PW June 09 P8.qxd 5/26/09 1:13 pm Page 8
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
PROWLER LURKS AT WORLDS OF FUN
Wooden coaster awaits Missouri
park-goers
Deep in the woods of Worlds of Fun, Missouri, a dangerous predator lurks.
The Prowler, a beast of a wooden coaster, is now thrilling guests at this Kansas
City park.
The ride was custom designed and built for the topography of Worlds of Fun
by Great Coasters International (GCI) and features a succession of high speed
hills and sharply banked turns that hug the wooded land below. Only once
during the two-and-a-half minute/3,074ft ride does it appear above the trees,
during a swooping 85ft plummet into a ravine.
The coaster reaches a top speed of 51 mph and comes equipped with two
12 row, 24-passenger GCI Millennium Flyer trains. These extremely
comfortable trains feature a metallic blue, green, and copper colour scheme
with black seats and between them accommodate approximately 850 riders
per hour.
The MegaWhip
Caption
Prowler represents an $8 million investment for Worlds of Fun and is located A new ride designer has set up shop in
in the Africa section of the park near the Zulu ride. The new attraction is the New York, and its first product is an exciting
seventh rollercoaster at Worlds of Fun. adaptation of an old classic. Based loosely
“Prowler reinforces our dedication to being the region’s leading thrill park on the original WF Mangels Whip of 1914,
and family entertainment destination,” says Frank Wilburn, vice-president and the MegaWhip from GordonRides features
general manager at Worlds of Fun. “This wild roller coaster will attract both one very important difference. Unlike the
families and thrillseekers.” original Whip, it is able to navigate both
left and right curves in a single, extended layout.
Offering unlimited ride path possibilities, the curve positioning allows for
the cars to swing close to each other, providing the illusion of a pending
collision. Layouts that can be produced for thrill rides, family rides, kiddie
rides, or even dark rides.
The new attraction will be engineered and manufactured on behalf of
GordonRides by Dynamic Designs. “We are particularly excited to be
working with Dynamic Designs, given their vast experience in the
amusement industry, and the exceptionally high quality of their work,” says
GordonRides CEO, founder and lead designer, Jonathon Gordon. “We
anticipate pre-launch
availability of the
MegaWhip starting at the
end of this summer, and
the full product debut at
the IAAPA trade show in
Las Vegas this November.”
If the orders follow,
GordonRides hopes to
have the first units in
operation next season.
Meet the man behind the ride
Jonathan Gordon's first taste of the amusement business was as an
apprentice ride mechanic at Playland Park, Rye, New York. He then worked
as an assistant to the superintendent, where he gained insight into park
operations, ride acquisition and project management. A graduate of
George Washington University with a degree in Applied
Science and Technology, he subsequently developed
intellectual property related to rides such as the Inverted
Wood Coaster, the Warring Coaster, the Coaster
Maintenance Car and now the MegaWhip. His new firm
will handle ride design, general contracting and project
management.
8
JUNE 2009
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