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World News:
 Australia - (5/16/09) Theme Park News Direct reports that Australia’s Jamberoo park is preparing to submit plans to build a large waterpark project called Kangaroo Island that will feature a number of high capacity, high-thrill ProSlide creations.
(4/20/09) A large new waterpark called Adventure Waters has been pitched for a site just 12 km North of the Cairnes CBD. You can read more about the kind of attractions proposed as well as take a look at the overall concept art layout of the park at Theme Park News Direct.
(3/2/09) Employees of the massive Southern Star giant wheel in Australia have been let go after it has been determined that it could take 6 months to repair the wheel. The wheel was shut down last month after structural damaged caused by a heat-wave was discovered.
(2/9/09) A long running attempt from cranky local neighbors near Luna Park to have the park’s rides shut down has failed it’s latest attempt in the Supreme Court.
(2/5/09) Due to the intense heat waves in Australia right now the massive Southern Star giant wheel has been closed ‘due to buckling’ according to the report at Theme Park News Direct.
(2/4/09) I’ve got a little more information abou the AiRush indoor skydive attraction on the way to the Gold Coast. According to the company the ride will be built by SkyVenture using a similar design to the one used at Universal Studios Hollywood in Citywalk, that will include a 3-story tall transparent acrylic flight chamber to allow everyone to watch the action. You can see the official website here.
(2/3/09) According to Theme Park News Direct the first indoor skydiving attraction in Australia is coming to the Gold Coast and will be named AiRush.
(1/28/09) According to Theme Park News Direct several of the Australian theme parks have initiated a cut-back in operational hours for their parks starting in February.
Bahamas - (12/29/08) In probably the oddest news report of the month, we have a very interesting report from the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. Most people have seen or heard of the attractions iconic slide, the Leap of Faith, which includes a steep drop down into a clear tube that travels underwater through a shark tank. Click the link here to take a good look at how the shark tank surrounds the drop-down point of the waterslide here.
Now according to TMZ and their assortment of 10 incredible pictures, it seems that in the morning hours before the park opened to the public one of the sharks decided to JUMP over the barrier and rode the waterslide the rest of the way down into the splash down pool. Staff were able to get the shark out and return it to it’s proper environment, but the time spent in the highly chlorinated water of the waterslide proved to be too much for it and it later passed away.
Canada - (5/30/09) After a few delays over the past couple of years the new regulation that will require tourists from America to carry a passport before they can re-enter the United States from Canada (via Ground) will go into effect on June 1st. When this happens, expect the industry to keep a careful eye on the Niagara Falls area, where the heavily built up Canadian side of the border has become very dependent upon American tourism.
Many of the businesses owners there are already bracing for the impact, expecting this to possible be a very uncomfortable summer season for them as your average American doesn’t have a passport and the process to get them can sometimes take several months. Not to mention with the economy the way it is, many people will just opt out of traveling across the border rather than fork out the money for a passport unless they really think they will use it.
According to this article that talked with American tourists visiting during the last few days before the rule change, many of them confirmed that they were visiting ‘one last time’ before it was too late. Some say that they probably wouldn’t have come if they needed a passport, while some mentioned the expensive cost of buying a passport as the primary reason for not coming in the future.
For the Canadians however, the fear is that it could take a “generation” before owning a passport in America becomes a standard thing. Tourism has already dropped significantly over the last two years when the new policy was announced due delays in the start date and confusion over the status of the entire matter.
(5/9/09) Anyone who wants to get a last ride in on the Endicott Emerald Mine coaster at Wild Zone Adventures (Canada) had better do so before July 1st, as the small park and other surrounding facilities (Wheels Bowling Alley, Fitness Club/Health Spa, etc) will be closed. You can read more here.
China - (6/22/09) A picture gallery showing off a new park in China called Beijing Carnival has been posted by Coaster Touring. The new attraction was built next to the Olympic Bird Nest stadium and has a couple of small coasters along with a collection of various flat rides.
(4/17/09) Local police have made 16 arrests in relation to the attack on the Guangzhou theme park earlier this month.
(4/13/09) In a freaky news article a bunch of angry men went on a rampage through the Guangzhou Grand World Scenic Park in China earlier this week, using a variety of weapons (Swords, fishing spears, iron bars and firearms) which they used to attach the security guards and smash up the park. You can learn more about this park here.
(1/9/09) In an odd bit of news, Gu Gu the Panda at the Beijing Zoo attacked a guest who decided to scale the nearly 5 foot tall fence and jump into the enclosure to retrieve a toy dropped by his son. Apparently this is the third such attack on a zoo guest, all of which have apparently also been lured into the Panda’s habitat by the irresistible urge to have a cuddle with the massive 240 pound beast. This is the best quote ever though, “in 2007, he bit a drunken tourist who jumped into his pen and tried to hug him. The tourist retaliated by biting the bear in the back.” Zoo officials are now “considering changes to keep visitors away from Gu Gu the panda.”
(9/10/08) Theme Park Review is back with another trip report, this time visiting Happy Valley Shenzen, Honey Lake and Donghu Park.
(9/9/08) While we’ve been seeing some of the glamourous side of China’s newer theme parks, Theme Park Review also shows us that China has their own ‘ghetto’ parks as well. Today we get to see Nanhu Amusement Park and Jing Ying Park.
(9/8/08) New updates from China from the Theme Park Review crew as they visit Chimelong and tackle the Vertical Coaster and a collection of other good looking rides. Next up is a visit to Mysterious Island that has a neat looking Intamin Rocket coaster as well as a rare S&S Screamin’ Squirrel. Then a quick stop at Pearl Land and the indoor Amazing World park that has a few very unique coaster-type rides.
(9/3/08) Catch up on the latest misadventures of the Theme Park Review trip to China as they descend upon Happy Valley which has a very well themed Mine Train and as well as a themed B&M Flyer (Superman clone) called Crystal Wings that flies in and out of a huge complex of rockwork and castle ruins. Seriously… you’ve got to see this coaster to believe it. If you want more click here to see the pictures from Beijing Amusement Park and Sun Park.
(8/18/08) In a unique twist, China has announced some interesting plans for the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. They will transform the old Nanshi Power Plant building into a building that will house the displays about generating clean electricity from wind, solar and tidal energy sources. The plant’s old 165 meter smoke stack will be transformed into the World Expo Harmony Tower, a 201 meter tall observation tower. Take a close look at the artwork and you’ll see lots of spiral track covering the exterior of the tower which will be used to shuttle cars full of guests up to the top of the tower.
Egypt - (4/2/09) There is always one nagging thought hiding in the dark recesses of any theme park enthusiasts’ mind when the thought of taking a trip somewhere off the beaten path is brought up. “But are there any new parks I can visit, or new coasters to ride?”
Here with the 411 for anyone who has ever thought about going to Egypt is some new updates to ThemeParks.IE for the area’s nine parks. They’ve got updates for Cairo Land, Dream Park, Koki Park, Magic Galaxy, Fantazy Land, Geroland, Magic Land, Wonderland and Sinbad Amusement Park.
France - (4/18/09) Papea City has bought the old Beaver Land Mine Ride kiddie coaster (Zierer) from Geauga Lake and will install it sometime this year.
Germany - (3/10/09) After working on Screamscape for as long as I have, I was quite shocked when a reader sent me a link to a proposed indoor/outdoor theme park project proposed for Germany near the Netherlands border called Diamonda. The crazy thing is that this park looks like Epcot directly inspired it. Just watch the preview video here to see what I mean, though I have serious doubts we’ll ever see this project built. One of the final quotes in the video kind of says it call… “A theme park built for adults that school age children will also enjoy.” Yep… there’s a good marketing tagline.
(2/9/09) For fans of the traveling coaster circuit in Germany Coaster 101 has posted a collection of pictures of Olympia Looping taken over the last several years. The five inversion Schwarzkopf coaster is still one of the largest traveling coasters you’ll find anywhere in the world.
(9/30/08) A train got stuck on the lift of the Olympia Looping coaster at the Munich Oktoberfest. Normally they would just evacuate the riders down the stairs, but the lead car was past the catwalk, so rescue crews had to come in to remove the riders with a lift.
(7/2/08) Screamscape’s European sources have confirmed that Eurostar has been sold to Russia’s Gorky Park. In place of Eurostar at the Rhine fair Bruch will bring in “Alpinabahn” instead.
(5/29/08) More strange news from the German fair circuit… this time about the fate of Eurostar, the famous portable inverted coaster. We’ve heard a rumor that Eurostar may have been sold to an attraction somewhere in Russia. Has anyone else heard this?
(5/26/08) According to the latest rumors, Rudolf Barth is now planning to premier his new “Loopcoaster” in Herne (Cranger Kirmes) that will open August 1st, 2008. If true, this is expected to be the trial run before they take it to Oktoberfest in Munich.
 (3/13/08) While I no way to know if this is legit or not, a reader sent in this picture showing off what they claim is a piece of sample track and chassis in the background for the new portable looping coaster going to Oscar Bruch in 2009. Meanwhile his main competitor, Rudolf Barth, is still said to be opening his new portable Loopcoaster at Oktoberfest 2008.
(11/30/07) Today we’ve got some interesting information about the unique traveling coaster marketplace over in Germany where large multi-inversion coasters have been designed to be portable and travel the continent to various fairs and Ocktoberfest events. Some of the more legendary traveling coasters include EuroStar, Thriller (which made an American debut as Taz’s Texas Tornado at Six Flags Astroworld after over a decade of travel in Europe) and Olympia Looping and many others. Historically many of the larger traveling rides came from the mind of Anton Schwarzkopf but in recent years new traveling coasters have been shrunk down to the size of large wild mice or spinning coasters for the most part.
Now if the latest rumors are true, two of Germany’s biggest showmen are looking to up the ante once again with new creations. Rudolf Barth, who still operates the 5 inversion Olympia Looping coaster, is rumored to be working with Gerstlauer on a new creation that could premier at the Munich Ocktoberfest 2008. Meanwhile one of his main competitors, Oscar Bruch who formerly owner Thriller and now Eurostar, is also said to be planning his own new big creation that could appear in 2009 or 2010.
Italy - (4/2/09) Parksmania has posted a news article that talks about the future of the Aqualandia waterpark in Italy, that would see it expand into more of a resort destination with a new hotel and “holiday village” planned.
(3/27/09) Today we’ve got a fun park video from Europark Indroscale in Italy, home to the first Flying Fury ride from Technical Park. The park also has a couple of other unique attractions including a STANDING Swing Ship as well as a unique Wave Swinger where riders are actually encourages to swing and push each other around in mid-air in order to snag a free plush toy suspended very high up in the air. You can see just how high this one girl is swung out in order to actually grab the thing.
Japan - (6/18/09) A quite interesting update was added to Westcoaster today. These are more pictures from Japan… taken during a trip “where your manhood goes to die”. Yes… they went to Sanrio Puroland, the Hello Kitty theme park, to keep the wife happy.
(5/29/09) A fun photo trip report from Japan showing off the Tokyo Dome, La Qua and a look at Thunder Dolphin and more can be found at Westcoaster this week.
(2/19/09) If you’re a fan of wacky Japanese game shows you may have heard of Sasuke, better known as Ninja Warrior to Americans who have been watching it for some time now on G4. Japan has a little indoor attraction that has a tie to the famous TV show called Muscle Park. Make the jump over to Theme Park Review to take a look inside. After that take a visit to a strange Japanese park by the name of Hanayashiki which just has to be seen.
(1/30/09) Check out pictures from Sea Paradise in Japan posted to Theme Park Review.
(12/2/08) Check out this video of Japan’s Space World amusement park posted by Theme Park Review.
Kuwait - (2/9/09) Than
ks to Gerstlauer for sending in two pictures of a new custom spinning coaster going into the Mall of Kuwait, which is set to open sometime in 2009.
(2/5/08) Cartoon Network has signed a deal with Future Kid Entertainment & Real Estate Co. to build a new indoor theme park attraction in Kuwait City by the end of the year. The indoor park will cover 3,500 square-meters (37,673 square-feet) and include games, rides, characters, food stands and retail shops. Future Kid currently owns and operates a chain of attractions in Kuwait as well as a franchised Dave & Busters, two waterparks (Aqua Park & Aquatic Mesilla Village) and is planning the Snow Dome indoor ski resort project. The company has also recently founded the Farah Land Entertainment Company to build another chain of attractions in the Saudi Arabia.
Mexico - (3/31/09) A new theme park has opened in Mexico called Parque Bicentenario, which is located about 20 minutes from Queretaro City. According to the information posted to Theme Park Review (along with a bunch of pictures) the park’s total cost was around $37 million (US) and was apparently a government project. The park even features an old Arrow style Loop/Screw though I’m not sure where this coaster came from, or even if it is an Arrow or Vekoma just yet. Anyone know more?
(2/4/09) Some artwork for the Mayan Adventures theme park concept in Cozumel can be seen here. It shows off some kind of coaster/boat looking ride that drops down the front of a Mayan temple structure.
(1/28/09) The group behind the Mayan Adventures project in Cozumel has issued a press release about the project, talking mostly about the Phase 1 waterpark project that they hope to have open by the summer of 2010. The waterpark will feature nine attractions, ranging from a kiddie playland and man-made beach area up to a “white water rapids inner tube ride”.
Phase 2 gets more interesting, with a proposed 2012 opening date, where they want to build “one thrill ride, three indoor/outdoor high speed coaster rides” and an “indoor and outdoor stage show”.
(1/16/09) According to our friends at MontanaRusa, a new park project has been announced for Cozumel. The proposed park is named Mayan Adventure Land and wants to build on a 90 acre site, with the hopes of breaking ground in 2009. The multi-phase project will build a waterpark first that could open in 2010.
(1/15/09) According to our friends at MontanaRusa.com, Valle Fantastico located a Pubela Mexico has closed up this week. It’s currently unknown if the park will reopen or not, though the official story is that the park is closing for 8 months for a major rehab to add a movie theater, ice skate arena and concert stage. Meanwhile they’ve already started to take some of the rides apart and the employees have all been let go and told to see other employment.
North Korea - (3/1/09) Check out this POV video of one of the only four functioning roller coasters in North Korea (according to current RCDB listings). This one is a really odd little coaster from Meisho called Kwansong Tancha, and it looks like some kind of off-shoot of an old style wild mouse design with a Schwarzkopf Jet Star, but without the banked turns.
Philippines - (5/7/09) A new amusement park is set to open in the Philippines on May 29th called Gloria’s Fantasyland. The park will feature two coasters when it opens: Zyclone (a Pinfari Z47 Zyklon style coaster) and the Mini Coaster Ride (a kiddie coaster said to be similar to the Vekoma Roller-Skater at Enchanted Kingdom)
(2/16/09) A 39 year old man died this weekend when he fell from a roller coaster at Star City in the Philippines. The article claims that the ride was “about to stop” when the man fell from the Starflyer, but so far they are confused as to how this happened since the man’s seat restraint was still found in the “locked” position. The other weird factor is that apparently the man asked the ride op if he would die if he fell from the ride before getting on. This has led some to believe that the accident may have been a possible suicide, but nothing has been determined yet. The Starflyer is an Inverted coaster from Pinfari that features two inversions and I’ve embedded a brief video of it below showing off the ride in action.
(1/12/09) A Screamscape reader sent in some pictures of the world’s
first Edge Coaster from Interactive Rides. According to our reader who visited the attraction, they wanted to point out that despite the name this is not a “coaster” at all but is simply a power driven vehicle attached to the track. To ride the Edge Coaster you travel up to the 19th floor of the Crown Regency Hotel in downtown Cebu, pay about $10 for two people to be sent up to the 35-38th Floors.
You load through a traditional loading platform onto one of four individual cars, each holds two riders and only features a lap-bar as the only restraint. The car departs the station and heads out to the edge of the building where the track allows the cars to overhangs by at least 6 inches. The car initially tilts forward 30 degrees as soon as it is clear of the station and there is a lever on the lap restraint that allows the riders to tilt anywhere from 0 to 55º.
"The effect of hanging over the edge is dramatic... but uncomfortable! I tilted the seat back to about 20 degreed and enjoyed the view as the car traveled around the track at about 2 mph. After a minute, you're back at the station! While the ride is nothing by itself, the experience is great, especially in a Region of the world that has 0 coasters."
(12/5/08) An attraction at Cebu City in the Philippines called Sky Experience Adventure will open on December 11th and feature the world’s first Edge Coaster, a two seater ride placed on the top of a 38 story building. The odd sounding ride can be controlled by the riders so that it will tilt up to 55º, and is apparently a project from Interactive Rides, the company behind Insanity and Xtreme at Las Vegas’ Stratosphere Tower. According to the official website, they will also have another Interactive Rides creation called Insanity Orbit, a copy of the Strat’s Insanity ride, opening in 2010. Another attraction ready on opening day will be the Sky Walk Extreme, allowing you to walk around the outer rim of the 37th floor on a 4 ft wide path with no hand rails, secured by an overhead harness system.
Singapore - (12/24/08) The world’s biggest giant wheel, the 541 foot tall Singapore Flyer, got stuck for over six hours yesterday after a small electrical fire broke out in one of the drive units. Rescue workers climbed the wheel to deliver drinks and snacks to the 173 people trapped inside, and actually lowered about 10 of them to the ground at one point from the lower pods. Eventually power was restored and the wheel brought everyone back down under it’s own power. You can see a video showing off some of it here.
South Korea - (8/25/08) Take a trip into the theme parks of South Korea with the latest photo trip report from Theme Park Review that includes stops at Lotte World, Everland, Kyungju World, Woobang Towerland, Kumdoriland, Seoul Land and more. The update also includes a few video clips showing off some rare coasters like Everland’s Eagle’s Fortress and Lotte World’s Atlantis Adventure, the only Intamin Aqua Trax coaster to date.
(7/11/08) A new theme park based on the myths and legends of South Korea is being planned for the resort island of Jeju and hopes to open in 2011. This is just one of four major new theme parks currently in development for South Korea that includes the Daewoo owned Paramount Pictures themed park set to open near Seoul in 2010, the long in development MGM Studio themed park opening in 2012 and a new Universal Studios park and resort project near Seoul (in Hwaseong) also shooting for a 2012 opening date.
(4/15/08) According to the latest news reports the MGM theme park project in South Korea is still alive and is now planning on building the park near the Incheon International Airport. The old site of Busan had to be cancelled after difficulties arose over land prices for the property. A preliminary agreement was signed earlier this year fir the site and they hope to have the park open by 2011.
Spain - (5/19/09) Theme Park Review has posted some interesting pictures from Spain this week, showing off the La Feria de Abril in Barcelona which featured quite a few unique and special rides worth noting. For example, there is a kiddie train ride where you can hit by people in masks as you pass by, and the first Stand Up Falling Star ride I’ve ever seen in my life. Yes… a stand-up Falling Star. You’ve got to see this to believe it. Then there is the stand-up pirate ship, a spinning coaster Wild Mouse with a cat-themed tunnel, complete with crash-doors, and what the TPR group called the Spanish Death Shuttle. Apparently this thin simple coaster puts you through the experience of valleying on a coaster.
(4/30/09) Take a virtual visit to Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain with a trip report at Theme Park Review.
UAE News - (2/11/09) While a news article seemed to indicate that the Warner Bros. park was still on track, we’ve heard elsewhere that Thinkwell, who was said to have been doing the design work for the park, has had to let nearly 100 people go when the project was put on indefinite hold.
(1/30/09) The old Bat Coaster (a rare Pinfari compact inverted looper design) that formerly ran at Nigloland (2002 – 2006) and Antibes Land (2007-2008) has found a new home in Dubai at Global Village where it opened earlier this month. This is apparently a temporary stop for the coaster however as the Global Village event will only have the coaster through February 21st.
In other news, remember Spin Gear the spinning coaster we talked about a couple of weeks ago for the Sega Republic location at the Dubai Mall? While all the rides and hardware has been installed into the building, I’ve been told that Sega has pulled their team out of the location. I’m not sure if this means they’ve backed out of the project entirely, or if they’ve put it on hold for a few months… or if something else entirely is going on. Either way I’m told Sega has packed their people up and left the building. Anyone know more?
(1/20/09) A new custom Gerstlauer spinning coaster called Spin Gear has been built in Dubai as part of the Sega Republic attraction that is currently under construction at the Dubai Mall. Make the jump to the Theme Park Review forum to see construction pictures of the fully built ride that will feature a dark themed section (black track) as well as sections visible to the rest of the attraction (orange track).
(11/28/08) Gerstlauer will be building two more coasters in the UAE in 2009 however, both spinning coasters projects, one for the Mall of Kuwait and the other will go into Dubai’s Sega World project.
(10/29/08) Not all of the theme parks opening in Dubai are to be located in Dubailand, such as the Stargate Theme Park set to open in March 2009. Despite the name, this theme park concept is not based on the popular Stargate film and TV series, but rather based on a unique story about two animated characters called Ajeeb and Ghareeb who crash landed their spaceship (called Stargate) into Zabeel Park, with half of it becoming burried underground. The park’s experiences will be divided into five different domes featuring a variety of family attractions and retail experiences. Some attractions mentioned include Go-Karts, 3D shows, a Bermuda Triangle maze and a spinning roller coaster called the Spinning Earth.
UK News - (6/12/09) Haunted Attractions UK has posted photos and their review of the newly opened Alien War.
(5/14/09) In a tragic news story a two-year old boy has died after being hit by the Go-Gator kiddie coaster fairground ride at Ducketts Common in Turnpike Lane, North London. Apparently he was left to play in a bounce-house attraction and managed to get free unseen when he wander into the inside of the kiddie coaster ride next to it where he was struck by the coaster.
(5/11/09) According to Haunted Attractions UK, the team behind Alien Wars announced last week that a second version of Alien Wars is in the works to open this July in Liverpool (UK). They also mentioned that they have begun talks with Fox about bringing back the film version of the Alien for an American version of the attraction that could possibly open in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
In other news, bad news has come to light for the fairly new Dickens World attraction, where employees are having their hours cut by as much as 40% as just one of many new cost cutting measures, which will also see the park closed entirely on Mondays.
(5/1/09) AtmosFEAR! has announced a new haunted attraction will be coming to the grounds of a Ribble Valley farm near Preston (UK). The 10 acre Scare Kingdom ScreamPark, which will open in time for Halloween 2009, will feature three different attractions: Dead Alive (a cornfield where you will encounter the Pumpkin Man), Blood Bath (avoid the crazed doctor) and finally Hubble Bubble (an interactive theater attraction for the younger kids). Apparently this will take place where Hex in the Harvest did last year.
(4/23/09) A new fire has broken out in Southport at Pleasureland, making this the fourth fire in just two years. The blaze has destroyed a few rides at the park that was struggling to reopen one day, and you can see a video showing off the damage here.
(4/20/09) Haunted Attractions UK has posted a few new articles about the UK Haunt attraction scene worth mentioning. New articles include: A new Pasaje del Terror will open before the end of April, a review of the York Dungeon, and a review of the Warwick Dungeon at Warwick Castle, considered to be one of the best “dungeons” around.
(4/10/09) Some plans have been approved to rebuild the Weston Grand Pier which burned down last year. Several attractions are on deck it seems including a Robocoaster, a ride where people stand on a giant surf board (possibly a Zamperla Surf’s Up), a drag racing simulator, the three story Helter Skelter ride (??),a go-kart track and 85 meter tall observation tower. They hope to begin construction this August.
(3/18/09) A article showing off some of the proposed artwork for the new Dreamland design can be seen here.
(3/16/09) The new proposed plan for Dreamland, being billed as the world’s first heritage theme park, have been posted to the BBC. The plan involves salvaging rides from Southport and Blackpool which are already in storage waiting to be set up at the former site of Dreamland in Margate around the Scenic Railway ride.
(3/1/09) In case you missed our earlier announcement, the all new Alien Wars fright attraction did open as planned back in December, returning the attraction to
it’s original home (before London’s Trocadero) in The Arches in Glasgow. The official website is live at AlienWars.com and I’ve embedded the official teaser trailer.
(1/7/09) A new indoor amusement complex on South Shields seafront has been given the go-ahead. According to the article the two-story site will include a kiddie amusement park, a 4D Theater, go-karts and a bar / restaurant.
(12/5/08) After getting slammed over and over for the past several days the Lapland holiday attraction has closed down, blaming a biased media and even on some form of organized sabotage. Check out the BBC for more details.
(12/2/08) According to the BBC guests to a local “winter wonderland” attraction by the name of Lapland New Forest are outraged and are demanding refunds of the £25 ticket price due to false advertising and some complaining about the treatment of the animals. For a good look at what these guests got to see, make the jump and click on the first photo to see a good slideshow. Since the complaints started, the official website that gave off the false impressions has since been taken down and is in the middle of being replaced by a new version that still seems to be under construction.
In another bit of strange news Satan will return to The London Dungeon from December 7th to 29th to kidnap Santa Claus and put himself in charge of Christmas this year for this seasonal special attraction. See HauntedAttractions.co.uk for more info.
(12/1/08) The first in an upcoming series of ‘Great British Coasters’ documentaries has gone live about The Ultimate. You can see it at Ride-Guide.co.uk.
(11/24/08) Ever want to have a strange question about one of your local theme parks answered by someone in the know? Theme Parks UK is about to give some of you that chance with something they are calling Christmas Questions. From now through November 30th you can submit any question you want about a UK theme park and every day from December 1st through to Christmas Day they will post the answer to one of these questions, as answered from the park’s themselves.
Vietnam - (9/19/08) Today we get to show you a newly discovered coaster that was previously off the grid it seems, with no listing even on the mighty RCDB. Make the jump over to CoasterForce where one of the forum readers posted about their trip to Vietnam and into Suoi Tien Park. While the outdoor “Roller Coaster” was known about, a indoor powered coaster was discovered called The Secret of Acrobat Forest. Apparently the experience starts off as a weird walk-through attraction but ends up at a coaster. The unique part here is that the coaster actually runs the course twice, but on the second run the lights in the station turn off so that you don’t see it and meanwhile the lighting around the rest of the track changes at this point so that to the causal rider, they have no idea that they went through the run twice in a row.
(2/19/08) An investment license has been granted so that work can move forward to build a $1.3 billion theme park resort project in Vietnam that will be called Vung Tau Wonderful World Theme Park in the Vung Tau Providence. In addition to the park it will include a 2,500 room 5-Star Hotel, four smaller hotels, a retail area, theaters and more when it opens in 2010. The park will also feature an 88-story Landmark Tower and a Wonder of the World area where they will feature replicas of the Eiffel Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, Pyramids and more.
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