendary Opryland? That park closed in 1997, but over 20 years later, theme park thrills may be returning to Nashville.

According to a report by the Nashville Business Journal, a theme park named Storyville Gardens has been proposed by a company named Guerrier Development. The park is said to be designed by Storyland Studios, who previously worked on major attractions like Universal Studios Florida’s Hogwarts Express.

Concept art reveals that the park will have an international theme, taking guests through several different continent-themed lands. Though the exact attractions remain under wraps.

The theme park would reportedly create almost 4,000 jobs in the area, which would be a boon to the local economy.

According to the park’s official website:

Storyville Gardens is far more than a theme park. With the intent to challenge the literacy statistics, Storyville is designed to ignite the desire to read beyond what is required in a classroom from toddlers to teens and adults alike. It is an imagination-driven, interactive entertainment destination where stories engage and connect visitors with a sense of adventure, fantasy and fun to the experiences of the park, the Storybook Retail, Dining; and Entertainment Village, and three extraordinary hotels with themes ranging from the majestic and enchanting to discovery and adventure. Storyville Gardens will be a majestic place that enriches the life of an entire community through all forms of story telling.

That leaves quite a lot to the imagination. What kind of attractions would you like to see at a park like this?

Check out the promotional video below:

Ohio enthusiasts, get ready for a real treat. Earlier this week, the park announced a brand new roller coaster for 2020, and this one will be quite a sight to see.

The coaster named Orion will feature a massive 300 foot drop and will reach a top speed of 91 mph. This will make it the tallest and fastest roller coaster ever installed at Kings Island.

The ride will have a sci-fi theme, with a story focused on astrologists trying to reach a new planet in the constellation Orion. As such, it will be in the park’s new themed area named “Area 72,” a reference to Kings Island’s opening year in 1972.

There’s no doubt that this new coaster will serve as a wildly entertaining attraction, and I personally can’t wait to check it out!

(Wildwood, New Jersey) After a bit of a delay, the new Zierer roller coaster Runaway Tram has debuted at Morey’s Piers!

Inspired by the boardwalk’s famous tram (the phrase “watch the tram, please” has been engraved in the hearts of many New Jersians), this family coaster is a custom-built creation made by German manufacturer Zierer.

The ride serves as a replacement for the old Flitzer ride, a vintage roller coaster also (coincidentally enough) made by Zierer. It is the second coaster in two years to be added to the park, after Wild Wizzer, an SBF Spinning Coaster, opening just last year.

I got a chance to ride this coaster over the weekend, and I have to say, it’s excellent for families. It is tame and smooth, and it’s a great ride that everybody from Little Suzy to Grandma Florence will get a kick out of.

(Santa Claus, Indiana) Holiday World’s recent emphasis on their Splashin’ Safari water park continues with the addition of a thrilling new water coaster. Now the park will have not one, not two, but THREE thrilling water coaster experiences!

The new ride named Cheetah Chase will be a ProSlide RocketBLAST, a water coaster that uses pressurized water to shoot the rafts upwards. Unlike other water coasters that use conveyor belts, this one will feature a launch straight out of the station.

The uniqueness of this launch feature makes it a stand-out attraction from the park’s other water coasters Mammoth and Wildebeast. This new attraction will give the park three water coasters, which certainly gives the park bragging rights.

Not to mention, the deuling feature is sure to lead to a thrilling guest experience, as guests go head to head with each other.

Look for Cheetah Chase to make a BIG splash in 2020!

(Romagna, Italy) Can’t afford a Ducati? This is about as close as you’ll get, but it still looks like a ton of fun.

Italy’s Mirabilandia has opened Desmo Race, a dual Spike Coaster by German manufacturer Maurer AG. After months of testing, the ride finally opened today to great jubilation.

This interactive coaster model allows guests to directly control their speed by revving the handle bars.

Desmo Race is named after an auto part named a “Desmodromic Valve.” It is said that Ducati motorcycles with this valve system have consistently won championship races.

This is the second Spike Coaster to be built, after the original prototype opened at Germany’s Skyline Park. Many have praised its uniqueness and Maurer’s innovation.

With the addition of a racing feature, Desmo Race is bound to appeal to competitive park visitors wishing to race their friends and family. It’s no doubt that concepts like this have a certain longetivity, and it is undoubtedly a wise investment.