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Canada's Wonderland | Alpenfury | Premier Rides Launch Coaster | 2025

OK so I'm too lazy to link but apparently Amusement Insiders' latest video shows work being done inside Wonder Mountain. If true then there's a decent chance we'll be seeing the Mountain coaster.
 
Our favorite CW conspiracy theorists have been kind enough to provide us with some updates in what's going on at the park right now;

Currently there be a major renovation of the front gate area, with an X-path being excavated through the Leviathan turnaround island to improve crowd flow into the park. Will grab some pictures myself next week but here be the video;

The second suggestion is that our Xtreme Skyflyer Skycoaster is no more after serving the park well for nearly three decades. Now based on my own speculation, this is an interesting wrench to throw in the debate below;
The wing coasters seem to be eyeballing one of the two show venue sites. The Concert Coaster would be reusing the derelict Kingswood Amphitheatre lurking at the front of the park, while the Blast Coaster would be using the venue by Wonder Mountain's Guardian (and probably putting WMG itself on the surprise chopping block, which makes sense because that coaster causes problems). My takeaway is that the park would be choosing which one to keep and which one to scrap for replacement.
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If the idea is true that Wonder Mountain's Guardian could bite it (which there is evidence both supporting and arguing against this), as well as removing the Flight Deck/Time Warp conundrum from the equation, there is one of two ways in which the Blast Coaster can proceed in this scenario. Referring to the image below;
  • SHOWPLACE (Yellow) is relocated/rebuilt on the SKYFLYER (Red) site, allowing for direct access to the mountain at the cost of great expense and a relatively constrained site. Green is used as extra flex room.
  • SHOWPLACE stays where it is, while red is used for a load station/plaza and certain parts of the ride, thereby creating a more out'n'back layout and offering some breathing room for the elements. Green is used to connect the SKycoaster site to the mountain.
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Both of these possibilities would mean significant infrastructure remodeling/upgrades, which could include at the absolute max a rebuild show venue and underground tunnel for the coaster, something that most regional parks would not commit to. I think that if this is directly connected to Blast Coaster (if it is indeed happening) and the hammer comes down on WMG instead of Flight Deck/Time Warp, then the second option is far more viable. It would also be a far better location for the coaster's entrance, absorbing crowds from the front gate instead of that less-built-up WMG path.

All of CW's investment nowadays is incredibly strategic to absorb their ridiculous attendance, and they effectively have carte blanche when it comes to budgets/ideas. Time will tell how management decides to move their next chess pieces.
 
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It is official; Xtreme Skyflyer, god bless its soul, is now officially no more after 26 years. Demolition work around the attraction is already underway.
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Meanwhile just a stone's throw away the park is making moves to dig up the maintenance road leading into Wonder Mountain, which goes below a main guest pathway. That is not a light park improvement offseason project, something is happening.
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And more still the front gate shenanigans continue with the gift shop expansion and new security checkpoints underneath Leviathan;
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Was in the area with friends today and thought I’d stop in for a foggy construction update.

Skyflyer is still up but the concrete was torn out weeks ago. Never coughed up the upcharge to ride but glad to pay my respects before it comes down.
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The new security checkpoints are still a work in progress but seem physically completed. They’re really squeezing in and around Leviathan’s supports, still not sure what the final product will look like concerning the plaza as they’re still digging. Going to take a bit of getting used to.
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In terms of actual interesting coverage, a hole has popped open on the other side of Wonder Mountain and concrete foundations are going in. Amusement Insiders is crying launch coaster like it’s a major revelation but this was always going to be the case, so won’t credit them with any thinking meat (especially not after recent conduct). Screamscape on the other hand claims that Zamperla might be handing us their first from-scratch Lightning Coaster, which for CW’s sakes I desperately hope isn’t true. Both of them and shipping records seem to agree that there is no B&M hardware on site and might not be for this project. The plot thickens.
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In terms of actual interesting coverage, a hole has popped open on the other side of Wonder Mountain and concrete foundations are going in.
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We now have clarity to this as the large games/amenities building in International Festival is seemingly being demolished. Could be a rebuild, or it could be lying in the trajectory of this new open hole and allowing for some coaster breathing space. Loving the twists and turns of this project.
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Skyflyer also began coming down just two days after I’d paid my respects. It’s located well across the park and crazily enough could still be apart of this project.
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Park was recently kind enough to dish out their offseason chores, answering some questions and opening the door for new ones;
  • Viking's Rage (opening day HUSS Swinging Ship) is being converted from hydraulic to electrical power systems in order to better save energy.
  • New security checkpoints are indeed the new de facto entrance for guests, final product still unclear.
  • New park exit being built into the expanded main gift shop building.
  • Moosehorn Falls (our giant new-for-2024 raft slide that's currently an afterthought right now) will open on May 25
  • Major demolition in International Festival (Wonder Mountain north side) acknowledged, more info in April
In the meantime the so-called "launch coaster tunnel" underneath Vortex looks more like its being built up as a public path/road. Elsewhere, the Thunder Run exit ramp and donut shack has been demolished, with yet another opening being excavated into the mountain;
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Outside of the three coasters, currently the only visitor access to the mountain is on the opposite side, where a bathroom block and Haunt basement access is located. It almost feels like the mountain contents are being shuffled around indoors as apart of a larger project, one that will almost certainly see International Festival revamped.

Is any of this even related to a large new coaster? Honestly at this point it's hard to tell.
 
It is true. Walls are up as framed below. International Festival is a complete construction site, area between Fly and right up to the Shockwave queue is all rubble. Nothing particularly interesting is visible from either new hole inside the mountain. Very curious as to how this project will play out (YELLOW are construction walls, RED is completed vehicle access tunnels).
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Some other notes;
  • Wonder Mountain's Guardian is closed indefinitely to allow work to continue. It could open next weekend, or it could reopen in a few months. Either way it's staying. Mountain bathroom and the other two coasters remain operational.
  • You'd never know that the maintenance tunnel was just rebuilt below the path. Only real indications are a few posts and a smidgen of fresh rockwork.
  • Thunder Run exit has been permanently rerouted
  • A bunch of different people at the park claim that they've recently ceased maintenance on Time Warp. No new parts are being bought, no long term work is happening. For all intents and purposes if it survives this year then the 19 coaster hallmark will be brief at CW. It does have new loose article bins though.
  • No clue what this new attraction could be, but speculation is unanimous about a launch coaster.
  • Please don't be a Zamperla Lightning please don't be a Zamperla Lightning
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The new Moosehorn Falls waterslide is meanwhile progressing quickly. Foundations look complete on site (visible from coasters) and much of the slide is being assembled in the lot, but the new pump house is only now being dug and it isn’t likely to make the advertised May 25 debut. It’s classic CW to not prioritize building their new attractions until two weeks before the park opens, only to pull a construction blitz.
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Awright went back yesterday, some interesting developments;

New paint markers at the site near Fly, currently a 2x4 dot configuration and a single flag in the ground to boot. There’s also been reports of markers labelled BRK leading up to the mountain (brake run?), which I didn’t see myself.
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Wonder Mountain’s Guardian reopened a couple weeks ago, indicating mountain work on pause right now. It now has the very over the top flying bins system from Yukon Striker in action, which I’d argue to be way too complicated and expensive an upgrade for such a small and ****e low-capacity ride. However while imperfect, they do have an effect; combined with the new loss of seatbelts, they were rolling all four trains for the first time in several years and the usual queue out of the entrance ended up being only 30 minutes. Not bad, CW! Anyways, it’s here to stay.
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Anyways, back to newer and hopefully better coaster. Uhhhh there’s these boxes opposite the rebuilt tunnel that have been the center of some attention, there was a leaked pic a bit ago labelled from a shipper in Amsterdam.
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Based on some piecing together, my gut was initially saying Vekoma, although there’s hardware onsite from a bunch of manufacturers so it could be nada. Still an interesting prospect to consider.
 
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I'm currently at Canada's Wonderland right now and I've been taking a look at the construction areas. I don't understand this project at all. It's incredibly spread out and if it's a coaster it will have to dodge half of the attractions in the park. If I had to guess I'd say this is multiple flat rides and not a coaster. It's just such an awkward place to put one.
 
Anchor bolts for the footers are now on the work site, and [local known Instagram account] is claiming the new coaster is "100% a Premier Rides" coaster. I did some comparisons of the anchor bolts between this and Ice Breaker, and I cannot deny that there are some noticeable similarities; though at this stage, I wouldn't bet any money that it's for certain Premier.

But just in case it is... have fun with those trains @TPoseOnTantrum !🤣
 
Really Cedar Fair? Vekoma was right there -_-

This isn't say Premier is bad, they make some pretty good rides. But the trains are uncomfortable as hell.
 
Anchor bolts for the footers are now on the work site, and [local known Instagram account] is claiming the new coaster is "100% a Premier Rides" coaster. I did some comparisons of the anchor bolts between this and Ice Breaker, and I cannot deny that there are some noticeable similarities; though at this stage, I wouldn't bet any money that it's for certain Premier.

But just in case it is... have fun with those trains @TPoseOnTantrum !🤣
I am still sticking to my gut... Intamin...

As much as everyone thinks Cedar Fair doesn't work with them anymore, there is still a possibility. This isn't me cancelling out Premier or Zamperla at this point, however I think for the space they have and how big of a ride it is, it lines up perfectly with an Intamin product...

I think a ride similar to Gotham City Escape is on the table with this project... I have a few reasons:
1. The station and brake run is small - 3 car trains (4 at a push)
2. The number of 'launch' sections that have been rumoured from the footings and markers around some areas
3. A mystery 'BIG' element by the entrance - possibly that Figure 8 structure if it were an Intamin
4. Canada's Wonderland needs a reliable ride - Intamin seem to be the only manufacturer capable of opening and running a new ride this year successfully

Obviously, I am leaving room for error with this idea and I would appreciate any of the other options on the table. However, I fail to see how Premier could do this ride... I am aware that Full Throttle was successful and their Sky Rocket II models, but I don't think they have had much experience with rides as big as this. Zamperla - lets just not go there... Vekoma - my second option for this coaster as they have the right hardware to do a good job!
 
I am still sticking to my gut... Intamin...
Not you again.
But just in case it is... have fun with those trains @TPoseOnTantrum !🤣
Bahhh I had it between Vekoma and Mack just based on stuff at the park, even though neither logistically made a huge amount of sense. Think we’ve ruled out Zamperla though at least, outside of China they’re not doing any high profile thrill coaster projects next year.
 
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