The first modern wooden shuttle roller coaster Switchback has been sold and will be headed to a new home. ZDT’s Amusement Park in Seguin, Texas closed a year ago and the coaster along with it. The owners have been trying to find a home ever since and have announced a year later that it has finally happened. No details at all about the new location are known yet. Hopefully this is both encouraging and calibrating for fans of the recently closed ArieForce One at Fun Spot Atlanta. It’s encouraging to show there is a market for coaster relocation, but also calibrating in that it took a year to happen.
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Did the “B&M Rattle” Cause Bolliger & Mabillard to End Their Relationship With US Based Track Supplier Clermont Steel?
Coaster enthusiasts have claimed for the last several years that new B&M (Bolliger & Mabillard) coasters aren’t as smooth as they used to be with a rattle or shake. Complaints have centered on rides like Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando and Iron Menace at Dorney Park. It seems like sport now every time a new B&M opens, like Tormenta, to wait for reports of if it has the B&M rattle. There has been much speculation as to the cause ranging from issues with the ride bearings or something with the train to inconsistencies with the track gauge causing the train to go “hunting” for center. This rattle is not like riding an old school wooden coaster or anything, but merely a departure from the glass smooth rides B&M has gotten a reputation for over the years. So did something in the design change? Is it a quality control issue? There are rumors of B&M ending a long relationship with track supplier, Clermont Steel, could this all be related?
Continue readingCould a Lawsuit Dismissal Lead to More B&M Surf Coasters like Pipeline at SeaWorld Orlando?
SeaWorld Orlando built Pipeline, the world’s first “surf coaster” by B&M (Bolloger & Mabillard) in 2023. It was a prototype that was meant to be an improvement on the old stand-up coasters. It could also potentially provide B&M another genre of coasters to sell along with it’s wing, hyper, Giga, dive and other models. Pipeline got rather solid reviews from the public, but another surf coaster has yet to be built. However, it turns out there was a good reason why, but that may now be about to change. In 2024 Vekoma filed suit against B&M claiming the “surf coaster” design violated their patent US7987793B2. However, several months ago according to PatSnap a judge dismissed this case with prejudice (meaning Vekoma cannot sue again) and thus B&M is now clear to sell its design to other parks without fear of subsequent patent infringement lawsuits. This could potentially open the door for more surf coasters in 2027 and beyond.
Continue readingCoastersauraus to Reopen at LEGOLAND Florida on National Roller Coaster Day on August 16, 2026
After a long refurbishment, Coastersaurus at LEGOLAND Floridad is scheduled to reopen on August 16, 2026, which also happens to be National Roller Coaster Day! The refurbishment was extensive, replacing the whole structure of the ride, control system and the restraint system on the trains, so this is almost a new coaster at this point. This was the first major refurbishment of the ride since it opened in 2004 at Cypress Gardens (the park before it was a LEGOLAND) in 2004. With all the work they still wanted to maintain the original character of the ride as Coastersaurus is Florida’s only fully wooden roller coaster and the only wooden coaster in a LEGOLAND park. The refurbishments are expected to extend the life of the roller coaster another 20-30 years, meaning you’ll be able to enjoy Coastersaurus for decades to come!
Continue readingRoller Coaster Testing Includes Water-Filled Test Dummies and Kids Trying to Wiggle Out of Restraints
Ever wonder how they test a roller coaster? Before a coaster is even built today, computer modeling will verify things like the g-forces being within safe thresholds and that the track layout doesn’t have any “envelope” issues (places where a rider’s hands or other body parts could make contact with the structure). However, theoretical testing is not enough, practical testing is needed too. After the track is first inspected inch by inch, a car will then do a “pull-through” test, usually by a winch, to check everything. Often a large piece of plywood will be mounted on a seat to represent the maximum reach of a rider’s hands to check the “envelope” again. Then the train will cycle all or part of the course empty before the water-filled dummies below will get the first ride! Before a human sets foot on a new coaster, dummies like this will take dozens or hundreds of laps with sensors and cameras aboard to be sure everything is OK. The restraints are also tested long before construction and if you’re in the Orlando area you can potentially even help Skyline Attractions with this next Saturday, August 15, 2026!
Continue readingThe New Bakunawa Roller Coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure is Based on a Mythological Moon-Eating Dragon From the Philippines!
A lot of people were a bit surprised at the name and logo for Six Flags Great Adventure’s new coaster, Bakunawa? However, it actually has a really cool backstory. The Bakunawa is a legendary, dragon-like sea serpent creature from Philippine mythology. It’s known as the “moon-eater” and folklore credits it as the cause of eclipses, earthquakes and storms. Its name is a compound word meaning “bent snake”. Bakunawa was said to live in the ocean, but would fly to the moon to try to swallow it and thus cause eclipses. Filipino people would bang pots and pans during an eclipse to try to scare it away. It was largely an oral tradition, but below is 18th century engraving depicting a Philippine warship. Given the ride’s design and this name/mythology, there’s tons of ways Six Flags could use this in theming!
Continue readingThere’s Still an RMC in Georgia Called Twisted Cyclone and it’s Pretty Good
Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) roller coaster ArieForce One at Fun Spot Atlanta closed on August 2, 2026. Everyone is hopeful it will be relocated somewhere, but it probably won’t be in Georgia as its future is unknown. However, there’s still an RMC coaster in Georgia and it’s pretty darn good. Twisted Cyclone is located at Six Flags Over Georgia and opened in 2018 as a conversion of the former Georgia cyclone. Twisted Cyclone features 3 inversions and 10 airtime hills. It was designed by RMC coaster legend Alan Schilke. It’s on the shorter side at 2,400 feet, but packs one heck of a punch.
Continue readingThe Final Day of ArieForce One and Fun Spot Atlanta
August 2, 2026 marked the last day for Fun Spot Atlanta and ArieForce One and Inwas lucky enough to be there. Lots of feelings for sure as I attended opening day of ArieForce One just a little over 3 years ago. This article isn’t about what might be next for the iconic coaster, but instead is just a recap of the day. I arrived at 9:30am and the ticket line was already long. ArieForce was already running as ACE had an ERT event that morning. John Arie, Jr. (Fun Spot owner) came out at 9:45am and gave a brief, but moving talk thanking the fans and the park staff and declared the park open a few minutes early.
Continue readingNew Vekoma Vest Restraint is a Nice Improvement for SLC’s and Boomerangs
On a recent trip to New York I had a chance to experience the newer Vekoma vest restraints on both an SLC and a Boomerang. I rode the SLC Mind Eraser at Darien Lake and the Boomerang Flashback at Darien Lake. For me they offered a sincerely improved ride on both attractions. The difference was especially noticeable for my 10 year old son on Mind Eraser as he is much more prone to head-banging with his barely 54” height. These restraints were comfortable and also look great on the new trains. I had ridden Boomerang at Darien Lake as well (which has the classic over the shoulder restraints) and the difference between it and Flashback at Great Escape were quite noticeable. Boomerang wasn’t bad, but the new trains and restraints on Flashback made for a better experience.
Continue readingSchedule for Fun Spot Atlanta and ArieForce One Last Day on August 2, 2026
Got an email with a list of the events for Sunday. I won one of the auctions for a seat on the first public train 3 years ago, but it feels like yesterday. Hope to see everyone Sunday.
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