Vekoma Rides, the Dutch roller coaster specialist, will exhibit at this year’s IAAPA Expo, which takes place at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando from 13 – 17 November, with the trade show floor opening from 14 November. The team will be at booth #5124, where they will be talking about Vekoma’s latest products and services.
With its award-winning Family Launch Coasters, Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood in the US and Lightning at Furuvik in Sweden, the firm has had a successful year. Vekoma first offered this new breed of family thrill coaster. It’s the best of all worlds; with its low height restriction, it can accommodate riders who are less experienced while still offering more experienced coasters an enjoyable ride. Guests can take the whole family on the adventure and make lifelong memories.
In the spring, Liseberg in Sweden also opened a custom-designed Family Boomerang called Luna and this summer the world’s first Super Boomerang, Cloud Shuttle, was launched at Xuzhou Fantawild Wonderland in China.
New projects to come for 2024
In terms of the future, 2024 promises to be a historic year for Vekoma in the USA. Exciting coasters like the Tilt Coaster, Circuit Breaker, at Cotaland and the first Super Boomerang in North America, THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity, at Six Flags Great Adventure, are set to debut.
In addition, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is launching a specially designed Family Boomerang called Good Gravy! in its Thanksgiving section. A Horus Family Coaster, Midnight Flyer, will open at Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire. Plus, a Family Boomerang Rebound, Snoopy’s Soap Box Racers, will open at Kings Island.
Other projects planned for 2024 around the world include a Family Boomerang and fifth Top Gun Launch Coaster at Fantawild in China, a Kalypso Family Coaster and Mine Train at Energylandia in Poland, a Suspended Thrill Coaster and Family Boomerang with entwined design at Emerald Park in Ireland. Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia will also open the first Wizard of Oz precinct with a Family Boomerang Racer and Suspended Family Coaster.
THE FLASH and Good Gravy!
The first Super Boomerang in North America, THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity, will debut at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2024.
Guests will enjoy a race unlike any other on a meticulously constructed train that was influenced by The Flash’s outfit. Running upside down and nearly 100 feet above the ground, it will give riders a taste of microgravity. It also accelerates to up to 59 miles per hour through a 180-degree twisted drop and then rolls back to the vertical tower using Zero-G. After the train stops, visitors then reverse course and head back down the track.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s Family Boomerang, Good Gravy!, will be open to the public in May 2024 and is situated in the park’s Thanksgiving area. At a maximum speed of 37 miles per hour, passengers will board a train that resembles a massive gravy boat and be pulled backwards and uphill before speeding forward past the station and onto a cranberry-coloured track.
The train will fly through a gigantic can of Cranberry Jelly, then skim enormous kitchen utensils including a rolling pin that is eighteen feet tall and a whisk that is twenty feet tall, before ascending a 77-foot-tall spike and making the same trip backwards. It will be a journey of around 1,500 feet.
During the press conference on Tuesday 14 November at 2:15 p.m. at #booth 5124, more information about this project will be disclosed.
“Whether you want to create a new family coaster that appeals to children, teens, parents and grandparents, are looking for a new heart-pounding experience to delight thrill seekers or want to develop a new groundbreaking attraction that will make your venue a success, we will assist you to discover more,” says Vekoma. “Come and meet the Vekoma Rides team at booth #5124 to discover our latest products and services and discuss your future project!”
To find out more about what to expect at IAAPA Expo 2023, read our roundup of the top events, educational sessions and exhibitors here.
