New For 2018
First of all... my apologies for the delay in getting this post going. I do enjoy putting these together, but life hasn't allowed me to spend a whole lot of time in front of a computer in recent months. It feels good to take some time to post again on URC!
We are well through the 2017 park season, and several projects are already in motion for 2018. I'll do my best to keep track of them all here for everyone.
It's hard to believe that this is the SEVENTH time around for these URC "New For..." threads! As I've always said, it's a labor of love. I do find value in having a consolidated spot where I can see everything that's being added around the United States.
And as always, thanks to the news feeds on Facebook, RCDB, Screamscape, and those not-so-public sources that keep me in the loop.
And, also as always, please let me know if I miss something, or when new news is released. If any of these attractions deserve their own dedicated thread, by all means please start one.
More info to come... sooner than later!
Coaster to Park Ratio: 4.94 / Steel to Wooden Ratio: 2.56 / Wooden Coaster Percentage: 28%
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Nickelodeon Universe, Meadowlands
-- We'll keep this park in the same place it's been for a couple of years now. It seems like contruction has resumed recently. Let's hope 2018 is the year. Nick Universe will be the largest indoor amusement park in North America. Once word gets out as too what rides they will open, we will add them to the list.
Edaville Family Fun Park (Carver, MA)
-- Kersplash, The relocated Miler 1995 splash coaster is set to open next season. Two drops with two splashdowns.
Sea World San Diego
-- Electric Eel, the latest Premier Rides Sky Rocket II to open in the United States. Like the rest, 150 feet tall, 62 mph max after the third launch.
While Rocky Mountain Construction is clearly busy with a couple of wooden coaster alterations for 2018, we'll consider those to be completely new roller coasters.
To date, there are no coaster alterations to create new experiences for next season. But we'll keep an eye on the VR trend.
Silver Dollar City
-- A MAJOR attraction is coming in 2018 - the largest in the park's history. And it is a roller coaster. Just waiting on official word.
Kings Dominion
-- Hurler Steel Conversion, like with Mean Streak's conversion, this project is impossible to hid. The park has been teasing frequently. Announcement coming soon, possibly on August 16th.
California's Great America
-- The park is teasing a major announcement. It seems as if a new roller coaster is coming to the park. Announcement coming soon.
Cedar Point
-- - Mean Streak Steel Conversion, it's hard to hide such an enormous, time consuming project. Looking forward to finding out the details very soon.
Here we'll list all major parks, under their corresponding owners, and list what they add (or don't add) for 2018.
Disneyland Resort
--
Walt Disney World
--
Universal Studios Florida
--
Islands of Adventure
--
Universal Studios Hollywood
--
Cedar Fair is said to be adding four new roller coasters across the chain. Three seem to be spoken for - maybe even the fourth. We'll know soon enough.
Cedar Point
-- - Mean Streak Steel Conversion, it's hard to hide such an enormous, time consuming project. Looking forward to finding out the details very soon.
Kings Island
-- After a successful 2017 install of Mystic Timbers, I'd expect a smaller 2018 for the park.
Kings Dominion
-- Hurler Steel Conversion, like with Mean Streak's conversion, this project is impossible to hid. The park has been teasing frequently. Announcement coming soon, possibly on August 16th.
California's Great America
-- The park is teasing a major announcement. It seems as if a new roller coaster is coming to the park. Announcement coming soon.
Cananda's Wonderland
-- No movement at this point for the Canada park.
Knott's Berry Farm
-- The park's Vekoma Boomerang has been removed, freeing up some space for 2018's new addition. Time will tell.
Dorney Park
-- This park, certainly due for a new (like actually new) roller coaster. They'll add something - will it turn heads?
Carowinds
-- With California Adventure's successful conversion of a stand-up coaster train to a floorless train last year, could Carowind's Vortex get the same treatment for 2018?
Worlds of Fun
-- They spent a lot of money on a new entrance in 2017. 2018 could be an off year for them.
Valleyfair
-- Screamscape has been talking about the park retiring the old Arrow Excalibur coaster (the original mega-lite) in favor of a water park expansion. Maybe 2018 is the year.
Michigan's Adventure
-- Not usually the recipient of a lot of Cedar Fair capital dollars, we'll see what happens at this fantastic Michigan park.
Gilroy Gardens
-- While Cedar Fair doesn't own this fantastic property, they do operate it. Maybe it's time for a new ride.
Thanks for your patience!
For the past few years, every Six Flags park has gotten a new attraction every year. They usually announce them all in one shot on the last Thursday in August, which is also the last day of August this year. Looking forward to August 31st!
They've already announced that there will be some "world's firsts" and some "record breakers" next year. We'll see!
Six Flags Magic Mountain
--
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
--
Six Flags Great America
--
Six Flags St. Louis
--
Six Flags Over Texas
--
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
--
Six Flags Mexico
--
Six Flags Over Georgia
--
Six Flags America
--
Six Flags Great Adventure
-- A "world's first" is coming in 2018!
Six Flags New England
--
Great Escape
--
La Ronde
--
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
--
Busch Gardens Tampa
--
Sea World Orlando
--
Sea World San Antonio
--
Sea World San Diego - Announced!
-- Electric Eel, the latest Premier Rides Sky Rocket II to open in the United States. Like the rest, 150 feet tall, 62 mph max after the third launch.
Sesame Place
-- Could the small Pennsylvania park be up for a new attraction?
LEGOLAND Florida
-- With the success of the first LEGO movie, and with the release of LEGO Batman and Ninjago in 2017, I wonder if we'll see action at the American parks?
LEGOLAND California
-- Likewise...
It seems as if Palace rotates large capital investments around the company year to year.
Kennywood
-- Sky Rocket will be seven years old in 2017. Will we see a new roller coaster after years of rumors? Rumors have really heated up this year.
Lake Compounce
-- The popular skyride has permanently closed. It sounds as if there is a plan to use the space in the near future.
Idlewild and Soak Zone
-- Nothing added in 2017. Perhaps 2018 will be the year. They do have a lot of land.
Story Land
-- Not sure if they're the type of park to add rides frequently, but I'll save a spot for them in case they do.
Dutch Wonderland
-- Hopefully Merlin's Mayhem doesn't become a 2018 addition...
Silver Dollar City
-- A MAJOR attraction is coming in 2018 - the largest in the park's history. And it is a roller coaster. Just waiting on official word.
Dollywood
--
Wild Adventure
--
Darien Lake
-- The park floated that Lake Monster concept a few years park, as a transformation of the Predator wooden coaster. Could it happen in 2018?
Frontier City
-- This well-rounded park hasn't added a major roller coaster since 2008.
Magic Springs
--
Wild Waves and Enchanted Village
-- The Northwest park added two flat rides in 2016. They're pretty much the only game in town, so they may not feel the need to add major attractions as regularly as others do.
Pacific Park Santa Monica Pier
--
Clementon Lake
-- This park is not owned by EPR, but rather by Premier. And, they could also be ready for a major new ride in 2018.
Galaxyland
-- The indoor park at the West Edmonton Mall doesn't often add new rides. That doesn't mean they won't.
Nickelodeon Universe, Mall of America
-- On the contrary, this indoor park, at Mall of America, is seemingly constantly adding something.
Nickelodeon Universe, Meadowlands - Announced!
-- After yet another delay, it seems as if things are in motion again. Nick Universe, when it hopefully opens in 2018, will be the largest indoor amusement park in North America. Once word gets out as to what rides they will open, we will add them to the list.
Apex was unexpectedly forced to restructure in 2017 due to Al Weber Jr's untimely passing. Former Six Flags Great Adventure president John Fitzgerald is now at the helm.
Indiana Beach
-- Perhaps this gem is ready for a new ride in 2018.
Fantasy Island
-- As a newer acquisition, perhaps Apex will give them something new for 2018.
Fun Spot America, Orlando
--
Fun Spot America, Kissimmee
--
Alabama Splash Adventure
-- We'll keep an eye on Dan Koch to see what he has in store for year five.
Holiday World
-- Thunderbird will be three years old in 2018. That's hard to believe. Perhaps it's time for another major addition.
Kentucky Kingdom
-- Ed Hart has been constantly adding to the park since regaining ownership. Hopefully that trend continues in 2018.
Silverwood
-- It's been a few years since Silverwood added that used inverted boomerang. Being so close to Rocky Mountain Construction, perhaps they'll work on a project together soon.
Hersheypark
-- It seems as if the water park portion will add a new attraction for 2018. Also, there seems to be some construction action near the park entrance. Announcement August 8th.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
-- Park improvements came in 2017, along with a small new ride in "Over the Top". Perhaps they are working on something larger for 2018.
Adventureland (Iowa)
-- They just opened Monster in 2016, so we probably shouldn't expect anything significant so quickly.
Adventure Park USA
-- The small Maryland park wants to grow.
Quassy Amusement Park
--
Waldameer
--
Elitch Gardens
--
Other Independent Parks
When I think of smaller independent parks that haven't built a roller coaster in a while, Arnold's Park, Bay Beach, Mount Olympus, Sea Breeze, Cliff's, Canobie, and Funtown come to mind.
Some could be in the market. Some are likely content with what they have, or don't have the big money. But often, a surprise comes from the little guys.
Casino Pier & Breakwater Beach
-- The old Dentzel carousel will be changing hands soon, but it will still be operating a bit north of its current home.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
--
Morey's Piers
--
Playland's Castaway Cove
--Wild Waves, has yet to open. Likely to open this year, but 2018 could be a possibility.
Rye Playland
-- This park is going through a management transition, with proposals of new attractions in tow. Not sure if 2018 will bring anything or not.
Other Seaside Independent Parks
There are numerous parks up and down both coasts. We'll stay on top of their additions, if any.
Cliff's Amusement Park
-- There was talk that Cliff's was working to have Astroworld's Greezed Lightning (Schwarzkopf shuttle) opened at some point in 2014. But it didn't happen. There were rumors that this ride could end up back in Texas in 2016 or later. But now that seems unlikely. I don't know what's happening with it now.
Akita Retail and Events Center
-- A proposed Las Vegas Strip shopping center looked to be the new home of a re-worked Speed: The Ride. This was to be for 2014, but like almost everything else in Vegas, the project is stalled. Track and supports are on site.
Skyvue, Las Vegas
-- The long-rumored 500 foot Ferris wheel was finally under construction in Las Vegas. Supports are up, but that's all the further they got.
Morey's Piers
-- I don't know what else to call the proposed new wooden coaster other than "stalled" at this point. Perhaps "scrapped" is the more appropriate word now.
Miracle Strip Pier Park
-- Starliner, From what I understand, GCI was to modify the 1963 John Allen design to meet the new park's needs. Still a new wooden coaster, but not the classic. Was planned for 2015, bumped to 2016, and now... who knows? The park's future is in jeopardy.
Coaster to Park Ratio: 4.94 / Steel to Wooden Ratio: 2.56 / Wooden Coaster Percentage: 28%
Facebook: Search Park Connoisseur
Seems like Six flags is going away from doing the same type of ride for all parks this year. This does look like it will be a ton of fun.
On a different note, I have heard several rumors of Canada's Wonderland going with hotels on site this year. While i think they would have at least broke ground on that by now if that is the case, anything else been stated for this park???
* This post was modified at 8/3/17 10:48:35 PM *

I didn't renew my Cedar Fair PP for 2017, but I immediately did for 2018. With three new coasters and a need to actually visit both King's Island (Mystic Timbers) and Carowinds (Fury) for the first time, that's five world class coasters that can be added to my bucket.
Drachen, you made a post a while back about the fallout of Intamin and Cedar Fair. It's safe to say that RMC, B&M and GCI have filled that void for them.
If Cedar Fair can find some love for Michigan's Adventure and Dorney, I think we'll have seen a great five year expansion of the chain.
I'm not giving up on Six Flags yet, as it's too early to tell -- my hope is something good for Six Flags America to help round out coaster con next year. I really want my region to shine for those visiting (Invadr and Twisted Timbers will already, hopefully, do that, but a tri-fecta can't be dismissed).
* This post was modified at 8/16/17 6:31:37 PM *

* This post was modified at 8/16/17 7:35:28 PM *

Cedar Point: Steel Vengeance, a RMC conversion of Mean Streak thats 205 ft tall, 74mph, over 5,000 ft of track. I think 4 inversions, and may be one of the best coasters ever built, IMO
Kings Dominion: Twisted Timbers, a RMC conversion of Hurler. 109ft barrel roll first drop, 54mph, over 3,000 ft of track, 20 air time moments on an out and back layout, and I think 3 inversions.
Silver Dollar City: Time Traveler, A Mack spinning coaster with a 100 ft 90 degree drop out the station, 3 inversions, 2 launch's, 50mph, terrain coaster, and spinning all at the same time.
California's Great America: Rail Blazer, a RMC single rail coaster, with a 100ft 90 degree drop, 3 inversions, a clone to Wonder Woman that will be built at Six Flags Fiesta Texas next year.
Canada's Wonderland: Lumberjack, looks like a Zamperla Aero 360 ride. And Flying Canoe's, looks like a modern version for Knoebels Roto Jets
Carowinds: 6 new rides to Planet Snoopy
Valleyfair: A Ring of Fire called Delirious
Worlds Of Fun: some type of flat ride
Knott's Berry Farm: Hang Time, a Gerstlauer Infinity Dive Coaster, 150 ft tall with 5 inversions, 96 degrees first drop.
* This post was modified at 8/16/17 11:13:35 PM *


Overbanked said:
^^^Thanks for the update Frontrow!
No problem Chris. I should have taken notes of all the stats, but was just going by memory. We are still waiting for Six Flags to announce their new coasters for 2018. So far we only know about Wonder Woman at SF Fiesta Texas. Rumors are that Six Flags Great Adventure is getting a coaster as well. So far 2018, looks as if it could be one of the best years for new coaster installations.



This is very amazing, considering how rough of a year they had. In April, they lost a few Wildcat car bodies (of which they were refurbishing), an original, rare Schwarzkopf car (which was almost finished being restored) and the second train to Wild West Express (Zamperla Windstorm) in a fire that consumed their maintenance building.
In spite of all this, he's eager to push on -- in five to ten years, you could easily have one of the best FECs on the northeastern seaboard.
* This post was modified at 8/31/17 2:50:54 PM *



* This post was modified at 9/20/17 6:05:20 PM *

Patripman

Patripman said:
The 205 foot drop on Cedar Points revamped Mean Streak will only last until 2018 and will be surpassed by Kennywood. My guess is 150 foot lift hill with 75 feet added on into the back ravine behind the Racer. The ravine is much deeper than the one the T'Bolt drops in to.
Patripman
I'm praying that you're correct, being Kennywood is my home park.

https://blooloop.com/news/nickelodeon-universe-coasters-american-dream/

5 coasters and thrill flats...
-Takabisha clone with a steeper record breaking
drop(7 inversions)
-Gerstlauer spinning coaster(longest & tallest
in class)
-Intamin triple launch coaster concept
-Suspended family coaster(likely Vekoma)
-Surfrider (Intamin Surfrider [Halfpipe])
-Short Loop Coaster (likely a Larson Loop flat)
-Gerstlauer Sky Fly
-Zamperla Air Race
-Chance Freestyle
-Chance Unicoaster
-Spinning Drop Tower(maybe S&S Sansei?)
Other rides (non thrill) include...
-Dark Ride(likely Sally)
-Interactive Bumper Cars
-Family Swinger
-Kite Flyer
-Midi Discovery(Zamperla, has it listed under
family rides, weird)
-Carousel
-Family Train
-Kiddie Train
-Crazy Bus
-Whip Ride Planes/Cars
-Demolition Derby
-Convoy
-Samba Tower
-Mini Jets
-Frog Hopper
-Mini Bumper Cars
Other attractions...
-Shooting Game Theatre
-Childrens Play Structure
-Ropes Course
-Waterpark with wave pool, lazy river, multiple and varying slides etc.
* This post was modified at 11/11/17 12:20:30 AM *


Bismarck said:
Does anyone know if MI Adventure is getting anything next year?
I haven't heard anything about Michigan's Adventure adding a new ride for 2018. I actually like that Park, but it's in desperate need of a new major coaster or thrill ride.

frontrow said:
Bismarck said:
Does anyone know if MI Adventure is getting anything next year?I haven't heard anything about Michigan's Adventure adding a new ride for 2018. I actually like that Park, but it's in desperate need of a new major coaster or thrill ride.
That would be so awesome. So glad I got to visit that fun little park!
157 Coasters -- Favorite Coaster -- Nitro (SFGAdv)
117 Steel -- 40 Wood -- Home Park: SFGADv



I'll be out there for media day livestreaming from the festivities on my Youtube channel as well as doing a full video preview of the ride that will be available later that week. If anyone else is there I'd love to say Hi.


theRock-steel said:
What are the odds of Michigan's Adventure, Darien Lake, and Dorney Park all planning new thrill rides? Well the Chicago Cubs did win the World Series. I guess anything is possible. LOL.
This gave me a chuckle. However those parks really do need it!
157 Coasters -- Favorite Coaster -- Nitro (SFGAdv)
117 Steel -- 40 Wood -- Home Park: SFGADv