Raptor opens at Gardaland
WORLD
THE first “winged” roller coaster in Italy has opened at Gardaland, the third most popular theme park in Europe. According to manufacturer Bollinger and Mabillard,
development of the ride took exactly two years since the first four concept sketches were submitted by Merlin Entertainments Group in April 2009. The objective was to come up with a machine that was
solid and reliable, with guaranteed appeal among the chosen target audience, technically capable of guaranteeing an hourly capacity of 1,000 people per hour. B&M planned the entire mechanical systems -
train, rail tracks and columns - utilising a particular technique to forge steel. Raptor is made up of 76 elements with an average length of 10 metres and is fixed to the soil by 200 anchorage foundations. The winged trains hold 28 passengers and measure over 15 metres in length. From the starting station, riders instantly find themselves going up a 30m slope, followed by a 33m long descent, three Zero-G inversions and several “near-miss” thrill features. For the ride theming, Merlin worked closely with Gardaland technicians and scenographers to
create a world based around a mysterious winged creature. “The attraction cost €20m - the greatest investment ever to be carried out for an attraction in an Italian amusement park,” said Gardaland CEO Aldo Vigevani.
Interpark paves the way
AFTER acquiring the Pinfari brand in 2007, Interpark Amusements continues to grow its installation base in amusement venues around the world. “We are proud to offer a wide range of compact coasters, which satisfy a great deal of
requirements,” said president Giulio De Maria, who noted that the company’s three core products continue to grow from strength to strength.
“More than 117 units of our classic family
coaster, Cyclon, have been sold around the world since 1986,” De Maria said. “For its category, the track is quite long. It generates a big opportunity for profit as it is capable of receiving approximately more than 700 people per hour.” Interpark’s Wild Wind roller coaster, meanwhile,
combines an ultra-compact ride with numerous thrill elements for young park visitors. “Wild Wind has a potential hourly capacity of up to 800 people and is easy to build up and dismantle,” De Maria added. “In addition, our ZL42 coaster offers the widest range of emotions.”
Nickelodeon Land opens at Pleasure Beach
NICKELODEON Land, a new £10.3m (US$16.6m) attraction at Pleasure Beach Blackpool, UK, was officially unveiled on May 4 by television personality David Hasselhoff. The six-acre park is based on a number of popular Nickelodeon characters and shows, such
as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. Among the 12 rides and attractions designed to accommodate the whole family is the Avatar Airbender, the Nickelodeon Streak rollercoaster and the Rugrats Lost River Ride. Nickelodeon Land also features dining
options such as the Big Pizza Kitchen and the UK’s first shop dedicated to the television channel and entertainment brand. A spokesperson for the Pleasure
Beach said: “With its colourful, park-like atmosphere, Nickelodeon Land is the perfect place for families to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of Nickelodeon.”
NEWS
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