Kids will have a blast on these new coasters
Six Flags New England and Carowinds to launch family rides in 2025
Remember the coaster wars? From 1989, when Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point first broke the 200-foot height barrier, through 2005, when Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure debuted with its 456-foot-tall top hat tower (a record that remains to this day), parks and ride manufacturers were engaged in a battle to roll out the biggest, fastest, baddest thrill machines. We would now seem to be in a new era in which parks are often setting their sights on families and their budding coaster warriors. Kiddie coasters have been around for a long time, of course, as have other toned-down coasters that invite folks of all ages to ride the rails without completely scaring the snot out of them. But recently, there have been a plethora of not-so-scary coasters that nonetheless incorporate all kinds of wild features that had previously only been available on the yikes-worthy rides. I’m thinking of family boomerang coasters such as the nicely themed Good Gravy! at Holiday World or launched coasters like DarKoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood, to name just a few examples.
Two more rides, both of which will be launched coasters, are on the way in 2025 for families that love to scream together–but not too loudly. The more aggressive of the two, Quantum Accelerator at Six Flags New England in Massachusetts, will hit 45 mph and deliver multiple pops of airtime. Snoopy’s Racing Railway at Carowinds in North Carolina, meanwhile, will top out at 31 mph.
Like DarKoaster, Quantum Accelerator will feature straddle seating on motorbike-style ride vehicles. And like the Busch Gardens coaster, the new ride will also incorporate a tire-propelled launch system. Both of the rides come from Intamin’s line of Family Launch Coasters. Unlike its sister ride, which is indoors, has dark ride elements, and is mostly flat, Quantum Accelerator will be outdoors and will have a moderately hilly course. The park says the new coaster will deliver 11 airtime moments.
The initial launch will accelerate from 0 to 30 mph. A second set of tires will goose the trains to 45 mph. It doesn’t appear that Quantum Accelerator will have much themeing. However, the land in which it will reside may be getting a makeover. Currently known as Crackaxle Canyon, Six Flags is saying that crackpot inventor Professor Screamore has acquired the Wild West town and is using the hideaway as a staging ground for his wacky creations, including the new ride. This will be the second time that the park chain has featured the steampunk character following this year’s introduction of the professor at Six Flags America’s reimagined SteamTown. Six Flags New England’s Crackaxle Canyon is also home to the unique Houdini – The Great Escape attraction.
“Quantum Accelerator is an innovative addition that will redefine the family thrill ride experience at Six Flags New England,” says Pete Carmichael, Six Flags New England park president. “With its dual-launch system and unique straddle seat design, this coaster is set to become a favorite for guests of all ages.”
The coaster will have a 48-inch height requirement.
Carowinds goes to the dog
Carowinds’ Camp Snoopy will be expanded in the offseason and will introduce Snoopy’s Racing Railway when the park opens in 2025. The relatively gentle coaster will also use a tire launch and boost, but it will only reach a top speed of 31 mph. The park hasn’t revealed many details about the new ride, but it is likely that it will be similar, if not identical, to the same-named coaster that opened in 2023 at Canada’s Wonderland. That ride has a height requirement of 36 inches for kids that are accompanied by a supervising companion. Here is a video of the Canadian attraction:
In addition to Snoopy’s Racing Railway, the expanded Carowinds land will debut Charlie Brown’s River Raft Blast, a ride in which passengers aboard log rafts will be issued water cannons and will be able to drench fellow passengers as well as folks along the shore (who will also have water blasters). If guests don’t get wet enough on the raft ride, they can head to the land’s new splash pad. Soaked and dry parkgoers will be able to hang with the Peanuts characters at a new meet and greet area.
What are your thoughts about the family coaster renaissance in which we seem to find ourselves? Also, are today’s kids even aware of Snoopy and Charlie Brown? As an old dude, I’m totally clueless; kindly clue me in. I’m guessing the Peanuts brand must still have some cachet since the newly merged Six Flags company is continuing to develop new attractions with the Cedar Fair standard bearer.
At least for my kids, the Peanuts characters are known primarily through the Halloween and Christmas specials. I'm not sure they'd have a clue outside of that. However, I remember when they were really young they used to gravitate towards the characters even without having seen the specials. So I guess they have some kid appeal even outside of name recognition.
As for the family coaster surge as of late, I'm all for it. While my youngest is on the cusp of outgrowing these rides, I've experienced park trips where he's been a bit frustrated being caught between the "baby" rides and the intimidating adult coasters he was too afraid of. It often left him without a whole lot to do, so anything that fills that gap for the tweens is a great thing in my opinion.
And from a business perspective, it makes sense. Families bring in the money, not the coaster enthusiasts rolling solo with their season passes. As much as I love the big bad rides, bringing families through the door helps the park succeed and in turn allows them to build the rides the enthusiasts love.