The IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo was held this week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This expo is an annual event where amusement and entertainment manufactures display new theme park tech and rides. It also acts as a trade show where manufacturers can sell their products to potential buyers. 

Some of the highlights every year is the front car reveals for new coasters coming to parks in the next year, and this year was no exception! Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) unveiled the front car to Iron Gwazi coming to Busch Gardens Tampa, a new hybrid roller coaster that is replacing the former wooden coaster Gwazi. When it opens, the coaster will be the tallest and fastest hybrid coaster in the world when it opens, beating out Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point in both categories. Premier Rides revealed the train for Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando, a family multi-launch coaster. Great Coasters International (GCI) showed off the front car of Texas Stingray coming to SeaWorld San Antonio, the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden coaster in Texas when it opens. Bolliger & Malbiard (B&M) unveiled the front car to Orion, a giga coaster coming to Kings Island next year. 

Other than train unveilings, there was also some new tech and ride announcements made. SBF Visa showed off a new “hamster wheel”-style train for their spinning coasters. Triotech, along with Knott’s Berry Farm, officially announced the return of the Knott’s Bear-y Tales dark ride, replacing the Voyage to the Iron Reef dark ride currently at the park. Emperor, a new B&M Dive Coaster, was officially announced for SeaWorld San Diego. Maurer Rides unveiled the car and more details on their powered coaster going on the future cruise ship, the Carnival Mardi Gras. 

Those were some of the major announcements to come out of the 2019 IAAPA Expo! If you want to see more theme park content, check out my blog: www.coasternetworkonline.com!