Kings Dominion announces Rapterra launched wing roller coaster

Considering how much Cedar Fair has been penny pinching, I'm impressed that they're investing in a fairly substantial amount of theming for their new rides, even where you wouldn't expect it (read: Dorney).

I think the pinching is mostly around operating costs. The capital expenditures seem to be typical.

I'm sure this will be the crowd pleaser that the park needs and looks like it could be a fun ride. I don't know why but I am just so bored to tears with B&M. These are so over engineered and computer processed, it's too controlled. I miss B&M's swagger, the snap of transitions, the slam me into a restraint and then pull me back into the seat kind of rides. I want to pull into the station with tingling legs, a spinning head and the faint taste of blood in my mouth.

What is different was the belief that there was coaster investment potential at the smaller parks that lead to Tumbili, Zinger, Iron Menace. Obviously the fact that they are going back to KD says that the test was successful. Somewhere in all of this is a long rumored coaster for Valleyfair but it appears they may have had cold feet on that project.

don't know why but I am just so bored to tears with B&M.

Speaking of Dorney, Iron Menace for as short as it, is about thrice the intensity of Gatekeeper, it made me half grey twice.

Also Wild Eagle at Dollywood this spring really surprised me with its intensity and pacing compared to other wings.

Kings Dominion needed something like this years ago. I-305 just didn't get the attention the park was hoping for. That was the beginning of Kings Dominion's slump, imo. They invested a lot of money in I-305, and it wasn't the payoff they wanted.

Solution? Twisted Timbers. RMCing an existing, less popular wooden coaster was an less expensive way to give the park something new and modern. It was a good choice, but once Volcano had to be removed, the park still seemed like it was lacking something.

The unimpressive flipping coaster (checks RCDB for the name...), Tumbili, was filler, something to hold people over until they could get this wing coaster up and running. Oh, I get it now. Tumble? Tumbili. Clever.

I am thrilled the KD retracked Racer 75 and Grizzly. Classic wood coasters are my favorite, and I hate it when they are neglected. They have been doing good things lately. I haven't been to the park in a few years, but I will be there next year for sure.

Just like Deadpool has become Marvel Jesus, Rapterra is going to be the roller coaster savior of Kings Dominion.

If that rock work doesn't materialise over the launch the kids are going to lose their minds.

Lest we forget Shoot The Rapids, or Maverick.

Oh, I'm like 91.5% certain that rock work will not become reality... Or at least, be nothing like the rendering.

But it looks like a fun one otherwise... Not enough to get me to want to go back to KD anytime soon (much rather visit it's neighbor an hour away, no contest), but if I find myself in the area at least it's something new to check out.

DS:

I want to pull into the station with tingling legs, a spinning head and the faint taste of blood in my mouth.

Anaconda is just down the midway from this

Anaconda

When I rode it last year, it was no where near many Arrows, def way better then Vortex.

certain that rock work will not become reality...

Considering the amount of theming on Iron Menace at a smaller park, I bet it will.

Keep in mind too that it’s not rock. So, sure.

I think this makes a great addition to the park and I can’t wait to ride it.

Talk about giving away your product. For $184, you can get unlimited/no black-out date admission and parking for the next 1.5 years to over 25 amusement parks across North America plus over 15 water parks.

$184. Nearly 1 1/2 years worth of admission including 2 Halloween seasons and 2 Christmas/holiday season events.

For comparison, to go to Magic Kingdom tomorrow, for 1 day, it's $169.

This does not give me confidence in how Zimmerman and Tim Fisher plan to operate the combined company. It's like Paramount Parks meets Six Flags of the early 2000s.

Chicago07:

Talk about giving away your product.

What does this have to do with Kings Dominion's new coaster?

And Disney has been much more expensive than Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks for a very long time. That's a stupid comparison. Why not call it a great deal instead?

I got a one-day season passholder bring-a-friend ticket to Six Flags Great America for $9.99 last summer.

Disney has a different strategy to make money than Cedar Fair/Six Flags. They are both theme park companies, sure, but they are not the same. I'm not going to explain it to you. It's weird that you, of all people, don't understand it.

Travis: KD has their 2025 passes available for presale as part of the announcement. Pricing is very similar to what we’ve seen at other legacy CF parks for the past several years, which has been a point of some discussion around here for a while now.

A well whipped, no longer breathing equine, no doubt.

Dare I say that this one has a less-instense...family feel to it.

Chicago07:

For $184, you can get unlimited/no black-out date admission and parking for the next 1.5 years to over 25 amusement parks across North America plus over 15 water parks.

I don't disagree that it's a tremendous value, but only to certain people. Average Joe passholder only visits one park per summer. They could add 25 more parks and it's unlikely to change the actual visitation patterns. What they do hope is that the price point coupled with the marketing message convinces more people to buy what is essentially a $184 season pass to one park.

Passes aside, I think the single day tickets are too cheap.