X-Raptor No More, Green Lantern Update (Gadv and Magic Mountain), and Krake Update

X-Raptor is now Raptor:

Guess the name "X-Raptor" was temporary, as the name has now been changed to "Raptor."

http://www.gardalandraptor.it/index.php

And another interesting thing is a pic from the bottom left of this page which looks like a Wing-Rider/4D type train:

http://www.gardaland.it/it/genetix_lab/

And the LA3 Info:

Prot. RP/LP/GWC/2010
INFORMAZIONI CONFIDENZIALI

Costituzione forza di intervento

Il Comitato Scientifico di controllo del Progetto Genetix, riunitosi in data 15 novembre 2010, delibera quanta segue:

Premesso che...

1) I lavori legati al cantiere di Gardaland, in cui è in corso la construzione delle più imponenti ed estreme montagne russe d'Italia, hanno disturbato il sonno millenario di una misteriosa creatura sotterranea. La creatura, risvegliata dall'antico letargo, ha iniziato a devastare l'area circostante. La riattivazione delle sue funzioni vitali ha inoltre alterato i parametri ambientali di tutta la zona. Il Parco si è rivolto agli X-Labs affinché inviasse un team di scienziati con il compito di indagare sui sopracitati fenomeni. E' stato installato un laboratorio mobile nel perimetro del cantiere e un sofisticato sistema di videosorveglianza.

2) Rilevamenti ed analizi hanno portato alla scoperta di numerose uova nel terreno del cantiere. L'area è stata sottoposta a bonifica. Si ritiene che le uova siano state deposte dalla creatura alata. L'essere, di natura ancora sconosciuta, ha devastato ulteriormente l'area, procurando numerosi danni alle nostre installazioni e apparecchiature.

3) Alcune uova sono sfuggite all'attività di bonifica e hanno iniziato a schiudersi. Ogni uovo ha dato origine ad un componente organico. Nell'area del cantiere ha iniziato a formarsi lo scheletro di quello che sembra un organismo vivente di livello superiore. Nessuna ulteriore presenza di uova rilevata. Esiste la ragionevole certezza che la creatura abbia iniziato a deporre fuori da Gardaland le rimanenti uova necessarie per completare l'organismo vivente.

Tutto cio' premesso si delibera

1) La costituzione in data odierna di una "task force" di persone che possano sfidare e contrastare la maestosa creatura in fase di formazione a Gardaland. Il nome in codice della forza d'attacco sarà "Brave Bugs."

2) I componenti di tale task force, che si distingueranno per particolare audacia e coraggio, verranno reluctati con specifiche selezioni presso Gardaland - Parco di Divertimenti nonché in alcune città d'Italia. Il comitato si riserva, inoltre, la facoltà di valutare eventuali altre modalità di selezione.

3) Compiti principali della task force saranno: a) coadiuvare gli scienziati X-Labs nell'attività di "ritrovamento e distruzione" delle uova deposte sul territorio dalla creatura alata b) ingaggiare e sfidare per prime la maestosa creatura.

4) Il reclutamento e le successive missioni avverranno con l'ausilio di un laboratorio mobile oppurtunamente equipaggiato.

5) Viene affidato il comando della task force al pluridecorato Col. Raymond Schwartz, il quale avrà la massima autorità e libertà nel definire caratteristiche e modalità di intervento della particolare forza d'attacco.

Translated:

Prot RP/LP/GWC/2010
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Constitution intervention force

The Scientific Committee of the Project Control Genetix, which met on 15 November 2010, resolved as follows:

Given that ...

1) The work related to the construction site of Gardaland, which is ongoing construction of the most impressive and extreme roller coaster of Italy, have disturbed the sleep of a mysterious creature millennial underground. The creature, from the ancient awakened dormant, began to devastate the surrounding area. Reactivation of vital functions has also altered the environmental parameters of the whole area. The park is for X-Labs to send a team of scientists with the task to investigate the above phenomena. It 'was a mobile laboratory installed in the perimeter of the yard and a sophisticated video surveillance system.

2) Measure and analyze led to the discovery of numerous eggs in the soil of the yard. The area has been subject to reclamation. It is believed that the eggs are laid by the winged creature. The being of nature is still unknown, further devastated the area, providing a lot of damage to our facilities and equipment.

3) Some eggs have escaped the remediation and have started to hatch. Each egg has given rise to an organic component. In the yard began to form the skeleton of what looks like a living organism to the next level. No further detected the presence of eggs. There is reasonable assurance that the creature has begun to lay the remaining eggs out of Ben needed to complete the living organism.

All that 'circumstances are acting

1) The establishment today of a task force of people who can challenge and counter the majestic creature in training at Gardaland. The code name for the strike force will be "Brave Bugs."

2) The components of this task force, which will be distinguished by particular bravery and courage, will reluctati with specific selections at Gardaland - Amusement Park as well as in some cities of Italy. The committee also reserves the right to assess any other mode of selection.

3) Main tasks of the task force will be: a) assist the scientists in the activity of X-Labs' discovery and destruction of eggs laid in the territory of the winged creature b) engage and challenge for the first majestic creature.

4) The recruitment and subsequent missions will be done with the help of a mobile laboratory equipped opportunely.

5) The command of the task force is given to the highly decorated Col. Raymond Schwartz, who will be the highest authority and freedom to define the characteristics and mode of action of the special strike force.

Interesting, interesting. S=)

Green Lantern Gadv:

The lift hill has been topped off as of today:

http://www.gadv.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17924&st=300&p=421709&#entry421709

This is from Christian at Gadv.com:



This looks huge! I just hope they put grass underneath it... *cough*Scream at Magic Mountain*cough* (still a fun ride, just saying).

Can't wait to see how the skyline will look with the other parts of the ride! =D

Green Lantern Magic Mountain:

http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/GreenLanternLA.aspx

Looks like construction has begun on SoCal's Green Lantern (Intamin ZacSpin). ZacSpins looks so fun, and this one is looking cool (which is why I hope the Orlando Thrill Park comes true)! =D

Krake:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56511&start=110#p990772

Since vertical construction has started on the station track and FBR, they put up the immelmann, the splash down, the airtime hill, and the lift hill. This is it as of today:



Looks kind of short compared to SheiKra (but not as short as Oblivion)... but eh, at least there's an airtime hill, and not to mention, it's a dive machine! =D

Krake and Cheetah Hunt

Krake:

Heide Park posted a pic of Krake's train being made:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=476440646628&set=a.145015986628.111800.120907856628



That train looks so... dive machine-y... so... BEAUTIFUL!!! I don't really see floor (but they're not done with the train, so who knows), so could this be floorless (correct me if this has been announced or not)?

I would love to see one of these new Dive Machines go up in America in the near future (I came up with one for SeaWorld Orlando... and with one rumored to be going up at Hersheypark, hmmm...). =D

Cheetah Hunt:

The Windcatcher Tower "figure-8" is complete as of yesterday, and they've started on the 130 ft. drop into the second trench.

I'm going to California this winter break (leaving tomorrow) and when I return, I'm going to see Cheetah Hunt! =D Can't wait!

Heide Park Announces: KRAKE

Remember that rumored Dive Machine for Heide Park, Germany. Looks like it is confirmed as "Krake."

KRAKE: Attack of the giant octopus!

Coming to Heide Park in 2011 - A B&M Dive Machine!

The German amusement park Heide Park has benefited from its last opening weekend before the winter to formally present to the press its great new ride for 2011: a Diving Machine made by Bolliger & Mabillard, second of its kind in Europe and first in Germany.

In front of the park lake, the public was invited to listen a pirate storytelling about a terrible sea monster when, suddenly, one of the boats of the "Der Mississippi-Dampfe" ride has been attacked and virtually "destroyed" in a blaze of fireworks, before that the name KRAKE (means "octopus" in German) is unveiled.

With a total investment of 12 million euros, the thematic of KRAKE is focused around a giant octopus that has established itself in the new area "Bay of pirates" . The dark atmosphere will begin in the queue and visitors will be invited to challenge the monster, in a setting inspired by the theme of pirates and a ship destroyed.

The roller coaster layout itself:

- 476 meters long (1,532 feet)
- 41 meters high vertical drop (134 feet) which plunge into a pit (like Obålivion) representing the mouth of the octopus
- An underground passage and a splashdown
- An Immelmann
- A series of curves and a camelback.

Merlin Entertainments compliments B&M, with project manager Dirk Loppnow explaining they consider the swiss company as the "Ferrari of the roller coaster manufacturers". KRAKE is the largest investment made in Germany by the group, which opened recently in the United Kingdom Saw: The Ride at Thorpe Park and Th13teen at Alton Towers.

According to Merlin's artistic director, Candy Holland, KRAKE will go into the continuity of development already carried out at Heide Park in recent years with the Maya-Tal area and the Splash Battle Die Bucht der Totenkopfpiraten.

When asked "Why a Diving Machine?", Candy Holland replied with a smile "It's not just a Diving Machine, but a real experience that will be, for its passengers, not only physically but also mentally captivating. They will be like a pirate approaching the plank suspended above the mouth wide open of a terrifying sea monster".

She adds "With a first-class material and attention into the details of the theming, the ride will be unique in Europe, and it a pleasure to work on its design!"

The tracks represent the tentacles of the octopus, while the trains will be composed of 3 rows of 6 seats arranged like a staircase, allowing passengers seated in the back row to take advantage as much as others in the drop! Note that the trains will be the less wide in the world, other Diving Machine models offering a row of 8 or 10 seats.

Several technical details on the huge construction site (10,000 sqm) have also been revealed. KRAKE will require about 50,000 hours of work, 2000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete, 150,000 kilograms of steel rods (for ground works), 700 tons of steel (supports, tracks and structures) as well as thousands of screws, nails and nuts to fix all that! Several concrete blocks of 12 tons have already been used to construct the pool of water.

"Only the bravest will survive the attack of an octopus!" You have been warned!
To see the progress of construction, go to: http://www.heide-park-baublog.de

http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=958837#p958837

This here looks AWESOME! =D

Park Updates #5

Green Lantern:

http://coasterfusion.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?9492.210

So it seems that green track (aka Chang track with a new look) is on site (and has been for a 2-3 weeks). It seems to be in a fenced off portion of the parking lot by Kingda Ka. They also seem to have closed off some of the premium parking lot for work on the area soon to hold Green Lantern's lift hill to begin (it will be parallel to Superman Ultimate Flight). In fact, from the looks of those pics, they seem to have already begun tearing out some of the concrete on the parking lot.

Cheetaka:

It seems that the 4th teaser video has been released (October 4th), showing the part of the ride entering the old wet portion of Rhino Rally. It includes an inversion (a heartline roll over the railroad), two straight-aways, a near-miss with a waterfall, and some trick tracks. It also seems that after the 3rd launch, you go up a massive (literally massive) airtime hill as you head back to the station. And here's this neat theory from Shellemonster at Orlando United:

Interesting indeed, Busch is really trying something new here. It's like a terrain coaster with launches. I love how this takes us in and around the veldt because what isn't shown in these videos is the fact that we will be flying close by through animal exhibits.

Like at SeaWorld where you become the manta ray on Manta, it seems like we will become a cheetah on Cheetaka. You prowl out of the station, jump up to get a good vantage point to select your prey (figure8 tower), launch off chasing the prey, circle it, and wrestle it to death in the valley, then return from the kill. Maybe I'm reading too much into this...

And as for construction, it seems that some bars were installed in the second trench (currently being excavated), and it seems that work has begun on tearing out the old wet portion of Rhino Rally.

Meanwhile, check this out:

Next week, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Discovery Cove in Orlando will both announce major new attractions coming to the parks in 2011.

But this message will be shared in a different way than many of the parks’ previous new attraction announcements. In an effort to grow and support its eager online Fan base, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove will announce the new attractions on their Facebook pages FIRST via video messages from the parks’ executives the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 13.

Stay tuned to these Facebook pages (make sure you "Like" them!) and you will be amongst the first to receive the big news:

www.Facebook.com/BuschGardensTampaBay

www.Facebook.com/DiscoveryCove

http://www.seaworldparksblog.com/busch-gardens-and-discovery-cove-make-major-announcements-next-week

Hmmm... isn't BGT rumored for a new addition in 2011...? Yep, it's pretty much safe to say that this announcement will be for Cheetaka. BTW, as for Discovery Cove, they are building an expansion, but I'm more excited for Cheetaka. =D

X-Raptor:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56021&start=190

Vertical construction has begun on X-Raptor. It seems that station track is up, as well as some of the break run and final turn. Now I'm just wondering when the trains will be revealed and what the layout is. =D

Heide Park:

From Screamscape:

2011 - B&M Coaster - Rumor - (10/8/10) Now this may be an odd shot in the dark here, but I’m starting to really think we may be seeing something new and unique about this Heide Park B&M coaster. In addition to this being listed as a Dive Machine style coaster, but using what appears to be standard sized coaster track, something else seems to be sticking out as being different. Take a look again at the picture of the track found on site previously and take a good look at those two straight track pieces… with what looks like fins sticking up on them.
A few others have pointed this out before, but these seem to be magnetic brake fins, not unlike the style of brake fins we’ve seen Intamin using for the past few years. Others have pointed this out as well, that this is new for B&M as every other B&M coaster with magnetic brakes uses a very different system that has a horizonal fin run through the magnetic braking channels mounted close to the center of the tracks. (See Here)
B&M doesn’t experiment or change things lightly so there has to be a reason for switching to this new narrow-profile system, putting the fins on the tracks instead. I wouldn’t think adding the mag-brake units to the trains was a benefit, as they have to be heavier than the fins, so the real purpose here must have been to open up some space under the center of the train for something new perhaps. About the only thing I can think of that would go there would be hardware for either a new style lift system (cable lift?) or could we be seeing brand new B&M launch system technology put to use here?

So could we be seeing the first launched B&M Dive Machine???? *drops jaw* If that's the case, I might just have to visit this place soon... =D

Heide Park Update #1

From Screamscape:

2011 - B&M Coaster - Rumor - (9/10/10) Heide Park hints a bit more about their new Dive Machine coming next year, which will apparently have a Pirate theme to it. According to one source, the trains will be narrower and likely seat only 6 across. The trains will be either 3 or 4 rows long, depending on who you ask. Going along with the Pirate theme, I’m told that the big first drop may fall into the middle of a shipwreck and offer up some great themeing all around.
(9/7/10) According to an older posting at Tips-n-Pics, Heide Park confirmed that the new coaster would be a B&M Dive Machine, with the themeing coming from John Wardely. It’s also been mentioned here that the new coaster will actually feature a vertical dive of just 40 meters (131 feet) along with an Immelman and splash-down effect. Based on the regular sized track on site along with this bit of information, I’m betting we may be seeing B&M’s first Junior Dive Machine. I wonder if they’ll come up with a smaller version of Dive Machine trains for it or just use regular Floorless trains. More as we find out.
(9/3/10) According to a reader who claims to be somewhat of a B&M track expert, the B&M track on site at Heide Park does not appear to be standard Dive Machine track to them. Looking it over again, I’ve got to agree… that track should not be for a Dive Machine at all. So I’ve got to wonder, just what are they working on?

Yay for B&M's first Junior Dive Machine! I was hoping it would be bigger... but IMO anything Dive Machine-related is exciting to me.

Park Updates #3

Knott's Berry Farm:

Just a head's up, could 2012 bring a coaster to Knott's? I don't know, but I found this interesting bit of info from Jim Disney at Westcoaster forums:

2011 is not a coaster... 2012 is a different story.

Still a bit bummed about the coaster not up in 2011... but at least they're getting a Wind Seeker, which would be fine by me too.

Now here are two questions... where will the coaster go up? And what type of coaster will it be?

I've heard rumors that they're going to reuse the old Kingdom of the Dinosaurs building (taking out the arcade for the queue). And judging by where the other survey markings are (not the ones around the Sky Cabin to be used for the rumored Wind Seeker), it seems that the coaster will border Western Ave (maybe the lift hill) and possibly enter the employee backstage area (south of Bigfoot Rapids) and turn around in the Knott's Berry Farm Resort parking lot and then travel back (over Bigfoot Rapids and Pony Express) and possibly have a block brake over the Amphitheater and possibly go to Xcelerator's entrance (possibly over the Coasters Diner). Adding to the rumored Perilous Plunge removal, if they were to take that out, they could expand/reuse some of the lake for possibly a splashdown like Diamondback at Kings Island and have a final brake run to the station.

As for the type, I keep thinking that it will be a B&M Hypercoaster with a combination of Intimidator and Diamondback (cool airtime hills and a splashdown at the end) and staggered seats similar to what Intimidator, Behemoth, and Diamondback got.

And how could they get track in...? This sounds a little bit of work, but possibly temporarily close the train, and use some of the footprint of the train (behind the bumper cars, Kingdom of the Dinosaurs and Perilous Plunge) as a temporary path while temporarily closing that lot (between KOD and the Ampitheater) including the Bumper Cars (though I hope not... wanna try me some bumper cars at Knott's =P), while keeping the ampitheater open through the stairs that surrounds the bumper cars (while temporarily closing the ampitheater while lift hill work is in progress).

Here's an overview of the speculated area (including coaster layout):



I know this looks a little far fetched, but this is just a possibility.

And here are the cars I think of for a Knott's hyper...:



I'm going to name this version "Firestorm" (BTW I called Intimidator that name before it was announced). It will be the name of this project for now.

Gardaland:

http://www.gardalandtamtam.com/News.asp?ID_news=431

Track is on site in Gardaland. Hmmm... it looks cool in black. Can't wait to see the trains! Here's a pic from that site:



Yep... looking good! =D

Heide Park:

For 2011, there is Gardaland's B&M Prototype... now Heide Park is another park in Europe building a B&M coaster... and it's going to be a B&M Dive Machine. Track is on site as of yesterday (picture sent by someone to Screamscape):



It looks... beautiful! =D Unfortunately, from what I hear it will just be a 122 ft. lift hill/vertical drop, an immelmann, and a splash down (but still, ANY Dive Machine is a great addition to a park =D).

New Water Park Over in Miami?!:

Just found this in the news:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/18/v-fullstory/1782580/plans-for-new-water-park-making.html

The Dolphins are opening a water park! =D:

A new water park with wave pools, slides and a snorkel area is planned just across the street from the current playground of the Marlins and Dolphins.

Miami Dolphins owner and real-estate developer Steve Ross intends to turn a 40-acre parking lot next to Sun Life Stadium into a water attraction pegged to a spring 2012 opening -- just as the Florida Marlins will move from Sun Life to the new baseball stadium in Little Havana, said Dolphins CEO Mike Dee.

``We're looking at any and all ways that we can utilize the stadium and bring economic value. It's both an opportunity and a challenge,'' Dee said.

The water park -- which would include private cabanas and a ``swim with the fish'' pool -- would be South Florida's first new major attraction since Jungle Island opened in 2003 on Watson Island. And it will be the region's first water park since Atlantis the Water Kingdom closed almost two decades ago. The water park would occupy 20 acres, with another 20 acres of parking.

The Miami Gardens land designated for the park is owned by Ross, former team owner H. Wayne Huizenga and other team partners. The project, still unnamed, will cost ``tens of millions'' and will be privately financed, Dee said.

It will require a zoning change from office use to an ``unusual'' designation that must be approved by the Miami-Dade County Commission. The project is meant to offset revenue losses in the summer months that would have normally been busy with baseball. It is the first stage of a new stadium master plan, Dee said. Talks on other plans to improve the stadium are ongoing, he said, though he wouldn't give details.

It is expected to create approximately 600 construction jobs and an additional 400 jobs from the water-park operation and increase tourism stays in the area, according to a company release.

The new park would be a unique attraction in South Florida. While the World Waterpark Association says an estimated 1,000 water parks operate in North America, none have existed in this area since Hollywood's Atlantis closed in 1992. The closest comparable park, Rapids Water Park in Palm Beach County, is slightly larger than the planned new project.

Earlier this year, team officials floated the idea of a hotel tax increase to fund nearly $200 million in stadium upgrades, saying the improvements were necessary to keep the Super Bowl coming back. The campaign was put on hold.

But the addition could also boost the region's chances of hosting the Super Bowl again, said William Talbert III, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

``Certainly we would use any asset, any enhancement to the facility, as part of our bid,'' Talbert said.

Dee called the planned park a ``best-in-class, state-of-the-art facility'' that should appeal to tourists: ``We're going to market it aggressively.''

So will the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Talbert said. ``It would have an appeal to the family vacationer as something new and exciting.''

Company estimates forecast nearly 700,000 visitors during the first year and and additional $7 million in local, state and federal taxes.

Dreams of grand attractions are not new in South Florida. Huizenga himself had planned in the 1990s to build Blockbuster Park, a baseball stadium, movie studios and entertainment complex. The designated site was in Miramar west of Interstate 75. The plan fell apart when Blockbuster was taken over by Viacom in a merger.

While water parks are not primary draws like Disney or Universal theme parks, they still play a role in tourism, said Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

``It would be an addition to the attractions that are already there,'' he said. ``If people are already there, they can extend their stay for another half a day or day, which is great because everybody wins.''

Water parks have survived despite the recession, with more coming online during the past 5-10 years. More of that business has been indoors or at resorts or municipalities rather than outdoors, said Aleatha Ezra, the association's director of park membership development.

Florida -- specifically, Orlando -- has four of the world's top seven parks in terms of visitors, with a combined total of more than 6.7 million visitors in 2009, according to an attraction attendance report from AECOM and Themed Entertainment Association.

``They are still good drivers of tourism and, similar to regional theme parks, they have tended to do a little bit better than larger, more extensive destination-oriented ones,'' said Edward Shaw, senior associate with the economics arm of consulting firm AECOM. ``The tickets tend to be a little more reasonable for the markets and they're good for staycations and the resident-oriented market.''

The proposed water park will have some features similar to Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park in Orlando, which opened in 2008.

The Neuman Group, the aquatic destination planning and construction firm shoring up the local project, is involved with both. Theme-park operator Palace Entertainment -- which runs Boomers arcades and Sea Life Park in Hawaii, among others -- is also working with the Dolphin venture.

The downturn in the economy could actually be a boost to a new project like the one Ross plans, some experts say.

``It's much cheaper to build anything nowadays than it was two or three years ago,'' said UCF's Pizam. ``People are out of jobs, companies are looking for projects. The cost has been going down, almost spiraling down.''

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/18/v-fullstory/1782580/plans-for-new-water-park-making.html#ixzz0xIPKil5Y

OMG!!! =D I'm going to start visiting the site frequently for some construction pics (when construction starts and before construction starts)! Can't wait!!!! =D