News: Six Flags Great Adventure to add El Toro; new themed areas

Posted at 6:44 AM EDT (1044 GMT)

Sep. 28th, 2005 -- In 2006, thrill seekers at the World's largest regional theme park will challenge El Toro, an enormous, new wooden roller coaster under construction at Six Flags Great Adventure.

The thrill ride, which incorporates the most daring features of the world's best wooden roller coasters combined with the smooth speed of a steel coaster, will be the star of a vibrant, newly-themed area of the park, Plaza del Carnaval. Just around the corner, families with young children will explore exciting, pint-sized adventures in the all-new Bugs Bunny National Park kids' area, featuring new rides and attractions designed just for them.

Both new areas, including monstrous El Toro, are set to open next season.

"Classic design meets state-of-the-art thrills with our spectacular, new wooden roller coaster," said Rick McCurley, the park's vice president and general manager. "As part of our multi-year expansion to a family destination, this massive coaster adventure will anchor a colorful, newly-themed area evoking the lively energy of Spanish-speaking regions of the world."

El Toro's unique design, inspired by the agility and strength of the brave Matadors, features a hybrid design including a classic "out and back" track with four fast-charging drops, multiple highly-banked turns and a beastly "twister" finale. El Toro will also deliver nine "airtime" opportunities, giving riders the highly-sought thrill ride sensation of weightlessness.

At 181 feet tall, reaching 70 mph, El Toro will rank among the tallest and fastest wooden roller coasters in the world. Its 4,400 feet of mountainous track includes records for second tallest, fastest and longest drop of all wooden coasters in America and features the world's steepest drop on a wooden roller coaster, 76 white-knuckled degrees.

El Toro will anchor the colorful and lively Plaza del Carnaval section along a scenic waterway. This newly-themed area will feature La Cocina restaurant offering authentic Mexican fare, plus an open-air, marketplace-style retail shop and a new, themed family ride. Plaza del Carnaval will also include one of the world's rare, classic dual-track wooden roller coasters, Rolling Thunder, introduced in 1979.

Just around the corner, parents and their young children will explore Bugs Bunny National Park, an all-new, wilderness-themed children's area with tons of fun for little ones. Located on Six Flags Great Adventure's picturesque Great Lake, this new kids' area, featuring Bugs Bunny and his Looney Tunes pals, will join Looney Tunes Seaport and Balin's Jungleland as the park's third section devoted to the youngest thrillseekers. Families will enjoy the great outdoors with new rides, an interactive water play feature, plus a lakeside theater with a high-spirited show for kids and a snack bar with lots of sweet treats.

"Moms and dads told us their kids love the new Balin's Jungleland area this season, and they want more. "We listened, and with nearly 25 rides specially-designed for kids 54 inches and under, dozens of rides for tweens and teens, and the world's ultimate coaster collection, Six Flags Great Adventure will be the perfect way to enjoy playtime together in 2006," McCurley said.

The new Bugs Bunny National Park, and Plaza del Carnaval featuring El Toro, are slated for a spring 2006 opening.

For more information, goto Six Flags Great Adventure.