Well, a real bomshell was dropped today, and I'll get right to it:
Canada's Wonderland is building a B+M Dive Machine for the 2019 season!
What we know:
It stands to reason that the park has moved quickly to take care of the tunnel construction this winter season, presumably so that they can restore Vortex and the water in the lake, and open for the 2018 season without anyone really knowing what happened. Then, when the park closes this October, they'll resume construction full-bore on the rest of the ride, in preparation for the 2019 season. The fact that construction has started a full season in advance speaks to the scope of this absolutely massive undertaking.
Bolliger & Mabillard are the Swiss engineering duo known for their ultra-smooth and absolutely massive rides - and are the brains behind the last two major roller coasters at the park, Behemoth and Leviathan. Their last Dive Machine in North America is right across the lake - Valravn at Cedar Point. The Dive Machine is characterized by its ultra-wide train (between 6 and 10 passengers wide), a true vertical drop with a holding brake at the top (actually a chain), and generally feature huge, sweeping inversions and water splash elements.
Here's a video I made more than 10 years ago of Griffon, the second Dive Coaster in North America (after Sheikra in Florida).
This is so exciting, and I'm sure the park is trying to figure out what to do now that the secret is out!
Canada's Wonderland is building a B+M Dive Machine for the 2019 season!
What we know:
- The CEO of parent company Cedar Fair, plus the park GM and PR manager, have all hinted at a huge new roller coaster coming very soon.
- 2018 attractions were announced at the end of the 2017 season - small flat rides.
- Construction started this winter in the lake under Vortex. Some track sections and supports of Vortex were removed, to facilitate construction, and the lake has been drained. A flurry of construction vehicles are in the area.
- Planning documents found submitted to the City of Vaughan revealed the park had applied for permission to alter the waterway and construct a tunnel, with 9 support pylons, in the lake, for a new roller coaster.
- Today, someone flying a drone at the edge of the park (not over their property) discovered B+M Dive Coaster track sections, painted brown, lying in storage (more here).
It stands to reason that the park has moved quickly to take care of the tunnel construction this winter season, presumably so that they can restore Vortex and the water in the lake, and open for the 2018 season without anyone really knowing what happened. Then, when the park closes this October, they'll resume construction full-bore on the rest of the ride, in preparation for the 2019 season. The fact that construction has started a full season in advance speaks to the scope of this absolutely massive undertaking.
Bolliger & Mabillard are the Swiss engineering duo known for their ultra-smooth and absolutely massive rides - and are the brains behind the last two major roller coasters at the park, Behemoth and Leviathan. Their last Dive Machine in North America is right across the lake - Valravn at Cedar Point. The Dive Machine is characterized by its ultra-wide train (between 6 and 10 passengers wide), a true vertical drop with a holding brake at the top (actually a chain), and generally feature huge, sweeping inversions and water splash elements.
Here's a video I made more than 10 years ago of Griffon, the second Dive Coaster in North America (after Sheikra in Florida).
This is so exciting, and I'm sure the park is trying to figure out what to do now that the secret is out!