PW Oct 09 P16:PW Oct 09 P16.qxd 28/09/2009 09:44 Page 16
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Carowinds to add Crealy funds third
$23m coaster
PlayPump
The skyline of Carowinds, Charlotte,
Up to 2,500 people in
North Carolina, will change
Mozambique will be able to
drastically next spring when the park
enjoy clean water thanks to a
opens Intimidator, the south east
fund-raising effort by Crealy
United States’ tallest, fastest and
Great Adventure Parks, which
longest rollercoaster. The attraction
will ensure the installation of a
represents the largest single capital
Roundabout PlayPump.
investment ($23 million) in
Children play on a simple
Carowinds’ 37-year history.
roundabout, which then pumps
It is one of two coasters opening
water from a borehole into an
next season at Cedar Fair owned
overhead storage tank,
parks to be named in honour of
providing clean water for whole communities. Over half of the world’s
NASCAR racing driver Dale
population do not yet have access to clean water.
Earnhardt, aka “The Intimidator.” The
Crealy, which has parks at Devon and Cornwall in England, has been
other is Intimidator 305 at Kings
working with PlayPumps International since 2006 and funded three
Dominion in Virginia.
roundabouts. The South African organisation has secured the endorsement
Carowinds’ ride will be supplied by Bolliger & Mabillard and stand 232ft tall at
of Nelson Mandela and IAAPA and now installed over 1,000 of these
its highest point, sending guests plunging down at a 74-degree angle. It will reach
unique water pump and storage systems across Africa.
speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. The second (178ft) and third (151ft) hills
The latest PlayPump funded by Crealy guests is located in the Eastern
are also taller than any rollercoaster at Carowinds. With 5,316 ft of track in total,
Cape province of South Africa at the Flagstaff community’s Lubala J School.
Intimidator will feature high speed twists and turns including seven steep drops,
The donation from Crealy was combined with a gift from a US donor, the
one for each of Earnhardt’s NASCAR championships, plus an intense finish
Church of the Falling Spring.
through a diving spiral. The complete ride experience will last more than three
Crealy’s managing director, Angela Wright MBE, hopes via IAAPA to
minutes.
install PlayPumps in attractions around the world in order to raise awareness
Fashioned after the driver’s 1998 RCR No 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the
of the work of PlayPumps International.
coaster’s trains will feature open-air stadium-style seating with a simple T-bar style
www.PlayPumps.org
restraint.
The 10-acre attraction will be located on the midway across from the entrance
of Nighthawk and will race over the park from the north main entrance to the
south entrance parallel to the parking lot. Construction has already begun on this Sea Life Phoenix
world-class rollercoaster.
Merlin Entertainments is planning to build a $15 million Sea Life aquarium
at Phoenix’s Arizona Mills Mall. If approved by the City of Tempe, it will
New water ride for
become the second Sea Life Aquarium in the United States, joining Sea Life
Carlsbad, California, which opened in August 2008 adjacent to Legoland
California.
Cedar Point
“We believe Sea Life will be a wonderful addition here at Arizona Mills,
and welcome the Merlin Entertainments family to ours,” says Mills president
Shoot the Rapids, a 2,100-ft long water ride from IntaRide, will soak guests
Gregg Goodman.
from the start of next season at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio.
“A Sea Life aquarium is no
The ride, which represents a $10.5 million (Euro.1867.3m) investment is the most
mere collection of fish tanks,”
expensive water ride ever built at Cedar Point and will boast an hourly capacity
adds Merin’s managing
of approximately 1,200 (using 10 boats).
director of ‘midway’
Riders will be seated in five rows of two and secured with individual over-
attractions, Glenn Earlam.
the-head restraints. During the journey, each boat will travel through a wooded
“It’s a highly themed
area and past several surprise water elements and effects. The excitement builds
environment that transports
when the boats ascend one of two lift
visitors beneath the seas,
hills. The first and largest will be 85ft
educates them and provides
tall , with a 45-degree climb. The
close encounters with a vast
second hill will be 49ft tall but
array of creatures.”
feature a dramatic “shoot” through
The Phoenix aquarium will
water rapids and rockwork.
be a 26,000 sq ft development
“Shoot the Rapids will instantly
with 12 different zones housing
become a family favourite,” predicts
over 5,000 creatures, ranging
Cedar Point vice-president and
from shoreline marine life such
general manager, John Hildebrandt.
as starfish and crabs to larger
“Our guests wanted another option
species such as sharks and
to cool off on warm summer days.
rays. Opening is planned for
We listened.”
2010.
16 OCTOBER 2009
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