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It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the world’s fastest roller coaster is being constructed outside of American soil.
Theme parks have been embedded in the fabric of the United States for a century–Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Disney, Hersheypark–but Saudi Arabia is deadset on spitting in our faces with the construction of the country’s very first park.
According to The National, Six Flags Qiddiya is being built as part of a new city outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is due for completion in 2023.
https://twitter.com/qiddiya/status/1166323223027318784?s=20
Qiddiya Investment Company unveiled the park design this week before revealing that many rides will “set world records,” including The Falcon’s Flight, which is on pace to be the most ambitious thrill ride ever created.
“The Falcon’s Flight, inspired by the kingdom’s iconic raptor, will be the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, while the Sirocco Tower will break more records with the world’s tallest drop-tower ride,” the company said.
As Theme Park Insider points out, the park will be split into six different territories that offer varying experiences.
- City of Thrills: This will be the home to Falcon’s Flight as well as Sirocco Tower, the world’s tallest drop ride.
- Grand Exposition: Rides include the hybrid coaster Colossus, a record-setting Gyrospin Pendulum, an Expo Flyer swinging ride, the Arabian Carousel, and the Automania bumper cars, themed to London cabs.
- Valley of Fortune: This is the home for the triple-launch coaster Spitfire, a hydraulic boom ride called Skywatch, the auto-themed Treasure Trail, and the Aeromax, “a family plane ride that swings and rotates freely over the park.”
- Twilight Gardens: The park’s children’s land will include the Twilight Express Coaster, an interactive dark ride called Critter Chase, and Kaleidoscope hot air balloon ride.
- Steam Town: This land includes the Sawmill Falls Water Coaster, a spinner called Bull Rider, a Treehouse Trek climbing structure, and Iron Rattler Mine Train, a “a hydraulic lift which releases passengers into a freefall plunge through a narrow, steam-filled mineshaft.”
- Discovery Springs: Themed to a rainforest in the desert, this land’s anchor is Sea Stallion, a “first-of-its-kind interactive ride,” where riders are “propelled over rivers, behind waterfalls and through trees along a custom-designed course, as they control the speed and acceleration of their horse.”
https://twitter.com/qiddiya/status/1165917978891825152?s=20
Now excuse me while I search flights to Saudi Arabia. Is that outside of Ohio?