Everland to build Korea's first wooden coaster

psammead · #1 04-14-2007, 07:43 AM

NOT a rumor:

Everland, the 10th most-attended theme park in the world, is located about a half hour's drive south of Seoul. Although it opened in the late 1970s, it has not had its own wooden coaster.

Until now. I was visiting the park this week, and in an administrative area, I got a look at a model of its new, yet-to-be-named wooden roller coaster, which starts construction this summer for a planned March 08 opening. I was not permitted to photograph the model, as the park has yet to make an official annoucement. So far, this new ride is an open secret.

But here's what I learned: It will be an Intamin coaster, and the first wooden one for Korea. It will be located (for those who know the park) where the winter slide area is. The model (which could change) featured a repeating out-and-back figure-8 layout, and I was told the track would be 1.6 km long. Three trains were depicted to be running simultaenously, something I was told would indeed be a reality.

Should be a welcome development for Korea, whose theme park industry has been going through a rough patch, what with the abrupt closure of Lotte World for safety renovations, and declining attendance everywhere else.

go_me · #2 04-14-2007, 03:51 PM

Interesting. But I was wondering, what are the other "most-attended theme parks"? I'm assuming Disney?
And will this new woodie break any records?

psammead · #3 04-24-2007, 01:24 AM

I can't tell you at this point about records. I've told what I know. Given Everland's style, I would doubt that record-breaking is on their minds.

The only non-Disney park ahead of Everland in annual attendance is Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Korea's theme parks are undergoing a slump, so Everland was until recently the non-Disney champ.

**Leo C** · #4 04-24-2007, 10:37 AM

I have the 2007 Everland map with the "Exciting new attraction for 2008" tag on it. I saw the sledding hill in the distance from the sky ride. Will this coaster generally still be in the valley of the park? I didn't have time to go to the European influenced flower garden part of the park right next to this sledding hill. Great park, I'm so glad I got my Eagle Fortress credit there but it would have been nice to get a follow up Intamin woodie credit after the kick ars El Toro. Basically I was restrained by the 4 hours I was allowed to visit this park. I didn't buy the ticket so I won't complain.

In South Korea I was trying to rip up the major parks in the Seoul area. With Lotte World down I could only go to I park @ Childrens' Grand Park, Seoul Land and Everland. The closest I got to a Lotte World credit was seeing Lotte World from the airplane; HUGE letters on the complex roof. It was hard to believe there was not a woodie in the country. Time to break the country into new coastering territory.

**Leo C** · #5 05-27-2007, 11:23 PM

http://kpsp.kemul.net/bbs/board.php?...sop=and&page=7

As pointed out in another forum does this reveal the model of Everland's new wooden Intamin coaster? That is Korean text. In the picture of the three Korean's looking at a model there is a picture of Everland's Double Rock Spin Topspin (the Best in the World imo) behind the guy on the right.

Michael C · #6 05-28-2007, 08:18 PM

How tall is this because 1.6 KM is just short of a mile. And something like .3 km longer then El Toro.

any any addition of a wood coaster is good news.

Redfoot12 · #7 05-31-2007, 05:00 AM

The only record I heard it would break would be Toro's angle of descent (only by a degree or two).

**Leo C** · #8 05-31-2007, 11:36 PM

It's just like when I believe Hades beat Clementon Park's Tsunami (later renamed J2) record of 62 degress or close in 2005.

amnesiac · #9 09-12-2007, 12:10 AM

Looks like vertical construction has begun. Pics up on rcdb.:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig3938.htm

**Leo C** · #10 09-12-2007, 01:01 AM

I'll cry when I see it finished and realized I was only a year off from being on that thing at Everland.

Woodie4-07 · #11 09-12-2007, 09:05 AM

Hahahahha. I can't quite agree, but it does look like a lot of fun.

SkierGirl77 · #12 09-18-2007, 11:54 PM

It looks like its going to be a pretty great woodie. I look forward to seeing more construction on this coaster.

**Leo C** · #13 03-12-2008, 01:07 AM

The T-Express soft opens. It will open the 14th. It's almost a year since I've been to Korea. I want to cry for missing this coaster by a year; jealous. At least I was on the #3 coaster in the world: Eagle Fortress.

Check out the view in this blog. http://cafe.naver.com/lastar.cafe?if...articleid=5689

I wanted SFGADV to have a coaster that traveled in structure like this one does. The wooden mess is nuts. I'll take what I have though. Can't complain.

Zingoman · #14 03-12-2008, 05:01 AM

That looks prety sick, but it seems like it's pretty slow in the end. I say that these coasters are the death of the woodie because they are just too smooth but the action that they can give may out weigh the smoothness of the ride. Sweet looking ride for sure.

James · #15 03-12-2008, 11:08 AM

Yeah... it doesnt look as good in video as it did in photos. The MCBR KILLS it.. And uh.. the "second part" turns look just like the sleeper turns Balder had... But as its "farting" I guess it still has some air.

I just dont see it being as good as Toro (Balder didnt do anything for me...) But I could see people high rating it just to make it seem better than it is "haha.. i rode it and you didnt so its #1"

LuvChyld79 · #16 03-12-2008, 12:11 PM

Let's hope they decide to ease up on that MCBR... it kills the second half, for sure

**Leo C** · #17 03-12-2008, 12:26 PM

That type of manipulation is terrible for the polls. I hear the farts in the different videos I've seen. I just loaded the Youtube one for ease of getting to it rather than the quality. I'm glad to have people who rode Balder and Toro weigh in. On another site a comment on one blog was the brake was really on high, maybe the first day of the soft opening and then for another video blog comment it was said the brake was eased up the next day.

I haven't taken the time to analyze the effect of the MCBR.

It looks like it has mid course Cyclone like turns. I think a frame of a Giant T is built into the side of the coaster. Will that become a sign?

There is not enough Bull in this ride. I guess that's a good thing for my nest egg.

amnesiac · #18 03-13-2008, 01:13 PM

Official video here: http://www.everland.com/park/everlan...8090_4755.html

Theme Park Review has some photos of the queue which looks cool and is really well themed.

**Leo C** · #19 03-13-2008, 02:59 PM

The queue looked really good. I was hoping it would not be too exposed to the elements. I wanted to get a better look of the front of the train. There was no doubt that the Everland employees would look that good in their uniforms. When I visited the park, they took the experience to a whole different level I have not seen before. The way they constantly waved and were nice amazed me.

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