Latest news with #thrillride
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Video: Soon-to-open rollercoaster DISCONNECTS from track mid-air
Video: Heart-stopping moment shows how soon-to-open roller coaster DISCONNECTS from the track in mid-air - and even theme park junkies are terrified to ride A theme park in North America has released first-look footage of a groundbreaking new rollercoaster that disconnects at the tracks - but even adrenaline junkies have given the 'heart pumping' ride a hard pass. Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is renowned as 'The Roller Coaster Capital of the World' thanks to its collection of 18 world-class rides, including Top Thrill 2, Steel Vengeance and Millennium Force. Now, a new high-speed, wing 'tilt' coaster is set to open at the 364 acre park - and it's left even the most seasoned thrill-seekers running for the hills.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Heart-stopping moment shows how soon-to-open roller coaster DISCONNECTS from the track in mid-air - and even theme park junkies are terrified to ride
A theme park in North America has released first-look footage of a groundbreaking new rollercoaster that disconnects at the tracks - but even adrenaline junkies have given the 'heart pumping' ride a hard pass. Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is renowned as 'The Roller Coaster Capital of the World' thanks to its collection of 18 world-class rides, including Top Thrill 2, Steel Vengeance and Millennium Force. Now, a new high-speed, wing 'tilt' coaster is set to open at the 364 acre park - and it's left even the most seasoned thrill-seekers running for the hills. Siren's Curse, described as the 'tallest, longest and fastest' tilt coaster in North America, is a unique ride that promises to plunge guests 'into the abyss' as they flee the beckoning call of the siren. The mythical-themed attraction is inspired from the legend and lore of mysterious creatures living beneath the surface of Lake Erie, where the park is located on a peninsula. On Cedar's Point website, the description reads: 'Come face-to-face with 13 weightless airtime moments, two 360-degree, zero-gravity barrel rolls and a high-speed "triple-down" element with twisted and overbanked track.' However, the ride features a hair-raising experience where riders ascend the 160-foot lift hill and then experience a dead stop on a 'broken off' piece of track that tilts into a 90-degree vertical position. The track then connects, and the train plunges through 2,966 feet of twisted track at speeds of up to 58 mph. Further advice regarding health and safety reads: 'Riders will experience changes in speed and direction, weightlessness, and rapid movements from side to side. 'A shoulder harness with a between-the-legs safety belt secures each rider over the head and across the chest.' Though an official date has not yet been given for the opening of Siren's Curse, Cedar Point says it will open in the early summer of 2025. Official footage of the empty rollercoaster going through last-minute testing at the park was released by the amusement park over the weekend - and thrill fanatics have been left unnerved. A clip reposted by @kies_1207 on TikTok has already drawn thousands of wide-eyed viewers - with many referencing spine-tingling 'accident' scenes from the cult horror franchise, Final Destination. One person wrote, 'I love roller coasters and I love Cedar Point, but I'm not doing a disconnected track,' while another added, 'I prefer the tracks to be attached at all times.' A third exclaimed, 'THATS THE BIGGEST NOPE I CAN NOPE,' while another quipped, 'What's the name of this roller coaster??? The Brink of Death?' One viewer commented, 'I'm getting Final Destination vibes here. Imagine the coaster keeps going right off the edge,' while another added, 'I love that millennials are equally united on never driving behind a log truck and this kind of roller coaster.' A clip on on TikTok has already drawn thousands of wide-eyed viewers - with many referencing spine-tingling 'accident' scenes from the cult horror franchise, Final Destination Another thrill-seeker said: 'I don't ever get scared on roller coasters. But this one would have my heart pumping. Especially that back row.' Another quizzed: 'Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster broke down all the time and people had to climb down. How do you climb down from this?!' However, one rollercoaster fanatic hit back: 'Y'all don't realize how safe roller coasters are. there are SO MANY precautions and testing. Cedar Point workers are also great at checking seats before the ride starts.' But one person responded: 'My husband is the lead maintenance engineer, he said they're actually ahead of schedule and it should still be opening mid June. Couldn't pay me $1 M to do that.'
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I was one of the first to try the revamped ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach – with new 80mph launch
IT'S launch day, but this isn't my first rodeo on Blackpool Pleasure Beach's 'new' shot tower ride, Launch Pad. Known as Ice Blast until 2023 and PlayStation: The Ride before that, anyone familiar with Blackpool will know this vertical steel giant well. 7 7 7 It's one of the park's classic thrill rides, and it's been flinging riders to jaw-dropping heights since 1997. But after one year off, it's back, having had a huge makeover that's aims to get your stomach churning like never before. Lucky for me - I was one of the first to give it a spin ahead of its public opening this week. Besides an updated name, theme and fresh blue and red paint job, the daunting 210-foot structure has been overhauled with a brand-new launch cylinder to give it an extra kick. Blackpool Pleasure Beach claims this 'reimagined' ride now serves a punchier, more intimidating experience as it hurls you 20 storeys skywards. And I have to say, after multiple rides at its official press launch, I can't argue with that. With a rocket-like blast off that catapults you vertically at speeds of up to 80mph in mere seconds before a sudden, stomach-lurching plunge back to earth, I can confirm that the experience is better than ever. Launch Pad isn't the first time Blackpool has updated an old ride to offer visitors a new experience. The park's legendary water ride, Valhalla, received a £4million re-imagining in 2023, and Pleasure Beach announced at its 2025 season launch that fan-favourite River Caves will also be getting a revamp later this year. The park's bosses say overhauling existing rides isn't just about a new name and a fresh paint job. Reusing Launch Pad's structure also means less waste - something the park's CEO, Amanda Thompson, said is better for the planet, right before cutting the ribbon. Seaside theme park gets reimagined ride She added that this is something Pleasure Beach is focusing on more and more - giving old favourites a new lease of life. And that's what they did with Launch Pad. Instead of scrapping a classic, they gave the ride a proper upgrade that feels familiar, but hits different. Launch Pad is open now - and if you've ridden it before, don't expect the same experience. This is faster, louder, and more intense. After Blackpool Pleasure Beach CEO, Amanda Thompson, cut the ribbon and announced Launch Pad as officially open, we were let loose inside the ride area, which has a cool new 'space exploration' theme. Added oomph Alongside the galactic soundtrack, there's updated seats and restraints, and a themed launch sequence, which counts you down to take-off - alongside theatrical smoke - just like you're blasting off into the stars. However, the biggest update to Launch Pad is an upgraded pneumatic cylinder, now operating at a whopping 105 pounds per square inch (PSI). I'm told that this boost in pressure means a much faster ascent, with riders fired upwards with more force. And you really feel it. The increase in kinetic energy is what makes the launch feel completely different. Comparing it to previous years, it now feels sharper and way more aggressive - from the g-force that pushes you down into your seat at lift off, to the floaty weightlessness you feel when you hit the top. 7 7 And no matter how many times you ride it, it doesn't lose its edge. Sure, your stomach is left on the floor, but before long, you're rewarded with epic views across the whole of Blackpool, its beaches and beyond. Blackpool Pleasure Beach recently reopened for the season, including welcoming visitors to the Nickelodeon Land area of the park for the first time in over 10-years. In addition, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been crowned as the best family-owned theme park in the country. The amusement park first opened in 1896 and has been kept in the same family since. Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort prices start from £28 for kids and £30 for adults. A mum recently revealed how she pays just £10pp on theme park days out for a family-of-five. Plus, the major UK theme park to get huge new land by 2027 with rollercoasters, kids rides and indoor attractions. 7 7
