Funworld's 2024 New Attractions Round-Up: Roller Coasters

Bobcat

Six Flags Great Escape, Lake George, NY

Gravitykraft Corporation

In keeping with Six Flags Great Escape's commitment to family-friendly entertainment, the new Bobcat roller coaster adds a sixth coaster to the park in celebration of its 70th anniversary. The Bobcat reaches speeds of up to 40 mph and features a 55.4-foot height, with airtime elements on 1,412-foot track. A product of Gravity Group, Bobcat runs bobcat-themed, articulated, Timberliner trains that debuted on the trade show floor of IAAPA Expo 2023 in Orlando.

sixflags.com/greatescape/attractions/the-bobcat

Coaster Adventures

Happy Valley Park, Shenzhen, China

Jinma Rides

The new spinning coaster at Shenzhen Happy Valley, named Coaster Adventures, is inspired by the popular Chinese computer game Mini World. This innovative coaster from Jinma Rides combines the power of two linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches with the playful sensation of spinning trains. Coupled with thrilling track elements such as multiple weightless moments, S-turns, major dives, and spiral loops, the coaster delivers an exhilarating experience.

Despite its thrilling elements, the coaster's zero inversions make it accessible to riders of all ages. With a height requirement of 1.2 meters, families can experience the joy of this coaster together. Spanning 610 meters of track, this family-friendly coaster reaches speeds of up to 64 kph and immerses riders in a whimsical world during the 130-second adventure. Officially opened on May 1, Coaster Adventures seamlessly integrates into the park's terrain and enhances the guest experience with its smooth, quiet ride and visually captivating trains.

happyvalley.cn/

Good Gravy!

Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana, United States

Vekoma

Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, dishes up a delightful, 65-second family adventure with Good Gravy! This Vekoma boomerang coaster, which debuted May 4, sends guests on a hilarious mission, taking them on a 1,500-foot wild ride to save Thanksgiving dinner. Riders board adorable gravy boat trains, propelled backward up the lift hill before blasting through the station at 37 mph. They dodge outsized kitchen menaces like a 20-foot whisk and a giant cranberry sauce can, culminating in a soaring 77-foot spike. Riders repeat the journey backwards, ensuring everyone gets a second helping of thrills. The charming queue, designed by Holiday World's creative team, transports guests to Grandma Gracy's house, brimming with nostalgic Thanksgiving décor. With a gentle speed and a 38-inch height requirement, Good Gravy! serves up the perfect portion of fun for families seeking an accessible coaster experience. It's a delicious recipe for theme park success, proving that storytelling and thrills can create a memorable ride for all ages.

holidayworld.com/rides/good-gravy/

Loch Ness Monster: The Legend Lives On

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

Premier Rides

Busch Gardens Williamsburg brought its iconic Loch Ness Monster back to life in 2024. As one of the world's first interlocking looping coasters, the classic ride now features more than 900 feet of retracked steel (as part of the ride's 3,240-feet of original track) thanks to Premier Rides. As riders again journey through the Scottish Highlands along the new track, they encounter the same breathtaking drops and turns, now enhanced with a shadowy encounter with the famed monster itself-set against the backdrop of a new custom soundtrack and updated theming.

"For several decades, Loch Ness Monster has been a fan-favorite attraction for millions of guests," says Kevin Lembke, president of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. "With a 48-inch height requirement, the whole family can make memories together while conquering Loch Ness Monster: The Legend Lives On."

Reaching speeds up to 60 mph, the updated coaster still boasts iconic features like its two interlocking loops and a dramatic drop over the park's central river, as first created by Arrow Dynamics in 1978. Recognized as an historical landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, this beloved attraction will continue to thrill guests.

buschgardens.com/williamsburg/roller-coasters/loch-ness-monster/

Mahuka

Walibi Rhône-Alpes, France

Intamin

Walibi Rhône-Alpes debuted Mahuka-one of the first single-rail coasters in Europe-on June 15. Thanks to its immersive storytelling, Mahuka brings guests along for an exotic Pacific island journey where archaeologists uncover a forgotten tiki god's temple. As the deity awakens, riders must escape the impending wrath.

Mahuka, which means "escape" in Hawaiian, launches riders twice, reaching speeds up to 67 kph over 600 meters of track. The dynamic ride boasts 15 elements-including three inversions, 13 airtime moments, and a double top hat-serving as both a signature element and unique entry plaza for the ride.

Aiming to design a modest-sized coaster that rivals much larger rides, Walibi constructed Mahuka over 1.5 years with a budget of €10 million, devoting more than 12% of the ride's global budget to theming and landscaping. Ideal for families with young thrill-seekers, Mahuka transports guests on a 1.5-minute experience with custom-designed trains, soundtrack, and unique elements.

walibi.fr/en/explore-the-park/rides/thrills/mahuka

Penguin Trek

SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, United States

Bolliger & Mabillard

At SeaWorld Orlando, Penguin Trek redefines the family coaster experience with an exciting expedition through Antarctica. This innovative coaster-accommodating adventurers from 42 to 77 inches tall-features two powerful launches and speeds up to 43 mph along its 3,020-foot track. Riders board snowmobile-styled cars and traverse both indoor and outdoor environments, encountering twists, turns, and icy vistas.

What sets Penguin Trek apart is its finale: guests disembark into SeaWorld's penguin habitat, transitioning seamlessly from thrill ride to an immersive wildlife encounter.

"Penguin Trek embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration, offering an immersive journey through the wonders of Antarctica while connecting our mission to animal care," says Jon Peterson, president of SeaWorld Orlando.

This new attraction, part of the park's Antarctica realm, includes air-conditioned queues and an engaging narrative that highlights SeaWorld's commitment to conservation. Opened on July 7, Penguin Trek first debuted to the park's platinum, gold, silver, and Fun Card passholders, creating extra value for those who invested in an annual pass.

seaworld.com/orlando/roller-coasters/penguin-trek/

Phoenix Rising

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida, United States

Bolliger & Mabillard

Phoenix Rising began soaring over Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in July. Designed for families, the new suspended coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) stands 80-feet-tall, travels at 44 mph, and features a 42-inch rider height requirement.

"This fills a niche within our attractions roster that was missing," says Nick Pelisek, manager of creative development of Phoenix Rising's shorter height requirement. The park worked with B&M to safely develop a ride younger children can experience. "We found a good, sweet spot: we delivered an attraction that the whole family can enjoy that has a mix of thrills-and a couple of elements people have not seen before."
That includes the novelty of onboard audio that changes per ride, depending on which mythical creature guests encounter on the digital displays inside the loading station.

"Giving them a family ride is what everyone was fully asking for. Our goal is to satisfy passholders and our guests," says Erick Elliott, vice president, engineering and general services at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
-Scott Fais

buschgardens.com/tampa/roller-coasters/phoenix-rising

Snoopy's Soap Box Racers

Kings Island, Mason, Ohio, United States

Vekoma

Kings Island's newest addition-Snoopy's Soap Box Racers-showcases the park's first family boomerang coaster experience in the heart of the new Camp Snoopy. Designed by Vekoma, the coaster propels riders both forward and backward along the same 672-foot track, reaching speeds up to 36 mph on this 68-second "race." Accommodating 20 riders per train, the coaster brings the thrill of a classic soap box derby to life, promising to delight families with young and young-at-heart thrill seekers (minimum 38-inch tall accompanied).

Themed around the beloved Peanuts characters, Snoopy's Soap Box Racers initially hoists riders up a 70-foot hill. As Snoopy waves the green flag, the coaster launches into exhilarating twists and turns, passing a camp lookout station and racing toward the finish line. Just when riders think they've reached the end, the coaster reverses, sending them through the course again, backward.

visitkingsisland.com/rides-experiences/snoopys-soap-box-racers

ThunderVolt

Playland at the Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, Canada

Zamperla

Playland's ThunderVolt delivers an electrifying launch experience as one of Canada's fastest launch coasters, adding a new thrill to Vancouver's beloved amusement park. This Zamperla-reimagined coaster catapults riders into an exhilarating high-speed adventure, hitting full throttle within seconds.

With its 380-meter track and a maximum height of 18 meters, ThunderVolt offers a unique mix of cutting-edge technology and sheer excitement geared towards riders who are at least 132 centimeters tall. The launch sequence features a dynamic LED-lit tunnel that propels guests into a thrilling airtime hill, followed by a massive figure-eight helix that guarantees an adrenaline rush.

"ThunderVolt uses our new Lightning trains, and they represent the next generation of roller coaster design," says Antonio Zamperla, CEO of Zamperla Group. "They are light, have a low maintenance cost, and are extremely comfortable," he says, noting the decade of research behind the coaster train's creation.

Located next to the historic Playland Wooden Coaster, ThunderVolt marks a significant investment in the park's future, perfectly complementing Playland's classic attractions.

pne.ca/rides/thundervolt/

Voltron Nevera

Europa-Park, Rust, Germany

Mack Rides

Europa-Park's groundbreaking multi-launch coaster-Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac-takes riders on a 1,385-meter journey with Mediterranean flair. This Mack Rides marvel-an adrenaline junkie's dream-features four mind-boggling launches up to 100 kilometers per hour, including a 105-degree backward blast, and an insane 105-degree vertical ascent. With seven inversions and 2.2 seconds of weightlessness, the new ride's goal was to defy gravity-and guest expectations.

Tucked within the park's new Croatian-themed area, Voltron speeds amid ruins and ancient olive trees, with the coaster's narrative revolving around Nikola Tesla's pioneering spirit and electrifying inventions. The coaster's sleek design and towering Voltron structures-as visually striking as the ride itself-sets the bar high for thrill rides.

europapark.de/en/theme-park/attractions/voltron-nevera-powered-rimac

• This original reporting from IAAPA News first appeared in Funworld magazine. For more stories and videos covering the global attractions industry and to read a digital version of Funworld magazine, click here.

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