originally posted on 4/28/2025
Timber Wolf.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Timber Wolf Closed for 2025
It’s a trend that ACEers aren’t too wild about. In addition to rides just closing forever, others are just closing (hopefully temporarily). Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, Missouri) has confirmed that Timber Wolf will not operate in 2025. Of course, that sends all sorts of rumors whizzing through the internet, but there is no indication that it is anything beyond a simple operational closure. However, the sign has been removed for this season.
Zambezi Zinger.
Photo: courtesy Worlds Of Fun. View full-sized image.
Photo: Paul Drabek. View full-sized image.
Zambezi Zinger Will Have Enclosed Lift Hill in 2025
On the other side of the park, however, Worlds of Fun is doing something very interesting. The spiral lift hill of the 2023 Zambezi Zinger is being enclosed. It is assumed that because the ride becomes problematic in wet weather with the tire-driven lift system, this will increase the reliability of the ride. Enthusiasts, of course, can imagine all sorts of thematic possibilities if the park wishes to be creative.
Arkansas Twister.
Photo: Mat Wangrow. View full-sized image.
Arkansas Twister Sits Out Too
Drat! Yet another wooden coaster down for the count this season. Magic Springs Theme and Water Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas) has announced that Arkansas Twister will not operate in 2025. Fortunately, there is no report on its removal, but it will remain silent this season.
The woodie was originally built as Roaring Tiger at Circus World in Haines City, Florida. The park was renamed Boardwalk and Baseball, and the coaster became Florida Hurricane. In 1992, it was relocated to Arkansas, an act of preservation that ACE enthusiastically supported at the 1993 ACE Preservation Conference.
Wild Mouse.
Photo: Richard Koppelman. View full-sized image.
Luna Park Wooden Wild Mouse to Reopen After Two Years
With so many wooden coasters being silent, it’s nice to see one return. Luna Park (Sydney, Australia) has reopened its wooden Wild Mouse. One of the few remaining examples of this genre, Wild Mouse had been standing but not operating for more than two years. This is certainly wonderful news for fans of both this style of ride and preservation in general.
Wildcat.
Photo: Jerry Brick. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jerry Brick. View full-sized image.
Lake Compounce Wildcat Sharpens Its Claws
Following extensive work with The Gravity Group’s (TGG) Engineered Precut Track for the 2024 season, the classic 1927 Wildcat at Lake Compounce (Bristol, Connecticut) will receive an additional 600 feet for 2025, starting with the final turnaround and stretch of track into the station. It is not the only roller coaster on which TGG is working its magic but promises to be one of the more noteworthy.
Superman Escape From Krypton.
Photos: Jeffrey Seifert. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
Superman Escape From Krypton Fails to Escape
So, now onto steel. Six Flags has announced that Superman Escape From Krypton has flown its last. Originally built as Superman The Escape in 1997 at Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California), it was the first ride to go 100 mph in North America.
Sadly, the ride has been standing but not operating since last September. It seems, unfortunately, that kryptonite has done its worst and the ride is to be no more. In a unique twist, contrary to its 400-plus-foot counterpart in New Jersey, the Intamin freefall ride will remain. It will be fascinating to see how much of the ride’s structure remains intact.
Troy.
Photo: Vejas Balzinskas. View full-sized image.
Toverland Challenges Riders to 24-Hour Marathon
To mark the 24th season, Toverland (Sevenum, The Netherlands) is hosting a 24-hour marathon on a roller coaster each month. The Troy Coaster Challenge will take place on May 24, going into May 25. The park is looking for participants to conquer the Great Coasters International, Inc. woodie for 24 hours. It will take place from noon that Saturday to noon on Sunday.
Troy was built in 2007 and is known for its fantastic, large, wooden-coaster ride experience.
The charity is called Stichting Jade, established by Jade Kops and her family after she had been diagnosed with childhood cancer at age 14. This foundation offers families with children who are being treated for childhood cancer an invaluable break at Villa Jade, a vacation home by the sea.
Universal Studios Europe.
Photo: courtesy Universal. View full-sized image.
Universal Studios Europe?
Comcast announced this month that it intends to build a Universal Studios park 35 minutes north of London by train. Interesting.
However, it is in the development stages. If all goes as planned, ground will be broken in 2026 with completion expected in 2031, so there is a time to see what might actually come to pass.
Other than a 500-room hotel and a City Walk-type complex, not much else is known. An artist rendering shows a few coasters in the design, but as England isn’t a sunny destination like California and Florida, it will be fascinating to see how Universal will address the difference in climate.
Legoland.
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.
Legoland (Times Two) Building Indoor Coasters
Merlin Entertainments has announced that Legoland in both California (Carlsbad) and Florida (Winter Haven) will be installing indoor coasters. While the rumor mill has assumed the manufacturer, the parks have not confirmed it. What they have said is that both of them will be enclosed. The openings of both are expected in 2026.
In California, it will join three other steel coasters in operation. In Florida, it will complement three as well, two steel and one wood.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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