Author: printingddd

Ride a Roller Coaster at your Local Arcade with the Rilix Coaster

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The Rilix Coaster VR at the Strand Adventures Arcade in Manitowoc, Wisconsin
The Rilix Coaster VR at the Strand Adventures Arcade in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

On a recent trip to Strand Adventures, a family entertainment center in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, I ran across the Rilix Coaster in the arcade. It was quickly obvious it was a VR experience, but with the twist of being coaster themed. I’ve ridden virtual reality coasters before, but they’re not usually in the regular arcade and instead are more of an upcharge experience, usually with an attendant. There are other arcade VR experiences too like Virtual Rabbids, but not with a complete coaster theme, so the Rilix Coaster is unique in its offering.

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The Closing of La Vibora at Six Flags Over Texas Ends the Era of the Intamin Bobsledding Coaster

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La Vibora at Six Flags Over Texas. An Intamin Swiss Bob Roller coaster.
La Vibora at Six Flags Over Texas by Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

I was sad to see the closure of La Vibora at Six Flags Over Texas on November 4, 2024. As far as I can tell it was the last standing of what was known as the Swiss Bob roller coaster by Intamin. On a Swiss Bob a bobsled like vehicle is taken up a lift hill and then released into a tubular track to free roll and mimic the action of Olympic bobsledding. Most classify this style of ride as a roller coaster even though it lacks traditional track. La Vibora is being removed to make room for a new dive coaster for 2026 (here’s a video of the demolition from Amusement Source), which no doubt will be a great addition for the park, but the uniqueness of the Swiss Bob will surely be missed.

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Aerie’s Alpine Coaster Review at Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois

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Aerie's Mountain Coaster rider camera

Just over the Missouri border outside St. Louis in the southwest corner of Illinois you’ll find the town of Grafton with Aerie’s Resort and Aerie’s Alpine Coaster. This Wiegand mountain coaster opened in September of 2022 and is currently the only mountain coaster in Illinois. The coaster sports 3,885 feet of track in a beautiful resort setting that offers insane views of the Mississippi River below.

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SWIFT Rails Plans to Use Aspects of Roller Coaster Technology for Safe, Fast and Efficient Travel

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SWIFT Rails Pod on Track
SWIFT Rails Pod on Track (picture courtesy of SWIFT Rails)

I came across an intriguing company called SWIFT Rails that looks like a blend of a transit system, autonomous car and roller coaster all in one. However, instead of being designed for delivering intense forces and thrills, SWIFT Rails is designed to give safe, comfortable and efficient transportation.

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Wild Adventures Opening on “Pi Day” 2025!

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Wild Adventures PassHolder Preview

Wild Adventures is opening for its passholder preview on Friday, March 14, 2025. This is the day before the regular park opening on March 15, 2025 and is one of the first 2025 opening date announcements I’ve seen. The date also corresponds to “Pi Day”, so it’ll be interesting to see if the park does anything interesting with “pie” that night. 2025 will be especially exciting with the opening of the new Water’s Edge area of the park. The campground will also open that weekend and begin operating for its first complete season.

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Want to Live in Walking Distance of Disneyland?

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An article caught my eye about a house within walking distance of Disneyland for under $1 million. One of the complications of a visit to many parks is dealing with the travel, traffic and parking to get to the front gate and back home at the end of the day. Sometimes walking to a park is possible if there is a resort hotel on property, but this would be like having this convenience permanently. The house sold in October, but it had me thinking what it would be like to live so close to a theme park.

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Watch Ryan the Ride Mechanic Videos and Help Toys for Tots at the Same Time

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One of my favorite creators, Ryan the Ride Mechanic, is donating 100% of the proceeds from his YouTube channel for one month to Toys for Tots. The month runs from October 13th until November 13th, meaning you’ve got about a week left to help participate. Ryan’s stuff covers everything from deep dives into how things like the upcoming Siren’s Curse tilt coaster will work to analysis of ride issues like the crack on Fury 325 last year. Ryan uses his years as a ride mechanic, a great sense of humor and CAD (cardboard-assisted design) to explain the engineering behind some of your favorite rides. The money goes to a great cause and it’s great content, so head on over to the Ryan the Ride Mechanic YouTube Channel and watch a video or two!

A Halloween Pumpkin Patch with a Roller Coaster?

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Happy Bee Coaster
Happy Bee Coaster (pic courtesy of@one.click.gang)
Happy Bee Coaster
Happy Bee Coaster (pic courtesy of@one.click.gang)

Dynabrook Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch in Harrodsburg, KY looks like an amazing place to spend a fall day. However, unlike you standard pumpkin patch that may have a hayride, corn maze or maybe a small flat ride, this place also has a roller coaster! The coaster is called “Happy Bee” is a powered coaster made by Chinese manufacturer Henan Beston. The roller coaster isn’t anything huge of course, but the fact that they have a permanent coaster at a pumpkin patch is pretty cool.

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The Most Important Ride You Take this Month Could Be to Your Local Polling Place to Vote!

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Vote spelled in roller coaster track
Ride the “Voter Coaster” this November!

Election Day is November 5th and many states have already been voting for weeks. This season the most important ride you take could be the one to your local polling center to cast your vote. I know sometimes politics can be deflating and voting can seem inconsequential, but nothing gets better when good people sit on the sidelines. I’n some ways I’ve heard it said that if you don’t vote you lose your ability to complain about the outcome. Democracy works best when we all participate and exercise the freedom to vote that was fought for in several iterations by so many before us.

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