robbalvey Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 Press Release just in: Castle Park Announces New High Flying Ride New DragonFlyers Ride will be Ready to Fly on Memorial Day Riverside, CA – April 5, 2008 Castle Park announced an exciting new ride coming to the park that will allow riders to feel what it’s like to soar through the sky on a “flying dragon”. “The new DragonFlyers ride will give guests of all ages the thrill of flight. Everyone will love it because they can control their own flight and make it as daring and thrilling… or as soaring and graceful as they want,” said General Manager Rolf Paegert. “It will quickly become one of the favorite rides in the park. And because each flight is different, our guests will want to ride it again and again.” The new DragonFlyers is based on a classic amusement ride and is manufactured by Larson Manufacturing, Inc. With a medieval theme and dramatic fire-breathing dragon graphics, it consists of eight suspended ride carriages each holding two people. As the DragonFlyers begin rotating, centrifugal force swings the cable-suspended carriages outward and upward to a diameter of 85 feet. The DragonFlyers soar through the sky in a dizzying arc up to 35 miles per hour. In the front of each ride carriage is a large vertical wing that riders can move from side to side to control the movement of the vehicle. As the wing is moved, the ride carriage swings inward or outward while still traveling around the central axis. As the riders flying skills develop, the wing movements can be timed at the apex of the arc to allow dramatic turns with high speed dives up and down throughout the ride. Older guests can often create their flight pattern that is extremely intense filled with thrilling swoops and fast, arcing turns while younger children or parents may prefer to fly their ride in a much calmer pattern with less movement up and down. The new DragonFlyers will be open and ready to fly by Memorial Day. The ride will be located next to the Big Top restaurant. Here's concept art of the ride: The tubs look really nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exceller Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 Great News! This gives me another reason to visit a nice little park I still remember from going when I was a 5 or 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Thriller Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 Those are the coolest flyers you could imagine. I think this will help Castle Park. I remember awhile ago (When I acually lived in Cal.) thinking that Castle Park isn't probably going to last due to the other tons of parks that are bigger and more popular around the area. But this really could change things. This is great news! Again, I love the look of the cars. --James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whopper Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 This would be a good additon to this park, but I think this place needs more help than just one ride. Although I heard it is a pretty good ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted April 12, 2008 Author Share Posted April 12, 2008 I just think it's cool that Flyers are coming to So Cal! Now let's just hope they are decent. If this is the same model that was at Indiana Beach, I thought those were actually very good. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Peck Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 It's an 8-tub, then it most likely will be the same ride as Indiana Beach and Great America's. Idlewild put in a NEW 10-tub this past season, and I hear its close to the goodness of Carowinds (PKI's old one) and Knoebels. Im glad to see so many parks buying up ths simple and thrilling ride again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whopper Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 I live like a stones throw from Castle Park, during the summer you can hear the guest screaming. I'll keep an eye out and try to update on construction. From what the other flyers look like, this should be a great ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIP Psyclone Posted April 12, 2008 Share Posted April 12, 2008 It seems snapping is allowed, almost encouraged. If so, great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFreak Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 ^You can go up and down without snapping, We'll see how this turns out, it's great to see Castle Park getting a new ride. I'll definitely have to actually get out there sometime this summer. I don't even have the Merlin's Revenge credit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XLRBR Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 Wow I have never been to Castle Park the entire time I've live here... Anyway enough about me. This ride looks awesome! I've never been on a ride like this so maybe it'll give me a reason to try and get a trip "down the hill" as we say. Cool graphics too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim S. Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 The press release says each tub seats two people, but with this being the Larson model that just isn't going to happen for a lot of people, especially considering the seatbelt. The antique version that you can still find at (surprise, surprise) Knoebels is roomier, and has looser restraints (if you can call them that). Granted, it's more fun to fly than just ride anyway, but I'm just pointing out the oversight in their press release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socalMAN123 Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I say when this thing opens, TPR meet at Castle Park. Someone can teach me how to snap. ---Brent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaos Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 I guess I'll have to go back out to Riverside this summer. I always really enjoy Castle Park, regardles of their lack of a lot of rides. It would be really cool if they got a small wooden coaster. -Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted April 14, 2008 Author Share Posted April 14, 2008 ^ It's a nice little park. Much of it was designed by the guy who designed many of Knott's rides and themed areas in the 70s and 80s. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whopper Posted April 14, 2008 Share Posted April 14, 2008 Drove by today and the moved their stage the other day and broke ground today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whopper Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I used to work at Knott's and Castle Park in the mid 90's. Bud Hurlbut was the owner of Castle Park. He would be there almost every weekend with his wife and dog in tow. He had a Caddillac with personalize plates saying CSTLPRK. He was a nice guy. He built the Timber Mountian Log Ride, Calico Mine Ride, Tijuana Taxi's and other smaller rides for Knott's. The small train at Castle Park was originally from the Knott's Lagoon area. Going on that really brings back some childhood memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyweird Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 It's nice to see a resurgence in these old-style thrill rides. I know Kennywood had a flyer for a little while back in the 90's until they replaced it with the Pitt Fall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted April 15, 2008 Author Share Posted April 15, 2008 ^^ I'm pretty sure the Vintage car ride and the Tilt-A-Whirl at Castle Park also used to be at Knott's. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Glad to see some Flyers in this area. I've always wanted to ride one of those, and it looks like it's time to go do that. And it'll be nice to see a couple of classic Knott's rides while I'm there. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Nail Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 A spinning roller coaster will also be opening up soon. http://www.castlepark.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost007jas Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 Looks like I'll finally have to drag my butt out there soon. It's only twenty minutes away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted May 27, 2008 Share Posted May 27, 2008 A spinning roller coaster will also be opening up soon. http://www.castlepark.com/ I wonder where that is going to go? I went about a month ago and all that was there for the flyers was a hole in the ground. No sign of any other ride. But hooray for more credits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 ^I wouldn't get your hopes up TOO much. If it's a standard Zamperla/Reverchon Spinner you may have already been on it on the fair circuit or some other random place that sold a spinner! Do we know if this is new or used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted May 28, 2008 Share Posted May 28, 2008 Well we know where Elissa will be when the spinning coaster opens... I assume that the spinning coaster will be one of the Zamperla models as they are mainly what are built these days. Even though I'm not a fan of spinning wild mice coasters, this will make a good addition to a family park like Castle Park. Edit: RCDB says it will be a Fabbri Spinning Madness(40m) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFreak Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I put these pics in my TR, but I know some of you would like to see them too. The Flying Scooter's are open (and FUN!) and the track work for the tiny coaster is done. All that looks to be needed is some staion work. At least I doubt much more then that would actually be done to change the ride from "Pole Positions" and a Nascar theme to "Scremin' Demon" with a most likely midevil-ish theme. I didn't take my camera, so the pcis are from my phone. Taken a little earlier in the day from the outside of the park. the coaster is just to the left, you can see Merlin's Revenge further back. Despite the orange glow, the only lights for the ride are the blue neon lights ones casting a cool blue tone over the whole ride. Old themeing will probably be changed as the wwebsite says the ride will be called Screamin' Demon As you can see, it's a Fabrri Spinning Madness 30m not the 40m like RCDB says (and I hoped) Track work is done, it looks like a cute ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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