Where and When Will the next B&M Wing Coaster go up?

Raptor is now open at Gardaland. Since then, I have been thinking the past few days... where and when will the next B&M Wing Coaster go up? Now, I know that Thorpe Park (in England) is building the next Wing Coaster for 2012, LC12, but I mean after that (I understand this might be too early, but I'm still curious).

Before we go through that, I believe it is best if we look at the parks that are getting coasters in 2012 or 2013, as well as the Merlin parks.

I'll first start with the Merlin parks that do not have (or have announced) Wing Coasters (that means Gardaland and Thorpe Park can be ruled out... and obviously the Legolands can be ruled out too)...

Heide Park:

This can obviously be ruled out because they are getting Krake this year, unless they pull a Kings Dominion and open a coaster two years from now (Dominator - 2008, Intimidator 305 - 2010).

Alton Towers:

I believe this is most likely the next Merlin park to get a Wing Coaster. Remember that rumor last summer of Secret Weapon 7 being under development? It seems to be confirmed:

TOP-SECRET plans are being drawn up for the most expensive ride yet at Alton Towers.

The new ride is set to open for the 2013 tourist season and will top the £15 million spent building the Th13teen ride which opened last year.

News of the ride comes as Alton Towers revealed it attracted more than 2.7 million visitors last year – a 17-year record.

General manager Ian Crabbe told The Sentinel: "We are going to be working extremely hard to make sure this ride is the only one of its kind in the world.

"It will draw people in from across the UK."

About 2,700 people are employed at Alton Towers. More than 120 of them have been preparing the park for the new season.

New attractions for this season include:

An entertainment show devised by Mike Stock, of Stock, Aitken and Waterman fame;

BMX stunt riders;

Britain's biggest fireworks display outside of London's New Year show;

Opening the theme park for Christmas celebrations for the first time.

Mr Crabbe added: "The really exciting thing for me is our ability to be a successful business.

"It gives me a real buzz that we can employ 2,700 people, especially when you look at a third year of recession.

"Last year was the most successful year we have had since 1994 when Nemesis was launched.

"This business has grown over the last two-and-a-half years and we have seen an increase of between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors."

Many of the 2,700 Alton Towers workers live in North Staffordshire.

Student Hayley McNutt, aged 20, of Stoke, who is starting her first season, said: "I've been excited. I'm doing face-painting for children, so I've been doing a lot of practising."

Amy Plant, aged 18, of Cheadle, said: "This is the second year I've worked here and I really enjoyed it last year.

"I love Alton Towers anyway. Rita, Queen of Speed is my favourite ride."

Kirsty Beattie, aged 31, of Blythe Bridge, who visited the park on Saturday for the first time in more than 10 years, said: "I've been looking forward to going on Th13teen and Air."

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/PARK-PLANS-NEW-ROLLER-COASTER/article-3379002-detail/article.html

I have gut feeling that Alton Towers may actually get the first rotating version of the Wing Coaster (if B&M still supposedly wants to do so).

Chessington's Worlds of Adventures:

This seems to be the only Merlin park not building a new coaster. Their last coaster was built in 2004, which increases the possibility for a 2013/2014 coaster, possibly as a Wing Coaster.

Who else (non Merlin)...?

Dorney Park:

This park is building a 2012 coaster, but it seems all but confirmed that this is the old Invertigo coaster from California's Great America.

Port Aventura:

The park could be building a 2012 coaster. However, this will probably not be a Wing Coaster, due to the presence of Furius Baco, an Intamin Wing Rider.

Hersheypark:

While I still have this feeling the 2012 coaster project could be the first Wing Coaster in America, I'm starting to believe that Attraction 2012 could be an Intamin Hypercoaster (which would still be cool).

Now onto the good ones...

Six Flags Great America:

This park could be building a 2012 coaster in the old Splashwater Falls site. However the latest rumor is that this will be an Intamin ZacSpin like Green Lantern at SFMM, but with a different theme (according to Screamscape). Still, I wouldn't rule out a B&M Wing Coaster just yet. Also, the last big coaster in the park was installed in 2003 (Superman), they have been adding family coasters (Rajun Cajun - 2005, Dark Knight - 2008, and Little Dipper - 2010) and they took out a big coaster in 2007 (Deja Vu). Not to mention, Chang, which was supposed to be their 2011 coaster, was taken away at the last minute last summer (in the planning) and sent to SFGAdv instead. This park could certainly use a great coaster. Also, if this is a Wing Coaster, it could be the only coaster in the area.

Dollywood:

Recently, Dollywood in Tennessee has been planning something big for the 2012 season, possibly a new coaster. While one of the articles says 11 feet, it could very well be a typo. It could be 110 feet... which certainly matches up the height ranges of the current B&M Wing Coasters (Raptor - 108 ft, LC12 - 127 ft). And Dollywood doesn't have a B&M coaster yet either.

Cedar Point:

Cedar Point has gone 5 years without a new coaster, and now that SFMM took their coaster crown, CP will probably want to take it back.

Kentucky Kingdom:

While the reopening of Kentucky Kingdom has apparently been delayed to 2013 recently, this hasn't stopped rumors of Ed Hart ordering a B&M coaster as a replacement for Chang (though technically, Chang's spot is becoming a water park). I wonder if this could be a Wing Coaster.

Canada's Wonderland:

There are rumors that for 2012, Canada's Wonderland could be receiving its second B&M coaster. And Canada lacks a Wing Rider/Wing Coaster and a 4D coaster. This does make me wonder...

California's Great America:

I'm honestly considering this, however I have my doubts. Chances are, if this park were to do anything within the next few years (given how things are going with the 49ers and Invertigo's removal), it would close forever. However, I wouldn't rule this out just yet.

Islands of Adventure:

Okay, this park is not building a 2012 coaster, but I've always felt that the Jurassic Park section of the park could use another ride other than JPRA. I've always liked the idea of converting Pteranodon Flyers into Canopy Flyers (as seen in Singapore, with new trains), and building a Pteranodon-themed coaster (either a B&M Flying Coaster or a B&M Wing Coaster). Of course, with Harry Potter Phase II all but confirmed, this might have to wait a few more years, but hey, I can always dream. =D