Sea Paradise’s Surf Coaster Leviathan

Crave and his lovely wife Jaewon “The Queen of Coasters” visited Sea Paradise oceanarium and amusement park in Yokohama, Japan on Monday, February 16th, 2015. Lucky for them, they were able to catch a chilly ride on Surf Coater Leviathan just before the sun set. Crave previously visited the park in the fall of 2009 but was unable to score a credit since the ride was closed due to a bullying wind.

Admission to Sea Paradise is free. You can pay 3000 yen for an all-day ride pass, or simply hand over 1000 yen per ride. If you fancy animals that primarily live in liquids, you can also get a pass that includes both the amusements and oceanarium. Given the time of day, and the fact that the Blue Fall, the park’s 100 meter tall Intamin drop ride, was closed we opted to pay per ride.

We’ll let the on-ride POV video and pictures below speak for themselves.

Happy riding coasterers!

Jaewon is excited for Sea Paradise!

Crave contemplates riding his 430th coaster.

Hmmm…

                    Towerific.

Vending Machines = Cool Way to Pay

Two Tickets to Paradise

The “Don’t Die and/or Sue Us” Sign

Mt. Fuji says goodnight. (Thank you Jaewon)

Rainbow Bandits: New Reoma World’s Hidden Gem

“We live in a rainbow of chaos.” – Paul Cezanne

Dolly Parton said “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”  Though if you happen to be at New Reoma World,  that’s not the case as the park’s “rainbow” themed dark ride provides shelter from natural water bombing. While Japan is a stomping ground for coasterers, few make the trek down to Shikoku island, where New Reoma World and its four roller coasters remain hidden deep into the countryside of Kagawa prefecture.

“Rainbow Bandits” was a surprisingly funtastic attraction. The ride system was Peter Pan’s Flight meets hot air balloons set amidst a cute and corny Teddy Ruxpin and Rainbow Brite-esque universe. Granted the animatronics aren’t as “animated” as those with Disney’s signature, but the duration of the ride is filled with colorful, imaginative, and humorous scenes.

It’s no Phantom Theatre (King’s Island), but Rainbow Bandits has earned a spot in my dark ride top ten.

Special thanks to DreamUSJ for posting the on-ride video.

Photos are copyright 2012 Crave Cravak. Please do not copy, publish, or distribute without permission from CraveCoasters.com.

History-Go-Round

HISTORY-GO-ROUND

North Tonawanda’s Enchanting Carousel Kingdom

By Stephen Cravak

Nestled amongst tree-lined avenues of a Buffalo suburb, resides a  hidden gem. A testament to human passion and preservation stands a relic of America’s industrial past and its continued pursuit of amusement. When on Thompson Street in the heart of North Tonawanda, your eyes need to be peeled for a red brick complex  built in 1915. Inside its crimson walls organs serenade and horses run wild. You will enter not a re-creation, but a true representation of the past. Welcome to the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum.

The museum has been treating visitors to a merry-go-round of insight into the area’s rich contributions to antique carousels and children’s ride production. The building served as the primary facility for the Allan Herschell Company.

Hop aboard living history!

According to Carousel historian and collector Charlotte Dinger, Allan Herschell was born in Scotland in 1851 later emigrating to Buffalo, New York. After seeing a carousel in New York City, he was determined to begin building steam-operated merry-go-rounds. His first company the Armitage Herschell Company was unable to survive two fires and economic downturn. Herschell’s passion for carousels led him to continue on by joining forces with his brother-in-law to form the Herschell-Spillman Company. It’s not surprising that it was a mere 2 years after Herschell’s retirement that he jumped back into the carousel business. Founding the Allan Herschell Company, the fourth carousel producer in North Tonawanda, Herschell competed against the Spillman Engineering Company, who conveniently removed his name. 

Hot Off the Presses: AppleSeeds Features Amusement Parks

AppleSeeds magazine launches a thrilling issue this summer with “How the World Works: Amusement Parks.” While AppleSeeds is a social studies publication geared towards grades 3-5, this installment is the perfect read for coaster enthusiasts of all ages.

CraveCoasters’ own Stephen “Crave” Cravak had the honor of serving as the consulting editor ensuring each article accurately represented and portrayed the wonderful world of amusement parks.

Special thanks to AppleSeeds, editor Susan Buckley, and all of the writers, photographers and contributors for delivering a fresh, unique, and informative look into the amusement industry.

  Order a copy now!

DizneyWorld: Thailand’s Dream World

Please enjoy Crave’s photorific journey through Thailand’s Dream World theme park.

Or click here to view directly on YouTube

Taiwan to Get Soaked: Leofoo Introduces New Water Park in 2012

“Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” – Lao Tzu

The Leofoo Tourism Group/六福旅遊集團, plans to drench an estimated 1.5 million park guests in Hsinchu County on the outskirts of Taipei, Tawain. At an estimated cost of NT$390 million (US$13.2 million), Leofoo Water Park/六福水樂園水陸聯票 is set to wet in May, 2012. On roughly three hectares (7.41 acres) adjacent to the existing Leofoo Village, the resort will now possess a two-park punch, perhaps an attempt to compete with Yamay Recreation World’s Discovery theme park and Mala Bay water park.

Leofoo Water Park will feature the country’s tallest water slide at a height of 15 meters (49 feet) which is described by park officials as Taiwan’s first flying Tissot slide. In addition, visitors will be able to enjoy various slides, a wave pool, two lazy rivers, as well as water play areas. Modeled after a Greek island, the water park promises to provide a “romantic relaxing holiday atmosphere” complete with Mediterranean cuisine. The project is an undertaking three years in the making and is expected to create upwards of 300 jobs ranging from lifeguards to on-site attendants. Given Taiwan’s subtropical climate and Leofoo’s popularity, the water park is expected to operate 365 days a year.

Sources:

Leofoo Village (Chinese) http://www.leofoo.com.tw/village/news.php?news_id=528

Leofoo Village News (Chinese) http://www.leofoo.com.tw/village/news.php?news_id=512

China Times (Chinese) http://news.chinatimes.com/domestic/11050613/122012021300252.html)

NOW News (Chinese) http://www.nownews.com/2011/10/25/11462-2752183.htm

Tapei Times (English) http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2011/03/17/2003498355

Take a Peek at Beny-Land

For most of us, the closest we get to amusement parks outside of our countries are the pictures and trip reports of fellow coasterers. While Theme Park Review produces professional quality videos, most of what we see is at the amateur level. Luckily Beny-Land, Sendai’s local family owned and operated amusement has posted a commercial nearly a minute and a half long showcasing the park’s attractions. As a bonus your ears will be treated to the park’s timeless jingle. Visit the Beny-Land website to view the video or click here.

Coaster Museum (Sort Of)

“A museum has to renew its collection to be alive, but that does not mean we give on important old works.” – David Rockefeller

In some cities, the local amusement park is just that. But in Pittsburgh, Kennywood is traditional: a family tradition. You’ll never hear people speak so fondly of a park than in Pittsburgh. You’d think the place had been running for a hundred years. Well, it has, more than 110 to be exact.

A park as rich in amusement history as Kennywood deserves its own museum. It’s not getting one anytime soon, but at least

Vertical Theme Park

There’s been amusement parks built on piers, inside malls, casinos, and one even at the bottom of a rock quarry (Six Flags Fiesta Texas). But what if instead of constructing a skyscraper, an full fledged amusement park took its place. This is the creative vision of architect Ju-Hyun Kim. Say hello to the Vertical Theme Park.

 

Ride It! – Kijima Kogen’s Gold Rush