Nate Bargatze’s stand-up coaster plans and other IAAPA reveals
News highlights from the industry’s mega Expo
Tens of thousands of representatives from the theme park and attractions industry converged in Orlando a couple of weeks ago for the massive IAAPA Expo. Among the annual event’s highlights, parks and manufacturers use the occasion to reveal new attractions and make announcements. Let’s explore some of the news made on the show floor.
Nate Bargatze wasn’t there in person, but the comedian did announce via video at the Expo that he and his company, Nateland, are partnering with the design firm, Storyland Studios, to workshop a theme park he wants to develop in Nashville. While the superstar stand-up had floated the idea for a park in his hometown previously, the IAAPA revelation would seem to indicate that the notion is evolving beyond a fantasy vanity project.
“I want a place where families and friends can come and ride all of the rides. That’s what we would call ‘Nateland,’” Bargatze said in the brief clip. “I’m very excited about this.”
Many have tried and failed to fulfill their dreams of building a theme park. With his high profile and considerable resources, however, the comedian just might be able to pull Nateland off. Since Opryland USA closed in 1997, the metro Nashville area has not had a major park.
Fellow entertainer, Tennessean, and person who has been able to pull off a highly successful theme park, Dolly Parton, wasn’t at the Expo in person either. She was supposed to be, however, to be inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame, but illness prevented her from attending. Like Bargatze, Parton appeared via video to accept the honor.
Her park, Dollywood, was represented at the event when it unveiled one of the ride vehicles from NightFlight Expedition, the highly anticipated, $50 million dark ride attraction slated to open next year. The unique, hybrid vehicle from Mack Rides will travel on both roller coaster track and through a water-filled flume and will take passengers on a twilight journey through the Great Smoky Mountains.
SeaWorld Orlando and Vekoma also commandeered the Expo to reveal a ride vehicle for the park’s SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep. Debuting next year, the suspended dark ride (think: Peter Pan’s Flight) will simulate a submersible deep-sea expedition to explore shipwrecks, colorful coral reefs, and other underwater marvels.
In a surprise announcement, Family Kingdom Amusement Park and Rocky Mountain Coasters revealed that the Myrtle Beach park would be getting a single-rail Raptor coaster in 2026. According to rcdb, the custom ride will rise 100 feet and reach a top speed of 50 mph. The seaside park is known for its Swamp Fox wooden coaster. The as-yet unnamed ride will add a second headliner to its midway.
Expo attendees got to ogle one of the extra-wide cars that will send passengers aboard Tormenta Rampaging Run on a record-breaking ride. Set to open next year at Six Flags Over Texas, the world’s fastest (87 mph) and tallest (309 feet) dive coaster should be a real humdinger. Among its other impressive stats, the ride will include a 218-foot-tall Immelmann roll and a 179-foot-tall vertical loop, both world records.
Legoland folks were on hand to reveal that guests at its California and Florida parks will be able to “customize” their vehicles when they ride the new Galacticoaster indoor rides coming in 2026. While they make their way through the queue, passengers will be able to personalize their “spacecraft” by choosing a variety of wings, tails, and other features at video kiosks. The pre-show activity sounds similar to what Epcot offered guests prior to boarding an earlier version of Test Track.
Intamin divulged details about its new Multi Dimension Mover dark ride system. The innovative attraction concept features trackless ride vehicles (a la Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway) that have the ability to launch at speeds up to 22 mph. That’s not crazy-fast, but certainly more thrilling than any other trackless rides out there. The vehicles will also be able to drift as well as well as tilt, giving designers an intriguing, new palette of tools to create attractions.
Sally Dark Rides, which always has cool projects to share at the IAAPA Expo, revealed two of its animatronic characters that will haunt Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, the reimagined dark ride coming to Kings Island next year. Attendees got to meet Maestro, a ghostly organ player, and No Legs Larry, a ghoulish usher who will act as a guide for the attraction. Sally also revealed that it is developing Guardians of the Hidden Chamber, a new attraction coming to the indoor theme park, Doha Quest in Qatar. It represents Sally’s first Mini Dark Ride, which the company says offers blockbuster-level immersion in a compact space.
What IAAPA Expo news most resonates with you?