originally posted on 1/21/2022 1:30:09 AM
Montezooma’s Revenge.
Photo: Adrian Lloyd. View full-sized image.
Montezooma’s Revenge Closed for a Year
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, California) announced that its Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster will temporarily close — for a year. One of the few remaining flywheel-launched shuttle loops, Montezooma’s Revenge was made an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in 2019 during Coaster Con 43. According to the park, “Major renovations will be taking place to this historic coaster. … It will be upgraded with exciting changes while keeping the ride’s unique charm that our guests have loved for generations.” What exactly are those changes? The park has not stated what the plans are but said information would be coming later this year. Montezooma’s Revenge opened in 1978. The closure began on January 10.
Regina.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
Regina Lives!
ACEers who participated in the East Meets ACE tour in 2019 enjoyed many parks in Japan. Following that, the announcement that Regina, the woodie built by Intamin at Tobu Zoo Park (Minami, Saitama), was closing gave attendees a sense of relief that they at least enjoyed a ride or two on it. Surprisingly, last fall, it was made known that all was not lost after all for the 4,376-foot wooden coaster. Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII) will be refurbishing the ride. No reprofiling is planned, according to GCII’s Clair Hain Jr. Reports are that GCII will also provide new rolling stock for the ride when it debuts in its new state in 2023.
Rendering courtesy of Blackpool Pleasure Beach. View full-sized image.
Icon Going Zen
Blackpool Pleasure Beach (England) is reinvesting in two of its attractions for the upcoming season. The reinvigorated Valhalla will reopen, and the park is adding a twist to its Mack coaster, Icon. Called Ensō, which is Japanese for “circular form” or “circle of togetherness,” it is a sacred symbol of Zen Buddhism. It is not specified which of the seats on the launched coaster will be replaced with spinning seats, but this hybrid train was tested on Europa-Park’s (Rust, Germany) blue fire Megacoaster as the back seat. It should offer a completely different guest experience.
Lake Winnie’s Wild Lightnin’ is headed to Alabama Adventure.
Photo: Curt Schimmel. View full-sized image.
Alabama Adventure Gets Cheesy
Cheddar Chase is the name — and a fun one at that — for Alabama Adventure’s (Bessemer) newest coaster. Built by L&T Systems, this Wild Mouse coaster operated at Lake Winnepesaukah (Rossville, Georgia) for 21 seasons. It closed at the end of last season. At that location, it was known as Wild Lightnin’. The combination amusement park/waterpark could use an in-between ride filling a gap between its marvelous wooden coaster, Rampage, and its children’s Wacky Worm known as Centi-SPEED. Having lost two coasters over its storied history, Alabama Adventure’s count is now going in the right direction.
The next Spike coaster being built for sea is under construction in Germany.
Photo: Courtesy of Maurer Rides. View full-sized image.
Maurer Rides Heading Out to Sea Once Again
Several ACEers have already taken a spin on Bolt, the powered coaster-like Spike attraction aboard Carnival Cruise’s Mardi Gras. Built by Maurer Rides, the Spike system has vehicles that seat two riders, and the speed of the experience is partially in the hands of the guests. A follow-up will be on Carnival’s Celebration. The ride manufacturer has been called upon again, this time from Dream Cruises, to now build the longest “roller coaster” at sea on board the ship, Global Dream. The ride is currently being built in Germany and is expected to be installed onboard in the spring of this year.
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