2018 closures

[s***@aol.com]

White Cyclone 1/28/2018

[s***@aol.com]

Wednesday, January 17th will be the last operating day for the Jett Star Roller Coaster at Central Park Funland, Fredericksburg, VA

[skiguy777]

Six Flags New England - Buzzsaw. It's a small flat ride between the water park and mind eraser. Antique cars are next to it. Is this the location of the giant Zamperela Discovery they're getting for 2018? Probably. They do have a swing ride on the other side of the park named Tomahawk.

Poor SFNE with two Old Skool rides that need to go (Mind Eraser and Flashback). They can lose Goliath as well.

[s***@aol.com]

Buzz Saw? Isn’t that ride pretty old? It’s a magic carpet type ride, right? (Where the gondola stays horizontal but it goes in a circle)?

[s***@aol.com]

And wouldn’t that be a 2017 closure if it’s not coming back for 2018. Unless they’ve announced its closing after this season.

[margie]

What SFNETommahawk their Huss Frisbee isn't thrilling enough

[margie]

What SFNE's Huss Frisbee Tomahawk isn't thrilling enough???

[s***@aol.com]

Scooby Doo Ghostblasters, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, closed early January 2018

[s***@aol.com]

Although it sounds like there’s still a small possibility that it’s not permanent, Jungala attractions - Treetop Trails/water play area, Wild Surge, and Jungle Flyers are closed at Busch Gardens Tampa as of this past Sunday. Animal areas and the gift shop and restaurants in Jungala are remaining open.

The amount of closures the SW parks have been having in recent times is alarming.

[SLC Headache]

Post by s***@aol.com
Although it sounds like there’s still a small possibility that it’s not permanent, Jungala attractions - Treetop Trails/water play area, Wild Surge, and Jungle Flyers are closed at Busch Gardens Tampa as of this past Sunday. Animal areas and the gift shop and restaurants in Jungala are remaining open.
The amount of closures the SW parks have been having in recent times is alarming.

Seeing just DarKastle close, I was hopeful that it was just a measure to save up as much as they can for Project Madrid in 2019. But seeing the cutbacks spread to BGT, I'm worried for the chain as a whole too.

[s***@aol.com]

Cutbacks have already spread to BGT prior to this. Curiosity Caverns closed last year, Jambo Junction closed and then reopened under a new name. Tidal Wave closed less than 2 years ago and is standing.

SWF runs Wild Arctic without the ride on slow days and they don’t use the theater next to Mako anymore except special events.

[skiguy777]

Post by s***@aol.com
Cutbacks have already spread to BGT prior to this. Curiosity Caverns closed last year, Jambo Junction closed and then reopened under a new name. Tidal Wave closed less than 2 years ago and is standing.
SWF runs Wild Arctic without the ride on slow days and they don’t use the theater next to Mako anymore except special events.

Right, this goes back to my TR on 08/25/17, where I visited BGT and posted my findings. You can read that TR here or search for that date.
https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!topic/rec.roller-coaster/f3G-Meh_-7M

In that TR, I posted that the Magic of the Busch parks was gone. The rides were not being cleaned like they were in the past. I saw rust on the Sheikra cars. Kumba was down for refurbishment. When the co-workers and I were done with our ride on Stanley Falls Flume, they went on the sky ride back to the Egypt side of the park, while I headed to Falcon's Fury, then I met up with them. We completely ignored the Jungala section of the park.

If you look at the Satellite map, they have a ton or room to build an entire "World" but they don't have the money. They could use all the land from Tidal Wave and the Jungala area, but no one goes back there in terms of a family who is dragging little kids. They basically put a family section the farthest from the entrance, and it requires a lot of staff to operate.

The attendance results will come out near the end of May, I see more drops, but in the past this park has stayed level.


1959 - BGT Opened March 31st, 1959
2006 - 4,360,000 (+1.5%)
2007 - 4,400,000 (+1.0%) (Sheikra Goes Floorless)
2008 - 4,410,000 (-2.1%) (Jungala) (In-Bev Steals the Busch Parks)
2009 - 4,100,000 (-12.3%) (In-Bev Spins Off Parks to Blackstone)
2010 - 4,200,000 (+2.4%) (Air Grover)
2011 - 4,284,000 (+2.0%) (Cheetah Hunt)
2012 - 4,348,000 (+1.5%) (Iceploration)
2013 - 4,087,000 (-6.0%) (Madagascar Live) (Blackfish Movie)
2014 - 4,128,000 (+1.0%) (Falcon’s Fury)
2015 - 4,252,000 (+3.0%) (Firings, Falcon's Fury actually opens)
2016 - 4,169,000 (-2.0%) (Cobra’s Curse)
2017 - ?
2018 - ?

So I guess that for 2018 I'll be noting more attractions closing. The Sea World parks are the ones taking the hit in the attendance category, but it looks like the suits are trying to save money where they can.

[SLC Headache]

Post by s***@aol.com
Cutbacks have already spread to BGT prior to this. Curiosity Caverns closed last year, Jambo Junction closed and then reopened under a new name. Tidal Wave closed less than 2 years ago and is standing.
SWF runs Wild Arctic without the ride on slow days and they don’t use the theater next to Mako anymore except special events.

Yeah, at least BGW is reopening one closed ride area (Europe in the Air -> Battle for Eire) at the same time.

I'll reserve my dooming and glooming for SEAS until I see Project Madrid and whether or not it's an addition finally on par with the Anheuser-Busch days.

[s***@aol.com]

http://attractionsmagazine.com/green-meadows-petting-farm-closes-kissimmee-seeks-new-location/

Green Meadows closed earlier this year on January 18. They are looking for a new home in central Florida for the park, including their animals and train ride.

[s***@aol.com]

(They rented the property and the land was sold)

[skiguy777]

Post by s***@aol.com
(They rented the property and the land was sold)

I never knew the place existed until now. It was located in Kissimmee south of Fun Spot and Celebration City, still shows up on google maps, 150 acres. The buyer of the land is yet to be identified. You'd think Disney would buy it and keep moving to the south, even though they have a ton of land.

[CanobieFan]

Man, why would Disney want a plot of land that's literally miles and miles from anything else they would want to use.

I actually visited Green Meadows five or six times. Pet a cow, held the duck. Good Times

[r***@aol.com]

"It's Tough To Be A Bug" at Disney California Adventure officially closed March 19, 2018, and the rest of "a bug's land" will close in "late summer."

[skiguy777]

Post by r***@aol.com
"It's Tough To Be A Bug" at Disney California Adventure officially closed March 19, 2018, and the rest of "a bug's land" will close in "late summer."

Going to be a new Marvel land. Link with info and pictures is here.
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/avengers-and-other-super-heroes-to-assemble-in-new-themed-areas-at-disneyland-resort-disneyland-paris-and-hong-kong-disneyland/

Interesting to look at Google Maps Satellite view to see the area. Go to Mission Breakout, look to the left (blue flower trees), and that's A Bug's Land. Now keep moving to the left and that building and queue is the movie theater to It's a Bug's Life.

I don't think they'll level the building, easy to put a new 3D movie in there. There's a couple kiddie flat rides and a chew chew train they'll have to move or get rid of. They could build a coaster in that spot sending it towards Mission Breakout.

[spacemtfan]

Post by skiguy777

Post by r***@aol.com
"It's Tough To Be A Bug" at Disney California Adventure officially closed March 19, 2018, and the rest of "a bug's land" will close in "late summer."

Going to be a new Marvel land. Link with info and pictures is here.
https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/03/avengers-and-other-super-heroes-to-assemble-in-new-themed-areas-at-disneyland-resort-disneyland-paris-and-hong-kong-disneyland/
Interesting to look at Google Maps Satellite view to see the area. Go to Mission Breakout, look to the left (blue flower trees), and that's A Bug's Land. Now keep moving to the left and that building and queue is the movie theater to It's a Bug's Life.
I don't think they'll level the building, easy to put a new 3D movie in there. There's a couple kiddie flat rides and a chew chew train they'll have to move or get rid of. They could build a coaster in that spot sending it towards Mission Breakout.

Flik's Flyers, which is a highly themed Zamperla Balloon Race is strongly rumored to get moved to Pixar Pier and get rethemed to Inside Out.

Beside that, I expect 2-3 new attractions in the new Marvel Land. An indoor coaster of some sorts, a dark ride at the minimum. Don't expect any outdoor coasters.

[s***@aol.com]

Earl of Sandwich, Rainforest Cafe and AMC theaters at Downtown Disney in Ca

[s***@aol.com]

Shamu Express, SeaWorld Orlando. Apparently today 04/08/18. May or may not be rethemed in New Sesame Street area redo. I’m guessing it will be.

[k***@aol.com]

Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Collider at Nickelodeon Universe.

Ken

[SLC Headache]

Post by k***@aol.com
Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Collider at Nickelodeon Universe.
Ken

Quite sad about this one. Went last year and found it to be my favorite flat in the Minneapolis area.

[s***@aol.com]

Jimmy Neutron’s Atomic Collider at Mall Of America, closing April 15

http://attractionsmagazine.com/jimmy-neutron-attraction-closing/

[s***@aol.com]

Jurassic Park: The Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. Closes September 3 for redo into Jurassic World for 2019

[s***@aol.com]

Pirates Of Batavia at Europa Park

[s***@aol.com]

Apparently, the World of Chima splash battle type ride is closed at Legoland Florida. That ride was only a few years old, but I’m not surprised as no one ever rode it.

[GodsOnSafari]

Post by s***@aol.com
Apparently, the World of Chima splash battle type ride is closed at Legoland Florida. That ride was only a few years old, but I’m not surprised as no one ever rode it.

It's being re-themed to the Lego Movie World, IIRC.

[s***@aol.com]

Cannonball Run at Waterville USA, end of 2018 season

A shame to lose another wood coaster.

https://www.wkrg.com/news/baldwin-county/waterville-usa-to-remove-roller-coaster-at-end-of-season/1264545912

[s***@aol.com]

Heritage Amusement Park in Colorado - closes June 30, 2018

[t***@gmail.com]

Taco shoppe at Indiana beach. Closing this season. Said they couldn’t make a profit with admission changes at the park.

[r***@aol.com]

Post by spacemtfan
Flik's Flyers, which is a highly themed Zamperla Balloon Race is strongly rumored to get moved to Pixar Pier and get rethemed to Inside Out.

That's been confirmed. Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind. It will open in 2019.

Did anyone mention King Triton's Carousel of the Sea? Already closed. Will become Jessie's Critter Carousel in (again) 2019.

[s***@aol.com]

America’s Fun Park has closed as of today. One of their coasters has been sold (although they haven’t said which one). I had a feeling things were pretty bad as they heavily modified their hours according to their Facebook posts and then were offering incredible discounts on armbands. They said they may try to regroup and open for Halloween season. I guess we’ll see but it doesn’t look so good. A shame that it’s so hard to open a new park nowadays.

[a***@umich.edu]

Post by s***@aol.com
America’s Fun Park has closed as of today. One of their coasters has been sold (although they haven’t said which one). I had a feeling things were pretty bad as they heavily modified their hours according to their Facebook posts and then were offering incredible discounts on armbands. They said they may try to regroup and open for Halloween season. I guess we’ll see but it doesn’t look so good. A shame that it’s so hard to open a new park nowadays.

It was literally a bunch of portable rides from carnivals plopped down on a field. I'm not sure they even had bathroom facilities, and they hadn't bothered to get all the rides there in a timely fashion (Didn't their scrambler just arrive and get opened last month?). I feel bad in not going because I would have liked to get on the coasters, but I won't be surprised if we see Windstorm pop up somewhere like Texas this fall.

[skiguy777]

Post by a***@umich.edu

Post by s***@aol.com
America’s Fun Park has closed as of today. One of their coasters has been sold (although they haven’t said which one). I had a feeling things were pretty bad as they heavily modified their hours according to their Facebook posts and then were offering incredible discounts on armbands. They said they may try to regroup and open for Halloween season. I guess we’ll see but it doesn’t look so good. A shame that it’s so hard to open a new park nowadays.

It was literally a bunch of portable rides from carnivals plopped down on a field. I'm not sure they even had bathroom facilities, and they hadn't bothered to get all the rides there in a timely fashion (Didn't their scrambler just arrive and get opened last month?). I feel bad in not going because I would have liked to get on the coasters, but I won't be surprised if we see Windstorm pop up somewhere like Texas this fall.

Cedar Point - Witches Wheel, Huss Enterprise.
http://www.screamscape.com/html/cedar_point.htm
September 3rd, 2018.

I rode it in June of 2016 when I did the coaster/thrill ride tour. So I got a last ride.

[s***@aol.com]

Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge at Hersheypark. Ride will be changed to a brand new dark ride next year.

[Myselfalso]

Post by s***@aol.com
Reese’s Xtreme Cup Challenge at Hersheypark. Ride will be changed to a brand new dark ride next year.

It's scheduled to be closed on September 3.

https://amusementparkives.com/2018/08/02/hersheypark-reeses-cupfusion-2019/

[s***@aol.com]

Dinosaurs Alive at Dorney Park

[s***@aol.com]

Apocalypse at Six Flags America. It’s unclear whether this will be redone as possibly a floorless coaster or will be removed completely.

[t***@gmail.com]

Post by s***@aol.com
Apocalypse at Six Flags America. It’s unclear whether this will be redone as possibly a floorless coaster or will be removed completely.

A Floorless conversion would be ideal. Though I haven't ridden it since the Iron Wolf days I always thought it was one of B&M's better "complete" design since it wasn't just inversion-inversion-inversion-inversion-helix-brakes.

[s***@aol.com]

Eighth Voyage Of Sinbad show at Islands Of Adventure. Last show Saturday, September 15.

[skiguy777]

Post by s***@aol.com
Eighth Voyage Of Sinbad show at Islands Of Adventure. Last show Saturday, September 15.

Dinosaurs Alive - Cedar Point (09/03/2018)

[s***@aol.com]

Lower City Park in Iowa. Entire parking closing for good September 23, 2018

https://www.press-citizen.com/story/news/2018/07/02/iowa-city-city-park-rides-closing-good-summer/751142002/

[s***@aol.com]

[s***@aol.com]

Flitzer at Morey’s Piers, NJ. Final day of operation September 23, 2018.

A shame on this one. So few left. Reithoffer Shows has 2, though.

[s***@aol.com]

Apparently, based on teaser signs, Kings Island is closing a major coaster the end of this October (28th). They haven’t said which one yet, most are speculating Firehawk, or possibly Vortex.

[s***@aol.com]

Kong Cobra at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, New Jersey.

[s***@hotmail.com]

Post by s***@aol.com
Apparently, based on teaser signs, Kings Island is closing a major coaster the end of this October (28th). They haven’t said which one yet, most are speculating Firehawk, or possibly Vortex.

Return of Les Taxis was announced to run alongside Racer, near the Juke Box Café. That puts Firehawk in the gunsights. It isn't original to KI, so it's prime for removal and reinstallation in another park.

My personal bet is if not Firehawk, then Invertigo - it just doesn't get crowds anymore.

Sharon

[s***@aol.com]

Totally forgot about Invertigo.

[s***@aol.com]

Firehawk at Kings Island is closing

[s***@aol.com]

Sandy Lake Amusement Park (entire park)

[s***@aol.com]

Iron Mountain Tramway at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, it will be replaced with a significantly higher capacity system next year.

[s***@aol.com]

Ladybug Coaster and Crocodile Run at Adventureland in New York. Last day for both was today.

[milst1]

I was at the park on Friday for work and Co-owner Paul Gentile told me that the Lady Bug Coaster is not closing; it’s just getting a new train. He is my guest speaker in class tomorrow and I’ll ask him to verify.

[s***@aol.com]

My lips are sealed until an official announcement is made. Tell him I say hi! I’d love to sit in on one of his talks someday, wish he had done that when I was there.

[s***@aol.com]

Bowcraft Amusement Park, New Jersey.

All their equipment is listed on Rides 4 U, and their website and Facebook page are gone.

Looks like after several years, it finally happened. Never got to go there.

[s***@aol.com]

Opening Night Critters at Busch Gardens Tampa. Show will close in December 2018. New show to replace it in early 2019 for the park’s 60th anniversary.

[s***@aol.com]

Air Race at Luna Park

[s***@aol.com]

Looks like Downdraft at Knoebels may be closed forever.

[Biff Bifferson]

Post by s***@aol.com
Air Race at Luna Park

Isn't that a fairly new ride? Not popular?

[s***@aol.com]

I think it opened the year the park opened... 2009ish or 2010? I know I rode it once, it was okay.

[s***@aol.com]

Double Shot at Playland Castaway Cove in New Jersey (will be replaced by newer model for 2019)

[s***@aol.com]

Wow, we can add Volcano: The Blast Coaster to this list. Didn’t see that one coming. :-(

[s***@aol.com]

Scandia Park in Ontario, California

[Heather Kendrick]

Post by s***@aol.com
Wow, we can add Volcano: The Blast Coaster to this list. Didn’t see that one coming. :-(

I'm sad I never got there to ride it. I remember seeing it on one of those
coaster travel shows in the early 2000s, right as I was developing into a
coaster fan, and thinking it looked scary but fascinating.

[s***@aol.com]

Rip Roaring Rapids at Carowinds

[Robert]

Mountain Slidewinder at Dollywood, closed for all of 2019.

[acer510]

Post by Robert
Mountain Slidewinder at Dollywood, closed for all of 2019.

Is this a permanent removal/temporary closure and possibly a new expansion area for a 2020 coaster or something else ?

[GodsOnSafari]

Permanent. I doubt anything will take it's place immediately since it's basically just a water slide (e.g. small footprint).

[c***@aol.com]

Runaway Train coaster at Gillian's Wonderland Pier, Ocean City, NJ. Looks like it was removed in October 2018.

As far as I know, the park never announced that it was closing, and has not announced a replacement. However, it has been removed from the park's website.

[s***@aol.com]

Hmmm interesting. I haven’t been there in over 15 years. Had a trip planned this past summer, but had to be cancelled last minute.

[c***@aol.com]

Post by s***@aol.com
Hmmm interesting. I haven’t been there in over 15 years. Had a trip planned this past summer, but had to be cancelled last minute.

I was honestly never that big of a fan of Runaway Train (by contrast, I was a huge fan of the City Jet it replaced). I'm wondering if Gillian's is giving up on the coaster game due to Playland's new dominance, or if they have something in the works. My dream scenario is that they call up The Gravity Group and do a Grona Lund/ZDT type thing. I know--it will almost certainly never happen. In other news, they did announce in March that they are adding (in-house) upgrades to the Haunted House dark ride (my favorite ride at the park), so that is good news.

[Ansley]

Post by c***@aol.com

Post by s***@aol.com
Hmmm interesting. I haven’t been there in over 15 years. Had a trip planned this past summer, but had to be cancelled last minute.

I was honestly never that big of a fan of Runaway Train (by contrast, I was a huge fan of the City Jet it replaced). I'm wondering if Gillian's is giving up on the coaster game due to Playland's new dominance, or if they have something in the works. My dream scenario is that they call up The Gravity Group and do a Grona Lund/ZDT type thing. I know--it will almost certainly never happen. In other news, they did announce in March that they are adding (in-house) upgrades to the Haunted House dark ride (my favorite ride at the park), so that is good news.

Runaway Train was a really fun smaller coaster, it was a big surprise when we rode it in 2017.

Ted

[s***@aol.com]

Neverending Nightmare haunt in Florida will not operate for the 2019 season

[s***@aol.com]

Fall-O-Ween festival at Coney Island in Ohio. Will not return for 2019 season

[Marshall]

Post by s***@aol.com
Fall-O-Ween festival at Coney Island in Ohio. Will not return for 2019 season

Actually, the rides portion of the park is closing on 9/21

[s***@aol.com]

The rides part is closing later this year on 9/21/2019. They’re not doing their Halloween event this year at all, that’s why I listed it under 2018 since it’s not returning this year. The rides closing I did list under the 2019 thread.

[Robert]

Splashwater Falls, Six Flags Over Georgia