Do you have a need for speed? Hang on tight. Five of the fastest roller coasters reach or exceed 100 mph.
Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial opening of the park season. Yay! Find out what's new this year in the Ride Guide 2013.
Six Flags and Rocky Mountain Construction ain't fakin'. There is NOT a whole lotta shakin' going on the much improved, just-about-to-debut coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Did you read my review of Iron Rattler? Today, I've posted a gallery of the hybrid beauty. See my photos of Iron Rattler. And if you get a chance to visit San Antonio, be sure to take a ride on the coaster.
Photo: © Arthur Levine, 2013. Licensed to About.com.
One of parkdom's under-the-radar parks is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Dutch Wonderland, located in Pennsylvania's Amish Country, is geared to the 12-and-under set and features attractions such as the relatively gentle wooden Kingdom Coaster and the Double Splash Flume. It also offers a riverboat cruise around its botanical gardens. On June 1, it will celebrate the big 5-0 with fireworks and special entertainment. Dutch Wonderland is one of a handful of US theme parks geared to families with young children. Another one, Idlewild is also located in Pennsylvania.
Image: Dutch Wonderland
I just returned from Six Flags Fiesta Texas which held its media day for the highly anticipated Iron Rattler coaster. The 20-year-old Rattler, one of the park's signature rides, has endured harsh criticism for its rough ride from the day it opened. Like its sister ride, the New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas, the woodie got a radical makeover with an all-new steel I-Box track, a considerably longer first drop, new trains, and more. The verdict for the rechristened Iron Rattler? It's gone from dud to stud. Read my (glowing) review of Iron Rattler.
Photo: © Arthur Levine, 2013. Licensed to About.com.
The latest thrill machine at coaster-crazy Cedar Point, GateKeeper, opened over the weekend, and it looks like another winner. Ride manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), have taken the relatively new concept of a winged coaster and pumped it up to Cedar Point-worthy dimensions with the longest drop (164 feet) and the longest track (4164 feet) of the genre. But the standout features of the ride are its two "keyholes," through which the extra-wide trains navigate, as well as the coaster's placement over the front gate of the park. It makes a visually stunning impression.
CoasterRadio devoted an entire podcast to GateKeeper and offers wonderful interviews, reviews, and coverage of the ride from Cedar Point's media day. See Robb Alvey from Theme Park Review take a ride aboard the coaster in one of his great videos. You can also see the official point-of-view video of GateKeeper.
I'm heading to Six Flags Fiesta Texas this week to ride the redesigned Iron Rattler and look forward to experiencing what looks to be a wild coaster. I'll be bringing you my review. Read more about all of the new thrill machines debuting this year in my Roller Coaster Ride Guide 2013.
Photo: Cedar Fair, 2012. Used with permission.
