Behemoth, Fahrenheit and Other Roller Coasters Opening in 2008 in North America

Every year, multiple amusement parks construct new roller coasters to break records and bring in guests. For these guests, and coaster enthusiasts alike, early announcements for attractions coming in 2008 helps increase interest. While some parks may be closed (due to the winter months), this does not keep them from making their announcements. What are some of the biggest roller coasters coming in 2008? Here are a few of the roller coasters that have already been announced.

Behemoth
Canada's Wonderland

To ring in the 2008 seasons, Canada's Wonderland is offering Behemoth, a steel sit-down "hyper coaster" by Bolliger and Mabillard, one of the premier roller coaster manufacturers in the world. According to the official press release from Canada's Wonderland, The ride will reach speeds of 77 m.p.h, created by the coaster's 230 foot height. The ride also offers an 85 degree drop; this drop is near vertical, and is relatively steep for most of the steel coasters created. This is the parks largest investment in it's history, costing the park 26 million Canadian dollars. Behemoth will be the 15th roller coaster currently operating at Canada's Wonderland when it opens in May of 2008. More information may be found by visiting the park's website at www.canadaswonderland.com

Fahrenheit
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania

Hersheypark continues its trend of impressive roller coasters with the announcement of Fahrenheit. Designed and constructed by Intamin AG of Switzerland, another premier roller coaster manufacturer, Fahrenheit will feature the steepest drop in the United States at 97 degrees. That's right, according to the official press release, this roller coaster will drop riders at an angle past horizontal. As the 11th coaster in Hersheypark's arsenal, Fahrenheit will feature 6 inversions (turning the rider upside down six times), bringing them to a height of over 120 feet and a speed just under 60 mph. The ride is expected to open around the end of May in 2008. More information may be found by visiting www.hersheypark.com

Flying Turns
Knoebels, Pennsylvania

This roller coaster is impressive in the sense that it is not a 200 foot tall behemoth, launching riders at fast speeds and taking them upside down. Flying Turns at Knoebels is impressive in the sense that it is bringing back an old type of roller coaster that many of the younger generations have not seen. According to www.rcdb.com, Flying Turns is a wooden bobsled coaster. Instead of being attached to a track, the coaster trains, fitted with wheels, will bobsled down the track. The track itself resembles half of a large tube, allowing each train to follow a slightly different path as it rides up the floor of the track, just as a bobsled does on ice. This is a coaster that is bringing more joy to the coaster enthusiasts, but will be a fun ride for any coaster fan.

Led Zeppelin - The Ride
Hard Rock Park, South Carolina

Hard Rock Park is making it's debut in 2008. What is a better way to open a park than with multiple coasters? Open a park with multiple roller coasters, with one of them being from legendary coaster manufacturer Bolliger and Mabillard. B&M has created multiple roller coasters that have graced the Top 10 lists of any important review, and the company will be bringing a sit-down roller coaster to Hard Rock Park. Led Zeppelin - The Ride will feature 6 quick inversions (according to the official press release), with the first 4 or 5 inversions coming back to back. This should give a solid foundation to Hard Rock Park. More information on the park may be found at www.hardrockpark.com

While the announcements are still coming in, some of these amazing rides may be covered up by the bigger, stronger parks that will announce bigger, larger rides. Many more roller coasters will be announced this year, but this is the cream of the crop in terms of parks who have released their 2008 roller coaster plans early.