In a surprise but maybe not completely shocking turn it appears that Kennywood and the other Palace parks in the US will be purchased by Herschend (owners of Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, and Kentucky Kingdom). This will be interesting to watch.

The extensive modification project is ongoing on they are expecting that testing will take place during the first part of the operating season.

Helicopter view

RIP 🫡

Thomas Town at Kennywood is being rethemed for next year.

In the continuing saga of Cedar Fair (now Six Flags) waiting for everyone to get their 2025 season passes and then slowly start announcing numerous rides that will NOT open in 2025 we now add Carowinds to the list. Nighthawk, the drop tower, and the enterprise will be removed before the season begins. There are no opportunities for last rides.

I don’t think this is too surprising, but I am upset that the park didn’t provide any notice on a final operating day for the tallest roller coaster in the world. I finally got to visit Great Adventure for the first time this year and was able to ride it, but I would have tried to squeeze in one more visit if I knew. It’s confirmed that this is a removal and a completely new cosster rather than a re-imagining, so let the rumor mills begin!

Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion, which was called Project 305 this year, will be known as Pantherian next year as it will be joining the Jungle X theming.

Out of nowhere Cedar Point has announced that a new coaster will open next year, named "Sirens Curse"

This video came up in a conversation on our podcast and I had forgot about it but after watching it again I thought it was well worth sharing. This is an outside firm that is performing in depth maintenance on coasters and accessing the bolts that you can't just walk to by ropes. It's truly fascinating to watch. It's also clearly an old video with Volcano making an appearance.

I’ve had my platinum pass for Seaworld parks for 11 months now, it was my first time having a non Cedar Fair or Six Flags pass. Since I’ve lived 25 minutes from Williamsburg I figured it was the time to try, especially since almost everybody I know has a pass. 

First, cost. My platinum pass was over $400. I have never paid this much for a pass before, and to rub salt in the wound, I could’ve gotten the same pass for only $200 if I didn’t live in Virginia (or any other state with a Seaworld park) by purchasing the San Antonio platinum pass. Having the same pass (with some differing benefits) for such a difference in price depending on location is insane. 

Now, I will say that there have been a lot of benefits that I have been able to take advantage of with this pass. My 6 free tickets became easily over 10 if you count the platinum bonus tickets or the extra Water Country USA tickets, nobody else in my family needed a pass and we were able to go together or with friends multiple times

With all the recent announcements for coasters coming in 2025 I'm curious what everyone is looking forward to the most? Personally I think AlpenFury looks amazing and may be the biggest hit of the year.

Built by B&M the coaster will be called "Rakshasa" and have a 171ft drop with a beyond vertical 96 degree slope and reach speeds of 67mph

Being built by Premier Rides this launch coaster will reach 115km/h (71mph) and blast you through the mountain (is this sounding familiar yet). It will take you through 9 inversions that seem to be mostly rolls (sounding more familiar) and all flow together. Clearly the real Volcano replacement went to another country 😂

Kings Dominion has announced their new coaster for 2025

Kennywood closes rollercoaster after photo appears to show cinderblocks supporting part of the ride 

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — Two days after an alarming photo from oneBURGH media blew up on Facebook, Kennywood pumped the brakes on the Racer, temporarily shutting the rollercoaster down Wednesday.

The picture appears to show part of the ride jacked up on two large cinder blocks.

“That’s not okay,” said Patrice Klimchock of Greensburg. “That’s scary to me.”

Channel 11 showed people the photo, including Justin Gambrell, a Kennywood employee.

“This doesn’t look right,” Gambrell said. “I didn’t even know about this, so this is a shocker for me. As somebody who works here, I feel like this should be stuff we know.”

A spokesperson for Kennywood said rides are inspected daily but wouldn’t say how this could’ve gone unnoticed.

“From my understanding that was inspected a few days ago, and that was how it was left to be running?” Klimchock said. “That concerns me.”

The Racer is one of Kenny

Morey served as the executive vice president and chief creative officer of the company, which has been family owned and operated since 1969.

This doesn't mean a strike will happen but it does mean that employees are willing to strike if negotiations don't go well.

This is honestly one of the most upsetting stories I've read in a while. I've really been losing more and more respect for United Parks (Sea World and Busch Gardens) but this may be one of their shadiest stunts yet. In short they've started prompting you to tip at counter service transactions which isn't ideal but something we're seeing at a lot of places anymore but, in this case, the money you tip actually first offsets Sea World's payroll before giving some to the employees (if there is enough).

The way this works is they are functionally reducing their employees pay rate to minimum wage but continuing to pay whatever their existing pay was as a guaranteed rate. This is creating a loophole where they can take the tip money and use it to pay part of the employee's wages. The only point where extra money would be given to any employees is if the tips exceed the amount of difference between everyone's minimum wage rate and their guaranteed rate.