Disney has been releasing a bunch of new information, images and video about upcoming attractions the last couple weeks. Could it have something to do with all the Epic Universe buzz? Perhaps. However, it has been neat to see some of the technology they have planned, some of it at the earliest level of R&D I remember seeing it. One of the coolest releases was this video showing the vertical lift on the Monsters Inc. suspended “door” coaster!
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Get Your Engineering Cub Scout Adventure Loop at Fun Spot America Atlanta with ArieForce One!
The “Engineering” adventure has the potential to be one of the most fun and exciting in scouting as one of the handbook recommended activities is to have scouts build their own roller coaster! A trip to a theme park is a great way for the scouts to explore and learn about engineering and Fun Spot America Atlanta is perfectly suited for this adventure. Earning the “Engineering” Adventure Loop at Fun Spot can be as simple as watching a few YouTube videos, having a discussion, riding a great roller coaster and participating in the park’s “build your own roller coaster” activity.
Continue readingCould Regular Visits to a Theme Park Save Your Life? Study Shows 150 Minutes of Exercise a Week Reduces Mortality by 31%!
If you spend time at a theme park you know it can be a lot of walking. In some cases it’s 5-10 miles in a day complete with stairs and hills at some parks. That can be a serious workout and a new article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that it could actually be incredibly good for your health. The study showed that older adults who got 150 minutes of aerobic activity every week lessened their mortality risk by 31% compared to those who do not exercise. This means that the weekend trip to your local park with your season pass is “healthcare” if it gets you off the couch and away from screens.
Continue readingReview of Georgia Gold Rusher at Six Flags Over Georgia, a Coaster Full of Story and Airtime Fun!
I won’r bury the lead, Georgia Gold Rusher is an airtime machine! I had a chance to ride the new Georgia Gold Rusher at Six Flags Over Georgia as part of the March 13, 2025 media event. I was able to score my invite through my ACE membership and got 12 rides on the new Intamin Ultra Surf Coaster. The first thing you’ll notice is the high level of theming Six Flags Over Georgia has installed since last season, really unprecedented for the park since Batman. The mining theme is everywhere with flowing water features, machinery and beautiful wood decking greeting you in line. The ride itself is spectacular fun. The launches feel forceful and there is a surprising amount of airtime on the bunny hill between the two spikes. The weightless on the spikes is awesome too, but it’s really about the airtime on GGR (the abbreviation for Georgia Gold Rusher) that is so crazy good and way more than expected. This is a 10 out of 10 and will surely be a hit for Six Flags Over Georgia as its only launch and spinning coaster.
Continue readingHeaded to the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin? Ride the Zippin Pippin Roller Coaster for Only $1.50 at Bay Beach Amusement Park!
The 2025 NFL Draft is headed to Green Bay, Wisconsin form April 24-26, 2025. It was also just announced from Bay Beach Facilities Supervisor, Britney Burkart-Labar that the city owned Bay Beach Amusement park will be open to coincide with the draft, operating on Wednesday, April 23 through Saturday, April 26 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m . What is Bay Beach you might ask? It’s a 100+ year old amusement park on the shore of Lake Michigan that is home to a world class wooden roller coaster that Elvis loved called Zippin Pippin and you can ride it for only $1.50!
Continue readingA Combination Spinning Flat Ride and Centrifugal Birthing Machine?
Years ago I took a class on patents and was shown some examples of crazy patents to demonstrate that not all inventions have to work or be useful in real life in order to be granted a patent. One of these was US Patent #3,216,423 “Apparatus for facilitating the birth of a child by centrifugal force”. This was brought to mind again as Hashem Al-Ghaili recently released a video of the potential device in action that was mind blowing. To summarize the invention, it’s essentially a spinning table that literally helps pull the baby out with the same centrifugal forces you’d feel on your favorite theme park ride.
Continue readingThere’s an Indoor Vekoma Suspended Family Roller Coaster in Kiev, Ukraine!
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!
Continue readingWill New Steel Tariffs Affect New Steel Roller Coaster Costs?
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.
Continue readingValentine’s “Love & Adventure” at Busch Gardens
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Busch Gardens with their amazing “Love & Adventure” event on either February 14th or 15th, After the park closes from 8pm to 10pm the Egypt section on the park will be transformed into a romantic adventure featuring fun, food and entertainment. Rides such as Montu and Cobra’s Curse will be open and there will be animal encounters, carnival games, a Caricature Artist, music and other performances to entertain you. On the food front you’ll get a complementary cocktail and a spread of artisan charcuterie, gourmet desserts, and sweet treats. All this is only $45/person
Continue readingA Used Roller Coaster is Up for Auction!
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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BGT Safari 
