Darien Lake Is A Prime Park For Six Flags To Build Something Huge
Which Six Flags park is going to get the new big coaster? Magic Mountain and Great America are getting two new creations with West Coast Racers and Maxx Force, although what about the other parks? There must be a massive coaster lined up for the 2020 season. Who’s got the inside edge for a massive new addition?
Don’t expect Magic Mountain, Great America, or Discovery Kingdom to get a new coaster. These three parks are getting one for 2019. It’s unlikely Six Flags gives any of these parks a coaster two years in a row. We’ve seen what Fiesta Texas got with Wonder Woman, the RMC Raptor, in 2018. I’d throw them out of it. Here’s one wild card for the new coaster, Darien Lake.
While one of the newest Six Flags additions, Darien Lake is a prime piece of real estate. It’s in the Northern New York area, just West of Buffalo and about 2 hours from Toronto and one of Cedar Fair’s marquee parks, Canada’s Wonderland. Some say this isn’t worth investing the time in, others say differently.
Darien Lake did just get Tantrum, a Gersrlauer Euro-fighter, for the 2018 season. However, this wasn’t a Six Flags investment. Previous Darien Lake ownership built this coaster. It’s highly likely that Six Flags wants to build something of their own on the property in the near future. Seeing as Tantrum is a smaller coaster, adding another big attraction might make sense. And while a Star-flyer is coming in 2019, it’s not a coaster.
There are numerous coasters at Darien Lake which could get the ax. You’d expect Predator, the parks only wooden coaster, to get the RMC treatment at some point. That still needs a few years of planning. Boomerang Coast to Coaster might be one coaster on the chopping block. The Vekoma Boomerang’s are some of the roughest rides in the world.
The issue with Boomerang Coast to Coaster is that it doesn’t take up too much land. One idea that Six Flags and Darien Lake need to toss around is the removal of Mind Eraser. Like Boomerang Coast to Coaster, this Vekoma is quite the backbreaker. Known as an SLC, this is one of the worst coasters in the world. Perhaps, and this is highly unlikely, Six Flags removes the SLC for a B&M invert or flying coaster?
Mind Eraser occupies a lot of space. The removal of this coaster could open the door for a bigger, better attraction/coaster. It doesn’t have to necessarily be a B&M, but something to rid us of the terrible, Mind Eraser. Seeing as how Six Flags buys their rides in advance, placing a new and better coaster might not be too difficult from a smaller manufacturer.
Six Flags three newest coasters West Coaster Racers ( Premier) Batman 4D (S&S), and Maxx Force (S&S) are from some rather smaller coaster manufacturers. I’d not expect anything too extravagant at Darien Lake, though. It’s possible the next big coaster they get is an RMC makeover of Predator, which might happen in the next 2-3 years.
If a coaster isn’t likely, perhaps we get a dark ride for Darien Lake? I’d not put any money on a Justice League Battle for Metropolis clone, but you can’t rule it out either. It would be nice to get a generic dark ride, similar to that of “Pirates of the Deep Sea” at Six Flags Fiesta Texas or Six Flags over Georgia, Monster Mansion.
The only catch to these dark rides, they were either made over from a previous attraction or part of the park when Six Flags bought it. It’s unclear if Six Flags wants to invest in building a new group-up dark ride for Darien Lake. That would be quite interesting to see happen. It’s still a longshot, just like a Justice League Battle for Metropolis ride.
In the end, Six Flags, who has previously owned Darien Lake in the past, wants to do things right this time. They’ve seen the park can make money. Seeing as it’s their new baby, there’s little doubt they’ll want to see it succeed and pump money into it. Six Flags is already adding a Star-flyer for this season. The big coaster (or dark ride) could be on its way soon.
Image Source: Six Flags
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
