Waldameer Park Starts Prep Work For Wooden Coaster

Erie, PA -- Construction crews have been hard at work at Waldameer Park where they recently completed a new 140-foot thrill ride and also began constructing an access road in preparation for a new $6 million wooden roller coaster.

The new fourteen-story tower drop ride called X Scream opened to the public this past weekend for a special fundraiser to benefit the Children's Miracle Network.

On November 4 and 5, thrill-seekers paid $2.50 per ride to be the first to experience X Scream. Waldameer Park donated $2.00 of the proceeds from each ride to the Children's Miracle Network at Saint Vincent Health Center.

The park has also started work in October on an access road in preparation for the Ravine Flyer II wooden coaster that will be built next year.

According to Waldameer Park's owner, this will be the largest ride in the park's 111-year history.

The new wooden roller coaster will traverse Peninsula Drive or State Route 832 that leads to Presque Isle State Park. After years of delays, the courts eventually ruled in favor of the park on a number of lawsuits filed by a neighbor opposing the new roller coaster.

The Ravine Flyer II will cost an estimated $6 million and will open for the 2008 season.