paul ruben

When testing his new Gale Force launched coaster at Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City, New Jersey, owner Scott Simpson loads the train with test dummies. I’ve always wanted to be a test dummy, so asked Scott if I might take one of…
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While at Planet Snoopy, the children’s area of Kings Dominion, I had this photo taken with Woodstock, one of the characters in the Peanuts comic strip about which Planet Snoopy’s rides are themed. For those of you unfamiliar with Kings…
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When a park operator adds a drop tower, one of the benefits is that it changes the skyline of the park. It towers imposingly over the adjacent rides, intimidating guests by its sheer height. Part of the thrill is being lifted to an…
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This year there is just one new amusement park opening in America. Midway between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians are building OWA Amusement Park, part of a 520 acre (210 hectare) destination…
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When Busch Gardens Williamsburg sent out their media kit for InvadR, they didn’t apologize for the misspelling. Rather, they touted the opening of the park’s first wooden roller coaster. I easily excused the spelling, since this ride…
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Parks with limited space that crave a big, tall, eye-catching coaster ride, need not be disappointed if they consider some of the low-footprint, compact options that are currently available on the market. The new family of vertical…
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