This week’s theme park news delivered a genuine rollercoaster of surprises — a record-shattering coaster postponed just days before its debut, a beloved 36-year-old Georgia park announcing its final season, Universal’s newest resort entering preview mode in Texas, and spectacular drone shows lighting up summer skies from Virginia to Paris. Here is everything you need to know from the seven days ending June 28, 2026.
New Rides & Coaster Openings
Tormenta: Rampaging Run Postponed at Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas delivered a gut punch to coaster fans on June 22 when it announced that Tormenta: Rampaging Run — set to debut June 26 to mark the park’s 65th anniversary — would not open as scheduled. The park cited commissioning and testing taking “longer than expected,” offering no new opening date. When Tormenta does open, it will break six world records: tallest dive coaster (309 feet), fastest dive coaster (87 mph), longest dive coaster (4,199 feet), highest 95-degree beyond-vertical drop (285 feet), highest Immelmann inversion (218 feet), and tallest vertical loop (179 feet). The world’s first giga dive coaster sits inside the new Rancho de la Tormenta themed area of the park, complete with a Spanish village plaza and a scratch-made dining destination called Cocina Abuela. The delay was especially stinging as it landed squarely during National Roller Coaster Week (June 21–27).
Universal Kids Resort Previews in Frisco, Texas — Opens July 1
Universal Destinations & Experiences sold a limited run of preview tickets for June 24–29 at its brand-new Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, giving eager families a first look before the park’s official July 1 grand opening. The resort — Universal’s first theme park designed specifically for children ages 3–8 — spans seven themed lands: Shrek’s Swamp, SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, Minions’ Bello Bay Club, TrollsFest, Puss in Boots Del Mar, and Gabby’s Dollhouse. Two family coasters anchor the lineup: the Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster and the toddler-friendly Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express. A 300-room hotel completes the destination.
Alabama Adventure Restores Rampage Wooden Coaster
After an extended closure, Alabama Adventure officially welcomed back its iconic Rampage on June 19, 2026 — the classic 1998 wooden coaster known for relentless out-and-back airtime that fans had long been awaiting. Park President Daniel Koch called the return “something we know means the world to our guests.” The reopening came alongside a tease of a second major fan-favorite experience returning to the park, with a formal announcement promised via social media channels. Theme park news watchers should keep an eye on Alabama Adventure’s upcoming reveal.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Relaunches Verbolten with a New Storyline
Busch Gardens Williamsburg kicked off its Summer of Wonder event on June 26 with a revamped take on its signature indoor coaster. Now called Verbolten: Forbidden Turn, the attraction features a new story arc through Germany’s autobahn and Black Forest, updated animatronics, and refreshed special effects — still capping with the iconic 88-foot plunge. The Summer of Wonder event, running through July 30, surrounds the relaunch with new live entertainment and the park’s first-ever drone show (details in the Tech section below).
Park News & Expansions
Fun Spot America Atlanta to Close Permanently August 2
One of the most stunning pieces of theme park news this week: Fun Spot America announced on June 25 that its Fayetteville, Georgia, location will permanently shut its gates on August 2, 2026, ending 36 years of operation. CEO John Arie Jr. called it “an extremely difficult decision,” citing low attendance despite significant capital investment. The park’s crown jewel, ArieForce One — a highly regarded steel coaster drawing enthusiasts from across the country — now faces an uncertain fate, with demolition rumors circulating online. Fun Spot’s Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida, locations remain open.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Names New President amid $100M Investment Plan
United Parks & Resorts named Jon Vigue as the new president of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on June 18, bringing nearly 30 years of industry experience — most recently from Wild Adventures Theme Park in Georgia — to lead the park’s most ambitious expansion period in years. The appointment is backed by a $100+ million investment initiative spanning animal habitats, family attractions, food and beverage, and entertainment. On deck for later in 2026: Lion and Hyena Ridge, a new habitat featuring five young male lions and two hyenas. The investment also underscores United Parks’ strategy of elevating its full portfolio, including properties like SeaWorld San Antonio, through experienced leadership and targeted capital.
Six Flags Flexible Membership Expands to Six More Parks
Six Flags Entertainment rolled out its subscription-style Membership program to six additional parks beginning June 8, including Carowinds, Dorney Park, Kings Dominion, Kings Island, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. The tiered structure offers regional Gold memberships and an all-parks Prestige tier, with benefits including parking, food and beverage discounts, and optional skip-the-line perks. The expansion to former Cedar Fair parks marks a significant step in integrating the combined Six Flags portfolio under a unified guest-access model.
Disney’s BoardWalk Adds New Venues for Late 2026
Walt Disney World announced new additions for Disney’s BoardWalk waterfront district arriving later in 2026. Hurly-Burly will serve as a waterfront theatre offering family-friendly daytime programming and 21+ evening entertainment, while Basin on the BoardWalk will offer handcrafted bath products with interactive stations. A new quick-service restaurant is also in development. The announcements signal a broader revitalization of the BoardWalk’s entertainment and dining mix for resort guests.
Park Tech & Events
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Debuts 400-Drone Nighttime Aerial Show
As the headline technology moment of Summer of Wonder, Busch Gardens Williamsburg launched its first-ever nighttime drone show featuring 400+ synchronized drones creating aerial formations set to themed music — mirroring the “Wild Skies” show already wowing guests at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The sky spectacle is paired with the new acrobatic production Kinetix: The Next Generation at the Royal Palace Theater and free-with-admission concerts from Hoobastank, Skillet, and Flo Rida through the end of July. It is one of the most technology-forward summer events in theme park news this season.
Parc Astérix Announces Drone-and-Fire Extravaganza for Summer
Parc Astérix near Paris unveiled “Astérix et la Potion d’étoiles,” a new summer nighttime spectacular set to debut July 11, 2026. The show deploys more than 370 synchronized drones alongside multicoloured lasers, 2,500 pyrotechnic effects, 60 water jets reaching 20 meters high, and 150+ projectors — transforming the park’s lake into a living stage featuring Astérix, Obélix, Dogmatix, and the full Gaulish village cast in large-scale projections. The June 23 announcement established the French park as one of the most ambitious adopters of drone-show technology in Europe this year.
National Roller Coaster Week Celebrates Seven Days of Thrills
National Roller Coaster Week ran June 21–27, 2026, with parks nationwide hosting promotions, behind-the-scenes tours, and coaster-centric events in honor of the industry’s signature attraction. The week was anticipated more than most given Tormenta’s scheduled world-record debut on June 26 — making the postponement announcement all the more deflating for the enthusiast community. The celebration nonetheless drove strong park attendance and social buzz across the theme park news cycle.
EPCOT Reveals Eat to the Beat Concert Lineup for Food & Wine Festival
Walt Disney World confirmed the 2026 Eat to the Beat Concert Series lineup for the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, running nightly August 27 through November 16 at the American Gardens Theatre. First-time performers include Lauren Alaina, Fitz and The Tantrums, and Grace Potter, joining returning acts Boyz II Men, The Beach Boys, Hanson, and Smash Mouth across country, pop, rock, Motown, and Latin genres. Admission to the concerts is included with standard park entry, making it one of Disney’s best live-entertainment values of the fall season.
Sources
- AllEars.Net — New Six Flags Coaster Opening Postponed Indefinitely
- Attractions Magazine — Fun Spot America Atlanta Closing
- Blooloop — Universal Kids Resort Shares Sneak Peek at Attractions Ahead of Opening
- Blooloop — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Names New Park President amid $100M Investment Plan
- Attractions Magazine — Busch Gardens Williamsburg Summer of Wonder: Verbolten Revamp, Drone Show & More
Featured image — Photo: Martin Lewison / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tormenta: Rampaging Run and why was the opening delayed?
Tormenta: Rampaging Run is a record-breaking giga dive coaster at Six Flags Over Texas designed to break six world records, including tallest (309 ft), fastest (87 mph), and longest (4,199 ft) dive coaster on earth. The park announced on June 22, 2026 that the planned June 26 debut was postponed because “the commissioning and testing process is taking longer than expected,” with no new opening date given.
When does Universal Kids Resort officially open and who is it designed for?
Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas officially opens to the public on July 1, 2026. It is designed specifically for families with children ages 3–8 and features seven themed lands based on franchises including Shrek, SpongeBob, Jurassic World, Minions, Trolls, and Gabby’s Dollhouse, along with two family roller coasters and a 300-room hotel.
What is happening to Fun Spot America’s ArieForce One coaster after the park closes?
Fun Spot America’s Atlanta-area park in Fayetteville, Georgia closes permanently on August 2, 2026, and the fate of ArieForce One — widely considered one of the best steel coasters in the Southeast — remains officially undecided. Demolition rumors have circulated on enthusiast forums, but the company has made no formal announcement about the coaster’s relocation or future.
What is included in Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Summer of Wonder event?
Summer of Wonder runs June 26 through July 30, 2026 and features the relaunched Verbolten: Forbidden Turn coaster with a new storyline and updated effects, the park’s debut 400-drone nighttime aerial show, new acrobatic production Kinetix: The Next Generation, free-with-admission concerts from Hoobastank, Skillet, and Flo Rida, and Military Appreciation Week from June 29 to July 5.
What parks are now included in the Six Flags Flexible Membership Program?
As of June 8, 2026, the Six Flags Membership program expanded to Carowinds, Dorney Park, Kings Dominion, Kings Island, Knott’s Berry Farm, and Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, in addition to the parks already enrolled. Gold tiers cover regional clusters of parks while the Prestige tier grants access across the entire Six Flags portfolio, with perks including parking and food and beverage discounts.