What If...? #2

I heard that Six Flags Dubailand is building a B&M Dive Machine with their park called Screamin' Eagle. I've seen some concept art and it looks so cool! So now this topic is...:

What if... a Six Flags park in America will clone this coaster or add a Dive Machine to that particular Six Flags park for the 2012 season? Again, I'd like to remind you that this is just speculation. This will probably not happen. Or probably WILL happen. Who knows? So what Six Flags park in America would add a new B&M Dive Machine for the 2012 season?

Six Flags America could probably be ruled out (even though I hope not). I heard a rumor that a Tony Hawk's Big Spin clone could be coming to SFA in 2011 (though with Shapiro out, I'm not sure), so don't really expect much in 2012. I'm ruling out Six Flags Great Adventure since they're getting Chang for 2011 and possibly some flats, so don't expect much, if anything at all, for 2012. Six Flags New England is rumored for a new coaster for 2011, so that's ruled out too. I'm also ruling out Six Flags Over Georgia, since they're also rumored for a new coaster in 2011. Six Flags Over Texas can be ruled out too, because they're throwing in a lot of money on the Texas Giant refurbishment. Six Flags St. Louis is rumored for a Screamin' Eagle refurbishment, but I'm not ruling this out yet. It seems like a possibility, but not the MOST possible. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is rumored to refurbish Rattler in the 2010-2012 time period, so I'm probably going to rule this out too. Great Escape isn't rumored for much, so IDK. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom seems possible, but I'm not sure honestly. La Ronde just added Ednor from AstroWorld, so probably not. Mexico, I don't know why... but I doubt it.

So... who's left...? Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Great America. I'll first start with SFGAm (which, BTW, was rumored for a Dive Machine for 2009 along with SFGAdv).

Recently, rumor has it that 2012 will bring a new coaster. In 2011, they are getting a water park expansion (at least, that's what I think). BTW, if you haven't been following this, I'll post the updates so far:

2012 - New Ride - Rumor - (8/27/10) The early rumors for 2012 still claim that the park is right on track to finally get a new big coaster once again. No word on just what it might be yet, so stay tuned.
(8/3/10) It’s been some time, but there is an early rumor suggesting that a new coaster may finally be on the way to the park for 2012. The only problem is… it’s not expected to “the big one” that everyone has been hoping to get for some time now. After all, the last big coaster added to the park was back in 2003! A decade is a long time to wait for a new large coaster my friends…
(7/22/10) According to one reader, they spotted survey crews doing work in the former Splashwater Falls area. Looks like they may be working on something here after all, but for 2012 or 2011?
(7/19/10) Remember that rumor about a new flume ride in development for the park? If the latest rumor is true, they could be speaking to Mack about building a new Super Splash ride for them to replace the old Splashwater Falls ride for as early as 2012. More when we find out.

2011 - New Attraction(s) - Rumor - (8/27/10) SFGAm has posted a teaser for a 2011 announcement to their Facebook page that looks like a Puzzle. While they promise to remove a piece at a time as clues to the new attraction, one of our readers (credit to squirrelnut1416) did some URL digging and discovered that the image files were hosted on another site, and stupidly dated to match the day they would be uncovered. Daily files from the first day all the way through to August 31st were discovered on a host server, all easily accessed by the public from the too-easy to decipher file names.
All these files were hosted on the HFConcepts.com website (HeadFirst Concepts, a marketing and social media company... but one apparently not used to today’s ARG playing web-savvy coaster enthusiasts.) During the course of the day, the files have since been removed, but I did see the final image file myself first hand as well. Most of it was still covered up, but it was clear that the new addition is for Hurricane Harbor (you could make out part of the palm tree logo) where the top tag line read something to the extent of “The best water”, “just got bigger”. Then there is something about a new slide that will have a “near vertical” feature.
(8/5/10) The latest rumors suggest that SFGAm will make their 2011 on or near September 1st. On top of the rumored new project for the former Splash Water Falls site, we’ve heard a few rehabs and upgrade rumors are also being talked about such as some kind of ‘re-birth’ of for The Demon, new paint on Superman and Batmat (the later may get the identical paint job that SFMM’s version got last year), and possibly the return of backwards riding on American Eagle. All rumors still… but they all sound good too.
(8/3/10) The latest rumors from SFGAm suggest that the rumored waterpark expansion in 2011 could be delayed in favor of something new to take over the former Splash Water Falls site.
(6/22/10) Screamscape sources have confirmed that Chang is now no longer being planned for the park in 2011. New expansion plans are currently in the works and seem to involve the same basic plot of land… but with a focus on expanding Hurricane Harbor instead. Nothing has been finalized yet it seems, as all the plans are still in the air, though we have heard of one plan to add a water-coaster style slide to the park, possibly similar in style to the Wildebeest slide added to Holiday World this year. More as we find out.
(6/21/10) A new rumor has come up over the weekend at SFGAdv (New Jersey) that claims that the park may now be planning to replace their Great American Scream Machine coaster with CHANG. Up until now Chang has been all but confirmed for Six Flags Great America, with even a few pieces and the trains already spotted on site. The meetings to obtain the needed height variance permit are all but over... with the final approval meeting expected to take place today... Monday, June 21st.
While I haven’t seen it myself, I’ve heard a rumor that the Six Flags issue may have been unexpectedly removed from the agenda for tonight’s meeting, which only adds fuel to the fire that Chang could now be looking for a new home. Of course the online version of the agenda still shows it there, waiting to be finalized. I had been told that as soon as Al Weber took control of Six Flags, he began to made huge and immediate changes to the plans set in place for the 2011 season by Shaprio. I guess we’ll know more once the Monday meeting is over if the proposal to add Chang has been dropped or not. Stay tuned!
(5/3/09) According to a reader, some small Orange survey flags have been spotted in the area near the Sky Trek Tower, the Go-Karts and through the Space Shuttle America area. This is where the rumored expansion of Hurricane Harbor was rumored to be going so there could possibly be a connection.
(6/26/08) Screamscape sources have reinforced that Six Flags Great America will focus on expanding Hurricane Harbor in the near future, adding at least one major new attraction to the water park. However… I’ve also heard that they are thinking about turning the waterpark into a “second gate” where it will no longer be included free with your daily admission to Six Flags Great America. If I had to guess, they’ll probably add something that they’ve tested out at another park… so if I had to guess I’d be looking at either a Tony Hawk’s Halfpipe slide like what was added to Six Flags America in 2008 or if your lucky, a copy of Deluge, the hydromagnetic powered water coaster.

The water park expansion is rumored to take over the SSA site (where Chang was supposed to go up before it got sent to Great Adventure), and a new ride is rumored to take over the Splashwater Falls site. I also remember reading a rumor that the Go-Karts would get relocated to the old Splashwater Falls site. Let's say the water park expansion ends up going up somewhere else (like rerouting Six Flags Blvd around American Eagle, which frees up a lot of land), a Dive Machine (like Screamin' Eagle) can fit nicely in the old SSA site and relocate the Go-Karts to the SWF site, and that frees up a lot of land. They can even retheme that whole area altogether to accompany the new Dive Machine (and relocate the Sky Trek tower entrance). I also know of this rumor:

???? - Whizzer Replacement - Rumor - (7/19/10) Lots of interesting rumors were sent in regarding the possible future of SFGAm. This is all more long-term planning rumors, and nothing that is going to happen right away, so all of this can be taken with the grain of salt, as ideas constantly change as time goes by.
First off the disappointing news what we all knew would come someday. Yes… the Whizzer is going to close… someday. I know we’ve heard that rumor almost every year for the last decade or so, but the honest truth is that it is going to happen someday… sooner than we would like to think. It’s well know that the Whizzer is not only old, but difficult to get spare parts for, so most of the time they have to have stuff custom made, which isn’t cheap. The good news however is that in an attempt to be a little proactive, Six Flags is said to have asked Mack to look into recreating the Whizzer’s layout for when the time comes to replace it, they could possibly build an all new version for everyone to enjoy. Again… this is just something rumored to have been looked at, and there is no word if this was something done under Shapiro’s era or Weber’s new regime.

Say this was done under Shapiro's era and not Weber, they could probably build the Dive Machine in that spot too (even though I hope not... we need to spare the classics).

As for Magic Mountain, there have been rumors of a "Project 18." I still say this is for a new coaster, because there are 17 now, and with another one, there's 18. I also have this feeling that the rumored Tidal Wave removal might have some connection and that the coaster (let's say a Dive Machine like Screamin' Eagle) could interact a bit with Riddler's Revenge and also take over the old Freefall site.

Another possibility is Cyclone Bay. The recent new coasters (Terminator Salvation and Mr. Six's DanceCoaster) have gone up in that section. What if this is all a part of a 3-coaster expansion of that portion of the park? Terminator Salvation in 2009, Mr. Six in 2011, and an unknown coaster for 2012 (let's say Dive Machine) (which is the main weapon). There's some land behind Deja Vu (IDK if it's owned by the park or not). There's also a possibility of removing one of the coasters (I hope not though).

Deja Vu could be removed (since it's the only Deja Vu left, and was originally going to be removed with the other two). If it does, it opens a plethora of land, perfect for a Dive Machine (and possibly use that "Explore" themed land concept).

Ninja. Seems rather doubtful, but again THIS IS JUST SPECULATION!!!! Recently Arrow Suspended coasters have been disappearing (Big Bad Wolf and Eagle's Fortress are examples). If this is gone, it opens a plot of land. Maybe not for a Dive Machine, but for something.

Viper. With it being one of the only Arrow Mega-Loopers left, this does seem like a possibility. If it goes, it opens a decent-looking plot of land. Not to mention, if a Dive Machine goes up, it would look pretty cool next to X2. =D

I personally prefer either my Tidal Wave idea or my Cyclone Bay idea (without replacing Deja Vu) (they can even relocate the backstage area (behind Vu) by Viper or X2).

EDIT: I now realize that removing one of the coasters is not a possibility. It will destroy the purpose of "Project 18."

Hersheypark's New Coaster Height??

http://mobile.pennlive.com/advpenn/db_/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=82C71A9286E4F3B2C467B120C0506F4D?contentguid=XJ6qcCy6&full=true#display

New details emerged Tuesday evening regarding what Hershey Entertainment officials are calling a "new marquee attraction" scheduled for construction at some point over the next two years.

At a Derry Township zoning hearing board meeting, Tim Przybylowski, senior vice president with Benatec Associates Engineers, shared a few details regarding the secretive "Attraction 2012" project.

No names, dates or conceptual sketches were included with the board’s briefing. But what did emerge were a maximum height of 212.6-feet for the ride, which was described as a major attraction within Comet Hollow, home of the Comet and Superdooperlooper roller coasters.

Przybylowski said the company had selected the Comet Hollow to house the new attraction to help "balance out" the park’s attractions, especially following the 2009 opening of the Boardwalk, a popular water park area.

The new attraction also will include water — part of it will span an existing man-made pond near the Comet.

http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_15826822

HERSHEY - Hersheypark officials are seeking special permission from Derry Township for a new "attraction" that would open in the amusement park in 2012.

But they won't say what it is.

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. representatives presented their request for what they called "Attraction 2012" during a meeting of the Derry Township Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday night.

Tim Przybylowski, vice president of Century Engineering of Hunt Valley, Md., said the company is seeking special exceptions for maximum height and minimum front-yard areas, as well as a variance related to disturbing sensitive environmental areas. He said some of the most recent attractions, such as the Boardwalk and Midway America areas, have become quite popular.

"As a result, demand has increased greatly for the rides in that area, which on very busy days can impact our guests' experience," Przybylowski told the board. "Our goal with this proposed attraction is to help rebalance the park with a marquee attraction located in the historic Hollow area of the park."

The Hollow, also known in Hersheypark circles as the Comet Hollow, is a low-lying area bisected by the Spring Creek. It is surrounded in part by the wooden Comet and steel SooperDooperLooper coasters.

Przybylowski said the company would like relief to construct a new attraction to a height of 212.2 feet, or 12.2 feet over what is permitted.

"The proposed height of this proposed attraction has become industry normality," he said. "It's not the tallest attraction in Hersheypark; that would be the Kissing Tower at 330 feet."

Other amusement parks that compete with the company are building attractions between 300 and 460 feet in height, he pointed out.

"New attractions are needed to keep the park competitive," he said. "The additional 12.2 feet in height will not create any more impact or change the essential character of the area."

Two existing buildings used for catering in the Hollow would be removed to make room for the new attraction, he added. The proposal also calls for the construction of 32 support columns within the area of a manmade pond on the site, which he said would not have an environmental impact on the pond.

The tree-line buffer along Park Boulevard, where the attraction would be built, will remain intact, Przybylowski said.

"This new attraction will help reinvigorate and provide greater guest interest in the Hollow area and provide some relief to the Boardwalk and Midway areas," he said.

The Zoning Hearing Board has 45 days to make a decision on the request.

Although it appears the new attraction would be another roller coaster, company spokesman Garrett Gallia declined to confirm what it would be.

"No one is more excited to talk about the coming attraction than we are, and soon we'll be ready to share information with the public, but not quite yet," Gallia said after the meeting.

Century Engineering also has worked on the Gettysburg Battlefield Museum and Visitors Center project in Adams County.

So this will be 212 ft (or about 213 ft). Wow! =D

And hmmm... involves water. I assume it will involve the creek by Comet. Hmmm... maybe a splash down? I have this strange feeling that Bolliger & Mabillard (who made Great Bear) is still possible as the manufacturer of this thing... if so there are some nice possibilities:

B&M Hypercoaster:

Hypercoasters are taller than 200 ft, which increases the possibility. It is also said to punch through Comet's structure. Hmmm... maybe a 212 ft. lift hill? And also, with Diamondback having a splashdown, I've got to wonder if Hersheypark will do the same.

B&M Dive Machine:

This is one I extremely hope comes true! The tallest Dive Machine is 213 ft, which is right next to the height of this new coaster, and recent Dive Machine's include splashdowns (SheiKra, Griffon, Diving Coaster, Dive Coaster, and Heide Park's 2011 addition). America needs more Dive Machines!!!!

B&M 4D/Wing Rider:

Having looked at X-Raptor's stats, it also includes a splash down. I've got to wonder... let's say the new B&M creation is successful. I can see something like X-Raptor go up possibly. Though it isn't very high... keep in mind Busch Gardens expanded the Dive Machine model height. Maybe Hersheypark can do the same thing with the prototype.

So I can see a battle between B&M and Intamin. As for Intamin (who made Storm Runner and Fahrenheit), I can see this model as a possibility...:

Intamin Mega:

See B&M Hyper for more info.

I'm not really sure what others though.

I'm personally rooting for a B&M Dive Machine, because, like I said, AMERICA (or the world) NEEDS MORE DIVE MACHINES!!1!!!111!111!

4 WindSeekers Confirmed!

Cedar Point:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100824/BLOG20/100824062/1437/Cedar-Point-swings-on-beach

Cedar Point has announced a new ride for 2011 -- a giant 30-story-tall swing on its Lake Erie beach.

The $5 million ride will evoke the park's history, because for many years Cedar Point had a huge swinging ride actually IN Lake Erie. Old photos show riders in bathing costumes swinging around, over and into the waves.

The new ride, Wind Seeker, will be nearly as tall as the Millenium Force roller coaster, said spokesman Robin Innes. It will be 301 feet tall. Each swing will have two people in it, feet dangling. At its top spinning speed, it will go 25 to 30 miles per hour.

The ride replaces Ocean Motion, which will be torn down at the end of this season.

Mondial is the manufacturer.

Canada's Wonderland:

http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/92803--canada-s-wonderland-to-debut-new-ride-for-2011

TORONTO, Ont. - Canada's Wonderland plans to soar to new heights in 2011.

It's unveiled plans for its newest ride called "Windseeker."

Canada's Wonderland spokesperson Dineen Beaven shared the news during "Breakfast Television" on Citytv Tuesday morning.

"It's a 301-foot tower ride, which is essentially a swing. It's a lot of fun, we cannot wait to premiere this. To put it into perspective [...] currently our tallest rides are Behemoth and Drop Tower [are] at 230 feet," Beaven said.

She said it will be the tallest ride at the park.

Construction on the $5-million ride will start this fall.

Knott's Berry Farm:

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/index.php/windseeker-thrill-ri-7426/

The 301-foot-tall WindSeeker promises to change Knott’s Berry Farm’s skyline when the spinning swing ride debuts at the Buena Park theme park in 2011.

WindSeeker will carry 64 riders in twin-seat gondolas to the top of the tower, where the ride’s metal arms will extend out at a 45-degree angle and spin for one minute at 30 mph.

The $5 million WindSeeker thrill ride replaces the venerable but aging Sky Cabin, a 225-foot-tall gyro observation tower built in 1976 and painted in patriotic red, white and blue. In recent years, the sedate observation deck has become better known for getting stuck in mid-ascent than for its commanding views. Knott’s removed the nostalgic Sky Jump parachute drop from the tower in 1999, leaving only the Sky Cabin.

The WindSeeker tower will retain the Sky Cabin’s signature Knott’s “K” at the top of the ride.

WindSeeker will be just a bit shorter Knott’s 312-foot-tall Supreme Scream turbo drop ride, touted as the tallest freestanding structure in Orange County when it was built in 1998.

Cedar Fair, Knott’s parent company, will install identical WindSeekers in 2011 at Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio and Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario.

The ride’s Dutch manufacturer, Mondial, is embroiled in a bitter patent dispute with an Australian competitor over the ride’s design. FunTime’s Star Flyer looks like a classic wave swinger ride with seats suspended from chains while Mondial’s WindSeeker features steel arms designed for higher wind conditions.

WindSeeker had been an open secret on theme park websites like Screamscape and Westcoaster before FunTime spoiled Cedar Fair’s surprise last week by taking their patent infringement claim public.

So you think that's all??? Haha... forgot to post yesterday... Kings Island will also get a thrill ride for 2011 (this was confirmed in the news yesterday)... and it will ALSO be WindSeeker:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/308240026/Kings-Island-s-new-ride-WindSeeker

MASON – Kings Island calls its new ride WindSeeker, and it’s no ordinary swing set.

Announced Tuesday, the ride is a 301-foot-tall tower that will spin 64 riders in two-person swings at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, flaring out 45 degrees from the tower.

WindSeeker will open for the 2011 season in the Coney Mall section of the park near the Vortex roller coaster exit, according to park officials.

Kings Island spokesman Don Helbig said the new ride will add to a left-to-right panorama of tall attractions as viewed from Interstate 71 – Drop Zone at 315 feet tall, the Eiffel Tower at 313 feet, Diamondback at 230 feet and WindSeeker.

The ride also adds some pizzazz to a classic area of the park. Home to the Racer roller coaster, Coney Mall's old-fashioned feel and ubiquitous white wood is a nod to the venerable amusement park on the Ohio River where Kings Island has its roots.

“That’s one of the things our guests have said over the years, ‘We’d like to see more attractions in Coney Mall,’” Helbig said.

And here are some pictures of WindSeeker (first one's Cedar Point. Second is Canada's Wonderland. Third is Knott's Berry Farm. Last is Kings Island):









They all look so cool... GOOD NEWS: There is a possibility that we could be going to Knott's next summer, which possibly means that I will ride the Knott's version! =D

Anyways... time to start a new series... "The Update of the WindSeekers."

=D Can't wait for next summer!

A 2011 Hint from Knott's

Just found this on Knott's Berry Farm's Facebook:

You'll be flying higher than Supreme Scream's drop height in 2011 at Knott's! Facebook fans will find out how first on August 24!

Supreme Scream is 252 ft. If that's the case, this will be very huge! =D

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

The Mondial Wind Seeker

http://www.parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1596/Mondial_unveils_Wind_Seeker.html

This is the rumored ride for Cedar Point (replacing Ocean Motion), Canada's Wonderland, and Knott's Berry Farm (replacing Sky Cabin) opening in 2011. It looks pretty cool.

No Knott's Coaster for 2011 but for 2012 instead??

From Screamscape:

(8/19/10) Knott’s has now begun teasing us with an upcoming announcement for 2011 on their own Facebook page. The image show simply shows the park skyline with the old Parachute Drop tower on the left and Supreme Scream on the right. Xcelerator is barely seen at the bottom of the image…and there is a lot of empty sky inbetween. Sounds like something big may be on the way. Hmmm… another StratoSoar?
Meanwhile Westcoaster has posted their own update from Knott’s, along with a map showing off the locations of all those survey markers all over the park.

From the looks of things, 2011 might not bring a coaster for Knott's after all, but instead be a clone of the Wind Seeker ride that Cedar Point is getting. Bummer, because I was hoping to encounter a new coaster. But hey, at least they're getting something at all. =P

http://www.westcoaster.net/blog/2010/08/more-on-knotts-2011-project/

According to this article, the Wind Seeker is rumored to replace Sky Cabin (which explains why it was down all summer) (I heard that rumor a week or two back). If this is true, then this makes the park be the only Cedar Fair park to remove an observation tower.

With the stuff around the Sky Cabin (Wipeout and the games), rumors are spreading that those may be moved or removed as well. This should still be interesting, though. It's just kind of a bummer that the coaster won't be ready when we come to California next summer. =(

But of course, this doesn't mean that a coaster won't come in the near future, as rumors state that the markings could be for a 2012 coaster (according to the article) and have nothing to do with the Star Flyer addition. This brings us back to this rumor:

When I worked there back in 2006, somebody had gotten to see blueprints for what was supposed to be a new hyper coaster. We had seen all the higher ups scouting out the area as well, they were monitoring foot traffic, and it was all supposed to take place in the old Kingdom of the Dinosaurs building, thats where the station was going to be, with the queue taking out the arcade below and the drop turning out over I believe the street behind it was Western, can't recall, and into the employee parking lot for a Hammerhead turn, then over Bigfoot Rapids, and continue all over the place. Then, out of nowhere, in our eyes, everything was dropped, or put on hold. Maybe this is it, but changed a bit? It was supposed to be at least a 2 year construction process since it took up so much room. Hopefully something of the same is going to happen. It would actually give me a reason to visit again.

So this might not be changed as much as I thought after all (but maybe the rumor of Perilous Plunge getting removed may have to do with making a splash down for the coaster like Diamondback)... this could be an interesting project...