www.parkworld-online.com
The Gravity Group
Great expectations W
hen you think of a theme park, what do you picture? Most people would probably say a roller coaster. But why is that? Roller coasters are so significant as they are the most noticeable
attractions of the skyline, they’re the highest capacity rides, and they are also - particularly for pay per ride facilities - the largest revenue generating rides. Of course, the roller coaster offers huge potential when it comes to
delivering thrills and adrenaline, but when it comes to current trends within the format, we’re also seeing a strong desire for fun rides which the entire family can enjoy. Some of these rides create a special niche that makes young children, elderly thrill-seekers and hard-to-please teenagers all want to jump back in line. We expect to see a continued focus on rides that cater to the entire family,
while new ride features and innovations will allow parks to continue to offer something different and marketable. This is crucial as guests are becoming increasingly critical of their experiences. Expectations are high, and they are not as satisfied with less-exciting rides that were once signature rides. Meanwhile, from an operator’s perspective, we have seen that more
operators are bringing in engineering expertise to augment their typical maintenance procedures. Operators are looking for longer-term solutions and reduced maintenance requirements, due to staffing challenges.
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Michael Graham, engineer and principal at The Gravity Group, explains that guests and operators alike want more from their roller coaster rides When it comes to meeting these needs, we are currently implementing
many ride upgrades in replacing wooden roller coaster track. Instead of the typical track replacement which does not improve ride maintenance requirements or guest experience, operators have found our Engineered Precut Track to be a great low-maintenance solution that also improves the guest experience by providing a smoother, more exciting ride.
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