Park News
parkworld-online.com
Record-breaking inverted coaster for Kings Island
The longest inverted steel rollercoaster in the world, Banshee, will make its debut at Kings Island, Ohio, in April 2014. From Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), it will send riders screaming through 4,124ft (1.25km) of track and seven inversions at speeds up to 68 miles per hour (110kmh). Two of the most unique features are the massive size of every loop, and unlike most other coasters, the top speed isn’t reached until halfway through the ride’s 2-minute and 40-seconds course. Since Banshee’s lift hill is on a higher elevation of terrain than the other side of the ride that goes down into a valley, the total elevation change is 208 feet (63m) from the highest point at the top of the lift hill to the lowest point. A total of three trains will enable up to 1,650 passengers per hour to ride. The biggest new product investment in the
park’s 41-year history at $24 million, construction on the coaster is currently underway in the Action Zone area of Kings Island. Banshee will be the 15th rollercoaster at the park near Cincinatti, and the latest of more than 85 worldwide from B&M. Take a virtual ride ar
visitkingsisland.com/banshee
Premier coaster for Holiday Park
The Plopsa group is spending €8 million on a new rollercoaster for Holiday Park in Germany, set to open in July of next year.
Identical to Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom near San Francisco, the attraction will be supplied by Premier Rides – one of only two coasters from the company in Europe. The 50-metre-tall ride will include such features as a launch start, a loop, slow motion twisted heartline roll and several other dramatic twists and turns. The top speed will be 100kmh.
The ride, with a working of title of Thrill Coaster, will be the first coaster to open at the park in Rhineland-Palatinate since Holly’s Autofahrt, a Maurer Wild Mouse added in 2010, and the 2001 Intamin Mega Coaster Expedition GeForce, still well regarded among coaster fans.
holidaypark.de
Hildebrandt bows out at
Cedar Point H John Hildebrandt, vice-president and general Manager of Cedar Point, will retire at the end of 2013. He will be succeeded by Jason McClure, vice-president and general manager of sister Cedar Fair property Dorney Park.
John Hildebrandt
John began his career with Cedar Point as a seasonal ride employee back in 1969. He joined the company full-time in 1974 as a staff writer in the marketing department and went on to serve in various marketing and leadership roles. In 2004, John moved to Pennsylvania to act as vice-president and general manager of Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. He then returned to Cedar Point to take up the same role prior to the 2005 operating season and has remained there for the past eight years.
“John has helped to grow Cedar Point from a one park, one hotel, one marina operation, into the ‘Best Amusement Park in the World’ with a separately-gated water park, four hotels, two marinas, cottages and luxury campgrounds,” notes Cedar Fair chief operating officer, Richard Zimmerman. “We will miss John and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement.” Promoted to takeover McClure’s former role at Dorney Park after his transfer to Cedar Point will be Michael Fehnel, previously the Pennsylvania park’s vice-president and assistant general manager.
24
SEPTEMBER 2013
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