A day after Slammer at Thorpe Park opened, a technical problem activated the ride’s safety mechanism yesterday, leaving 38 people hanging about 56 feet above the ground.

No one was injured or stuck upside-down during the breakdown, although the park did apologize for leaving the guests stranded during cold and rainy weather. Slammer was inspected that morning for mechanical problems. (more…)

HERSHEY, PA–  Dr. Guy Bluford, the first African American to fly in space, will visit Hersheypark on May 26. His appearance enhances the Hersheypark Educational Program Series, which include Math Day on May 6, Physics Day on May 12, and Science Day on May 19.

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 A Funtown Pier employee was injured by a roller coaster while picking up garbage, authorities said.

The 40-year-old maintenance worker whose name was not released picked up a garbage can and placed it on the tracks of the children’s coaster. The front car of the coaster hit the trash can, which hit the man in the head causing cuts.

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There’s a new addition to the famed group of roller coasters at Alton Towers. The park’s latest ride, Rita: Queen of Speed, will debut on Friday.

With a Grand Prix theme, Rita will propel riders from 0-60 mph in only 2.5 seconds, giving it the fastest rate of acceleration of any European coaster and intended to surpass the rate of Formula 1 cars. Although the ride only lasts 49 seconds, it generates positive G forces up to 4.7. Rita cost about $15 million to build. (more…)

Jim Hill, a Disney fan, has been giving unofficial tours of Disneyland for the past several years until the park cracked down on his enterprise last week and banned him from the property.

Charging $25 per person for each tour, Hill presented pieces of information, some of which don’t fit in with the park’s family-friendly image. Hill claims that Disneyland is trying to present a view of the park which only fits it’s own interests. (more…)

The owner of Cypress Gardens and Wild Adventures amusement parks has purchased the Starliner roller coaster from Miracle Strip Amusement Park, which closed in September of last year.

Adventure Parks Group, LLC purchased the coaster and is currently trying to decide whether to move it to Wild Adventures or to Cypress Gardens, which they hope to have up and operating by 2006.

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With 2006 just around the corner, Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Penn., will be holding a "Name the New Ride for 2006 Contest" for the new Screamin’ Swing ride that will debut during the 2006 season.

The ride is a Screamin’ Swing from S&S and is the first of its kind. It was confirmed for the 2006 season during the western Pennsylvania ACE regional event earlier this month.

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An empty Powder Keg train bumped into a train with passengers at less than 5 mph on Tuesday. The brakes allowed the train to continue into the station at the low speed.

Even though the incident was extremely minor, Silver Dollar City is making modifications to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. The official Grand Opening for Powder Keg is set for April 7th.

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Starliner, which formerly operated at the now defunct Miracle Strip amusement park, closed in September. The ride is being dismantled and the group hopes to have it operational for the 2006 season.

Starliner first debuted in 1963 and was designed by one the finest wooden roller coaster designers, John Allen. It was the first roller coaster of its kind in Florida when it opened.

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