Rides

Operate Real Construction Equipment at Dig’n Zone! A Review of New Theme Park in Sevierville, TN.

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Dig,n Zone Entrance
Dig,n Zone Entrance

Dig’n Zone is a brand new theme park where “Kids” of all ages will have a blast riding, driving and operating real construction equipment! Dig’n Zone is the world’s largest construction-based theme park with over 25 attractions spread over 27 acres. This is family focused entertainment where children and adults can spend a full day operating or riding on various types of construction equipment. From crushing a toy bus with a pavement roller, driving a skid-steers or taking a wild ride in the bucket of an excavator, this park will let you live out big equipment dreams.

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There’s an Indoor Vekoma Suspended Family Roller Coaster in Kiev, Ukraine!

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Suspended Family Roller Coaster - MK900 located at Galaxy Family Amusement Park
Suspended Family Coaster – MK900 (photo from Galaxy Park)

So I was surprised to learn there is an indoor roller coaster in a theme park inside a mall in Ukraine. This isn’t just any roller coaster though, but a Vekoma suspended family coaster called “Suspended Family Coaster – MK900” located at Galaxy Family Amusement Park in the Lavina Mall in Kyiv, Ukraine. It’s not the most creative roller coaster name, but it is the first indoor suspended roller coaster I’m aware of anywhere. The ride also appears to be operating daily which says something given the war going on in Ukraine!

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Will New Steel Tariffs Affect New Steel Roller Coaster Costs?

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Steel Curtain Roller Coaster sign at Kennywood
Steel Curtain by Roller Coaster Philosophy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Trump Administration recently announced a new 25% tariff on all imported steel that is set to go into effect on March 12, 2025. A steel roller coaster uses a significant amount of steel, in fact Steel Curtain at Kennywood is reported to weigh an astounding 2.67 million pounds with 113 pieces of track, 1,162 total pieces and 21,470 bolts! The largest single track piece of track weighed 15,000 pounds. A tariff wouldn’t just affect steel coasters though, but also affect flat rides and even drop towers. So let’s talk about the potential impact of a steel tariff on the theme park industry and what we can expect going forward. We won’t get into politics or the potential economic reasons for tariffs, just how it might affect new ride costs in the future.

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A Used Roller Coaster is Up for Auction!

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Wanna bid on a roller coaster? This isn’t Scorpion from Busch Gardens or anything (which I’ve heard rumors of relocation about), but a kiddie coaster called Safari Coaster from the defunct All Star Adventures Theme Park in Wichita, Kansas that’s up for auction! This is from the “Miner Mike” line of kiddie/family coasters by Wisdom Rides and operated until 2024. It is an auction by Bill Ramsey & Associates, LLC who seems to specialize in the Family Entertainment Center space.

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Mine Blower at Fun Spot America Kissimmee is a Fun Ride with Explosive Power in a Small Footprint

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Mine Blower roller coaster at Fun Spot America Kissimmee

Mine Blower is the signature coaster at Fun Spot Kissimmee. Among coaster enthusiasts it’s both famous and infamous as it has an amazing layout that’s wildly fun, but has also gotten a reputation for being rough, even by wooden coaster standards. However, the park has recently attempted to address this issue with an RMC 208 partial retrack. I had the chance to ride it on a recent trip to the Orlando area and here’s my review of the experience along with an overview of the great Gravity Group creation that is Mine Blower.

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Georgia Gold Rusher Coming to Six Flags Over Georgia in Spring of 2025!

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Georgia Gold Rusher logo
Georgia Gold Rusher Logo (courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia)

On January 22, 2025 Six Flags Over Georgia announced its newest thrill attraction, Georgia Gold Rusher, will open in Spring of 2025. This first-of-its-kind family ride combines high-speed adventure and soaring elevation with free-spinning gondola seating and dynamic water features. This attraction was originally announced with the name Georgia Surfer and the new Georgia Gold Rusher’s name and reimagined theming is part of a larger investment in overall guest experience. Enhancements in dining, décor, storytelling and retail will accompany the new attraction.

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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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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!