originally posted on 10/28/2024
Midnight Flyer.
Photo: Courtesy Santa's Village. View full-sized image.
Santa’s Village Coasts Through Christmas
Santa’s Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire) retired its Zierer coaster, Rudy’s Rapid Transit, after the close of the 2023 season. That ride was manufactured in 1981, and park management (those wonderful elves) felt it had aged out. In its place this year is Midnight Flyer, a brand-new family coaster from Vekoma.
One of the big selling points in selecting this ride is that management received written confirmation that the ride could operate in below-freezing conditions — down to 13 degrees! This was quite helpful owing to the park’s Christmas season. Furthermore, the ride is a little bigger and faster, but the height requirement between the two coasters went from 39 inches to 36 inches. Christian Gainer, head elf, has been delighted in the reaction to the ride as guests have comfortably fit the seats and have praised the ride for its incredible smoothness.
Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster.
Photo: Derek Perry. View full-sized image.
Zamperla Supplies Junior Coasters in 2024
And before 2024 gets behind us, ACE News notes some junior coasters from Zamperla that won’t necessarily have enthusiasts buying plane tickets, but will serve a purpose in giving families with young kids fun rides while visiting the parks. Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, California) opened Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster. Stylized with Snoopy driving a jeep in Beagle Scout gear for the lead car, the ride opened mid-summer in the revamped Camp Snoopy area.
View full-sized image.
Overseas, Brazilian Buggies opened in Belgium at Bellewarde Park (Ypres, West Flanders). It joins four other coasters at the park with this one being the smallest.
Jeepo Dino (great name) at La Récré des 3 Curés (Milizac, France) features jeep-themed trains. It is the second family coaster at the park. A third coaster at the park is Vertika, an inverting Euro-Fighter from Gerstlauer.
Vekoma on Tap for 2025
Rendering: Courtesy Bommelwereld. View full-sized image.
A new indoor themed park is coming to The Netherlands next year. Called Bommelwereld (Groenlo, Gelderland), it is themed to the Dutch comics of Oliver B. Bommel and will feature one coaster, Bulderbaan. At 843 feet of track and a height of 41 feet, it will not be a huge ride but one that gives the park a coaster experience.
Photo: Torrence Jenkins. View full-sized image.
Jetline Closed for Good
The tragic incident on Grōna Lund’s Jetline in June of 2023 cast a dark cloud over last year’s season. With a fatality involved, the ride has been standing but not operating since. After a thorough examination to determine the cause of the accident — a parts issue stemming from a third-party supplier completing welding work — Jetline’s future was evaluated. In light of the darkest moment in the park’s history, Grōna Lund decided to remove the Schwarzkopf/Zierer collaboration following the 2024 season. ACE members who have ridden this excellent ride will mourn its loss.
Rendering: Courtesy SeaWorld San Antonio. View full-sized image.
SeaWorld San Antonio Gains One, Loses One
SeaWorld San Antonio (Texas) appears to be losing its partnership with Sesame Street, although its sister parks still have partnerships. The entire Sesame Street area and attractions have been removed to make way for Rescue Jr., a reimagining of that area. Among the lost attractions is Super Grover’s Box Car Derby, a Zierer coaster from 2004, formerly Shamu Express. It is unknown if that ride will be relocated to any other park.
Super Grover’s Box Car Derby.
Photo: John Chen. View full-sized image.
Coming in 2025 is a different Zierer coaster, more than three times as long. It is to be called Beach Rescue Racer. The track and supports for this coaster have been seen in back areas for much of the 2024 season. It is from Zierer’s Force line of coasters.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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