The Coaster101 Podcast

We are in the throes of the Spooky Season, which means trips to Haunts! Andrew is joined this week by Halloween aficionado Shane who recently visited three of North America's premiere theme park haunts. Whether it was his hometown Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando, its West Coast counterpart in Hollywood, or his first trip to Knott's Scary Farm, we talk all things Halloween Haunts. (Plus, Andrew...

When one door closes, another door opens - and this week's news saw the announcement of a new roller coaster and the closure of another. Andrew is joined on the podcast this week by C101 Writers Larry & Mike to talk about Lagoon's new-for-2027 "Hot Racer" roller coaster from Intamin, and the closure of X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. While we never want to see any roller coaster close, the sho...

Andrew was recently at a networking event for the Charlotte-area chapter of the Themed Entertainment Association, when he struck up a conversation with Matt Ferguson, President & Founder of the EverAfter Group, and also an Ambassador (and formerly Chief Innovation Officer) for Storyland Studios. Matt's got a unique resume in the themed entertainment world - with stops at the Walt Disney Compan...

It's Episode 200, so it calls for a milestone - our first ever episode LIVE from inside a theme park. And as the Halloween season approaches, why not do an episode live from inside a haunt maze? We head to Carowinds, where SCarowinds is gearing up for the 26th season of frights on the state line. Joined by Live Entertainment Manager Matt Riggle, we talk all things Halloween Haunt - including Carow...

For years, in theme park circles, the name Tony Clark has been typically associated with Cedar Point. However, Tony has also taken over the PR efforts for another park in the Six Flags family - Six Flags Over Texas, meaning he got to lead media day efforts for Tormenta: Rampaging Run. This week, Tony joins Andrew and Shane on the podcast, not just to talk Tormenta, but all things theme park PR, hi...

It is National Roller Coaster day, and what better way to celebrate than with one of the United States' most recently announced roller coasters? Coming to Silver Dollar City in 2027 is Miner's Mountain Express: America's Most Legendary Family Coaster. This MACK Rides Mine Train features nearly 3,500' of track and will be the anchor of the park's new Daredevil Pass section. Joining us live from the...

Did you know that in the state of Florida, there is just one (1) traditional wooden coaster made up of exclusively wooden track and wooden supports? That Coaster? Coastersaurus. Did you know that Coastersaurus recently underwent a multi-month refurbishment, and is set to re-open on National Roller Coaster Day, August 16? This week on the podcast, we're joined by Cory Lytle, Technical Services Dire...

Some called it Project Purple. Others called it Phantom Spire. Some people even thought it was Gargantuan Vertical Vengeance. But we now know the real name of Six Flags Great Adventure's newest coaster: Bakunawa. The record-breaking 382' spinning coaster is already dominating the park's skyline before opening next year. This week on the podcast, Andrew is joined by Six Flags Great Adventure Park P...

The skyline at Universal Studios Hollywood has changed forever with the addition of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, opening at the southern California park sometime in the near future. You might even say that it's the newest addition to the Universal Roller Coaster family. Andrew is joined this week, not only by California-resident Eric and Fast & Furious super-fan Shane, but also Vice Pr...

Growing up, like many American Coaster Enthusiasts (Coaster enthusiasts from America, rather than ACE members, but they're great too!), we played Roller Coaster Tycoon, where we were introduced to a simulation of a park called Alton Towers, and now several members of the Coaster101 have grown up and visited it in person. John and Eric, fresh from a trip across the Atlantic, talk about their trip t...

Holiday World is a place where holidays can be celebrated all-year round, and on the heels of the 4th of July Holiday, the park recently announced a new-for-2027 to Holiday World's "4th of July" Section - a new MACK Rides water coaster called Cannonball. Andrew is joined on the podcast this week by Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Director of Communications for and 4th-Generation Owner of Holiday World. There...

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a park that's near and dear to Andrew's heart. He rode his first-ever "big" roller coaster there - not sure if it was Python or Scorpion, and even had his bachelor party at the park prior to getting married in 2023. When you get the opportunity to talk to park leadership at a park you love, you jump at the chance. Andrew is joined on the podcast this week by Busch Garden...

The rumors started quick, and where there was smoke - there was indeed fire, as Fun Spot America Atlanta (and by extension, Arie Force One) will close forever on August 2. Andrew is joined this week by John and Shane, as they recount their experiences at Arie Force One and Fun Spot Atlanta - and one thing is for certain, we all want Arie Force One to be relocated to another park - it's too good no...

When Andrew was in college at UNC-Chapel Hill a thousand (okay, 16) years ago - there were no student groups focused on themed entertainment or the amusement industry. However, things have changed at Carolina, as the group has their own Themed Entertainment Association Chapter - TEA @ UNC.  Andrew is joined this week by the club's co-presidents Jax McGuire and Grant Sizemore to learn more about th...

Last week, we attended the announcement for Carowinds' new-for-2027 record-breaking water attraction Rip Roarin' Falls. Like many media events, there is the opportunity to interview people from the park and the manufacturer during the event, but to be cognizant of everyone's time - including other people who might have questions - sometimes you need to keep those interviews brief - not ideal for a...

Tormenta: Rampaging Run is nearing its first rides, and is getting a Texas-sized amount of attention as the World's First Giga Dive Coaster. However, it's not the only coaster-related project at Six Flags over Texas that's happened recently.  Early this year, the park teased some upgrades and refreshes to the queue of Mr. Freeze, which has been thrilling guests at Six Flags' original park for near...

If you're someone like me who is chronically online, you've likely seen the videos from "Zooder Loopers" come across your TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube feeds. Whether he's riding in an Arie Force One-inspired bicycle build on a Red Bull-built track or arriving at Walt Disney World hours before opening in order to be the first person into the park, his content is a fresh take on a lot of traditiona...

Last year, Universal Studios Hollywood debuted a highly immersive new after-hours event, Fan Fest Nights, which is back for its second year in 2026. An event designed "for the fans" around some of pop culture's most iconic IP - Fan Fest Nights takes place this year beginning on April 23.  Eager to learn more about this year's event, and what it takes to bring to life, Andrew and Eric are joined th...

One of the biggest pieces of news that we're still processing from last year's IAAPA Expo in Orlando was the announcement that Family Kingdom Amusement Park in Myrtle Beach (of all places) would be the recipients of Rocky Mountain Construction's latest single-rail "Raptor" model.  Someone else who is still processing the attention that the announcement received? Family Kingdom's Dean Corl, whose f...

Spring has sprung at Carowinds. It's the 63rd season at the "place where the Carolinas come together," and there are some amazing happenings on the state line, including, for the first time ever, "Scream Break," where guests can experience last year's breakout success haunted experience "The Conjuring: Beyond Fear." Andrew is joined on the podcast this week by Six Flags Regional PR Manager for Car...

A few episodes ago, we talked about our wishlist for the new Enchanted Parks - a good listen if you haven't listened yet! - and we jokingly said on the episode that we'd love someone from Enchanted Parks to come on the podcast to talk about their own wishlist.  Funny how things happen, because just two weeks later, Andrew was able to grab a few minutes with Enchanted Parks' CEO, James Harhi - a lo...

You've obviously heard about Disney adults. But what about LEGOLAND Adults? With a brand new coaster now open in Florida (and also in California), LEGOLAND continues to build something amazing in Central Florida - brick by brick.  Andrew is joined by three LEGOLAND Florida first timers and members of the Coaster101 team on this week's episode - John & Eric visited the park during a recent Flor...

Some of the biggest industry news in a while dropped late last week, with Six Flags announcing that the chain was selling seven of its parks - Six Flags St. Louis, Worlds of Fun, Valleyfair, Six Flags Great Escape, Michigan's Adventure, La Ronde, and Schlitterbahn Galveston - to EPR Properties, and a majority of the parks would be managed by the new "Enchanted Parks." Enchanted Parks' CEO James Ha...

Since it was first announced in 2018, the park that would eventually become known as Six Flags Qiddiya City has fascinated theme park fans and coaster enthusiasts around the world. Now that the park is open, we're still fascinated, but we also have the ability to talk to people who have visited the park now that's officially open.  Andrew is joined this week on the podcast by Scott Schaffer (Coast...

As a theme park fan and coaster enthusiast, Andrew has a few blind spots for parks he's never visited, despite them being located in his greater geographic region. One of those parks is Wild Adventures, located "halfway between Atlanta and Orlando" in Valdosta, GA - a park we wanted to learn more about.  Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the park has a robust lineup of attractions includ...