And so it begins… the countdown to the craziest summer rides around. Today was the official unveiling of a wooden roller coaster dubbed the “Zippin Pippin” at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. My 6-year-old is dying to take a spin on the legendary thrill ride, which is considered one of the oldest existing wooden roller coasters in the United States. It was recently transported to northeast Wisconsin and now anchors the family-friendly theme park. We’ll see next week if my daughter is tall enough to make her summer dream come true.
In the meantime, there are a slew of other hair-raising, spine-tingling thrill rides debuting at various theme parks around the nation in the coming weeks. Some of the most highly anticipated include:
Cheetah Hunt
Set to open next week at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the crazy coaster is predicted to break records by sending guests on a route that features speeds of up to 60 mph and three cheetah pounce-inspired launches. The coaster also takes riders over a simulated Serengeti complete with hills, ravines and waterfalls. The rockin’ roller coaster operates in conjunction with Busch Gardens’ Cheetah Run, a glass-paneled enclosure where the real animals run and roam in front of a live audience.
Green Lantern: First Flight
If you are planning a summer trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain in New Jersey this summer, you don’t want to miss the chance to be one of the first to ride Green Lantern: First Flight. The coaster takes its name from the 2011 summer action movie starring Ryan Reynolds. Billed as the world’s most thrilling four-dimensional coaster, the ride combines a vertical zigzag track with suspended cars that rock back and forth and make 360-degree flips. During the two-minute ride passengers fly along 825 feet of track filled with spins and turns at breakneck speeds.
Gotham City Gauntlet
Not to be outdone by its neighbor to the south Six Flags New England is getting set to debut its own crazy coaster this summer. The Gauntlet tops out at nearly 50 feet; however, its height is dwarfed by the number of hairpin turns riders must endure in roughly 90 seconds.
Related Articles:
Theme Parks that Won’t Break the Bank
Summer Theme Park Review: Splashes and Screams
All Aboard for a Thrilling Start to the Summer Season
The Nation’s Best Amusement Park