Six Flags Great Adventure to Introduce New Themed Area and World’s Tallest and Fastest Roller Coaster
JACKSON, NJ – Six Flags Great Adventure has announced it will launch the tallest and fastest roller coaster ever! The new coaster, Kingda Ka will rocket riders horizontally from 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds before vertically catapulting them a mind- blowing 456 feet (45 stories) into the sky at a 90-degree angle. Riders then descend 418 feet (41 stories) back down at a 270- degree spiral only to experience another breathtaking moment of weightlessness as they soar over a 129-foot-tall hill and
then glide back into the station. Kingda Ka will be the cornerstone of a new 11-acre, mythical jungle domain called The Golden Kingdom. The Golden Kingdom will also feature Balin’s Jungle Land, an elaborate new children’s area; Temple of the Tiger, a massive, new educational tiger exhibit; plus three new shops and four new eateries.
Did You Know? Kingda Ka will dwarf its sibling Nitro by over 220 feet; that’s just 10 feet shorter than Nitro’s height (230ft)!
HERSEYPARK Introducing World’s First Tower Coaster
HERSHEY, PA – Blend the excitement of a roller coaster with the thrill of a free-fall ride and you create an entirely unique amusement attraction. Named Turbulence, this unique ride is coming to HERSHEYPARK in the spring of 2005. This innovative style of drop coaster is the creation of Interactive Rides, Inc. of Logan, UT. A pivoting four- person vehicle takes riders up the side of the 150-foot (15 story) structure. Upon reaching the top height, the vehicle moves straight out from the vertical lift and travels along the upper level of track. Then, suddenly, the vehicle drops 20 feet in a freefall curve. The vehicle levels out and then continues along the next section of track, which leads to the next freefall drop. This movement continues through a total of five drops. Turbulence will be located in the area currently known as Carrousel Circle. This area will be refurbished and renamed Founder’s Circle – in honor of Milton S. Hershey, chocolate magnate, philanthropist, and founder of the Park.
Did You Know? The HERSHEYPARK Carrousel which is adjacent to Turbulence has been pleasing guests since 1944.
KoalaPlay Group Creates World’s Largest Interactive Water Play Structure
DENVER, CO – Families looking for a Caribbean adventure next summer may find themselves shipwrecked on Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags in Gurnee, IL. KoalaPlay Group, the commercial design and development division of Koala Corp., is creating Skull Island, the world’s largest interactive water play structure, on part of a 13-acre site next to Six Flags Great America. Scheduled to open in spring 2005, KoalaPlay Group’s world-renowned theming experts invented Skull Island exclusively for Six Flags as the anchor attraction for the new Hurricane Harbor. KoalaPlay Group customized its WaterColors™ and Discovery Treehouse™ products and blended them together using transfer platforms and bridges to create the signature attraction. The interactive water play structure spans nearly 100,000 square feet. Visible from all over the park is a 66-foot high, larger-than-life skull tipping bucket that towers over the entire play structure and drenches guests below with thousands of gallons of water every few minutes. Visitors will find it impossible to stay dry as two shipwrecked boats spill 750 gallons of water each on unsuspecting guests and a 50-foot high volcano erupts with a geyser of water. Hundreds of fountains, sprayers, water wheels and other interactive water elements are also scattered throughout the enormous water play area. KoalaPlay Group partnered with ProSlide to intertwine eight slides, ranging from six-feet to 42-feet in height, throughout the structure. A series of transfer bridges, cargo net climbs, and swinging bridges will be used to link 17 distinctive elevated platforms. Skull Island will connect to an activities area geared toward smaller guests and close to Hurricane Harbor’s other features — an adventure river, wave pool, assortment of water slides and beach areas.
Did You Know? KoalaPlay Group has installations in every state except Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine.
Bofante Gardens Presents New Holiday Lights Festival
GILROY, CA – This December Bofante Gardens will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with thousands of twinkling lights, Circus Trees dressed for the occasion, festive holiday décor and North Pole Express Mailboxes throughout the park where children can mail their hand-written letters directly to Santa. Sycamore Bridge will be trimmed from top to bottom with dazzling, awe-inspiring displays leading guests to the 20-foot tall illuminated Douglas Fir in the midst of Sugar Plum Plaza. Families can celebrate in Snowflake Palace with a traditional All You Can Eat Holiday Feast. Toy soldiers will add a warm-hearted touch to the evening along with a stunning overhead show of lights and more than 20 lit Christmas trees. Guests will enjoy a walk among Circus Tress, Sycamores and Redwoods while hearing sounds of nostalgic holiday music throughout the park, including local choral groups, walking toy soldiers and much more.
Did You Know? Bofante Gardens is a nonprofit organization that features 19 rides, 22 attractions, majestic gardens and world famous Circus Trees.
