Latest news with #rollercoaster
CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Wild Mouse set to return next month to Idlewild
Pittsburghers have all heard the news about the Steel Curtain rollercoaster reopening at Kennywood, but what about the little steel coaster at Idlewild Park that has been closed for almost a year? Well, ride enthusiasts, listen up. The Wild Mouse rollercoaster returns later next month. It is a sight that hasn't been seen, heard or felt in almost a year. But come the middle of June, the Wild Mouse will be back in the house for Idlewild's 148th summer season. "It's quick, it's fast, it's got a lot of fun turns and dips, and people just really enjoy riding it," says Jeff Croushore, marking director of Idlewild & SoakZone "The ride is getting a complete electrical upgrade, including a new control system, new sensors along the ride and what we call the logics of the ride — everything including the chain, the chain linear, a new compressor for the ride. And it's going to be great." And not only has this ride received a full mechanical makeover, but all the cars are getting re-skinned to bring back their classic look and design that they had when the ride first debuted at Idlewild in 1993. "All the improvements will allow the ride to run five cars, which previously we were only running three. So, it will increase capacity and lead to shorter lines," Croushore said. Above all, Idlewild hopes that the improvements made to the Wild Mouse will make for a better overall rider experience, and the park hopes the Wild Mouse will continue to be that great gateway coaster for all the young thrill seekers out there. Again, the Wild Mouse will be back in action this June, but Idlewild has already opened daily for the season. For tickets and more information on all the family fun, click here.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Europe's newest theme park with 50 rides and themed lands forced to delay opening date
PARK-ING IT Plus, a major UK theme park is to get huge new land by 2027 with rollercoasters, kids rides and indoor attractions EUROPE'S newest theme park with 50 rides and different themed lands has been forced to delay its opening date. Hossoland Amusement Park in Poland was originally due to open on May 31, bu confirmed that this has been pushed back. 7 7 7 Hossoland's website states: "We regret to inform you that the planned opening date of Hossoland Amusement Park has been postponed. "The final opening date will be announced in early June. "During this time, we will focus on finalising the last details and final testing of our attractions to provide you with an unforgettable experience from day one. "Thank you for your patience, trust and great interest. See you soon!" The amusement park is set in Brojce, on Poland's northern coast, and has plans to create a f airytale-theme attraction, which was originally announced back in 2017. When it eventually opens it is expected to be a rival to Energylandia - one of Europe 's largest theme parks. The park is expected to have a lighthouse, which will connect the four themed zones - each of which is inspired by a local legend or fairytale. In addition, the destination will span 400,000-square-metres and the four lands include Mermaid City, the Kingdom of Baltambrya, the Land of the Vikings and the Dragon Valley of the Mines. One of the park's top attractions is expected to be a steel coaster called GhostRider. It will launch riders 176 feet into the air and reach speeds of up to 72-miles-per-hour. Most of the rides are yet to be named but visitors can expect to experience 20 food and drink areas in the park. The park expects to welcome over one million visitors each year. Karen Hovsepyan, vice president of the park's operator Hosso Group, told Planet Attractions: "Hossoland will be the only amusement park of such a large scale on the Polish coast. "It will certainly become a recognisable symbol and a frequently visited place in this region." For Brits wanting to head to the new park, the best way to get there will be to fly to Szczecin, which with Ryanair can cost as low as £14.99, from both Liverpool and London. 7 7 7 From the airport, Hossoland is then around an hour drive away. Ticket prices vary between low and high season, with a regular ticket costing £29.48 in low season, and £33.44 in high season. Two and three day tickets can also be purchased and if it is a visitor's birthday on the day of entry (up to 18-years-old), they will get their entry for just 20p. Also, here's everything we know about Europe's 1st Universal theme park coming to UK – from TWO new train stations to 500-room hotel. Plus, a major UK theme park is to get huge new land by 2027 with rollercoasters, kids rides and indoor attractions. 7
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside the UK's ‘strangest' theme park – that's home to the biggest suspended looping roller coaster in the world
A lesser-known UK theme park is home to the world's tallest suspended looping coaster. Fantasy Island, located in Ingoldmells on Lincolnshire's coast, is one of the country's more unique theme parks. The quirky theme park has more than 30 rides but there's one that theme park junkies definitely won't want to miss. Fantasy Island's The Odyssey coaster is the world's tallest suspended looping coaster, standing at 167 feet/51 m high. The spine-tingling ride travels at 62mph and opened in 2002, the year of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee. Prince Edward was one of the first people to ride The Odyssey. It has five inversions (where riders are turned upside down) including a corkscrew roll and a 124 feet/ 37 m high vertical loop. The Odyssey has a 4.6 rating out of five on Google Reviews with one rider describing it as 'unexpectedly good'. Another rider says: 'I loved it. When I first tried it, it was an amazing ride, probably better than The Smiler in Alton Towers.' The ride sits within Fantasy Island's 'Discovery' category which means it can only be ridden by those 1.1 m tall or above. Fantasy Island adds: 'Hold on tight as you soar through the sky at amazing heights, through a whirlwind of inversions at great speeds. 'The Jubilee Odyssey is a truly terrifying experience and is not a Skegness rollercoaster for the faint hearted.' But The Odyssey isn't Fantasy Island's only standout attraction. The theme park is home to Europe's largest seven day market with more than 320 stalls. Visitors can stop at Fantasy Foods for candy floss, then browse for wooden garden furniture or get a body piercing. The market also has a huge toy shop, face painting, handbag stalls and a baby boutique. On TikTok, @coastertog called it 'the strangest theme park in the UK', noting it's the only place you can go to 'ride the biggest SLC coaster in the world, and walk home with a wooden eagle, dog speaker and a three-piece outdoor furniture set'. A tourist said in a review on Google Reviews: 'The market and all the shops around Fantasy Island are brilliant. You'll find some bargains.' Another said: 'Great rides and a wonderful market makes this a good day out. We enjoyed the various food stalls and even had a cheeky tattoo to round off our visit.' A one day Discovery wristband which allows visitors to access all the park's rides costs £28.80 if purchased online. Visitors can also pay per ride if they get one of the park's iCards which can be topped up by Fantasy Island's cashiers. MailOnline Travel recently revealed where Europe's best theme parks are located - and exactly how much it will cost to visit them.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Kennywood to open the Steel Curtain rollercoaster to the public on Saturday morning
At long last, Kennywood's thrilling rollercoaster, The Steel Curtain, reopens this weekend. Out of commission for a year, Kennywood says the Steel Curtain will be ready to return to action just in time for Memorial Day weekend. "The anticipation is building, we can't wait to put riders right here in these seats, really looking for that at 11:30," said Kennywood's Communications Director Lynsey Winters. "It's really going to be a great grand opening ceremony, we'll have some elected officials here, we'll have some current and former Steelers players here, and Miss Pennsylvania. It's going to be a huge party." With Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, it's also the beginning of the busiest season at Pittsburgh's flagship theme park. "We're open every single day beginning today through the end of August," Winters said. "We have Bites & Pints starting this weekend, we have our new stunt show starting this weekend, so it's really going to be an action-packed summer season." With the much-anticipated opening set for Saturday morning, Winters told KDKA-TV said those looking forward to finally hopping aboard the Steel Curtain, arrive early and get in line, because it's expected to be in high demand. Tickets and season passes can be purchased on Kennywood's website. Coaster enthusiasts get a first look at the revamped Steel Curtain A group of coaster enthusiasts got some preview rides on Thursday as the first of the Steel Curtain's cars climbed the track, launching riders at speeds faster than Fast Willie Parker. "Yeah, it was pretty fast. It was pretty scary," said coaster enthusiast Tim Buck. "Of all the steel coasters I've ridden all over the world, I can honestly say, there is none, anything like this one," said Bill Linkenheimer of the American Coaster Enthusiasts of Western Pennsylvania. The ride, now set to open on Saturday morning, underwent nearly a year of changes following closures. Steel Curtain gets revamped and updated In 2024, the park said the ride would be shut down for the whole season for modifications. During that time, the park said it worked with third-party engineers and the ride's manufacturers to come up with a long-term solution to increase its longevity. The park also shut down multiple times during the 2023 season. The ride had reopened in July 2023, and shortly after, the park announced it would close once again. However, despite all of that, it was alleged that Kennywood misled season pass holders a year ago, advertising the ride while potentially knowing the ride would not open for the 2024 season. Kennywood's past lawsuit The lawsuit in 2024 alleged Kennywood and its parent company knew the Steel Curtain would be closed but did not disclose this to the public while selling passes that season. "I understand that it may be one ride at this point, but that's a flagship attraction for the park," said Attorney John A. Biedrzycki. "It has the world's tallest inversion of any rollercoaster. If you're going to take the big, marquee attraction out of the equation, you are diminishing the value of what these people paid for." Kennywood and its parent company, Festival Fun Park,s did not comment about the legal dispute.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Kennywood's Steel Curtain welcomes coaster enthusiasts for early rides ahead of reopening
Out of commission for a year, Kennywood says the Steel Curtain will be ready to return to action just in time for Memorial Day weekend. A group of coaster enthusiasts got some preview rides on Thursday as the first of the Steel Curtain's cars climbed the track, launching riders at speeds faster than Fast Willie Parker. "Yeah, it was pretty fast. It was pretty scary," said coaster enthusiast Tim Buck. Out of the Kennywood coaster lineup for a year, the park says the downtime was to make the Steel Curtain stronger and more rider-friendly. Despite that, officials already say it's got a Hall of Fame resume. Lynsey Winters with Kennywood Park listed all the records the coaster holds: "Highest inversion in Pennsylvania, highest inversion in North America, tallest roller coaster in Pennsylvania, and the most inversions in North America." "Of all the steel coasters I've ridden all over the world, I can honestly say, there is none, anything like this one," said Bill Linkenheimer of the American Coaster Enthusiasts of Western Pennsylvania. And Linkenheimer would know what makes a good coaster. "I have ridden almost 1,100 roller coasters around the world at this point," he said. Linkenheimer sounds like a QB calling out a play when it comes to the Steel Curtain's stats. "To have 4,000 feet of track, nine inversions, 220 feet tall — all in this small compact footprint where the track is literally on top of itself, is unique," Linkenheimer said. Tim Buck came in from Muncy, Pennsylvania, to take a few rides. He's got 200 coasters on his ride resume. "My favorite part was the dive loop at the beginning, down to the drop," Buck said. Come this weekend, it will be ready, set, here we go for the general public. The coaster will officially reopen to riders at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 24.
