Category: Amusement park

Investigators Visit North Carolina Amusement Park After Closing Ride Because of Crack

RALEIGH, N.C.—State investigators were on site Monday at a North Carolina amusement park after a crack was discovered on a support beam on one of their popular roller coasters. Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, said investigators from his department “already came and went” from the Carowinds roller coaster…


Investigators Visit North Carolina Amusement Park After Closing Roller Coaster Because of Crack

RALEIGH, N.C.—State investigators were on site Monday at a North Carolina amusement park after a crack was discovered on a support beam on one of their popular roller coasters. Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor’s Amusement Device Bureau, said investigators from his department “already came and went” from the Carowinds roller coaster…


Sea Dragon Ride on Santa Monica Pier Swings Into Retirement

By Salvador Hernandez From Los Angeles Times Los Angeles—For nearly 27 years, the green Sea Dragon ride swung back and forth on the Santa Monica Pier, but on March 2, the 6,000-pound two-headed metal beast took its last ride 250 feet over the Pacific Ocean. The famed Sea Dragon ship at Pacific Park was retired…


‘Bounced up Like It Hit a Bump’: Train Derails at Missouri Amusement Park

A Missouri amusement park has reported that a steam train derailed on Wednesday night, injuring six guests and one employee. A passenger and guest of the park said the carriage “bounced” before tipping. “Silver Dollar City confirms that earlier this evening, sections of the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track,” the…


Police: 14-Year-Old Girl Dies on Denmark Amusement Park Ride

COPENHAGEN—A 14-year-old girl died Thursday at a popular amusement park in northern Denmark, police said, reportedly when the rear part of a roller-coaster ride came off the rails. A 13-year-old boy suffered injuries to one hand, police said. Henrik Ragborg Olsen, manager of the Tivoli Friheden amusement park in Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city, told local…


Sensors Adjusted on Ride Where Florida Teen Died

Sensors on a Florida amusement park ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in a 14-year-old boy not being properly secured before he slipped out and fell to his death, according to an initial report released Monday by outside engineers. The average opening for…


Did Teen’s Big Size Factor in Florida Amusement Ride Death?

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—A rising middle school football player in Missouri, only 14 but already 6 feet, 5 inches tall and well over 300 pounds, Tyre Sampson fell to his death from a towering Florida amusement ride. Lawyers for his family want to know if negligence about his size, or other factors, played a role. “This…


Girl, 6, Dies on Mine Drop Ride at Colorado Amusement Park

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo.—An investigation is underway after a 6-year-old girl on vacation with her family died at an amusement park in the western Colorado town of Glenwood Springs. Few details have been released, but Suzanne Emery with the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park says “an incident” occurred Sunday evening on the Haunted Mine Drop ride that…


Knott’s Berry Farm Eyes May Reopening

BUENA PARK—Knott’s Berry Farm officials said that although the 100-year-old theme park could reopen at 15 percent capacity on April 1 it won’t be until May when visitors can again enjoy the Peanuts gang at Buena Park. Knott’s spokeswoman Diana Bahena said March 12 theme park officials are “encouraged and excited” by the state’s go-ahead…


Disneyland Unveils Special Park Event in March

ANAHEIM—Disneyland officials released details Feb. 24 of a mini opening of the theme park in Anaheim next month in a limited-capacity ticketed event called A Touch of Disney. The theme park, which has been shut down for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will reopen partially on March 18 through April 5 for the…