United States Waldameer Park — Project 2027: Vekoma Coaster?

[MaxxForceFan]

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/l...v11xx45d--30--b--30--&gca-ft=172&gca-ds=sophi

https://archive.is/rImgZ

After a slow, weather-related start to the 2025 season, attendance picked up, allowing the park to roughly match its 2024 performance.

Gorman said that's given him and his famly, including his son, Biran Gorman, the park's vice president of operations, the confidence to borrow money for the water park and plan a major addition to the amusement park in 2027.

https://www.goerie.com/story/news/2...ext-year-and-the-year-after-that/82779922007/

What will the future hold?​

Change at the park won't end with this year's improvements.

Gorman said the park has plans to introduce new attractions for each of the next two years.

"We have plans for a water park addition in 2026 and an amusement ride for the 2027 season," he said. "They are both big projects, but we don't want to talk about what they are yet."

 

[Tacky3663]

There is actually a rumor that I have heard that this might be something like Big Bear Mountain

 

[Vipergts500]

Family Boomerang?

 

[WarmishSign]

Family Boomerang?

I hope not. They don't look bad or anything, I just feel like they're everywhere now.

 

[paintervision]

Waldameer has four excellent junior/family coasters already. I'd like to see something between Whirlwind and RFII's level of thrill. Maybe an SFC similar to Deno's Phoenix, or something even a little larger with an inversion?

 

[WarmishSign]

Waldameer has four excellent junior/family coasters already. I'd like to see something between Whirlwind and RFII's level of thrill. Maybe an SFC similar to Deno's Phoenix, or something even a little larger with an inversion?

STC anyone????

 

[Fiender]

Why not both? Hals Uber Koph and Fianna Force were both combo deals with family boomerangs.

 

[paintervision]

Why not both? Hals Uber Koph and Fianna Force were both combo deals with family boomerangs.

Knowing Waldameer they'd wait like 8 years between coasters though?

 

[Jacob "Jay" Zemanek]

Here's some pics from over the off-season I took of the developments including land they haven't used since WWII. I believe the family launch is the most reasonable option because of the terrain and how the park is more focused on rides the entire family can enjoy together (it's about a 70ft drop from the top of the hill to the bottom so there's massive potential). Who knows the park could throw a bone and actually be something bigger, but I was surprised with Big Bear Mountain last year and immediately thought this could work in the park's favor. Super excited for an announcement whenever that might be!

 

[Zachary]

Don't know if this is related, but it is worth noting that Waldemeer recently began leasing a block of land south of the park. Per recent filings, the park is planning to relocate two of the park's picnic shelters to this plot of land and utilize the majority of the plot for parking.

Newly leased land:



Minutes from the relevant planning commission meeting:



Any areas of the existing park with a pair of picnic structures that could be prime for redevelopment?

 

[MaxxForceFan]

Any areas of the existing park with a pair of picnic structures that could be prime for redevelopment?

 

[dasimo27]

Here's some pics from over the off-season I took of the developments including land they haven't used since WWII. I believe the family launch is the most reasonable option because of the terrain and how the park is more focused on rides the entire family can enjoy together (it's about a 70ft drop from the top of the hill to the bottom so there's massive potential). Who knows the park could throw a bone and actually be something bigger, but I was surprised with Big Bear Mountain last year and immediately thought this could work in the park's favor. Super excited for an announcement whenever that might be!

View attachment 41708

I would love to know what that yellow sign is. I completely understand if you don't want to leak too much info about the new ride, but any description of what that is would be greatly appreciated. Or I'm just dumb and it's something completely unrelated.

 

[AmyUD06]

I would love to know what that yellow sign is. I completely understand if you don't want to leak too much info about the new ride, but any description of what that is would be greatly appreciated. Or I'm just dumb and it's something completely unrelated.

I'm pretty sure the "yellow sign" you're seeing is the bottom of some sort of support structure, and the part you think is a redaction is the hollow center.

I am dumb.

 

[dasimo27]

I'm pretty sure the "yellow sign" you're seeing is the bottom of some sort of support structure, and the part you think is a redaction is the hollow center.

Im talking about what is on top of the object, going across the entire thing. That is clearly an LED sign with some sort of design, right? I'm just curious what it is because it could be detrimental info regarding the 2027 coaster.

 

[AmyUD06]

Im talking about what is on top of the object, going across the entire thing. That is clearly an LED sign with some sort of design, right? I'm just curious what it is because it could be detrimental info regarding the 2027 coaster.

OOOOOOHHHHHHH, yeah, duh. I had thought you were just looking on a small screen and thought the end of it was a redacted sign. Sorry, I'm tired.

 

[dasimo27]

OOOOOOHHHHHHH, yeah, duh. I had thought you were just looking on a small screen and thought the end of it was a redacted sign. Sorry, I'm tired.

You're all good, I get how you could've thought that!

 

[dasimo27]

A coaster enthusiast friend of mine sent me something from Vekoma's website about an upcoming family launch coaster and after doing some research, I think this screams Waldameer! Here's my findings translated to imperial units since everything is in metric...

Stats
Height: 16.7 meters = 54.8 feet
Footprint: 114.1 meters x 50.9 meters = 374.3 feet x 167 feet
Min Height Requirement: 0.95 meters = 3.16 feet = 37.4 inches
Length: 431 meters = 1,414 feet
Speed: 70 km/h = 43.5 mph
Amount Of Trains: 1
Number Of Cars: 10 (seats 2 each)
Passengers Per Train: 20
Capacity: 750 people per hour

Based on the stats, I think we are looking at something similar to Lightning at Furuvik in Sweden (a friend of mine is riding it this summer). With 1 train, it’s possible the coaster could travel its layout twice in one ride, doubling the length and time stats. Lightning and a few other ones (Aquilia and the upcoming Noctavie) do this too. Look up a POV of Lightning too for reference because to me, all the stats match something similar but putting all the clues together, I think this is what Waldameer's 2027 coaster will look like!

Oh yeah that screams a narrow layout that stretches across the land behind the Park. I know I still need to be realistic, but I'm still hoping for maybe a bit of a faster and longer layout that has a bit more to offer rather than spamming S-bends... Again, I know I should be grateful but I hope there's something that separates this one from other family launches around the world.

 

[Jacob "Jay" Zemanek]

Update: what I posted earlier is outdated and since been deleted. Apparently the stats are coming soon placeholders, not reflecting upcoming projects as I hoped. A few other models (Super Boomerang and Wildcat models) have this same "listing" so it's not an isolated case. So we're back to square one with speculations which is a bummer

 

[dasimo27]

Update: what I posted earlier is outdated and since been deleted. Apparently the stats are coming soon placeholders, not reflecting upcoming projects as I hoped. A few other models (Super Boomerang and Wildcat models) have this same "listing" so it's not an isolated case. So we're back to square one with speculations which is a bummer

Ah ok. Still gives me hope for maybe a "thrill" coaster... Who knows