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Jeremy Thompson

@rollercoasterphilosophy.com
704 followers 217 following 1.7K posts

LA-based writer & themed experience creative. 1000+ coasters. Seeking the sublime in the ridiculous and the ridiculous in the sublime. rollercoasterphilosophy.com

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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 18h
And the way it stacks the block brakes atop each other around the rectangular layout with the vertical loop presented front and center. Feels like it's trying to emulate certain aspects of Schwarzkopf's fairground designs.
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Gemma Hazeborg @gemmachaos.bsky.social · 20h
Did you know Dollywood isn't the only theme park named after a beloved country & western singer? I don't know how popular Bobbejaan Schoepen still is in Belgium, 16 years after his death. I expect the park might outlive his fame. The guy was a true exponent of a very European view on North America.
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Gemma Hazeborg @gemmachaos.bsky.social · 20h
Theme park thread? Theme park thread! I've been to Bobbejaanland! I've been here previously in 2004, annus horribilis for Belgian amusement parks. That was a very formative visit for me as a theme park fan. But I haven't been back since. Rectification time!
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 18h
Any idea if Gerstlauer designed this layout to also potentially be sold as a transportable model? That's really what it looks like.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 30/09/2026
That feeling when your camera has more coaster credits than you.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 30/09/2026
Apparently the rumor mill thinks Ninja is next to go, possibly along with the other attractions that use the back of the hillside. An SFMM with no Arrow rides remaining seems possible within ten years. Maybe the unspoken part of today's announcement was that Ninja and Viper got a longer reprieve?
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 30/09/2026
My expectation is that Thrill Glider will be the big new thing to justify the closure of at least 2-3 other attractions; we already have X2 and Superman on the list. Maybe Samurai Summit gets overhauled next, with a few more closures. I don't foresee X2's plot getting filled anytime this decade.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 30/09/2026
I'd love to think that's true. But X was possibly the most ambitious and improbable creation to come out of the 90s/00s coaster wars, and the economics for Six Flags in 2026 are absolutely nothing like they were a quarter century ago.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 30/09/2026
At this point, if a park is clearly doing well and adding plenty of new attractions, I'm probably *not* going to visit for a while as I prioritize all the parks with struggling attendance and/or conspicuously aging major attractions.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 29/09/2026
That's coming on the heels of an also very tough 2025 season, which had plenty more major closures of attractions and a major park following the Six Flags merger, but at least had Epic Universe to balance the scales.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 29/09/2026
Hollywood Drift is cool and all, and I'm sure Tormenta is fine. But between Kumba, X2, ArieForce One (temporarily), and entire parks like Wild Waves, Niagara and Clementon all closing for good, this year is sure panning out to be a net negative for coaster and theme park fans.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 29/09/2026
So I guess my favorite roller coasters in California and Florida both closed in 2026. *Eyes Ohio nervously*
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 29/09/2026
At this point the biggest surprise of the announced closure is the question of whether it may complicate their legal strategy of asserting that the ride is completely safe.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 29/09/2026
RIP X2. For years you were my favorite ride on the west coast, even if the last couple curves always made me question riding again. But there's nothing else in the world like that first drop. I even got the LA Times to officially recognize X2 as the best at SFMM: www.latimes.com/travel/list/...
latimes.com
Every thrill ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain, ranked
The Valencia amusement park is cherished for its mix of coaster styles — be it wooden, loop-based, single-rail or ones with mind-confounding seats that rotate 360 degrees.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 28/09/2026
Unfortunately unlike Wild Waves, the Washington State Fair was absolutely slammed tonight. Couldn't even use my phone because the data was sucked dry in the area. Waited over an hour for one ride on the Classic Coaster then had to call it a night.
Back row at night on the Classic Coaster
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 28/09/2026
There are only two weekends in the entire year where it's possible to experience both of Washington State's wooden coasters on the same day. And today was the very last day ever that will be possible again.
Classic Coaster at Washington State Fair
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 28/09/2026
I miss that feeling, so I'm really happy to experience it vicariously through others!
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 28/09/2026
Stopped in at Wild Waves Theme Park for two hours this afternoon. Got four laps on Timberhawk, once on the other three coasters. Not a great park but the setting is nice and it certainly deserves better than permanent closure next month. Glad I didn't miss it.
Wild ThingTimberhawk Entrance sign
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 27/09/2026
Variable pricing hasn't quite worked for theme parks when the biggest variable driving people's spending habits is the price itself.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 27/09/2026
A few highlights from North Cascades National Park today. Didn't do any major hikes, but still took plenty of photos of the mountains and alpine lakes. With this one I have now completed all but two of the National Parks along the Pacific coastal states.
Entrance signDiablo Lake Vista Point Washington Pass Vista Point Rainy Lake
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 26/09/2026
A Mid Autumn Festival dinner before heading north.
Dumpling the Noodle in Seattle Scallion Tofu Pancake RollChili Beef Lamen Noodles Mock Duck Lamen Noodle Soup
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 26/09/2026
Just arrived for a quick weekend trip to Washington State.
Seattle Space Needle across Lake Union at sunsetGas Works ParkThe Fremont Troll
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Kathryn Yu #OpenToWork @kathrynyu.com · 25/09/2026
First look at Meow Wolf Los Angeles youtu.be/tEnpl1JaGyo
youtu.be
First Look at Meow Wolf Los Angeles
We’re so so so so excited to finally share a first look at Meow Wolf Los Angeles! We’ve opened portals in houses, radio stations, transit centers, and now…the movies. LA has always been on the map for us, and we can’t wait to bring something to the city that’s both an homage to cinema and a whole new way to experience art and storytelling. Step inside the LA site with Co-Founder and Meow Wolf Los Angeles Creative Director, Sean Di Ianni and Creative Director, Dani Herrera for an exclusive tour and inside look at what’s to come! #meowwolf #meowwolflosangeles #meowwolfla #immersiveart #artinstallation #installationart #immersiveartexperience #losangeles #losangelesartist Sign up for the latest https://meowwolf.com/visit/los-angeles Directed by: Allyson Lupovich, Jilann Spitzmiller Filmed by: Jilann Spitzmiller Produced by: Jilann Spitzmiller, Allyson Lupovich, Merritt Davies Featuring: Sean Di Ianni and Dani Herrera Additional Cinematography by: Mason May Possum production footage by: Cat Mills-Flegal Artwork by Nicole Guerra Animation by: Titmouse Concept Art by: Nathaniel Gutierrez Music by: "Wakey Wakey" by Damon Power, "Vibrations" by Danny Shields, "Here We Go Again" by Jake Bradfor-Sharp Stock by: Envato, Pond5 Meow Wolf - An Immersive Experiences Company Non-linear storytelling that unfolds through exploration, discovery and interactivity. Buy tickets here: https://tickets.meowwolf.com About Meow Wolf: Meow Wolf is an arts production company that creates immersive, multimedia experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of storytelling. Our work is a combination of jungle gym, haunted house, children’s museum, and immersive art exhibit. This unique fusion of art and entertainment gives audiences fictional worlds to explore. Creating immersive art experiences that transport audiences to fantastic realms. #MeowWolf Follow Meow Wolf online: WEBSITE: https://meowwolf.com/ FACEBOOK: / meowwolf.sf TWITTER: / meowwolf INSTAGRAM: / meow__wolf TIKTOK: / meowwolf Meow Wolf / @meowwolf
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 25/09/2026
Only for wimps.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 25/09/2026
As the world's first modern steel coaster, I wonder how feasible it would be to get it listed as a historic landmark? At this point several things in Disneyland are probably close to qualifying.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 25/09/2026
The thing that makes the Matterhorn a classic is all those tight reach envelopes that could never be recreated on a modern build.
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Park Journey @parkjourney.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I did receive a statement from Six Flags regarding our merchandise AI Rant. The crazy thing about this statement is that it doesn’t actually say they don’t use AI.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 24/09/2026
Any time for Hollywood Drift on this visit?
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 24/09/2026
In 2012, the front row would have been the only place for a decently tolerable ride. I do think the ride lost a little bit of its bite switching to Millennium Flyers, but the rest of the refurbishment was sorely needed to return it to its status. And ten years later, it still holds up beautifully!
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 22/09/2026
BGW has always been ahead of the curve on this.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Kings Island's Tomb Raider was *very* popular for the first few years when it was still maintained.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
I think both of those examples were properly budgeted for a very high standard of quality that will be hard to duplicate. But yes, definitely need more.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
After IOA we got Storm Force and Unicorn as quick fixes, and I'm surprised UEU seems determined to hold a higher standard for anything they do even if it means pushing their first expansion an extra year or two (and still maybe being rushed in quality).
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Lol. (But *some people* were very much talking about Vekoma Fly this and Danse Macabre that, at least a few years ago. 😉)
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
I've seen people say that and I don't think that really captures the surprising transformative spirit of Mary Poppins that such a ride would need to be successful, but I do think it's probably good that project didn't happen as planned.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Universal turning the dial from "Whoops All 3D Simulators!" in the 2010s to "Whoops All Coasters" for the 2020s is an interesting course correction to observe.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
You can't see any fully indoor ride from the midway! Regional parks avoid for that reason but Uni certainly doesn't. Any ride system that can shrink the size of their show buildings seems like a potential win for them.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Lol just because some designers *talk* about wanting to put two pre-shows on a flat ride doesn't mean it's a good idea.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Sometimes that leads to things actually getting built. Nebulaz as one example, filling the "family thrill" niche that looks kinetic for spectators, now they're everywhere. The Skyline Skywarp models also had that quality (compact coaster, cool to watch!) but obviously other factors got in the way.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
It's up to the designers (and marketing) to make it something that people want. I will say there are certain ride models that capture the attention of designers and get mentioned in meetings. A flat ride with complex show/story capabilities = definitely talked about as an underrepresented category.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Regulatory reasons or just something that US parks aren't interested in spending money on?
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Best case scenario is an indoor family coaster that really slaps, and then Werewolf goes down to be extended into an Xtreme Spinning coaster to give the horror-themed land its first true thrill ride (and second overall for UEU). Plus mandatory lockers could mean fewer nets.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 21/09/2026
Sad that an Intamin Dynamic Motion Stage like Efteling's Danse Macabre isn't in the rumored mix. But I guess I won't turn down a new coaster credit.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 18/09/2026
Is that 1-2% increase in addition to what it would be when single rider is offered?
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 18/09/2026
The concept sounded really interesting, and I'm glad to hear the execution lives up to that promise!
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 16/09/2026
Also did the Passholder Lights On Sinners walkthrough. Evidently no photos were allowed, which is the only reason I can think to do a lights on tour and the main reason I signed up. I'm sure the conga line will be much more interesting during the event!
Walking into Sinners for Passholder Appreciation DaysSign at Sinners noting No Photography or Video Recording Allowed
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 16/09/2026
Stopped by USH this afternoon to check on Fast & Furious now that it's officially open. Hung out a little over an hour, it was either closed or operating at half capacity, with single rider always full and not admitting. Had better luck during technical rehearsals, going home empty handed today.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 15/09/2026
Exact same experience this past weekend.
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 13/09/2026
That's all the website indicates, but how many RIP tickets are they possibly selling?
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Jeremy Thompson @rollercoasterphilosophy.com · 13/09/2026
Is it running with riders? I'm still confused about who's allowed to ride for HHN.
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