Park News
Electric Eel Launch coaster for SeaWorld San Diego
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Sky Rocket II launch coaster from Premier Rides will be the big new attraction for 2018 at SeaWorld San Diego, California. The ride, to
be named Electric Eel, will transport riders over 900ft (274m) of track. Multiple-launch sequences will propel riders forward and backward as they speed through the ride’s station accelerating to more than 60 mph (97kmh) in a matter of seconds. Passengers then rocket
skyward nearly 150ft (46m) where they encounter a heartline roll and a twisting loop as they crest the top, offering a unique upside-down view of San Diego's Mission Bay.
Electric Eel will join Manta and Journey to Atlantis as
the third coaster-style ride experience at SeaWorld San Diego. It will be erected on an approximately two-acre site on the eastern side of the park between Atlantis
and Ocean Explorer, currently under-construction. When it opens next year, the rollercoaster will cap a
24-month period of robust investment. Opening this summer, for example, will be the aformentioned Ocean Explorer, featuring one of the world’s most extensive collections of moray eels. Also promised are the new Orca Encounter and a summer nighttime extravaganza called Electric Ocean.
Introducing the Elevator MediaCoaster
Ride manufacturer S&S-Sansei has partnered with media-based attractions specialist Holovis to produce a new concept called the Immersive Elevator MediaCoaster. Offering a scalable range of options to potential clients, the two companies hope to extend the rollercoaster from a short thrill ride and into a fully-immersive, more memorable experience driven by storytelling. The attraction begins with an interactive pre-show before guests board what is seemingly a traditional dark ride. The
experience continues with the ride vehicle entering a 360° dome and media completely surrounding the passengers. By employing this technique, Holovis has negated the need for cumbersome VR headsets or 3D glasses yet created the same level of intense immersion, only to be enjoyed as a group experience. “Rollercoasters have long been the traditional form of physical and thrilling entertainment [in a park],” observes Holovis CEO Stuart Hethetington, “but typically the patterns of excitement peak at the highest point, which is usually towards the beginning, then drop as there is no connected narrative to continue the thrill. By adding an emotive story and journey into the attraction design and ensuring a shared immersive experience, we are creating a new genre in coasters.” “Wrapping of coaster sections with physical screens and lighting
effects has been done for a long time, but the patented, storytelling capability now offered by us and Holovis allows the immersive experience to physically move with a moving vehicle,” explains S&S- Sansei Technologies president and CEO Tim Timco. “We’re combining the thrill of death-defying drop tower and extreme coaster technology with truly immersive media. We believe the dynamic, immersive experience of this new attraction will have a tremendous impact on the industry.” The first attraction developed by the Holovis and S&S-Sansei will
feature a full coaster circuit with an elevator style drop, and extensive use of media which will extend the length of guest experience. The first customer is expected to be confirmed soon.
A wooden coaster for Kissimmee
Fun Spot America has tapped The Gravity Group to design a wooden rollercoaster for its park in Kissimmee following the success of White Lightning at its sister location in Orlando (introduced in 2013). Opening this summer, the new Mine Blower ride will boast 2,256ft (688 m) of track. With a lift height of 82ft (25m) and a
first drop of 80.5ft (24.5m), riders will experience a top speed of 48.5 mph (78kmh) as they twist through a maximum bank angle of 115°, lifted off their seats 11 times. “This is huge news not just for us but the city of Kissimmee,” declares Fun Spot America's CEO, John Arie Jnr. “This will be the only wooden rollercoaster in the southeast United States with a 360° barrel roll. We have worked tirelessly with the Gravity Group to design a ride that will be a must-ride coaster.” Located close to Walt Disney World, Fun Spot America is making an investment of $6 million for this new ride and will add 50 new jobs to the local economy during construction, and 20 full time positions once the coaster opens.
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Songcheng investment is music to VR
company's ears Spaces Inc, an American virtual reality and mixed reality company launched last year by ex-DreamWorks employees, has raised an additional $6.5 million in funding, thanks in large part to the Chinese theme park and entertainment company Songcheng Performances Development. Additional investment comes from Comcast and other leading venture capital groups. The new investments, which follow an
earlier $30m committment by Songcheng, accelerates Spaces Inc’s vision to build a “new era of VR- enabled parks and attractions.” The two companies plan to announce details about their first theme park projects soon. Songcheng is already one of the world’s top 10 park operators, entertaining more than 23 million guests in 2015 according to the Theme Index from the TEA and AECOM.
Spaces Inc recently announced that
former DreamWorks Animation CFO Fazal Merchant, Comcast Ventures’ managing director Michael Yang and Ethan Wang, general manager of Songcheng Technology, will serve on its board of directors. The LA-based company was co-founded by Shiraz Akmal and Brad Herman.
Concept art from Spaces Inc
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