(01/01/2008) - The year 2007 is over and what a year it has been for the industry; with many new attractions and a lot of news making mainstream media. Worldwide, 108 roller coasters opened this season. The U.S. received 43 of these 108 roller coasters according to RCDB. The 2007 season was filled with a lot of new and exciting ride types, technologies, and new elements of ride design to give us a diverse selection. Join us now and take a look at what happened this year!
The Parks
The amusement park world seemed progressive, with several parks closing their doors forever and a few making their debut announcement. One of whom was Wild West World, which only opened for two months, closed it's operations and had a major ride sell-off. A variety of news from Bell's Amusement Park also appeared. At last word, the park was moving to a new location. Perhaps the biggest story this year, Geauga Lake closed its doors forever as an amusement park. The park's closing made a huge ripple effect that was felt through the industry and the local community. Luckily, many of the park's rides will be relocated to other locations so that guests can still enjoy them.
Welcome to Rock & Roll Heaven!
The announcement of Hard Rock Park, set to open in Spring 2008, brought enormous news this year. Themed after Rock n' Roll music, it will feature five new roller coasters and a variety of other attractions. Disney announced a $1.1 billion dollar expenditure and remodeling of Disney's California Adventure. Some of the changes are already taking place and Disney fans are singing praises for the modifications. Some of the changes are already taking place and Disney fans are singing praises for the modifications.
We also had a lot of parks changing hands this year. Six Flags sold off seven of its parks, with surprising approval from enthusiast circles. Clementon Amusement Park undertook new ownership, which many hope will become a change for the better. The new owners want to expand the park and spend money to bring it up to their standards. Finally, Kennywood Entertainment was inexpediently sold to a Spanish firm. There was a lot of uproar over this, especially from Pennsylvanian locals, but new owners have stated there will be no major changes to the parks.
The Coasters
Of America's 43 new coasters this year, there are only ten or so worth mentioning. Six Flags opened two Tony Hawks Big Spin coasters at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags St. Louis. With two more attractions on order in the Six Flags chain next year, the rides must be a hit. Knott's Berry Farm also took a piece of the action with the addition of Sierra Sidewinder-the first free spinning coaster attraction built by Mack Rides.
SeaWorld San Antonio opened Journey to Atlantis, a Mack SuperSplash. The ride was extensively themed and has some pretty good reviews for a ride of its type. Lagoon park in Utah opened Wicked. This Zierer Tower Drop Coaster features two LSM (Linear Synchronous Motor) launches; one of the launches is actually vertical. The attraction has received mediocre reviews, but I think the concept could be refined to make a dynamite ride.
Two wooden coasters opened this year, Renegade and Boardwalk Bullet. Both rides have had some impressive reviews. Renegade is a twister built by Great Coasters International, featuring a station fly-by, which has become a GCI trademark, and Millennium Flyer trains. Gravity Group was not outdone with their version of a twister in the Boardwalk Bullet. The coaster crosses over and under itself 42 times, making for one of the most compact woodies of our time.
Boardwalk Bullet at Kemah Boardwalk
Dollywood opened my personal favorite for 2007 with Mystery Mine. This Gerstlauer Eurofigher coaster features two vertical lifts, a 95 degree drop, a heartline roll, a dive loop, impressive themeing, and quite a few surprises. Busch Gardens Europe followed in its sister parks' footsteps with Griffon, a Bolliger & Mabillard Diving Machine. Griffon is the first floorless Diving Machine in the world with a vertical 90-degree drop. A short time thereafter, SheiKra at Busch Gardens Africa was converted to feature the floorless trains.
Throughout the enthusiast community, the big ride for the year was Maverick at Cedar Point. Intamin built a one-of-a-kind roller coaster that doesn't feature height or speed, but rather low to the ground elements and quick turns. The ride has a non-traditional lift hill and also features a launching segment. Maverick also has a 95 degree drops and two inversions.
Final Thoughts
The industry went though a lot of changes in 2007. Some classic parks were either sold or demolished, along with the country's oldest roller coaster Jack Rabbit, at Clementon Amusement Park. The big corporate parks went through some serious changes as well. There were a few accidents that shook us to the core, like those at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom and Expoland, but in the end we still love our amusement parks.
This new year looks to be promising as well. To see what we can expect next year, come back next week as I give you a 2008 preview.
To check out a month by month recap of this year, listen to the Kevin and Nate Show's 2007 Review Podcast.
Nate Nagele can be reached with questions, comments, or just telling him how much he sucks here. RCPro, it's staff, and affiliates, are not responsible for the comments made in any user submitted article. RCPro does not necessarily support or endorse the views and comments made by the user.
