Park News
parkworld-online.com
Thunderbird Holiday World in line for B&M launch coaster
B&M’s first full launch coaster will take flight over Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana, in 2015. Named
Thunderbird, the
Wing Coaster will feature a zero-to-60 mph launch in 3.5 seconds, followed by multiple inversions including a 14-storey Immelmann loop, Zero-g roll, barrel roll, and a loop soaring 125ft in the air. Continuing Holiday World’s tradition of sending roller coasters through its thickly wooded and hilly terrain, Thunderbird will at first soar and loop high in the air and then hug the ground, surprising riders with rapid-fire “near misses” such as keyholes, themed elements, other rides, trees and even the ground. “A wing coaster creates a feeling of incredible freedom; you ride beside the coaster track with
nothing above or below you,” notes Holiday World’s president, Matt Eckert. “Thunderbird is the first launched wing coaster in the nation. We can’t wait to ride it!”
Eckert describes Thunderbird’s manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, as “makers of the Cadillac of rollercoasters, known for their safety, quality and reliability. We’ve dreamed of adding a B&M steel coaster for many years and are excited that Thunderbird will be its first launched coaster.” At $22 million, Thunderbird’s price tag is more than twice the amount of any other ride at Holiday World in the park’s 68-year history. It will be located in the park’s Thanksgiving section. Construction is already underway in anticipation of a spring opening.
The only other launched wing coaster in the world is Furius Baco by Intamin at PortAventura in Spain. B&M’s only launch coaster of any kind is Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, featuring tyre propulsion.
King of the Sideshow
This recently-published book by well- known amusement industry author Tim O’Brien is an exciting and revealing biography the man who helped shape the American circus sideshow into what it has become today. Full of amazing stories, Ward Hall – King of the Sideshow is also lavishly illustrated. Dozens of previously unseen photos of Ward his two long- time partners, Harry Leonard and CM Christ, are complemented by shots of some of the many fascinating acts they worked with including monkey girls, half-people, fat men, sword swallowers, fire eaters, giants, colossal snakes, huge rats and diminutive horses. All in a life’s work!
Still in the business today, with countless circus, sideshow,
Vaudeville and burlesque house performances under his belt,
84-year-old Ward Hall joined his first circus in 1944 when he was a 14- year-old kid living in Colorado. A year later, as a 10th grade dropout, he ran away for good, joining tdhe Dailey Bros Circus. He never looked back. By 16 he was performing in a sideshow and by age 21, he owned one. During his 70-year career he has written four books, four musical stage productions, appeared in seven movies, more than 100 TV and video specials, performed at Madison Square Garden and Lincoln Center in New York City and has sung at Carnegie Hall. Ward Hall – King of the Sideshow totals 262 pages and is available for $35.99 (hardcover) or $24.99 (softcover) via Amazon or direct from the publisher, Casa Flamingo Literary Arts.
casaflamingo.com 8
Gardaland Dives back in with B&M
Merlin
Entertainments’ takeover of
Gardaland in 2006 has been good for Italian lovers of Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) coasters. The attractions giant has a history of installing the Swiss
manufacturer’s rides
at its resort theme parks. In 2011, Gardaland got the world’s first B&M Wing Coaster (Raptor) and now construction has started on Italy’s first Dive Coaster, which will open in time for the park’s 40th anniversary in 2015.
Although further details about the ride have yet to be made public, teaser boards already erected at the park show that it uses the same branding as Oblivion at Alton Towers in the UK. Keep up to date by visiting the website at
gardalandblog.it
AUGUST 2014
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