Canada's Wonderland Track/Supports On Site

Along with my huge group of updates to my blog today, I wouldn't forget Canada's Wonderland, especially at this moment:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38407&start=1940#p1073216

Track is on site as of today, and the track confirms that this ride will be made by B&M.

August 8, 2010 - Aqua blue/teal supports started showing up in the employee parking lot.

August 10, 2010 - Dark blue column supports started showing up.

August 12, 2010 - Aqua blue/teal track (looks like a B&M) arrived on site.

While these days, I'm starting to get into Intamin, B&M is a cool choice too! =) But now I'm confused...

Recently, I was really leaning towards an Intamin Giga or "Giga-Blitz", but now there are rumors that the ride will actually go towards the front of the park! There are also those rumors of a coaster taller than Behemoth, possibly 300 ft! This makes me wonder if B&M is making their first Giga Coaster.

I remember about a year ago when some concept art for Six Flags Dubailand was posted, and it showed "the Dubai Giant." This is when interesting things start coming in from Chris at Amusement Insider:

I'm really surprised they publically posted this, because I'm certain it was probably not in their right to do so. Well, if they're going to post, I might as well too - I can confirm that the tallest hyper coaster in the back of the park was contracted to be a B&M that stood 328' tall.

I wonder if this new B&M concept will come back to life at Canada's Wonderland. I know they just built their first new design in years (Wing Coaster - 2011), but you never know. In 1998, they built their first Dive Machine (Oblivion at Alton Towers), and in 1999 (their biggest year yet) they built two new models: the hypercoaster (Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg) and the floorless coaster (Medusa (now Bizarro) at Six Flags Great Adventure). Now back then, the economy was good and today the economy isn't doing to well, so that might make a difference. But once again, you never know.

Either way, with B&M in the mix, things are starting to get REALLY interesting! Only 5 days left to go though, so you just hold your horses... =P

THE SWARM - Thorpe Park 2012

So back in February, I reported the news of a B&M Wing Coaster going up at Thorpe Park in 2012. Looks like it is confirmed and will be called "The Swarm":

The UK's first winged rollercoaster, THE SWARM, takes you on a death defying flight through apocalyptic devastation.

Be picked up and dragged on the wings of THE SWARM as you’re left exposed and vulnerable to the extreme near misses and gut wrenching inversions as it rips through the sky on its mission of complete annihilation.

Experience the unique head first, inverted drop from 127ft as you are flung into this merciless flight for your life. War is coming... Spring 2012.

http://www.theswarm.co.uk/

Here is a video followed by concept art:
































Interesting Screamscape rumors:

2012 - The Swarm - Confirmed - (8/12/11) Go-Merlin has posted what may be the first picture of coaster pieces now on site for The Swarm at Thorpe Park.
(8/5/11) A great overview of The Swarm’s layout can be found here and a side view of the lift hill and first drop looks like that head-first drop may actually be a Twist ‘n Dive element, similar to the infamous inversion on the Manhattan Express in Las Vegas. While I’m still hoping we will see a rotating Wing Coaster at some point, I think this rules that out for this particular ride.
(8/4/11) Remember that odd mention of a “head-first” drop feature to be found on The Swarm? It just struck me as being kind of odd myself, and I’m not alone, as this has also sparked a new rumor, which does match up with some of the rumors I heard about B&M’s Wing Coaster project a year ago when it was first rumored for Italy.
According to the rumor, Raptor in Italy was just the first step in the Wing Coaster development project, as B&M were said to be planning on adding some kind of seat rotation element to future versions of the ride once they were able to get Raptor up and running and study all the stress and forces the new design would put on the winged seat design.
If The Swarm is indeed to be the next generation Wing Coaster design from B&M, it could be possible that the seats could rotate into a unique ‘head-first” position during the first drop of the ride, in much the same way that the seats on X2 (and other S&S 4th Dimension coaster) rotate. If this is true at all, expect to see the seats only move during this one element of the ride only… and will return to a standard riding position for the remainder of the ride.
Again, this is just a rumor, but it does match up with the rumors I was told a year ago about how B&M intended to add on elements and evolve this Wing Coaster design concept over the years with a series of baby steps.

While the 4D concept will not happen for this ride, I do think that someday there will be a B&M 4D Coaster.

But even then, this ride looks cool (especially the Twist n' Dive element). =)

Iron Wolf On the Move (Plus SFGAm 2012 Rumors)!

http://www.facebook.com/SFGreatAmerica/posts/10150252058661356

After a long 21 year history at the park, we will be removing Iron Wolf. Make sure to get your last rides in – Iron Wolf’s Last Stand is September 5.

Well this is it for Iron Wolf at SFGAm. I'm glad they are supposedly moving it though.

So yeah, recently the rumors of Iron Wolf being moved to Six Flags America came back. In the SFA front, Skull Mountain is closed and construction walls are built around it. Permits have also been filed for a "Stand Up Coaster:"













So Iron Wolf will still live. I'm glad for that, because of nostalgic value. It is B&M's first coaster. Sure, the ride is supposedly painful, but I respect B&M history! =P And supposedly (Screamscape):

(7/25/11) I’ve heard a new rumor claiming that when Iron Wolf comes to Six Flags America, it will likely feature new modern style B&M Stand-Up trains and be renamed / rethemed to have some kind of Apocalypse theme. Could they possibly reuse the same basic theme that was used on the former Terminator Salvation wooden coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain earlier this year?

This is exactly what I wanted to happen to Iron Wolf. New trains would be cool. And is it just me, or are parks getting in to Apocalypse themes (I wonder what will happen once December 21st, 2012 passes and the world doesn't end ;P)?

On the SFGAm front, it looks like it will receive a much better replacement (Screamscape):

2012 - X-Flight / New Coaster - Rumor - (8/12/11) Six Flags has just filed for a new trademark on the name X-Flight, which sounds perfect for the rumored B&M Wing Coaster for 2012 I think.
(7/29/11) With all the coaster swapping taking place in 2012 at Six Flags, it’s almost like the old Six Flags Ride Rotation Program is back again isn’t it? Iron Wolf may go to SF America, Déjà Vu at Magic Mountain may go to New England… and then there is that long rumored coaster for Great America.
Rest assured fans… 2012 may very well be the year you have been waiting for, when SFGAm will have the eyes of the world upon it to check out a fairly new piece of coaster technology coming to the US for the first time in 2012. And since the park is losing the first ever B&M coaster, it’s only fitting to replace it with a new B&M coaster don’t you think? How would you feel about a B&M Wing Coaster coming to the park for 2012? It just may happen… stay tuned!

So for 2012, Wing Coasters are starting to take over America (Dollywood is rumored to get one and now SFGAm)! I hope this is true, and hopefully one will come to Florida in the process (Pteranodon-themed Wing Coaster in IOA's Jurassic Park... just saying)! Out of the country, Thorpe Park announced THE SWARM recently (yes, I'm going to post about that).

About "X-Flight"... time for some history. Originally Six Flags built a Vekoma Flying Dutchman in Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (now Geauga Lake which became Wildwater Kingdom) called X-Flight. In 2004, however, Six Flags sold the park to Cedar Fair, though afterwords the name was kept. I hope this is the name of the coaster; sounds like a really cool name!

So I'm looking forward to finding out what comes to SFGAm in 2012! =)

SeaWorld Orlando Future Rumors

From Screamscape:

2012 - Turtles 4D & Happy Harbor Water Fortress - Rumor - (7/20/11) I’ve heard from a sharp eyed guest that construction has begun behind the current Manatee attraction area for the park’s 2012 attraction, which is said to be Turtles 4D, a edited down in-ark 4D theater version of this summer’s “Turtle: The Incredible Journey” film. (see below)
From what I’ve been led to understand the current Manatee attraction area will be revamped into a Florida wilflife themed area and serve as home to alligators, turtles, manatees and other local species, but allow for the tie-in with the new Turtles 4D attraction as well.
I’ve also been told we can look for some other improvements to come to Happy Harbor this year as well, as the large fake ship will be removed and replaced with a new Water Fortress style attraction. (No word on if they will have a huge dumping bucket of water or not…)

2013 - Dark Ride / New Penguin Home - Rumor - (7/20/11) A old rumor has returned once again with a full head of steam, as I’m told that the entire Penguin Plaza area is slated to be removed sometime in the early 2012 to make way for a major dark ride attraction for 2013. Don’t cry for the penguins however, as I’m told that a brand new and improved home for them will be built as part of the massive 2013 project. Going along with that, I can only assume that the dark ride may have some kind of Antarctica theme as well.
As for the dark ride itself… it’s been said that SeaWorld Orlando was eyeballed for a ton of different dark ride concept ideas following the introduction of Curse of DarKastle at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. If you’ve never been on DarKastle, it’s basicly a copy of the Spiderman style ride experience, themed within a haunted European castle full of ghosts, werewolves and other creatures of the night. In short… it’s an awesome alternative to Spiderman, and outside of the Orlando area, it really stands out in Williamsburg as a top notch E-Ticket attraction.
Curse of DarKastle opened way back in 2005 however, based on Spiderman’s basic concept from 1999. So by the time any new ride opens in 2013, one would expect to see some leaps forward in the technology department or even some changes in the overall concept as well. So while I can’t say that this will or wont be a copy of the same basic idea for sure, I have also heard a hint about ‘trackless cars’ being looked into for it as well. My only request is this… please do not make this themed to Happy Feet… ok?

The Future - Wild Arctic Replacement - Rumor - (7/20/11) We’ve talked a bit about rumored future projects said to be on the way for SeaWorld Orlando over the next couple of years, but what else may be on deck long term? Apparently the new management has come to terms with the fact that Wild Arctic just isn’t a big draw anymore and said to be pondering possible solutions to the problem.
Unlike any other simulator ride, it just isn’t as easy as reprogramming the ride itself to use a new movie because the ride exits into the massive Wild Arctic themed animal habitat area, so a new Arctic themed ride may be the only item to fit the bill. While I’m sure they could rework the flow of traffic through the building if necessary with some structural modifications to turn the structure into two separate attractions (New Ride and Animal Habitat) I’m not sure if they area ready to take the easy way out just yet. They also have to consider that whatever they do in Orlando, they will likely end up doing in California as well to the Wild Arctic attraction there, and find a way to make it work for both.
The one item still keeping Arctic the same for the next few years is the special deal the park signed to convert the ride into a Polar Express ride for the holiday season, which has been quiet a popular attraction with the guests, and likely a big reason behind the reason they are looking into new ideas for the future. I’m told that this winter is actually the last year for the Polar Express contract, though the holiday attraction is so popular, an extension is likely to be signed for keep it going for a few more years.

The main interesting thing to me is the dark ride part. I really like SWO, but they really could use some rides, especially dark rides (as well as more cool coasters), so hopefully this is true! =)

If this sounds familiar, it should... as I reported the possibility of a dark ride a year ago when there was construction around the old Clydesdale Hamlet, only to be disappointed to find out it was just a garden. However, the penguin rumor kind of took me by surprise. I was expecting them to build something from the ground up (as in the Clydesdale area), but now I see the possibility of the penguins being reused for this attraction. Funny thing though, when Cheetah Hunt was a rumor, I was expecting it to be a B&M Hypercoaster in the back of the park (in the Jungala section) all the way towards Kumba. I never thought it was possible to reuse the old monorail station for a coaster, or travel through the Veldt and into Rhino Rally's old wet portion. I also never thought they'd go with Intamin. So bottom line, when it comes to SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment (or any park chain for that matter)... don't rule ANYTHING out!

As for the Wild Arctic part, I guess I'm one of the people who like Wild Arctic and will probably miss it. But even then, it should be interesting what they do in its place!

It should be interesting to see how these rumors come out!

Skyrush Confirmed for Hersheypark 2012

Ever since the whole Canada's Wonderland 2012 speculation, and my trips over the summer, I kept forgetting to update the blog on Hersheypark's 2012 coaster. It has been confirmed on August 2nd:

Hersheypark will add a first-of-its-kind $25-million steel roller coaster in May that will be the tallest, fastest and longest at the Pennsylvania theme park.

After a yearlong viral marketing campaign that teased fans with hints and clues about "Attraction 2012," Hersheypark unveiled plans Tuesday for an Intamin Wing Mega coaster, with winged seats, called Skyrush.

Under construction in the Comet Hollow section of Hersheypark, the 200-foot-tall Skyrush coaster will feature a near-vertical 85-degree first drop followed by four high-speed banking turns and five airtime hills at speeds reaching 75 mph.

The 3,600-foot-long Skyrush track will travel along a creek and cross over the 1947 Comet out-and-back wooden coaster. The coaster's station house will be modeled after historic train stations in the Hershey area.

The 32-passenger cantilevered trains will feature floored seats on the inside and floorless seats on the outside in a custom first-of-its-kind design.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/02/news/la-trb-hersheypark-skyrush-coaster-08201102

And here are some concept art (Hersheypark posted these):













































































Here is a video of the ride (also posted by Hersheypark):



The unique thing about this ride is the ride vehicle. It almost resembles the Maurer 4-Across X-Car Trains. It has floor in the center of the train, and the outer seats are floorless (funny, one of my ideas for this ride was a Maurer 4-across X-Train).

The ride looks incredible (I also like the name)! I've recently ridden a cornucopia of Intamins (Millennium Force, Intimidator 305, Top Thrill Dragster, Volcano, Maverick, and Cheetah Hunt) and they have been some of my favorite rides, and I think this ride will be no different (if I go to Hersheypark in the future, which I probably will someday, especially because of this ride and Fahrenheit). Plus, the hypercoaster (and a Wing Coaster, though this "kind of" resembles a Wing Coaster, just with seats in the middle) is the only thing missing from Hershey's coaster count.

I just hope Florida gets a hypercoaster some day... that will REALLY make me a happy camper! SeaWorld, Universal, BGT... anyone? Oooh... maybe I have an idea! BGT builds a B&M Hyper and SWO builds an Intamin like this. ;)

But yeah, I really like the look of this ride... =)

Canada's Wonderland and California's Great America

Canada's Wonderland:

http://www.canadaswonderland.com/2012/

Looks like teasing has started! It seems that the announcement will be on AUGUST 18th 2011!

And apparently... (Screamscape):

2012 - New Attraction / Raptor - Rumor - (8/1/11) We may have had a slight mathematical error with the countdown on the 2012 announcement page, as it may actually be counting down to August 18th, not the day before as previously mentioned. According to a guest visiting the park, a good number of footers have been placed in the construction site at this point, many formed in small groups, sometimes extremely close to Dragon Fire.
Meanwhile CWMania has posted a zoomed in picture of a label put on a rebar formation at the park and noticed that it clearly says, ‘Giga Coaster Caps’ in one section. Hmmmm….

Hmmm... I still am holding my judgement until Canada's Wonderland announce the coaster, but I kind of doubt a giga. Supposedly, Knott's Berry Farm is building one next year. Would Cedar Fair install TWO Giga Coasters in one year? =/

However, if this is true and there are actually TWO Giga Coasters in one year (two at Cedar Fair parks that is)... I think I might faint from excitement! I loved I305 at Kings Dominion and Millennium Force at Cedar Point, and I will be so pleased if this is true!

But I'm kind of leaning towards a bigger version of iSpeed in Mirabilandia, Italy. CW already has an airtime coaster (Behemoth, B&M Hypercoaster) (not that I would oppose a Giga. As stated above, I will enjoy watching construction of this thing and drool of excitment and anticipation), and there are only two launch coasters at Canada's Wonderland... both of which are geared towards a younger audience (Backlot Stunt Coaster (though I liked the one at KD) and Thunder Run (I guess you can say its launched?)). An adult launch coaster (Intamin Blitz in this case) would do wonders! I also have this feeling that the station will be where the construction in front of Speed City is. I also think there will be a launch where the row of stakes under Dragon Fire is, a top hat by Dragon Fire's two loops, and some interactions with Dragon Fire.

Some say this may actually be a launched coaster at around the 300 ft. mark (giga coaster mark). I kind of think this is the case, which is why rumors point toward a 300 ft (or more) coaster. It could be cool (maybe they can call it a Giga Blitz ;)). But like I said, until the announcement, this is all just speculation.

California's Great America:

There might be hope for this park after all:

???? - GCI Wooden Coaster - In Limbo - (8/1/11) Remember that awesome GCI wooden coaster project that was all but approved at one point for California’s Great America before getting tangled up in a mess with a local neighbor over noise issues? There may be life in the old girl yet… as the park applied in June for a two year extension to the previously approved height-variance needed to install the ride, and was approved for it at a meeting in June. Could the park be preparing to finally deliver this great looking coaster, or are they just keeping the variance alive for a new unknown project in development? Either way, it sounds like something big may be on the way.

To tell the story... CGA was originally going to get a 2009 GCI Wooden Coaster to be built right by the park entrance (encircling the park's Star Tower). Right when the park was ready to construct it (I heard there were survey markers), the nearby office neighbors came in and complained about noise, which is an annoying factor, because the neighbors came in after the park was built. They should EXPECT noise from a park. And when the neighbors complain about the park adding things like this, little do they know they are (along with hurting the park) hurting their economy. The park attracts business, and no new rides = no business for park = no business for the neighbors.

After the noise complaints, the coaster never saw the light of day. If this ride is truly coming back to life (which hopefully it is), then it will be great for the park! Hopefully they can work out something with the neighbors. However, back when Invertigo was removed, the park said there will be something for 2012. They said it will not be the wooden coaster.

This makes me wonder about a possible 2013 opening date, and the 2012 ride being something else. My predictions:

2012: Either nothing (to save money for the 2013 coaster, if it were to open then) or a mini-WindSeeker (150-200 ft).
2013: GCI Wooden Coaster

In any case, this looks like good news for the park. Hopefully it comes to life!