About Theme Parks' Ride Guide

The guide is arranged alphabetically by U.S. state. Canada follows at the end. This page includes what's new for the 2008 season at theme parks in U.S. states from Michigan to Ohio.

The previous page includes what's new for the 2008 season at theme parks in U.S. states from Arkansas to Massachusetts.
The third page includes theme parks in U.S. states from Oklahoma to Washington plus Canada.

Are you looking for water park info? To find out what's new at water parks this season, go to the Water Parks Slide Guide 2008.

MICHIGAN

Michigan's Adventure
Muskegon (near Grand Rapids), MI
Thunderhawk inverted coaster
This is the same off-the-shelf coaster, also known as Thunderhawk, that thrilled riders at Ohio's defunct Geauga Lake from 1998 through the end of the 2007 season.

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MINNESOTA

The Park at the Mall of America (Note that the indoor park will change its name to Nickelodeon Universe in Spring 2008.)
Bloomington (near Minneapolis), MN
Avatar Airbender half pipe coaster
The coaster will use LSM launch technology.

SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge "Euro-Fighter"
The coaster will drop at a 97-degree angle from a 67-foot height.

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MISSOURI

Celebration City
Branson
Roaring Falls shoot-the-chutes water ride
Celebration City will get the 20-person raft ride that was known as Shipwreck Falls when it was at the now-defunct Geauga Lake. The ride will climb 50 feet, turn at the top, and shoot down into a splash pool to create a huge cascade of water that will soak passengers and spectators alike.

Six Flags St. Louis
Eureka, near (...come on, you know what city it's near)
Evel Knievel wooden coaster
Instead of going with a tried-and-true Warner Brothers cartoon character or a DC Comics superhero, Six Flags St. Louis' new wooden coaster will be themed to Evel Knievel. While he's a well-known icon, the chopper stuntman would seem to be an odd namesake for the thrill machine. According to the info that Six Flags has released thus far, it appears that the coaster will be a fairly typical woodie and, other than appropriating his name, will have little to do with Mr. Knievel or motorcycles. Read more about the Evel Knievel coaster.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

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NEW JERSEY

Clementon Park
Clementon, NJ
Laguna Kahuna interactive water play center
The classic Clementon Park, which turns 100 this year, will have new owners, new management, a new look, and a huge new interactive water play structure when it opens this spring. The south Jersey park located near Philadelphia, will be adding Laguna Kahuna to its adjacent water park, Splash World, which is included with general admission. The Polynesian-themed multi-level structure will offer watery diversions such as sprayers, water slides, bridges, and a big dump bucket that will rain down on guests every few minutes. Clementon Park is noted for its outstanding wooden coaster, which will don the new name, Puma, this season. It had previously been known as Tsunami and J2. Unfortunately, the park's Jack Rabbit coaster, which dates back to 1919, was closed for good last year after it had been standing but not operating since 2003. Clementon Park will host its first Halloween event, HalloScreams, in 2008.

Six Flags Great Adventure
Jackson, NJ
The Dark Knight themed indoor coaster
Glow in the Park Parade
Capitalizing on The Dark Knight frenzy that Six Flags hopes next year's (2008) Batman movie of the same name will generate, the chain is adding a themed indoor family coaster that should appeal to riders of nearly all thrill tolerance levels. Read more about The Dark Knight coaster.

The park will also debut a spiffy new nighttime Glow in the Park Parade that will incorporate music, singing, dancing, floats, stilt walkers, and lots of twinkly lights.

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NEW YORK

Darien Lake
Darien Lake (near Buffalo), New York
Orange County Choppers MotoCoaster
The launched coaster will forego a traditional lift hill and use magnetic motors to accelerate from 0 to 30 mph in three seconds. Instead of a traditional coaster train, MotoCoaster riders will sit two across atop motorcycle-style seats. The Teutul family, owners of Orange County Choppers (OCC) and stars of the Learning Channel's popular American Chopper, will partner with the park for the coaster.

The Great Escape
Queensbury (near Lake George), New York
Wiggle's World land
Wild Wedgie water ride
A new Wiggle's World area will have (very) young children wiggling along to rides and shows based on the popular TV program. The new land will also offer a Wiggles-themed restaurant. The popular characters will even visit the park.

See Wiggle's World photos from other Six Flags parks.

The Great Escape's outdoor water park will also introduce the Wild Wedgie, a bowl ride. To learn more about bowl rides, read this review of a similar attraction at another water park: The Cyclone at Splash Lagoon Water Park

Martin's Fantasy Island
Grand Island (near Niagra Falls and Buffalo)
Flight vertical swing thrill ride and Grand Circus Menagerie kiddie ride.

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NORTH CAROLINA

Carowinds
Charlotte, NC
Bondi Beach
The adjacent Boomerang Beach water park (included in general admission) will be getting a new wave pool.

Ghost Town In the Sky
Maggie Valley (near Asheville), NC
Cliffhanger renovated roller coaster

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OHIO

Cedar Point
Sandusky, Ohio
Planet Snoopy area with new kiddie rides
Skyscraper An upcharge ride that will be located in Cedar Point's Challenge Park area. The 160-foot tall ride will consist of two arms with two riders seated at the end of each arm. Skyscraper will spin 55 mph sending riders head over heels.

Geauga Lake
Aurora, Ohio (near Cleveland)
The amusement park closed permanently in 2007. The water park, however, is still open.

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Next Page: The 2008 Ride Guide continues with parks from Oklahoma to Washington plus Canada.