Switchback Roller Coaster at ZDT`s Amusement Park

[DoinItForTheFame]

I don't think another coaster would fit tbh. The park is already really full and jam-packed as it takes up about as much space as the parking lot of a small Walmart. If they could fit and afford another coaster it would be amazing though.

 

Did Grona Lund teach us nothing?

 

Then cut that in quarters and add a water park, go-karts, a drop tower, a mini-frisbee, and Switchback.

 

And a new coaster would STILL fit. If a park want's to make it happen, they will make it happen.

[Nrthwnd]

Grona Lund is the Blackpool of Sweden.

 

[jedimaster1227]

ZDT's Amusement Park has announced that they will close after 18 years of operation. The park's final day of operation will be August 17th, 2025. The park's assets including its attractions have been put up for sale and the property's buildings will be open to lease. 

https://www.zdtamusement.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopCy3KOGA8Zkl7N6nUXQuPLbdESJunZrKF4EKPkSUP2wsIooQmV

Thank You for 18 Amazing Years!

ZDT’s Final Season Ends August 17, 2025

For more than 18 years, we’ve had the privilege of filling your days with smiles, thrills, and unforgettable memories. After much consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to close ZDT’s Amusement Park. Our last day of operation will be Sunday, August 17, 2025. We would love to see you one more time before the gates close.

If you’ve been holding on to ZDT’s gift cards or "any day" tickets, please plan to redeem them before that date.

Current members: Keep an eye on your inbox—we sent an email explaining how memberships will be handled going forward.

Thank you for making ZDT’s part of your story. We truly couldn’t have done it without you.

Hope to see you around the park,
The ZDT’s Team

[CaptainUnknown]

This makes me a little sad I skipped the park when I was in the San Antonio area in November 2020. The when I was there was ultimately why I skipped it.

[Arthur_Seaton]

It is sad to hear, but also unsurprising. The park is in a prominent spot in Seguin, but the town itself is pretty remote and rural. I visited last year to ride the coaster, but there's not a great deal else there — in the park or the town. Even though it's designed to fit into the compact space available, it doesn't seem so bespoke that it couldn't be moved elsewhere. 

[pianojohn]

I am heading there the weekend of Aug 15-17th. After missing out on Astroworld's closing 20 YEARS ago, I vowed not to miss out on any other park and coaster closings. On the flip side, not making a special trip to Six Flags America since I've been there 3X, and every visit was worse the prior one. 

[bert425]

^ looking forwards to hanging out with ya Sat. Night at Fiesta!   

[thepoint4life23]

Maybe Fun Spot will by the Switchback coaster or what ever they call it 

[jedimaster1227]

^The coaster has been on the market for some time and has had no takers. 
 

As unique as Switchback is, I feel like, had the park not bought it, they probably would have been able to operate successfully for years to come as a small attraction. Just because you build it, doesn’t mean the local market will sustain the demand or that the tourists will come. This is an unfortunate case study in investing in the wrong kind of additions for a park.

[Arthur_Seaton]

38 minutes ago, jedimaster1227 said:

This is an unfortunate case study in investing in the wrong kind of additions for a park.

Agree. Credit to the park for taking a risk, and I wonder if the purchase was meant as an opening gambit for more thrill-type expansion? There's not much space there, but there's some. I'd also assume that the coaster takes quite a bit of upkeep since it runs in a way that suggests it'd tear itself apart quite fast. It was pretty rough when I rode it, and — once the first drop is cleared — it stays close the ground and slams its way through the layout. I could see Knoebels salvaging it IF it's not too costly an invstment.

[bigboy]

On 7/31/2025 at 10:16 AM, Arthur_Seaton said:

The park is in a prominent spot in Seguin

"Prominent" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.  It's a mile and a half from the freeway in the middle of an industrial area.  No one accidentally goes there.

[Arthur_Seaton]

10 minutes ago, bigboy said:

"Prominent" is doing a lot of work in that sentence.  It's a mile and a half from the freeway in the middle of an industrial area.  No one accidentally goes there.

Seemed like it was in the middle of town to me, and I kind of figured that was something like the main drag. A few of those little Texas towns don't exactly have much going on.

[KBrylczyk]

5 hours ago, jedimaster1227 said:

^The coaster has been on the market for some time and has had no takers. 

Hell, I'll give them $5 and figure out the details later.  There's an FEC in town that would do well with that hog.