Most surprising addition to a theme park?

[Matt N]

Hi guys. In recent days & weeks, the enthusiast community seems to have been reeling over Chessington’s newest announcement regarding its 2023 coaster, and while mixed opinions are floating around, a common emotion seems to be one of huge shock and surprise. I think it’s safe to say that when Chessington revealed they had a 2023 coaster in the works back in April, most people (myself included) were certainly not expecting the B&M shuttle wing coaster with a potential Jumanji theme that we’re seemingly getting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure the ride will be great, but it certainly made me look twice when it was first revealed and details were coming out about it, and it’s certainly the most surprised I’ve been by a theme park installation in a while! So the recent chatter surrounding that project got me thinking; what have been some of the most surprising additions to a theme park, in your opinion? What additions made you do a complete double take when they were rumoured or announced?


As well as the aforementioned example of Chessington’s 2023 coaster, I can think of a few examples of announcements that really surprised me, off the top of my head:

• Tempesto at Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Even though Sky Rocket IIs are now known to be a favourite of SeaWorld’s, this one certainly came out of nowhere at the time! Prior to Tempesto’s installation, a Sky Rocket II did not seem like the type of coaster BGW would typically have gone for, and I remember many were absolutely incensed by this decision at the time! While I certainly understand the rationale behind the addition now, and the ride gets praise from those who’ve done it, it certainly surprised me at the time of it being rumoured, and combined with the fact that it wasn’t announced until a month before it opened, with Busch pretending they weren’t even building a new coaster throughout 2014, it has to be one of the most bizarre projects I’ve ever followed…
• Wildfire at Kolmarden: I certainly did a double take when this was announced! At the time, I was genuinely a bit mind-blown by this announcement; my overriding thought was “how on earth can a zoo that few have previously heard of be building Europe’s first RMC, and one of Europe’s largest wooden coasters?”. I don’t think many were expecting this prior to its announcement, and I for one was certainly very surprised by it!
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout at Disney’s California Adventure: Prior to the announcement of this one in 2016, I and many others thought that Tower of Terror would be one of the Disney icons that would never get touched, but we were clearly wrong! This announcement came as a huge surprise to me at the time, and rightly or wrongly, I seem to remember it being hit with almost universal hate (even those in the audience at the time of its announcement booed…). Despite having now ridden Florida’s Tower of Terror for myself since this announcement and absolutely adoring it, I think the ride looks great, and undeserving of the huge panning the announcement received at the time, but this was certainly an addition that surprised me hugely!
• Ride to Happiness at Plopsaland de Panne: Now this is an interesting one. In spite of the ride itself being bigger & arguably more thrilling than anything else Plopsaland had built prior to it coaster-wise, I wouldn’t say the ride itself was the most surprising element of this project for me; it wasn’t Plopsa’s first foray into thrill rides, and in spite of me still being rather surprised by it, Mack coasters aren’t usually the most intense, so a Mack fit nicely with Plopsa’s target audience. The bit that surprised me most about this project was the theme; as much as everything I’ve seen of this coaster aesthetics-wise looks absolutely gorgeous, I can’t have been the only one who thought that Plopsa building a coaster themed to an 18+ music festival was a surprising choice, if nothing else; it seemed completely at odds with the rest of the park. While I certainly get the rationale behind the choice (maybe they’re looking to appeal to the older demographic a little more?), and the ride looks amazing, this one certainly surprised me!

But what additions to theme parks have really surprised you?

 

[John_P]

For me it'll always be a seaside amusement park in Blackpool building the tallest roller coaster in the world.

I mean look at the parks that have also held the record - Six Flags Great Adventure, Cedar Point, Fuji-Q Highland, Nagashima Spa Land, Six Flags Great America, Yomiuriland, Kings Island, Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

 

[Benzin]

Efteling building Baron 1898 was a surprise when it was announced. Didn't expect them to build a B&M.

 

[JAperson]

Switchback at ZDT's Amusement park in Texas, US - always shocked me that such a small place opened the worlds first boomerang wooden coaster.
A the moment I can't think of anymore.

 

[Tim]

Has to be Wodan for me.
At the time it really did come out of nowhere. Two reasons:
1. Europa were already making a major investment in 2012 (Bell Rock) and although a new ride had been rumored it was only said to be a basic drop tower. The reveal was also very well done; slowly revealling what appeared to be a small poster until the full banner sized coaster was revealed.
2. No one expected Europa to build a woody. We used to joke that they were less likely to than Alton
After Blue Fire opened Mack were finally able to offer a ride type for every age and preference. Arthur was already known to be in the works and it looked like going forward Europa was going full Mackland. As Mack mainly work in Steel wood just didn't seem to be an option.