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Six Flags unveils kids' area, wooden coasterAs Jesse and I entered the park, surrounded by the sounds of children laughing and the smells of funnel cake and cotton candy, we knew that blue skies were not the only reason our day at Six Flags Great Adventure was going to be spectacular.We had just entered the Warner Bros.-themed amusement park in Jackson and were being escorted to see the newest additions. Armed with notecards and a digital camera, we began our tour. Our guides, Angel Aristone and Kristin Siebeneicher, explained to us about their newest area, built with a younger audience in mind.The park's third children's section, Bugs Bunny National Park, will inspire children to bounce around among six new rides and other attractions such as the Wilderness Theatre, whose stage will be host to exciting musical and theatrical entertainment.Children will be excited to see their favorite Warner Bros. characters milling about. To quench thirst and quell hunger, the park will open the Looney Tunes Camp Kitchen, which will be decorated to match the woodland theme of the area.After passing the kitchen, Aristone pointed out a larger-than-life bucket. Noticing the bewildered expressions on our faces, she explained that when the weather is warm enough, the bucket will become a fountain, spilling gallons of water onto excited "campers" to cool them off.One ride the tour guides were especially excited about was the Tango, a twisting, turning adventure that even parents will enjoy.The goal of Bugs Bunny National Park is to "focus on families,"Siebeneicher said. Six Flags hopes that Bugs Bunny National Park will be completely finished by Memorial Day.After walking beneath the National Park archway, my eyes locked on an unfinished wooden structure. "What is that?" I inquired.Siebeneicher told us about El Toro, the newest wooden coaster in the park since 1979. El Toro towers above every other wooden coaster in the world, boasting the Earth's steepest timber drop.Unlike the bumpy and jolting rides that guests are used to enduring on classic wooden coasters, El Toro is the "new generation" of wooden coasters, Siebeneicher said. It combines steel coaster technology with wooden trains and scream-worthy banked curves, facets exclusive to vintage wooden roller coasters. The wheel design allows for a smooth and fast ride without losing the sensation of a typical wooden coaster.Because of the highly banked curves, coaster designers took extra precautions when creating the safety features on El Toro. The coaster trains will be outfitted with seatbelts and lap bars for optimum rider security.El Toro is to be the centerpiece of Six Flags' Mexican-themed Plaza del Carnival area. Plaza del Carnival is still under construction and guests will be able to find comida y bebidas in the new eating area, La Cocina.There is no official date for the opening of Plaza del Carnival, but Six Flags hopes that park-goers will be able to experience the high energy thrills of El Toro and the other Plaza del Carnival attractions later this spring.From our visit to Six Flags Great Adventure, Jesse and I not only saw the future of the park, but we also experienced the rides already bringing smiles to those who walk through the park gates. Six Flags Great Adventure is a fabulous place to spend a day, or to go back to again and again.
Topic: Thrills Big and Small (Read 1421 times)
