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ThemeParks posts
Amusement Park Ride Breaks Seven World Records, Inverted
May 12th, 2013 at 2:00PM:
As amusement park rides go, there are roller coasters and then there is the Gatekeeper, where riders sit as if on the wings of a plane 170 feet above ground. Experiencing sharp turns, inversions and rolls, Gatekeeper creates the feeling of weightlessness, sending riders turning and twisting at speeds of nearly 70 miles per hour.
Gatekeeper is the latest ride at Ohio's Cedar Point amusement ...
Space Shuttle Home Nears Completion In Florida
Apr 4th, 2013 at 1:00PM:
Space Shuttle Atlantis has a new home in Florida that is nearing completion. As the latest Space Coast attraction, the new $100-million home of the historic spacecraft will launch June 29 at Kennedy Space Center. Far more than a place to store the used orbiter, the new facility will offer visitors unprecedented access to what was once highly classified hardware, uniquely displayed.
This ...Space Travel Update: What NASA Is Up To These Days
Mar 11th, 2013 at 4:00PM: With the Space Shuttle program coming to an end and commercial space flight organizations providing service to the International Space Station, one might wonder what the people at NASA are doing these days. While we're not sure about other NASA facilities, Kennedy Space Center is keeping busy with a variety of activities.
The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has been the launch site used for every ...Bluewaters Island Project Brings World's Largest Ferris Wheel To Dubai
Feb 17th, 2013 at 4:00PM:
The last time we talked about the "world's largest Ferris wheel," it was in reference to New York's proposal to build the tallest wheel along the waterfront in Staten Island. At 625 feet tall, the New York Wheel promises to carry 1,400 passengers at a time, be taller than the High Roller wheel planned for the Las Vegas strip and 84 feet taller the Singapore flyer. Now, Dubai has thrown its hat ...A Family Night Out In Baghdad
Dec 5th, 2012 at 12:00PM:
After a long road trip around Iraq, I find myself back in Baghdad. It's our last night together as a group. For our final dinner we decide to eat a famous Baghdadi recipe at a famous landmark –mazgouf fish at Abu Nuwas Park.
Abu Nuwas park runs for one-and-a-half miles along the east bank of the Tigris in central Baghdad. It's named after an early medieval poet who was half Arab and ...Orlando Braces For Decepticon Takeover, Wookiee May Intervene
Nov 2nd, 2012 at 2:00PM:
Universal Studios Orlando announced Thursday a new ride based on the Transformers movies to open next summer. That's big news for theme park fans around the world.
The new four-minute Transformers ride in Orlando will be entirely in the dark and use 3-D flight simulator technology, said to be the next generation of Spider man, much like Transformer rides already in motion at Universal ...SeaWorld Brings Antarctica To Florida
Oct 18th, 2012 at 3:00PM:
SeaWorld Orlando is expanding with their largest-ever project. Continuing a travel industry focus on making all things experiential, Antarctica-Empire of the Penguin is the anchor to a host of new offerings set to open in January. The new ride will have a family adventure theme that utilizes new technology for a unique experience that can change from visit to visit, allowing guests to choose ...New Disney World Attractions To Bring Immersive Experience
Oct 17th, 2012 at 3:00PM: Walt Disney World in Florida has some new attractions on the way. The new Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom park will be home to the Enchanted Forest, a new park within a park, inspired by the popular Disney films "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast." The Enchanted Forest officially opens December 6, 2012, but we got a sneak peek during dress rehearsals last weekend, open to the public.
...A Gallery Of Roller Coaster Camera Trolls
Sep 27th, 2012 at 1:00PM:
Roller coasters race up and down tracks at county fairs and theme parks around the world, bringing hair-raising thrills to children of all ages. Sometimes called "scream machines," roller coasters have been the main attraction wherever they are for more than a century.
The coasters of today are taller, faster and wilder than ever before, causing operators to offer photos that capture the ...World's Highest Roller Coaster Opens In Colorado
Jun 19th, 2012 at 8:00AM: A new world record has been broken, as the world's highest roller coaster is now open at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Called "Cliffhanger," the adventure coaster sits on the edge of the 6,890-foot-high Iron Mountain.
Because of its elevation and location, the $1 million roller coaster also provides panoramic cliff views of the surrounding canyons and mountains. ...What Does Disney's Space Mountain Look Like With The Lights On?
May 5th, 2012 at 9:00AM: Ever wondered what Disney's famous Space Mountain roller coaster looks like when the lights are on? If so, you're in luck because the video below was posted to The Disney Blog a few days back and it gives us all a behind-the-curtain look at one of the most iconic rides in all of the Disney parks.
The first Space Mountain opened at Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, in 1975 and became an instant ...Six Flags Magic Mountain to add insane Drop of Doom ride in 2012
Sep 24th, 2011 at 2:00PM: Six Flags Magic Mountain recently announced an unexpected and exciting addition for 2012. The park was already able to boast the most roller coasters of any theme park in the World this year and now it looks to claim another record next year. Magic Mountain has unveiled plans for LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom. At over 400 feet (40 stories) tall it will be the World's tallest drop ride.
The park's ...
Hersheypark to add new roller coaster, Skyrush for 2012
Aug 22nd, 2011 at 12:00PM:
After months of releasing coded clues and hints via a fictitious engineering website reminiscent of the Dharma Initiative from ABC's Lost, Hersheypark unveiled its highly anticipated 2012 roller coaster. Dubbed Skyrush, the steel roller coaster will dominate the park's skyline with a 200-foot tall peak. The ride will begin with an unusually speedy ascent to the top of the lift hill. Then, riders ...
Iraq War veteran dies from roller coaster accident at Darien Lake
Jul 10th, 2011 at 9:30AM:
Buffalo-area theme park Darien Lake was the site of a tragedy on Friday when a man, former Iraq war vet Sgt. James Hackemer, died after falling from a roller coaster. Hackemer was a double leg amputee after losing his legs to a roadside bomb in Iraq three years ago.
The accident happened on the twenty story tall roller coaster called Ride of Steel. It has large hills, banked curves, and ...Colonial Williamsburg: Made in America
Jul 8th, 2011 at 2:00PM:
The last time I visited Colonial Williamsburg, I was about half as tall as I am now. Would it still be worth seeing-or as fantastic as I remembered-now that I'm a grown up? I drove south from Washington, D.C. to find out, without doing a lick of planning or advance research. This would be a visit informed only by my fuzzy memories of hiking around in the heat and talking to people dressed ...Extreme thrills on America's most intense roller coasters
Jun 24th, 2011 at 7:00AM:
Based on my experiences and the general opinions and buzz from other roller coaster enthusiasts, here's a list of what I consider to be America's most intense roller coasters.
The Voyage at Holiday World
Holiday World's The Voyage is one of the largest and fastest wooden roller coasters in the World. The out and back terrain coaster provides an intense 2 minute and 45 second marathon of ...Six Flags America closes Skull Mountain
Jun 10th, 2011 at 7:30AM:
Six Flags America, located in Bowie, Maryland, has announced that they will be closing Skull Mountain. The unique water flume ride with roller coaster-like elements has been in operation since 1997 when it was originally opened as Typhoon Sea Coaster. The first-of-its-kind ride has underwent changes since it opened, but I remember one unique feature being its turning mechanism that spun the ...Mach Tower to open at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Jun 4th, 2011 at 10:00AM: Virginia's Busch Gardens Williamsburg is to open Mach Tower, a new tower ride for the 2011 season. Guest will find the twenty-four story tall drop ride in the German Oktoberfest section. The ride will begin with a spiraling lift to a lofty 240 feet above the park. At the top, riders will be treated to one of the best views in the theme park industry as Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been rated the ...
Roller Coaster Tour attempts to ride every coaster in the U.S.
May 25th, 2011 at 3:00PM:
Karol Gajda is on a solo mission to conquer every roller coaster in the United States – and he's given himself just three months to do it.
Karol's ambitious coast-to-coast roller coaster ride started last Saturday, and he's already faced a few ups and downs. His dream was to travel cross-country in a hearse or similarly quirky car, but he had to settle for a more modest vehicle ...
Space Mountain shut down after rider found unconscious
May 21st, 2011 at 3:30PM:
It wasn't all fun and games in Orlando Florida this afternoon as Walt Disney World shut down the Space Mountain ride for inspection Saturday after a woman was found unconscious at the end of the ride.
"Our thoughts and concerns are with the guest and her family. We have sent a representative to the hospital to assist them with their needs," Walt Disney World spokeswoman Andrea Finger told ...
