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There's another aspect of excitement in the world of thrill rides. There's the excitement of the latest announcements of upcoming rides from an industry as secretive as the military at times, and the excitement of all the latest happenings at parks around the world. Sometimes the news is good, sometimes the news is bad, but our aim is to bring you the fairest, timeliest, most accurate details on everything that concerns you. COASTER-net's team of journalists is hard at work around the clock to bring you the in-depth scoop!
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Six Flags New Orleans may be revived
Southern Star Amusement Group plans to give park new life
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New Orleans, Louisiana 05/01/08 - By: John Cooke -
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Plans have been submitted to New Orleans’ recovery czar, Edward Blakely, to repair and redevelop the site of the derelict Six Flags New Orleans. The Southern Star Amusement Group plans to redevelop the site, but not to own or operate it. 
© Six
Flags New Orleans
Financial Woes:Six Flags New Orleans was the least profitable park in the Six Flags empire. |
The park, which was badly flooded following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was announced to remain closed after the storm. However, in January 2006, construction was seen underway at the park , but it was announced on March 15, 2006 that the park would remain closed for the 2006 season and it was stated on the Six Flags website that it would remain closed for the 2007 season as well.
Initial reports after Katrina stated that the buildings were about 70% damaged and that the Mega Zeph was damaged beyond repair. Later updates stated that the coaster could be repaired, however, many flat rides were destroyed in the flooding.
The Group plans to turn the currently closed park into a “world-class attraction” with several new additions. Among the new additions are a $7 million dollar water park, planned originally by Six Flags, to open in 2009, which is to be part of a $20 million dollar, five-phase development, a campground, and a total of sixty rides; up from the total of thirty-two rides when the park shut its doors. Five new entertainment areas and a new recreational vehicle park are also among the plans.
The park has been closed ever since the damage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
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Knievel to return to Kings Island
Evel's son Rob to break father's record
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© Cedar Fair
TITLE:Kings Island, home to Evel's final jump, shall be the site of Rob's last jump as well. |
History is about to repeat itself at Kings Island this coming summer. Rob Knievel, son of Evel Knievel, shall jump 24 Coke Zero trucks this year, defeating his dad's record when he jumped 14 Greyhound buses at the same park in 1973.
Greg Sheid, Kings Island's vice-president also commented on the occasion, stating "This jump will forever link Kings Island and the Knievel family."
As his father did, Robbie has stated that this is to be his last big jump of his 37 year career. It is unknown at this time when the jump will occur.
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Six Flags New England cancels Dark Knight project for 2008
Existing work will be torn down
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Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA 04/16/08 - By: Donald Flint -
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© Six Flags New England
Canned: Six Flags New England has canceled the upcoming Dark Knight coaster due to construction delays. |
Within the growing collection of coasters coming in the summer of 2008 comes an surprising announcement from Massachusetts.
Six Flags New England, one of the trio of Six Flags parks due to receive one of the Dark Knight indoor coasters, has cancelled their addition.
Work has already begun to dismantle what's been built so far of the $7 million dollar investment. The main reasoning behind the cancelation were mostly due to paperwork mishaps, such as building permits and town board approvals vital to such a construction project. These delays were, as the park has said, unforseen.
Mike Strobel contributed to this article
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Historic Dreamland coaster destroyed in fire
Arson is suspected in the catastrophic blaze
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The historic Scenic Railway was destroyed by fire on Monday April 8. The fire suspected by police to bea case of arson.
The wooden coaster was consumed in flames before 5 pm on Monday. By 5:30 the coaster's drop had collpsed.
The ride which had been around since 1920, burned to the ground as hundreds of onlookers watched in horror.
Over 60 firefighters around Kent County rushed to the scene. Firefighters had to increase the water pressure do to the tremendous strength of the flames.
60 percent of the structure was saved according to Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Chris Newberry.
"We are keeping an eye on a small section which is in slight danger of collapse, but the rest of the structure appears to be stable," according to a statement by Mr. Newberry.
Kent Police are still investigating the cause of the fire, but are suscpicious of foul play.
The attraction had been closed for two years, but was going to be reopened in hopes of boosting tourism to the area. The opening of the ride was the first plan to renew the whole Dreamland park.
Thanet county council leader Sandy Ezekiel stated his sadness concerning the drawback of the regeneration of the park saying, "In common with everyone who has worked so hard to rebuild Margate’s tourist industry, I am devastated by what has happened."
Former Margate mayor Mick Tomlinson said he was “devastated” by the fire, but added “I am positive that the ride must be rebuilt, and let’s just hope it is back up and running again soon."
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Hard Rock Park to auction first ride
Other prizes included in package
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The first ride on the Led Zeppelin roller coaster at the new Hard Rock Park is being auctioned off.
15 people will be selected to ride on the Zeppelin thrill ride on April 15. Also, according Kerry Graves, vice president of sales and marketing for the park, winners will ride with Goodwin before the park opens to the public and will receive a commemorative photo, certificate, daily admission and posters autographed by Led Zeppelin.
The bid started at 99 cents on the March 31. The auctioning will stop at 9 p.m. on April 7. All proceeds will go to charity.
Winners will be treated to a roller coaster that is 155 feet tall, has six inversions, reaches a top speed of 64.3 miles per hour, and stretches 3,738 feet in length.
The 40-million-dollar park will be open to the general public on May 9.
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Geauga Lake's wooden coasters may be auctioned off
Park will be exclusively a water park starting this season
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© James Dreager
Going Once, Going Twice: The Villain, seen here under construction in 2000, joins Geauga Lake's other two wooden coasters on the auction block. |
The owner of Geauga Lake, the now-closed amusement park located in Aurora, Ohio, is planning to sell three wooden coasters at auction - the Big Dipper, Villain and Raging Wolf Bobs, if they are not sold by June. Cedar Fair, the owner of Geauga Lake decided in November that the historic park would become exclusively a water park starting in 2008, and the ride side would be sold off.
The roller coasters have been on the market since November of last year. Martin & Vleminckx Rides, a ride broker based in Orlando, Florida, has been unsuccessful in finding buyers for the rides.
"It's one of those things where you have to find the right customer at the right time with the right location and spot that the ride will fit in. It's not easy to come up with a solution like that. It's very possible even at auction they may not sell." Chuck Bingham of M&V said recently.
Bingham also stated that the brokerage company will auction off the coasters in hopes that ride collectors will be looking for a good deal.
Norton Auctioneers of Coldwater, Michigan will be auctioning off all unsold rides at Geauga Lake on the 17th and 18th of June.
Several rides have already been removed. X-Flight and Steel Venom were dismantled after the 2006 season. X-Flight opened at Kings Island in 2007 as Firehawk, and Steel Venom will open at Dorney Park in 2008 as Voodoo. Dominator and Thunderhawk were removed following the 2007 season and will open this year at Kings Dominion and Michigan's Adventure, respectively.
Operating under a modified name, Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom will open for the season this coming May.
Donald Flint contributed to this article
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Universal Studios Florida to redefine skyline with ‘Rockit’
Park’s first major outdoor steel coaster announced for 2009
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Universal Studios Florida, Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, FL, USA 03/19/08 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Universal Orlando
Ready to Rock for 2009: ‘Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit’ will alter a skyline currently consisting of almost nothing but “studio” buildings housing shows and rides. |
It was just four years ago that Universal Studios Florida introduced a major roller coaster to the top tourist destination, but now the Orlando park’s skyline is about to go through a radical transformation for the first time.
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit was revealed today as the park’s new star coaster, and indeed, this ride is far different from anything the park’s seen before.
Rising nearly 17 stories into the currently flat skyline that defines the older half of the Universal Orlando Resort complex, the Rockit will represent the dawn of the third coaster generation for a park that opened in 1990 and went its first nine years without anything resembling a roller coaster. In 1999, Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster was installed at 27 feet tall and nearly 22 m.p.h., but it wouldn’t be until 2004 that the studios would add a coaster geared for the thrill-seekers, the heavily-themed, indoor Revenge of the Mummy.
Rip, Ride, Rockit will be an “X-Car” model from the German designer Maurer Söhne –– a concept that first took off in 2004 at Skyline Park, a local German theme park. The idea behind the “X-Car” is a minimalistic, tiered ride vehicle with lap restraints only that can lift vertically into the sky before plunging into a ride capable of anything a bowl of spaghetti is.
Rip-Riding Facts:
- Height: 167’ / 50.9 m
- Speed: 65 m.p.h. / 104.6 kph
- Passengers: 2-abreast, 16 per train
- Location: Between Jimmy Neutron & Blue Man Group buildings, over CityWalk
- Special features: Onboard audio, video systems; color-changing LED lighting
- Manufacturer: Maurer Söhne
- Debut: Spring 2009
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Universal’s own ride will be the second from Maurer Söhne in the United States, the first being the X-Coaster at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls in Arkansas. This ride, however, will feature its own custom layout.
In the artwork, an exaggerated layout probably much like the final product will look is pictured, complete with a nearly-vertical lift hill, vertical drop, heavily-banked cross-under of the lift reminiscent of Maverick at Ohio’s Cedar Point, and an experimental non-inverting loop with a twist going up and twist going down.
Universal Studios’ creative designers are finding room for the coaster by threading its track between the Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast building and Blue Man Group Theater, then extending a portion of it over the park entrance and adjacent CityWalk district that joins the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure halves of the Universal Orlando Resort.
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit’s 2009 debut will coincide with the opening of a new themed section at Islands of Adventure based on the Harry Potter books and movies: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The park will be advertising the technological side of the attraction along with the thrill factor: video screens in the queue, LED lighting for the structure, customized audio for each experience, and on-ride videos sent to the internet.
Universal is hoping that all factors will combine to produce a crowd-drawing thrill-ride that will more than stand out in the highly-competitive Orlando theme park market.
Look for an in-depth preview of the ride in COASTER-net's Ride Gallery later today!
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Nickelodeon Universe opens at Mall of America
Pre-existing park unveiled after extreme makeover
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© Clint Novak
A Fairly Odd Park: Formerly known as 'Timberland Twister,' the park's spinning coaster now operates under the name 'Fairly Odd Coaster,' referencing a Nickelodeon show. |
Nickelodeon Universe has opened today at the Mall of America after months of work to convert the park from its former state in a project that may seem like more of a re-opening than grand debut.
The major changes to the park, formerly known as Knott's Camp Snoopy, Camp Snoopy and the Park at MOA, are changes in the names and themes of the rides as well as the addition of two new coasters.
The first roller coaster to have its named changed is the Pepsi Ripsaw, which opened in 1992, and is now being called the Orange Streak. Second is 2004's Timberland Twister, now known as the Fairly Odd Coaster (based on the Nickelodeon Show The Fairly Odd Parents).
The third roller coaster with a name change is the Lil Shaver. This roller coaster is now being called the Barnyard Barnstormer, from the show Back at the Baryard.
Then, there are the two new coasters. These coasters are the SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge and the Avatar Airbender.
Nickelodeon Universe is part of the Phase II section of the mall. Phase II is a fairly new part of the mall built in 2004. This area contains various sorts of entertainment including a dinner theater, an ice rink, three hotels, and a water park.
Although Phase II is still in the process of being built, Nickelodeon Universe and the other various forms of entertainment are available to the public.
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Busch Gardens Europe sets eyes on expansion
Planning division views plans for possible new country
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Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, VA, USA 03/04/08 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Ben Kuznicki
A Blast of a Past: Festa Italia, Italy was the last themed country at Busch Gardens’ Williamsburg location to be built from scratch. It opened in 1987. |
The “World’s Most Beautiful Theme Park” is on track to get even more beautiful.
Williamsburg, Virginia’s Busch Gardens Europe is seeking permission from the local James City County Planning Division for new buildings, attractions, and theming – all the components of a new themed section, although no official word on the planned expansion has been released.
The Daily Press reports that the plans include five new buildings, but no structures over 60 feet tall. The paper adds that the county has requested particulars on the buildings’ dimensions.
Timeline with a Theme:
- 1975 – Park opens with Banbury Cross and Hastings, England; Aquitaine, France and New France; Rhinefeld, Germany; and Heatherdowns, Scotland
- 1976 – Oktoberfest addition doubles Germany's size
- 1980 – San Marco, Italy debuts
- 1987 – Italy doubles in size with Festa Italia
- 2001 – Killarney, Ireland takes over Hastings, England
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Busch Gardens Europe is divided into six sections themed to European countries and set in the 17th century. The proposal could be an expansion to a current land or a new one entirely.
If the expansion transforms into a new country, it would be the first added to the park since 2001 when the park transformed one of its two English-themed sections into Ireland. However, the first entirely new country added to the Williamsburg park opened five years after the park in 1980: Italy.
We'll keep you up to date on the latest word from the park.
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Resort company purchases Indiana Beach
Spackman family turns park over to Morgan RV Resorts
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Indiana Beach, Monticello, IN, USA 02/21/08 - By: Donald Flint -
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© Indiana Beach
Sold: The popular Monticello park has been purchased by an RV resort chain. |
Indiana Beach, the popular family-owned traditional amusement park in Monticello, has been purchased by a New York company.
Morgan RV Resorts announced the acquisition on Tuesday. The purchase includes the entire Indiana Beach operation including hotels, campgrounds, lakefront beach, paddlewheel boat, dining, and retail operations.
"We are thrilled to be welcoming this historic Indiana family destination to the Morgan RV Resorts family," said Morgan RV Resorts co-owner Bob Moser. "Superb hospitality and exiting destinations are hallmarks of every Morgan resort. Guests of Indiana Beach will continue to take pleasure in the quality experience they have come to love over the past eight decades and enjoy an ongoing commitment to improving the destination year after year."
"This is an exciting time for Indiana Beach," said Tom Spackman Jr., grandson of park founder Earl Spackman. "With the recent upgrades to many of our accommodations, the forthcoming arrival of Steel Hawg and now the purchase by family-owned Morgan RV Resorts the future is brighter than ever. In the years to come, Indiana Beach is certain to remain the home for all the fun things you love to do."
Morgan RV Resorts is the largest operator of privately owned RV parks in the country. In addition to the previously announced Steel Hawg roller coaster, Indiana Beach will feature an extended operating season for 2008.
For more information on Morgan RV Resorts, visit their Web site at www.morganrvresorts.com.
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Kings Dominion preparing to dismantle HyperSonic XLC
The S&S launch coaster will be removed in coming weeks
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© Devin Olson
Time's Up: The first air-launch coaster by S&S Power is being removed from Kings Dominion. |
With the ride having been listed for sale for over a year, Kings Dominion officials have confirmed that HyperSonic XLC will be dismantled prior to the 2008 season.
HyperSonic, built by S&S Power in 2001, was the first ever roller coaster to utilize a compressed air launching system. This launch system catapulted the ride's 8-passenger trains from zero to 80 miles per hour in 1.8 seconds and up a vertical climb, cresting 165 feet in the air and then plunging down a 133-foot drop, which starts out vertical at 90 degrees. Following the drop, the ride maneuvered through two fast curves and over a hill into the brake run.
The ride, which remains available for sale through ride broker Ital International LLC, will start coming down in the next few weeks. The coaster was originally built at a cost of 15 million dollars.
The ride had received modifications in 2002 in order to increase its reliability. The most visible change was the new, larger seats installed on the trains.
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Hasbro, Paramount developing 'Transformers' ride
No word yet as to where themed experience would be installed
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According to a recent article published by IESB.net, a popular website that focuses on movies, has stated that Paramount Studios and Rhode Island based toy company Hasbro are working together on developing an indoor dark ride based on the popular 2007 movie "Transformers."
The attraction is still in its very early planning stages. The ride may open up in time with the announced 2009 sequel to "Transformers," titled simply "Transformers 2." If not then, then it may be launched around the time of the announced third "Transformers" sequel.
But the question remains, where will the attraction be heading? Although not confirmed, the source claims that either Disney or Universal will be getting the ride. Even though Universal has their hands full with the whole Simpsons ride and Harry Potter mess, Universal seems to be the most likely choice as of now. It could be installed at either of the American parks or even into Universal Studios Japan, where in Japan, everything having to do with giant robots fighting would be sure to please thousands of guests a day.
"Transformers" hit theatres on July 3rd, 2007, in the USA, and premiered in London on June 22, 2007. It grossed over $700 million worldwide and became the 28th highest grossing movie of all time.
The movie is focused on a group of extra-terrestrial robots who can change shapes into earth objects. There is a group of good robots, the Autobots, and a group of antagonist robots, the Decepticons. The Autobots have come to Earth to protect the All-Spark, which is the greatest power in the universe, from the Decepticons.
"Transformers 2" is scheduled for a June 26th, 2009 release, with very high expectations of becoming one of the greatest, highest-grossing film franchises of all time.
Doug Lane contributed to this article
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Darien Lake runs full speed ahead with the MotoCoaster
Prototype launch roller coaster to debut this summer
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© Darien Lake Theme Park Resort
Race To The Top: The MotoCoaster will be the Darien Lake's seventh roller coaster but the park's first launched roller coaster. |
Darien Lake Theme Park Resort last constructed a new roller coaster back in 1999 when the park, which was then known as Six Flags Darien Lake, unveiled Superman – Ride of Steel, which currently operates under the name Ride of Steel. Now finally after nine years of waiting, park guests at Darien Lake will be able to climb aboard a new roller coaster this summer, the MotoCoaster.
The MotoCoaster will debut in May of this year and is actually a prototype, motorcycle themed, launch coaster from the Italian amusement ride manufacturer, Zamperla. With the addition of the MotoCoaster, Darien Lake will operate a total of seven different roller coasters this season.
Darien Lake’s new MotoCoaster was originally assembled and tested at the Zamperla factory in Italy where they then allowed members of the media to ride and document the new attraction to help advertise the ride’s design. Since then the ride has been dismantled and is currently be shipped overseas to Darien Lake.
Zamperla’s MotoCoaster is a compact launched steel roller coaster that stands 44 feet high and features a figure eight style design with three layers of twisting and turning track. The single motorcycle themed train will race 12 riders through the 1,198 feet of track at a top speed of 38 mph.
The MotoCoaster uses a flywheel and clutch launch mechanism to accelerate the ride’s train from zero to 38 mph in three seconds. Zamperla is advertising the coaster’s flywheel launch mechanism as being a very reliable and an easy to maintain launch system. They are able to back up this advertising campaign with the fact that flywheel launch systems have been used on roller coasters since the 1970’s.
Darien Lake’s MotoCoaster will be one of three Zamperla MotoCoasters to debut this year. Another standard model will be built at Xetulul in Guatemala, and a custom-designed model called the Pony Express is being assembled at Knott’s Berry Farm in California.
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Roaring Falls has set sail for Celebration City
The park’s newest addition will be a wet one
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© Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation
A Wet Celebration: Roaring Falls, once known as Shipwreck Falls, becomes just the latest of Geauga Lake's rides to be rolcated to another amusement park. |
Celebration City earlier today announced what will be the park's largest and most expensive single ride expansion since the park was remodeled back in 2003. This new attraction will hold the title Roaring Falls and promises to get its riders wet.
Roaring Falls is a traditional Chute-the-Chutes style ride that will plunge a raft full of 20 passengers down a 50-foot drop before splashing down into the large pool of water below. The ride is designed to get its riders soaked while being thrilled by the 50-foot drop.
Roaring Falls is actually the Shipwreck Falls water ride from the now defunct Geauga Lake amusement park, which closed following the 2007 season. The ride is being relocated to its new home at Celebration City and will open later this spring.
This new multi-million dollar expansion will also replace Celebration City’s only other water ride, the Shoot-D-Chute log flume style ride. Roaring Falls was originally built at Geauga Lake by O.D. Hopkins in the year 2000 when the park operated under the name Six Flags Ohio.
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Zippin Pippin to live past its days at Libertyland
Libertyland’s wooden roller coaster to be relocated and renovated
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© Libertyland
Elvis's Favorite Coaster: The Zippin Pippin, originally named the Pippin, had operated at Libertyland since 1923 before being closed in 2005. |
To the delight of coaster enthusiasts across the US, it was announced by earlier this week by Steve Mulroy of Save Libertyland! Inc. that an agreement with the Ericson Group is in place to relocate and also renovate the Zippin Pippin wooden roller coaster that once was the signature attraction at the now defunct Libertyland amusement park.
This agreement secures the future of the Zippin Pippin, which has been heavily debated by many enthusiasts and government officials since the coaster closed along with Libertyland amusement park in late 2005. As part of the contract, the Ericson Group, run by Greg Ericson, has received permission to relocate the Zippin Pippin and have it renovated to reopen as part of Ericson’s $250 million plan for The Pyramid, Mud Island, and other new attractions surrounding the Memphis riverfront area.
The Ericson Group had been known for the proposition of the project once entitled the Pyramid Adventure but recently renamed the Pyramid Harbor. It’s proposed that the 85-year old wooden roller coaster would be part of an amusement park built on Mud Island, which could eventually be renamed Harbor Island.
Mulroy, who’s also a local commissioner, estimates that it will cost approximately $1 million to move the Zippin Pippin and the renovation would cost another $65,000. Ericson has also confirmed that The Pyramid development will also feature a new steel coaster, which will cost approximately $25 million.
This agreement is just the latest attempt by the Save Libertyland! organization to have the Zippin Pippin relocated. The coaster was originally sold at an auction the to Carolina Crossings, which planned to use it as a centerpiece for their amusement park. However, after a legal dispute the Zippin Pippin's ownership right were then handed over to the city and the coaster was never relocated.
Ericson is scheduled to present the Pyramid Harbor proposal to members of the Memphis City Council January 22nd. In December, he presented the same plan to County Commission members. He is also hoping that they will soon reach agreement with the city to have the Grand Carousel at Libertyland join the Zippin Pippin and become part of Mud Island.
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