Coaster Radio: The Original Theme Park Podcast

When the talk turns to amusement park rides, the same ones always seem to be brought up. Everyone talks about Millennium Force, Fury 325, Steel Vengeance and basically any ride created by Disney or Universal. But what about the fantastic rides out there that slip under the radar?  Why don't they get any love? On this week's show, we talk about amazing rides that should be talked about and praised...

When Rocky Mountain Construction came on the scene in the last decade, they changed the industry.  But when you think about roller coasters designed and constructed between 2010 -2019, was an RMC coaster the most influential? This week, the CoasterRadio.com audience helps us shape the debate. We'll also talk about some "inside" info about when some of your favorite parks might re-open. We'll also...

The first park post-Covid-19 has opened! We'll tell you which one it was and what happened. We also talk about the most influential coasters of the 2000's. (You'll be surprised at the one we picked.) And...GET READY! We're launching the 2020 CoasterRadio.com Ride Design Contest! Wait until you see our panel of judges!

Indiana Beach, a classic park we thought was DEAD, has come back to life. We have the details. We'll also talk about how some countries and states have specific plans for re-opening the parks. even during the COVID-19 outbreak. Then, we'll take a look at all of the coasters built from 1990-1999 and figure out which one was most influential.  

On April 25, 2005, a group of guys got together and recorded themselves talking about theme parks and thrill rides. They put it online as a podcast and called it "Coaster Radio." 15 years and 568 episodes later, the show is still here. Join us this week (for episode #569) to celebrate the podcast and have some good discussion the parks and rides we all love.

Last week, we got in to a heated debate on what was the most influential roller coaster of the 70's... and we didn't quite agree on an answer. This week, we do the same thing with the 1980s.  Will this be a tough call?  Or is the answer obvious? We also talk about some new attraction rumors and the possibility of a GEEKFEST at Universal Orlando.

Each decade is responsible for specific influences and innovations, even in the amusement industry. This week, we take a look at the 1970's and talk about what roller coasters were influential... even affecting the rides we have today.

The studios still on lockdown, but that doesn't stop us from bringing you another hour-plus episode!

Everyone is still on lockdown...or should be. (If you're out there livin' it up like this is some extended Spring Break, stay at home fool!) So, since the parks are closed, it's a good time to spend an hour hanging out, answering your questions and talking about the parks. We rant, we rave and we actually have some fun too. Join us!

Take a break from the "doom and gloom" and get a few laughs with us this week as we answer your listener questions! You guys sent in over 100 really good questions for us to answer and we'll go through them all over the next few weeks!

A lot of news piles up when we take a week off... this week, with the background of the Coronavirus, we talk about news stories from all over the amusement industry. Forgive us if the show goes a little off the rails this week. Just like many of you, we're living in stressful times and needed to blow off steam.

It's the theme park off-season, but for some reason, major stories are breaking all over. Disney CEO Bob Iger is stepping down and will be replaced by another Bob (Chapek), who has recently been in charge of Disney Parks worldwide.  What does this mean for the industry and why are Disney fans worried? We'll also cover the latest news, hear some Live Trip Reports and listen to what you have been gi...

The amusement industry was shocked this week when Apex Park announced that they would be closing Indiana Beach.  What will become of their classic rides and roller coasters? Then, we'll talk to Blake Braswell, Show Director at Universal Orlando about the resort's Mardi Gras celebration! There's a lot that goes into bringing the spirit of Bourbon Street to the park. We'll hear all about it!

This week, we catch up on all of the news stories we missed while we were doing our 2020 preview shows! We also hear some of your Live Trip Reports from parks around the globe. And... we get into a good debate about which state has the best roller coasters.

USA Today's Arthur Levine joins us once again to take a look at more rides and attractions that will be opening up in parks across the world in 2020.

It's time for some of our favorite episodes of the year! We are joined by theme park expert Arthur Levine of USA Today to talk about all of the major new rides and attractions coming to theme parks in 2020.

We're just starting to get hyped about all of the new attractions for 2020. But this week, it's a 2021 rumor that is dominating the news.  We'll tell you all about it. Then, it's the long-awaited return of one of our favorite game show rip-offs!  It's time to find out if one of our listener has what it takes when we play "Who Wants to Be a CoasterBoy!"

This week's episode begins with a look at news from around the amusement industry... including an interesting lawsuit, some "accidental" vandalism and an anticipated ride finally opening. Then, we announce that a fan favorite contest will be returning to CoasterRadio.com! Finally, we hear some park-related New Year's Resolutions from our listeners!

Over the break, EB had a chance to visit the "American Dream" complex in New Jersey.  Not many attractions are open yet, but the new Nickelodeon Universe theme park has most of its rides ready for guests. EB reviews all of the operating roller coasters and tells us all about his first visit. Then, it's time for "Coaster"Damus to return! We'll take a look at all of our predictions from 2019 to see...

It's a special New Year's Eve episode of CoasterRadio.com! If you start this episode at exactly 11:30pm on New Years Eve, our own Bob the Lobster will count you down to midnight! We'll celebrate the end of the decade by revealing our listener's choices for the Best Ride, Roller Coaster, Park and Manufacturer of the last 10 years!

As we wind down the decade, it's time to take a look at how the amusement industry has grown and changed over the past 10 years. What were the best rides? What were the best parks? What were the most influential attractions? We'll attempt to answer all of these questions and then give you a chance to vote for your favorites at http://vote.coasterradio.com .

"Rise of the Resistance," the multi-sensory attraction at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios has been wowing guests over the past two weeks. Josh Miely from the "Chips, Dips and Dorks" podcast is there this week and joins us live minutes after he rode the ride for a full review. After that, the guys take a look at what Cedar Point has planned for their 150th Anniversary. Plus,...

For our first podcast of December, we have a jam-packed episode to kick off the holidays! First up, we're joined by Neil Patrick Harris, who calls in from his dressing room at EPCOT minutes before he went on stage to narrate the Candelight Processional. He gives his first thoughts on "Rise of the Resistance" at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. After that, we are joined by Lora Sauls, Senior Manager of En...

We're still weeks away from Christmas, but for theme park fans, this is a week full of gifts from the industry. IAAPA is the trade show for the amusement industry and there are over 10 miles of exhibits for buyers to see! We'll talk about some of the announcements made and concepts unveiled and debate which ones will actually make it to a park. And speaking of announcements, Cedar Point will be ma...

The IAAPA conference is next week and there will be a ton of new attraction announcements.  But most times, the new attractions use the same ride systems we've seen for years. We kick off this week's show talking about a NEW coaster prototype by S&S that could shake up the industry (and enthusiasts). We'll also talk with Seth Porges, one of the co-directors of "Class Action Park."  This new docume...