Side Friction: Roller Coasters and the Parks They Live In – Details, episodes & analysis

Side Friction - Episode 76 - "Sequential Parks"

April 12th, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic don't have a lot of news but they talk about what they do have and find plenty of rabbit trails to play around with.

• Movie based on popular global chocolate company to make stop in Pittsburgh
• Epic Universe Annual Pass Preview Tickets for Sale – Apr 17 to May 8
• Cedar Point's Top Thrill 2 gets inspected this week. When will it open? What we know
• Universal theme park for Bedfordshire confirmed by Starmer
  • James Bond and Paddington could star at Universal UK
• Technician says Florida thrill ride operator ignored his safety concerns before teen's fatal fall

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 75 - "Hot Topics"

April 5th, 2025

Greg, Bob, and Ryan the Ride Mechanic explore the news and talk about things they've seen and visit a few rabbit trails while they are at it.

• Six Flags Magic Mountain permanently closes Superman coaster
• Welcoming Pantherian to the Jungle (It won't open with the park)
• Zambezi Zinger Roller Roaster
• What's new at Cedar Point? Roller coasters, waterslides and more. S…
  • Millie: faster lift
  • Cedar Point hypes return of Top Thrill 2 roller coaster in new video: 'Get ready to go' 
• Huge fire breaks out at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
  • 'High Anxiety' waterslide goes up in flames at Mountain Creek Water Park in Vernon, New Jersey 
  • 12 hurt after a fire breaks out at a water park under construction in Sweden's second-largest city 
• World Server Throwing Championship
• Change My Mind
• Disney World excluded from Top 5 of the US's most beloved theme parks

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 66 - "Six Flags Laid-off the Moose"

February 1st, 2025

Greg and Bob discuss more of the dreary news Six Flags feels like giving us as well as a few other things but, while the news isn't bright, they go off topic to keep things fun and entertaining.

• Laid-off Kings Dominion worker voices frustration after losing their job: 'This has caused panic'
  • Carowinds lays off workers ahead of season opening
• Legoland Florida guts entertainment department with 234 layoffs
• Kings Dominion cancels Winterfest, announces 2025 anniversary events 
• Cedar Point optimistic on TT2
• Universal Studios Hollywood adds new seasonal event for sci-fi,gaming and anime fans
• Taken for a ride: Playland's future in jeopardy amid war of words
  • Westchester County Plans to Open Playland for the 2025 Season 
• Fire-damaged warehouse used to store items for Hershey Entertainment
• Lenexa man sues Worlds of Fun, alleging employee hit, injured him

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

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Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 65 - "Ryan the... COASTER!"

January 25th, 2025

Ryan the Ride Mechanic joins Steph, Greg, and Bob for a combination of conversation and news visiting a lot of fun topics including some interesting behind the scenes information.

• Six Flags in NJ unveils lineup for 2025 season, more details on new coaster
• Six Flags Over Georgia announces new rollercoaster: Georgia Gold Rusher
• Fast-moving Hughes Fire near LA closes all I-5 lanes near Grapevine
• No Casino — Coney Island USA
  • Giuliani Razed Roller Coaster 
• Legoland New York adds interactive dance floors that generate energy

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 64 - "Injunction Junction"

January 18th, 2025

On this episode Bob gets to be his classic self with the line up of stories.  Him and Greg talk about various new stories including an appearance of a Todd Joseph shenanigans.

• Judge rules Conneaut Lake Park owner violated court-issued injunction
  • Injunction enforcement sought against Conneaut Lake Park owner
• Pennsylvania grandfather in legal battle over backyard coaster
• Residents raise concerns over new 'drop tower' ride proposal at Oaks Park
  • Threats to Birds: Collisions (Nighttime Lighting)
• Cedar Point says TT2 will open with the park on May 3rd
• Cedar Point cuts pay
• Kennywood announces new park changes, bids farewell to old attraction
• Disneyland Has Found A Magical Way To Help Cast Members Who Have Lost Homes
• The sinkhole that stopped Pittsburgh: Looking back three years later 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 63 - "That Ship Has Sailed"

January 11th, 2025

Steph and Greg further discuss the recent silent send off of rides, as well as an entire California amusement park in particular. Although they find hope in the direction that some parks are going, they still end up talking about the unique atmosphere of independent parks surrounded by corn fields.

• Theme parks and museums close as wildfires burn across LA
• Berserker ride to be removed at Kings Dominion
  • Traum Boot 
• Is Santa Clara's Great America Slowly Closing Its Doors?
  • Could it be the end? Great America scraps 2025 winter run
  • Santa Clara's Great America theme park lease could be terminated in three years: new docs
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Closed Until 2026, Construction Walls Up at Magic Kingdom
• Six Flags Magic Mountain adding suspended motorbike coaster in 2026
  • Roller Coaster grading permit
• 'Ultra-accessible' amusement park, sports arena
  • Morgan's Wonderland - The World's First Ultra-Accessible Theme Park
• Dollywood Rumored To Be Working on a Year-Round Experience

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

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Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 62 - "Out with a Bang"

January 4th, 2025

Yes, that coaster is closed.... and so is that one. Greg, Steph, and Bob all talk about the latest subtractions from Six Flags as well as other things going on in the industry.  Kick off the new year with us as we talk about what happened in the last couple of weeks of 2024.

• Anaconda Slated for Demolition - KDFans
• Kingda Ka is Set to Be Imploded 
• Big Kahuna's Water Park Acquisition
• Mindbending Schwarzkopf model arrives at National Roller Coaster Museum
• Universal Orlando wants to replace Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster
• Changes on the Horizon at Carowinds
• Six Flags to consolidate Georgia park holdings by 2027
• High Ground is Laid Low
• Kentucky Kingdom to open new $11m land for families
• Disney's new cruise ship sets sail with Haunted Mansion bar experience
• Here's where the Six Flags money is going …
• Stolen Rocket Returned

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 61 - "Cedar Fyre"

December 21st, 2024

Steph and Bob spend most of this episode talking about BULLSHIT and we're pretty sure you already know who is at fault.

• Funtime Handels the Orlando Free Fall Incident
  • Funtime Statement on the Verdict in the Tyre Sampson Case 
• Two Trains Collide on Joker…
• Is Cedar Flags doing Carowinds dirty?
• CGA to change operational calendar and remove seasonal events
• 1,000 foot roller coaster?!
• South Florida Water Management System and Cars Frontierland
• Tom Sawyer Island Coke
• Weeds Removed from the Top of the Millennium Falcon in Galaxy's Edge 
• A Ferris Wheel in Pittsburgh... soon!

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com

Side Friction - Episode 60 - "Digging for Thrills"

December 14th, 2024

Steph and Greg meet with Troy Parsh of the Amusement Preservation Museum and discuss the unexpected (and funny) challenges of finding, restoring, and displaying amusement park history.

• Amusement Preservation Museum Website
• Amusement Preservation Museum Instagram
• Amusement Preservation Museum Facebook

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com 

Side Friction - Episode 59 - "Weather or Not"

December 7th, 2024

Greg and Bob do their best to find stuff to talk about on this slow news week on this short but sweet episode.

• Family Awarded $8M in lawsuit against BGT 
• Attendance, revenue down at United Parks & Resorts due to bad weather 
  • Attendance, revenue and income increase at United Parks & Resorts 
  • Petrus Trust Company LTA Makes New Investment in United Parks & Resorts 
• Mirabilandia announces the closure of activities in Pernambuco 
  • https://rcdb.com/10213.htm 
  • https://rcdb.com/5027.htm 
• TrailRunner Family Coaster – Skyline Attractions, LLC 
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida 

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidefrictionpodcast/

Web: https://sidefriction.com