The guide is arranged alphabetically by U.S. state. Canada follows at the end of the guide. This page includes parks from California to New Jersey. The following page includes parks from New York to Virginia, plus Canada.
CALIFORNIA
Granite Park- Note that this is a new park opening in 2008.
Fresno, CA
Unnamed steel junior coaster
This coaster used to be at the (now defunct) MGM Grand Adventures park in Las Vegas where it was known as Lightning Bolt. It was operated as both an indoor and an outdoor coaster at the Vegas park.
Knott's Berry Farm
Buena Park, CA
Pony Express launched coaster
Another coaster is coming to the coaster-crazy Farm. This one will forego a traditional lift hill and launch riders from 0 to a family-friendly 38 MPH in less than 3 seconds. It will then send them careening though some intense banked turns, camelback hills, and other wild features. The most unique aspect of Pony Express, however, will be its vehicles; instead of loading into typical coaster cars, passengers will mount one of the thrill machine's 16 horses. Think of it as a carousel gone bonkers.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Vallejo (near San Francisco), CA
Tony Hawk's Big Spin coaster
Discovery Kingdom will be getting a family-friendly spinning coaster themed to the famous skateboarder.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia (near Los Angeles), CA
X2 coaster makeover
X is one of the most unusual--and thrilling--coasters in the world. Unfortunately, it's also been one of the slowest-loading and most trouble-prone coasters as well. Since it opened in late 2001, it has often been closed for repairs or operating at significantly less than peak capacity. Even when two of its trains have been running, lines have often swelled to an x-cruciating four hours and longer. With Six Flags' announcement that it will be pouring $10 million into the ride--an unusually high figure for a makeover--coaster fans have to hope that the investment will make X more reliable and cut down on wait times. According to the park chain, X will get redesigned trains as well as a new tunnel that will deliver visual, aural, and sensory effects. When it reopens in spring 2008, it will be rechristened X2. X was the first coaster to incorporate the "4th dimension." Like a hybrid Ferris wheel/roller coaster, the ride's seats, which are located along the sides of the tracks, can pivot 360 degrees forwards and backwards. Along with the new X2 name, Six Flags says the recast coaster will ply the "5th dimension."
California Ride Guide 2008- Discover what other new goodies are on the way to California theme parks.
ILLINOIS
Six Flags Great AmericaGurnee (near Chicago and Milwaukee), IL
The Dark Knight themed indoor coaster
Capitalizing on The Dark Knight frenzy that Six Flags hopes next year's (2008) Batman movie of the same name will generate, the chain is adding a themed indoor family coaster that should appeal to riders of nearly all thrill tolerance levels. Read more about The Dark Knight coaster.
INDIANA
Indiana Beach Theme ParkMonticello, IN
Steel Hawg steel family coaster
The unique coaster will have a 120-degree first drop--that's a 30-degree incline from a 90-degree straight drop. That's nuts! At a height of 96 feet and a top speed of 41 mph, it will fall within the "family coaster" category, but the angle of the drop will be unnerving.
MASSACHUSETTS
Six Flags New EnglandAgawam, MA (near Springfield, MA and Hartford, CT)
Six Flags New England was among the chain's parks to debut The Dark Knight coaster this season, but was unable to get the proper permits from the city of Agawam. The ride will not open in 2008.
MICHIGAN
Michigan's AdventureMuskegon (near Grand Rapids), MI
Thunderhawk inverted coaster
This is the same off-the-shelf coaster, also known as Thunderhawk, that thrilled riders at Ohio's defunct Geauga Lake from 1998 through the end of the 2007 season.
MINNESOTA
The Park at the Mall of America (Note that the indoor park will change its name to Nickelodeon Universe in Spring 2008.)Bloomington (near Minneapolis), MN
Avatar Airbender half pipe coaster
The coaster will use LSM launch technology.
SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge "Euro-Fighter"
The coaster will drop at a 97-degree angle from a 67-foot height.
MISSOURI
Six Flags St. LouisEureka, near (...come on, you know what city it's near)
Evel Knievel wooden coaster
Instead of going with a tried-and-true Warner Brothers cartoon character or a DC Comics superhero, Six Flags St. Louis' new wooden coaster will be themed to Evel Knievel. While he's a well-known icon, the chopper stuntman would seem to be an odd namesake for the thrill machine. According to the info that Six Flags has released thus far, it appears that the coaster will be a fairly typical woodie and, other than appropriating his name, will have little to do with Mr. Knievel or motorcycles. Read more about the Evel Knievel coaster.
NEW JERSEY
Six Flags Great AdventureJackson, NJ
The Dark Knight themed indoor coaster
See description for Six Flags Great America in Illinois above.
The Coaster Ride Guide 2008 continues on the next page with parks from New York to Virginia, plus Canada.
