Waldameer's Ravine Flyer II Video

Ravine Flyer II @ Waldameer Park | On Ride Video
Waldameer' Park's Ravine Flyer II is my pick for the sleeper hit of 2008. It was designed by the Gravity Group. They've produced the 2007 Golden Ticket winner Voyage as well as the greatly underrated Hades at Mount Olympus. Ravine Flyer II will feature a 120 foot first drop, 10 moments of air time, 6 tunnels, 10 cross overs, a 90 degree turn, a view of Lake Erie, and a 165 foot bridge over a highway. In my opinion, Ravine Flyer II is the coaster that's most likely to become a classic out of the class of '08.

Check out this onride video of Ravine Flyer II:

If those small hills in the video provide airtime as advertised, than this will be one airtime packed ride. The pacing looks pretty good and all of Ravine Flyer's tunnels will help to spice up the ride. Overall, from the video, Ravine Flyer looks great. Hopefully, I'll get up to Erie, PA to experience this coaster in person.

How do you think Ravine Flyer II will be? Leave a comment below.

Maximum RPM Preview | Hard Rock Park

Maximum RPM Coaster Preview | Hard Rock Park - EXCLUSIVE!
On my recent media trip to Hard Rock Park I was lucky enough to become one of the first to get a tour of Maximum RPM. It's a first of its kind roller coaster with a unique lift mechanism. The six person cars will enter a ferris wheel-like hub that will rotate cars to the top. Once cars reach the top, the cars will drop into the ride's twisted layout.

As with the park's other attractions, music is infused into several aspects of the ride. Maximum RPM is located in Hard Rock's British Invasion section with an 80's New Wave theme. Guests waiting in the air conditioned queue line will be treated to karaoke performances from volunteers in line. So, if by chance the ride capacity's not the greatest and the line moves slowly at least you'll get to hear some guy murder an old Duran Duran song. Once aboard the cars, riders will get to choose a song for their lift and for the actual ride.

Maximum RPM is set to open in June and looks to be a quite a memorable ride. You have to tip your hat to the team behind HRP, for taking the chance on a completely new concept like this. Check out these photos of Maximum RPM:


What do you think of Maximum RPM at Hard Rock Park? Leave a comment below.

Fahrenheit Testing Video | Hersheypark

First Fahrenheit Video & An Early Incident | Hersheypark
YouTube strikes again! This time some coaster fans video taped Hershey's new Intamin looper with the beyond 90-degree drop, Fahrenheit. The ride's in its testing phase and won't open until late May. The women taping the video remark that Fahrenheit looks slow. It looks fine to me, but they may be on to something.

Apparently, Fahrenheit valleyed a week or so ago. A roller coaster valleys when it runs out of momentum and can not finish its circuit. I was thinking that this was ultra rare, but apparently it used to happen on Magic Mountain's X quite frequently. I guess that's what all that testing is for.

Check out this video of Fahrenheit at Hersheypark:

For more info, check out Hershey's official Fahrenheit site. And the rest of my Fahrenheit posts. What do you think of this first look at Fahrenheit? Leave a comment below.

Hard Rock Park Media Preview

Hard Rock Media Preview Trip
I'm back from my trip to Hard Rock Park for the Media Preview Event. I'll have plenty of posts on this new park including an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Maximum RPM, a review of the Led Zeppelin coaster, tons of images, and a full park review. The park was impressive. The team behind HRP did an excellent job incorporating rock music into every aspect of the park. It opens officially in Myrtle Beach in June so make plans to get down there if you already haven't.

Here's a short video I took of Led Zeppelin:

Stay tuned for more!

Roller Coaster Theming | Weekly Topic

Does Theming on a Coaster Matter? | Theme Park Round Table
News Plus Notes provided this week's topic. NPN posed the question: "Does theming on a coaster matter?"

I'm going to surprise even myself and say no. My answer is really more of a 'yes, but...'. Let me explain. Theming on a coaster is something that I'm quick to give points for. It can take a ride from mediocre to memorable. But, I can't think of a time where it can take a coaster that would be a '5' to a '9' or even an '8'.

While I really enjoy the Egyptian theming on Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa, it doesn't completely affect my overall opinion of the ride. To me, theming is like seasoning a dish. If you start with a sirloin and add the perfect seasoning, you've got a winning dish, but the sirloin would still be quite tasty without it. And inversely, seasoning a gross dish usually doesn't make up for its grossness.

Also, my top 10 coasters are a bunch of great rides with just a pinch of theming. And in some there's nearly none at all like in the case of Cedar Point's Magnum XL-200. While I really enjoy theming, no amount of theming could equal Magnum's wild, almost soulful ride. It's like it has a personality. Theming can add a lot to the experience of riding a roller coaster, but in the end it all comes down to the quality of the ride.

See what the other bloggers have to say on this week's topic:
Coasterdom
A Walk in the Park
Theme Park Village
News Plus Notes

What's your take? Does coaster theming matter to you? Leave a comment below.

Hard Rock Park Trip

Hard Rock Park Trip | Myrtle Beach, SC
I'll be making my first trip of the season next week when I attend Hard Rock Park's Media Preview Day. I'll be there next Tuesday and Wednesday which are the final days of Hard Rock's soft opening or 'Sound Check'. I'm looking forward to an inside look at the park and hope to interview a few park officials. Of course I'm also excited about Led Zeppelin as well as the park's other rock-themed rides and coasters. Expect plenty of pictures and a full report when I return. More Hard Rock Park news...>>>

Is there anything you would like to know about Hard Rock Park? Let me know and I'll find out while I'm there. Leave a comment below.

News Headlines from Theme Park Syndicate

T.P.S. Report | Theme Park News Headlines from the Theme Park Syndicate

Defunct Geauga Lake Park Auctioning Coasters, Rides, & More
On June 17th and 18th, Geauga Lake will be auctioning off roller coasters, adult & kiddie rides, paddle boats, memorabilia and more. So if you're in the market for a nice CCI woodie with not a lot of miles (Villain), or an older woodie with a new lease on life thanks to re-tracking (Raging Wolf Bobs) get on down to Geauga Lake and make a bid. Most of the other major coasters have been reborn at other Cedar Fair Parks. X-Flight became Firehawk, Steel Venom became Voodoo, Thunderhawk moved to Michigan's Adventure and Dominator moved to Kings Dominion. Hopefully these two woodies will find a new home that's not a scrap yard. For more on the Geauga Saga..>>>

Six Flags New England's Dark Knight Will Not Open in 2008
Six Flags New England announced that due to a series of unforeseen delays, The Dark Knight Coaster will not open in 2008.

Daredevil 'Kaptain' Robbie Knievel to Attempt Motorcycle Jump at Kings Island
'Kaptain' Robbie Knievel is going to jump 24 Coke Zero trucks on May 24th. Evel Knievel, father to Robbie Knievel, jumped 14 Greyhound buses in 1975. I wonder if this is a warm up for the same jump at Six Flags St. Louis were the new Evel Knievel coaster will be opening.

Hard Rock Park to Have Nightly Fireworks Set to Bohemian Rhapsody
Hard Rock Park is incorporating rock into every facet of the park. Check out this video of the night laser show and fireworks set to Bohemian Rhapsody. Click here to watch the video.

Theme Park Syndicate is a site where people can submit links to theme park news, videos, and more. Then they can vote on and discuss the news stories. This site's all about you. So join and start adding links and voting today!

What do you think of this news? Leave a comment below.

Storm Runner's Flying Snake Dive

Storm Runner's Flying Snake Dive | Memorable Coaster Moments
Hersheypark's Intamin launch coaster Storm Runner opened in 2004. It features an exhilarating launch 0 to 72 mph in 2 seconds, a 150' tall top hat hill at 90 degrees, and a unique inversion. Storm Runner's coup de grace is the flying snake dive. After performing a zero-g roll about 50' in the air, the train starts to roll again. Instead of completing the full barrel roll, the train dives and exits the inversion to the left. It's tough to describe. The feeling it gives is surprisingly disorienting. In a good way. It's easily the highlight of the ride.

The flying snake dive doesn't look like much in a video and pictures definitely don't do it justice, it just has to be experienced to be appreciated. It's easily one of the top 3 inversions I've encountered. For more including a video, check out my full Storm Runner review.

What do you think of Storm Runner and its unique inversion? Leave a comment below.