Jobe

Could be Green Arrow, considering the popularity of the TV series...........

I seriously doubt that Tim. Pirates revenge is owned and operated by Joylands amusements. They are based in Sydney. They do have a good relationship with LPS but I am sceptical that they would take the ride off the carnival circuit for a semi- permanent gig at this stage. The Xmas holiday period is another matter, though. It would be awesome if LPS DID get their own flume- I reckon that it would be a major hit. We only have to look at the success of the flume at Aussie World for comparison. Excellent spotting guys!! The plot does indeed thicken!! Given what LPS has related to me regarding the Flying Saucer site, I don't think that we are getting 2 rides. The Tango Train replacement was verified, however my sources did say that the replacement attraction for the Flying Saucer is going to take a while. Perhaps they are just utilising this space in the erection process? Although this does not stop me from crossing my fingers!!!

Excellent!! This is interesting news!! A crane? The plot thickens- not too many traveling or temporary attractions would require the use of a crane for construction methinks. I will also be in Sydney on Tuesday. If i get time I will certainly make a detour to get some pics and inspect the advancement of the site.

Great trip report thanks for this!!! I went to Blackpool in 2004- and absolutely fell in love with the place!! Its history, its unique atmosphere that sort of reminded me of Luna Park on steroids. Absolutely brilliant! 12 years is a long time and I have watched Blackpool change over these years- the introduction of Infusion that came there after the wicked closure of Southport Pleasure Beach. Loved the coasters in this place- especially the grand old dames Roller Coaster, Grand National and Big Dipper. When I went, Blackpool still had The Whip and one of the last operating original Traver company Tumblebugs. Both have sadly been removed but i feel grateful that I had the chance to ride these 2 pieces of important theme park historical artifacts. Loved Sir Hiram's Flying Machines, The Ghost Train and The River Caves. All products of a bygone age and extremely fun to ride. The Steeplechase is also great fun- and of course unique. Absolutely agree 100% with you- if you are in England then do not leave Blackpool off your list. Sure Alton Towers and Thorpe Park have better coasters, but they will never , ever have the history and atmosphere that Blackpool provides. If you are lucky enough to go when the Illuminations festival is on then jump at the chance!! Really enjoyed reading your trip report- it took me back 12 years ago to a memory of a great time and place. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is what I would have envisaged Luna Park Sydney to be like if the 1960's park had survived to the present day, albeit on a smaller scale. Priceless!

Quite possibly!! I could not see this scenario happening in this day and age!! Licensing laws plus Wet N Wild's legal team would be all over you!! l

Thats what I was thinkIng as well.....

That was ACTUALLY under the Wet N Wild banner? It has like 2 slides............. There must be at least half a dozen water parks in Australia that are bigger than this- hell even the Big Splash waterpark in Canberra has 2 ex GC Wet N Wild slides. Interesting- whats the story behind it iwerks?

Its all good Jamberoo Fan. There was no caveat against me sharing that info with anyone- and really what they told me did not amount to all that much anyway!! Still, I would not have posted it if it was explicitly stated that I could not. Must say that I am really energised for this new slide. Its great to see that their plans for the future are getting back on track, Its exciting times for all the small parks at the moment! New ride for LPS, new slide for Jamberoo, new ride for Aussie World! Only need LPM to announce a great new attraction as well!! Bring it on!!

Its exciting to think that such a classic and rare ride as Turbo could soon be operating again!! Fingers crossed it happens!! If so then I am sure that there will be plenty of people prepared to travel from overseas just to experience it!! They are held in that much awe and high esteem! Yeah......it wouldn't be a bad move but there are so many better options out there that would be suitable for LPS. Still.....

Absolutely JulieLovis!! The park needs to retain as much of that retro feel as possible- that is its lasting charm! That's why I would love to see the return of the ride facades back- they can turn a generic ride and lift it into a something unique. I also think that Maloney's Corner needs renewing and relaunching- its a great space but it could be far better utilised and themed than what it currently is. Hopefully the new ride will be a winner!! Either way its exciting to be talking about a new ride for LPS- hopefully this will also carry over for a great new attraction for their plans for the Flying Saucer site as well.

Excellent pics guys thanks for this!! Its good to hear that the park is looking so good! Whilst i am not refuting your logic here AlexB I would certainly argue that a trailer mounted ride would not necessarily mean a temporary attraction. Case in point for this is the Moon Ranger, which is of course a travelling ride. This has been a mainstay of the park since 1995. Mobile rides can certainly become permanent attractions- another case in point is LPM's last acquisition the Powersurge, which is also a trailerised version. This also would contradict everything that the park has communicated with me on the subject of the replacement for Tango- they have definitely stated that it WILL be a ride and that it will be up and running by the end of the year. It was also confirmed by Brad Loxley , one of the Senior Manager's at LPS that the new ride will be coming from Italy. Given this info, I think you are absolutely correct that this new attraction will be a mobile/travelling version of most likely a product from the Zamperla catalogue. Either way interesting and exciting times for LPS.

Excellent- thanks for that. I have never heard that info regarding Ranger being at LPM before. Hahah i know what you mean about the AAF. That place needs a defibrillator!! Absolutely true AlexB. Here is the Luna Park site act (noise amendment) that was enacted in 2005. It now covers the screams of patrons as NOT constituting noise pollution, particularly in this section: Luna park Site ammendment (noise control).pdf In other LPS news, it appears that Mystery Manor is set to stay in the park for at least the medium term.In the latest park map , Mystery Manor has been made it on the map as a permanent attraction. The removal of Tango and the moniker of " there is magic taking place here" have also been added.

Rode this excellent little coaster several times when I visited Aussie World a couple of years ago. These wooden Wild Mouse coasters are rare rides now and we in Australia were lucky to have 3 in the country at one point! They certainly pack a punch! I have also ridden the Blackpool unit and found that IMHO, its unique layout is superior to our Aussie World and LPS counterparts. I must admit to being disappointed with the operations of the Mouse at Aussie World though- unlike at LPS, they do not allow 2 riders per car and their height limit is 130cm minimum.( Is this a Queensland thing?) By contrast LPS Wild Mouse allows for 110cm minimum height and 2 riders per car, making it a far more flexible and family friendly attraction.

Interesting. Whats your source? To my knowledge, Ranger came to LPS in the 1995 incarnation with Wittingslow after the demise of the World Expo park. I have never heard it being associated with LPM. I would hardly describe the Tumblebug site as being "small" . It is currently only half utilised and could fit a modern compact coaster. Any number of variants from Maurer Sohne , Zamperla or even a EL Loco would be a welcome addition in this space. You may be right here. Tumblebug MAY be to large to be accommodated on the Flying Saucer site, However, there are plenty of flats such as a new Enterprise or any number of choices from the Zamperla catalogue that would fit the bill. In fact, i feel that a Zamperla Air Race would be the perfect fit in this position Very interesting info. This is also the first I have ever heard of this. Of course , a representative from Wittingslow may be able to confirm or deny this claim. It could definitely be true though. Huss Troika's were first manufactured in the early '70's so the timeline for the ride certainly makes it feasible.

I just want to get this straight- what you are actually saying is that there is NO asbestos in there? Just clarifying for everyone!

To be honest, there is not really a lot of options. The biggest land space they have to accommodate rides is of course Maloney's Corner behind Coney Island. This would be the most obvious choice to install a new coaster or attraction. Of course , this depends on the size of the coaster installed and where they could relocate the other rides that may be displaced by this coaster. The only real options that I could see are: Move the Tumblebug to the Flying Saucer site ( that's on the assumption that this space will be able to accommodate this large ride). This then would leave the space where the Tumblebug currently resides for another attraction- this space could be big enough to fit in a new compact coaster. This is currently vastly under utilised space by LPS and if they do not install another coaster here, could easily fit 2 medium sized flats. There is an area that is currently an open space environment that sits above the ticket office and the car park entrance. It is currently a green area but it could be converted to a kids ride area with access to the park below coming down near where the Light House stands. This then would free up more space in Maloney's Corner to develop into new attractions. The above pic, whilst not a great resolution, is from 2005. It shows the relative position of the offices behind the Flying Saucer site and the Tango Train. A coaster that runs parallel behind Coney Island is of course a possibility and depending on the size, would not displace the Moon Ranger or Spider. Here in this 1995 pic, it shows exactly how much real estate the Big Top actually takes up, starting from the end of the Tango and adjoining the Big Dipper entrance. For mine, a real positive step would be to re-install the ride facades that were present from the '95 incarnation. They gave the park an old world feel and gave the rides a unique and distinctive look. The possibility of LPS getting another large coaster, let alone ANY coaster, is fairly slim IMHO. There are plenty of compacts out there that of course could remain a distinct possibility and given some creative thinking, could feature in LPS's future. As always, I have my fingers crossed!

Yeah there is no movement on this site at all. As I mentioned in previous posts earlier, in this pic you can see the LPS offices and staff areas at the back of both this site and the Tango train. This is what I believe will make replacing the Tango Train tricky- the available space. The park have themselves confirmed that the Flying Saucer site is being redeveloped but at a much later date. I believe the mural was changed after the Flying Saucer had been removed, as it was utilised for a New Years Eve function and fireworks viewing point.

Thanks for this but I was not confused. I noted the Bertazzon Music Express ride because I could quote their specifications. Mack's website does not list their ride specs which is why I followed this comment with this statement " I assume that this would be similar across the various ride manufacturers that produce a Music Express variant." That point is interesting though. The Tango Train is certainly an older ride , but not one that is extinct and certainly one that is still being manufactured today. Given its popularity, it is surprising to think that LPS did not just engage Mack or any of the other manufacturers that still produce Music Express rides to simply replace the Tango with a new unit.

Well you would be incorrect if you ruled out a Disk O' on height. The Zamperla site lists the Disk O as having a minimum height of 120cm. Dreamworld also has the Shockwave, which is essentally a Disk O' with a longer track, at a 120cm height. Whilst it is true that the travelling Disk O and indeed the Redback at Aussie World currently has a height limit of 130cm, this is imposed by the park and the ride operator collectively. Zamperla lists the manufacturing recommendation height at 120cm, so there is no reason why LPS could not install a Disk O with the height requirement that they are seeking. I certainly disagree with you on this point, however that is only my opinion. I do offer that Aussie World and countless other parks certainly market their Disk O's as thrill rides and they do offer a thrilling sensation to a point. It is interesting to note that Zamperla market both their Disk O ride offerings as family rides, whilst the Mega Disko sits firmly in the thrill ride bracket. Since LPS are seeking a ride with broader family appeal that has a lower height limit however, this only strengthens the case for them to be acquiring a Disk O. As I posted before, and what you have conveniently failed to address, is that I doubt that the footprint left by the Tango Train will be conducive for operation and installation of an Air Race. The manufacturer of the Music Express ride , Bertazzon, lists their ride specifications as 18.1 metres length and 17.4 metres in width. I assume that this would be similar across the various ride manufacturers that produce a Music Express variant. Zamperla lists the Air Race as 23.1 metres in length AND width. Whilst this does not sound like a huge increase in size, it is worth noting that located behind the Tango Train site sits the LPS offices and staff common areas. This does not leave a lot of wiggle room for an increased footprint, especially for a ride as large as the Air Race. Don't get me wrong, I would love an Air Race to be installed at LPS, however, given the size and the nature of the mechanics of the ride, I feel that it would be far better suited to the Flying Saucer site, which still sits unused and empty. However, if you look at the footprint for an Air Race 6.2, which is far smaller than the standard model and only has a through put of 240 pph, then this certainly could be a contender to fit comfortably within the site. Given the info that we have at hand and going by the fact that LPS are seeking a ride with "wider family appeal" , its my opinion that I do not think that an Air Race fits this brief. The width and length for the Disk O' are listed 24.7metres and 9.3 metres respectively, and this would stand a far better chance of fitting into the current site footprint. Of course I am not stating that it WILL definitely be a Disk O, it is merely idle speculation on all our selves at this point. What is great is that LPS are moving forward and are actively installing new rides. Hopefully this means, that after the hiccup with the ride DA and protest against the Hair Raiser's installation, they are now firmly back on track with their 5 year plan for renewal of the park's ride offerings.

Excellent news and a great find!! An Air Race would be a welcome addition to LPS ride line up but I am not completely convinced that it would fit in the same footprint as the Tango. An Air Race would be a perfect addition for the Flying Saucer site however. I think, given the comments in the article about the height restriction being lowered, we can rule out a Power Surge. I would not rule out a Disk'O though....it would fit into the footprint and would definitely have a wider appeal for families. Interesting times for Luna Park. Lets hope they continue their plans to replace some older rides with some fantastic new additions! Will be watching closely!

To add further to Jamberoo Fan's post , the park itself have sent me the following snippet of info. So it appears that the next stage is going to be one slide only;the aforementioned high thrill water ride and that it will be installed in June and will be open in time for the start of the next season (24/09/16). This is great news and i hope that this attraction is as much as big a success as Funnel Web is! Can't wait to see the ongoing developments with this one!

Really? Surely the mature posters on this board will respond to a legitimate and obviously genuine post. I certainly extend that courtesy to the majority of people on here- and I refuse to let tossers and idiots spoil my enjoyment of the board. If I can ignore that crap most of the time , then I am sure everyone else can too

Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere so I will post this here. Aussie World will be recieving a new ride as their venerable Octopus ride is being retired. The Octopus ride , which Aussie World acquired from Luna Park Sydney is a Polyp ride and was first seen at LPS in the late 70's. It was retained for the 1981 re-opening and then also for the 1995 incarnation of the park. It did suffer from maintenance intensive issues at this time and it wss sold to Aussie World in the early 2000's. Its a shame that this ride is going as they are getting rarer to find these days , especially in Australia, but given its later issues , it is no surprise that Aussie World have take the decision to replace it. I have ridden it several times and I would describe it as a cross between a Sizzler and a traditional Octopus type ride motion. No word on what will replace it yet, but Aussie World will be making an announcement soon with hopefully installation to occur later this year. Given the footprint avaliable, it will definitely be a flat ride of some description. What do you guys think? Will Aussie World opt for a brand new ride or would a second hand option be the order of the day? Aussie World have had considerable success with second hand rides over the last 10 years and if the right option was available on the market, it could be a viable alternative to a new purchase.

Excellent news- we visited the park with a group of 20 people- some who had not visited before- and they were duly impressed with this park which shits all over Wet and Wild Sydney from a great height in almost every department. Hopefully Stage 2 will be open in time for our annual trip of February next year- will be watching the progress closely on this one!!!

In other Luna Park related news, North Sydney council are spending $400,000 to restore the famous Alfred Street Archway which has welcomed visitors to Luna Park, the Olympic Pool and Bradfield Park since 1935, the first year of the parks operation. Wonderful news and great to see a council take such a proactive approach to preserving a unique slice of their own history! http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/north-sydney-council-to-spend-500k-restoring-luna-parks-famous-welcome-archway/news-story/deebd72128ef394ca8941e11ab472cfd