Tag: Kings Dominion

Posted on

Into the Unknown: A Study of Kings Dominion’s “Jungle X-Pedition” as a Model For Regional Theme Park Storytelling

For many grown-up entertainment industry aficionados, there’s a lesson learned early on the discussion boards and forums that shape us into the fans we are: that there exists a great, inherent, and impassable schism between “regional parks” and “destination parks”; thrills and storytelling; amusement parks and theme parks.  Yep, for those of us who grew…

Stories in the Extra Features and Special Features collections of Park Lore are all about connections – they’re the threads that interlace between the Lost Legends, Declassified Disasters, Modern Marvels, and Possibilitylands you’ll find in our Main Collections. In other words, these features are for people who really want to dig deep.

This article and hundreds more are available for Gold and Platinum Members who help support this ad-free, clickbait-free, quality-over-quantity collection with a monthly membership. Park Lore Members can access more than a hundred Member-exclusive articles, unlock rare concept art and construction photos in every story, stream audio across the site, tune into podcast exclusives, and receive an annual member card and merch in the mail!

If you choose to join Park Lore’s community of Gold and Platinum Members, you’ll instantly unlock this story (and of course, a lot more). You can learn more about joining and supporting Park Lore (and browse all the available Extras and Special Features) in the “Memberships & Perks” menu above. If you can’t afford a Pass, please contact us; we’ll make some magic happen.

Log In ​or Join Now

Pages: 1 2 3
Posted on

GIGA: A Primer on the Planet’s Elite Class of 300-Foot “Gigacoasters” From Millennium Force to the Future…

Roller coasters have been around for a very, very long time. But in the last 50 years especially, the Second Golden Age of the Roller Coaster has seen steel stretch into the sky. Year after year, decade after decade, the unthinkable continuously becomes real. Inversions. Launches. Switch tracks. Drop tracks. Racing coasters; suspended; inverted; flying; stand-up; dive; wing… When it comes to the creativity of roller coaster manufacturers, it can feel like the sky’s the limit.

It all started when the unthinkable happened: the first roller coaster to break the 100-foot height barrior. A generation of so-called “mega-coasters” dotted the amusement park landscape throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Then came the 200-foot barrier with a generation of “hypercoasters.” 

But when it comes to the world’s most extraordinary rides, it’s hard to beat the very small family of 300-foot rides you’ll find across three countries. Epic, staggering, and spectacular, the “gigacoaster” is a growing icon of thrillseeking… yet still a rarity around the world. Today, just six rides reside in the “giga” level – between 300 and 399 foot drops – each with its own story, elements, and personality… Join us as we explore the evolution of the “giga” through its six iterations, and look to where a 300 foot thrill machine may arise next… 

Continue reading “GIGA: A Primer on the Planet’s Elite Class of 300-Foot “Gigacoasters” From Millennium Force to the Future…”
Pages: 1 2 3
Posted on

VOLCANO: The Blast Coaster – An Expedition into the Most Explosive Coaster on Earth

Four hundred years ago, the precursor of the modern roller coaster was born. So-called “Russian mountains” were rudimentary by today’s standards, sending riders careening down frigid slopes constructed of ice and supported by wood. It’s appropriate that one of the defining roller coasters of today’s thrills was the opposite in every way: hanging from blazing steel track and racing through the fiery heart of a volcano.

Continue reading “VOLCANO: The Blast Coaster – An Expedition into the Most Explosive Coaster on Earth”
Pages: 1 2 3
Posted on

“Once Upon a Ride…” Where Thrills and Theme Unite in the 21st Century Era of the “Story Coaster”

UNDER REFURBISHMENT! You know I love to keep things fresh around here, and as a result, this feature is currently under construction! As I finish up edits over the next few days, you may encounter outdated information, repeated or disjointed sections, or “past perspectives” that refer to current events in the future tense. If you don’t mind sifting through some rough edges, I think you’ll still enjoy it… and check back soon for a fully refurbished story!

If you ask Universal Orlando, the 2019 opening of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal’s Islands of Adventure represents not just a reset (ending Universal’s long-time dependence on screens and simulators), but the dawn of a new era: the age of the “story coaster.” Is the new Wizarding World E-Ticket the first? Well…

Continue reading ““Once Upon a Ride…” Where Thrills and Theme Unite in the 21st Century Era of the “Story Coaster””
Pages: 1 2 3

Back to top