Volume 3, No. 8. April 25, 2003
New Arrivals
It’s
fraternal twin rides!
Paramount’s Kings Island in Kings Island, Ohio, announces the arrivals
of Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle and Delirium, April 12, 2003.
Measurements: Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle, 568 feet (173 meters)
of track, 18 scenes, 103 targets, 104 animated props, 27 three-passenger vehicles,
five-minute ride; Delirium, 85-foot-high (26-meters) tower, 137-foot-high
(42 meters) swing of gondola, 50 seats, eight revolutions per minute, 1:40-minute
ride. Delirium delivered by Huss. Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle
delivered by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing, Paramount Parks Design & Entertainment
and Sally Corp.
Usually on opening day at Paramount’s Kings Island, the crowds waiting
in the entry plaza when the ropes lower run en masse to that year’s new
attraction. This year, the crowd divided to conquer: “It was a mad rush
of strollers and wagons and moms and dads running to Scooby, and every
teen on the planet running to Delirium,” said Jeffrey Siebert, Kings
Island’s marketing communications manager.
The pair of new rides, aimed at two different audiences, shared a media day
the previous Thursday, but with two separate events. The morning was devoted
to Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle, placed in a fully remodeled Phantom
Theater ride, including new construction of a 60-foot (18-meter) castle.
Two members of the park’s entertainment staff played Shaggy and Velma looking
for Scooby, who ran out of the mansion to invite the media members and VIP guests
in for the ride. Scott Innes, the voice of Scooby and Shaggy on the cartoon
series, was the event's featured celebrity and proved a favorite for both journalists
and park staff, Siebert said. “He was fun to work with and gives great
interviews.” (See Voice Over in this issue.)
Delirium got the attention in the afternoon, featuring 50 coaster enthusiasts
wearing underpants outside their clothes that read “Don’t be scared,
come prepared (Delirium logo) a full load of thrills.” Siebert admitted
it was one of the park’s more bizarre stunts, but the ride, Huss’
first Giant Frisbee, proved to be full of surprises, too. After installing the
ride Huss clocked it at 76 mph (122 km/h), making it the second fastest ride
in the park behind the Son of Beast roller coaster which surpasses 80
mph (129 km/h). Delirium also gives its passengers an unusual perspective
of the park. “It’s bizarre because while you’re riding it, the
rest of the world is pointing at strange angles,” Siebert said: “The
Eiffel Tower is at 70 degrees, Son of Beast is at 3 o’clock.”
THE LOOP is written and produced by Eric Minton, Minton Enterprises, LLC. To see more examples of Eric Minton's work and Minton Enterprises services, visit www.ericminton.com.
©2003, Minton Enterprises
LLC
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