theme-park

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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Homeschool Family Deal at Lego Discovery Center Atlanta Deal Has $9 Tickets for March 2025!

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Logo Lego Discovery Center Atlanta
Logo (from Lego Discovery Center Atlanta)

Lego Discovery Center in Atlanta is offering $9 tickets to homeschool families (both adults and children) during the month of March 2025. This offer is valid Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm and includes everything a standard admission would include such as the 4D theater and all the other play experiences. This is a GREAT deal as the regular admission price starts at $24.99.

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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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Sunset on the Serengeti is an Exclusive Evening Dinner Adventure at Busch Gardens Tampa

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Sunset on the Serengeti at Busch Gardens Tampa
Sunset on the Serengeti at Busch Gardens Tampa

Update January 2026: Sunset on the Serengeti is back at Busch Gardens! It is being offered January through March. The good news is the price is unchanged at $89.99/person.

Busch Gardens Tampa has begun offering a Sunset on the Serengeti adventure that is both an animal encounter and a dinner. The adventure begins promptly at 5:30pm with a guided safari experience at sunset followed by dinner and drinks at the park’s Treetop Kitchen. The experience is currently offered only on Saturdays and starts at $89.99/person, but this does include dinner, a cocktail and the animal encounter portion and park admission is NOT required to participate. The park describes the experience below:

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Six Flags Over Georgia Announces 2025 Opening Date and Special Event Schedule with New Parade!

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Six Flags Over Georgia Logo

Six Flags Over Georgia announced its 2025 opening date will be March 15, 2025. The park also announced its event schedule including things such as the much loved Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park events. Holiday in the Park was recently recognized as one of the best theme park holiday events by USA Today’s “10 Best” contest. This spring will also be BIG with the opening of the new Georgia Gold Rusher roller coaster!

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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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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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