2022's most anticipated theme park rides and attractions, from Iron Gwazi to Peppa Pig

Arthur Levine
·5 min read

As the epidemiological roller coaster ride that is the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly everything in life over the past two years, many amusement parks applied the brakes and postponed new attractions.

In 2022, several parks will finally take the wrapping off their delayed projects. Combined with newly announced rides – and even entirely new parks – next year is shaping up to be a prolific and exciting one along the midways.

Let’s look at the most anticipated rides and attractions coming to U.S. parks.

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9 most anticipated roller coasters

Iron Gwazi

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's long-awaited Iron Gwazi will be the world’s fastest, steepest and tallest hybrid wooden-and-steel coaster.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's long-awaited Iron Gwazi will be the world’s fastest, steepest and tallest hybrid wooden-and-steel coaster.

First scheduled to open in 2020, Iron Gwazi is set to finally roll in March 2022, according to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida. Formerly known as Gwazi, the reborn ride had its traditional wooden track removed and replaced with a steel track that will allow it to deliver inversions and should make the ride experience much smoother and more dynamic.

With a top speed of 76 mph and a 91-degree, 206-foot drop, the considerably larger Iron Gwazi will be the world’s fastest, steepest and tallest hybrid wooden-and-steel coaster and has had thrill ride fans drooling in anticipation for two years.

Pantheon

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

Busch Gardens Williamsburg bills Pantheon as the world’s fastest multi-launch coaster.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg bills Pantheon as the world’s fastest multi-launch coaster.

Sister park Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia also has had coaster lovers salivating with Pantheon. Standing 180 feet tall, dropping at a hairy, 95-degree angle, hitting 73 mph and featuring four magnetic launches (one of which will be backward), the park bills it as the world’s fastest multi-launch coaster.

ArieForce One

Fun Spot America Atlanta, Georgia

Featuring the same “Ibox” steel track as Iron Gwazi, ArieForce One at Fun Spot America Atlanta should be exceptionally smooth. It will climb 154 feet, hit 64 mph and, like Pantheon, will include a zero-G roll that will invert passengers and leave them hanging upside down for a few breathless moments as the train barrels forward.

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Wonder Woman Flight of Courage

Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California

Climbing 131 feet and spanning 3,300 feet, Wonder Woman Flight of Courage will be the tallest and longest ride to feature RMC’s patented single-rail track.
Climbing 131 feet and spanning 3,300 feet, Wonder Woman Flight of Courage will be the tallest and longest ride to feature RMC’s patented single-rail track.

RMC, the innovative ride manufacturer behind ArieForce One and Iron Gwazi, will build Wonder Woman Flight of Courage at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. Climbing 131 feet and spanning 3,300 feet, it will be the tallest and longest ride to feature RMC’s patented single-rail track.

Emperor

SeaWorld San Diego

Emperor at SeaWorld San Diego in California will climb 153 feet before diving at 90 degrees with three inversions.
Emperor at SeaWorld San Diego in California will climb 153 feet before diving at 90 degrees with three inversions.

Two similar “dive” coasters, which momentarily stop and dangle rattled passengers at the precipice before plummeting headlong down a steep drop, will debut next year. Emperor at SeaWorld San Diego will climb 153 feet before diving at 90 degrees with three inversions.

Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio

Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger at Six Flags Fiesta Texas climbs 150 feet and drops 95 degrees.
Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger at Six Flags Fiesta Texas climbs 150 feet and drops 95 degrees.

Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger at Six Flags Fiesta Texas will ascend 150 feet and drop at a beyond-vertical 95 degrees with two inversions.

Defiance

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Glenwood Caverns Amusement Park's Defiance will be situated atop Iron Mountain, about 1,300 feet above the Colorado River.
Glenwood Caverns Amusement Park's Defiance will be situated atop Iron Mountain, about 1,300 feet above the Colorado River.

Defiance, set to open next summer at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, will boast a freaky, way-beyond-vertical drop at 102.3 degrees. Even freakier? It will be situated atop Iron Mountain, about 1,300 feet above the Colorado River. Yikes.

Ice Breaker

Sea World Orlando, Florida

Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida, another ride that’s been frozen during the pandemic, will come out of hibernation in February. The multi-launch coaster will rev forward and backward before gaining enough speed to climb a 93-foot-tall, 100-degree spike and scale an 80-foot-tall top hat tower.

Palindrome

Cotaland, Austin, Texas

Palindrome, at Texas' Cotaland amusement park, will navigate two inversions, climb a dead-end spike, then roll backward through the inversions.
Palindrome, at Texas' Cotaland amusement park, will navigate two inversions, climb a dead-end spike, then roll backward through the inversions.

The aptly named Palindrome is a news shuttle coaster at Cotaland, a kid-friendly amusement park within the Circuit of the Americas' racetrack, home to the Austin Grand Prix Formula One race. It will navigate two inversions, climb a dead-end spike, then roll backward through the inversions.

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3 most anticipated attractions

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Epcot Center, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will incorporate seats designed to pivot and direct passengers to the scenes unfolding around them.
Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will incorporate seats designed to pivot and direct passengers to the scenes unfolding around them.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, coming next summer to Epcot at Florida’s Walt Disney World, will also be a roller coaster. Housed in an enormous show building (the ride is purported to be one of the world’s longest enclosed coasters) and featuring a story based on the popular Marvel film series, it will really be more of a themed attraction. Guardians will incorporate seats designed to pivot and direct passengers to the scenes unfolding around them.

Another highly themed coaster, based on the Tron movies, is under construction at Disney World, but the theme park resort has not announced an opening date.

Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol

Lost Island, Waterloo, Iowa

Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol will be the centerpiece attraction at Lost Island, a new Iowa theme park set to open in 2022.
Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol will be the centerpiece attraction at Lost Island, a new Iowa theme park set to open in 2022.

Loaded with animatronics, projected media, special effects, interactive game play and sophisticated ride vehicles, Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol will be the centerpiece attraction at Lost Island, an Iowa theme park set to open in 2022. The park will include other rides, including three roller coasters.

Pirates of Speelunker Cave

Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas

Animatronics and projected imagery will be featured in Pirates of Speelunker Cave, an attraction opening in 2022 at Six Flags Over Texas. The original park in the chain will also debut Aquaman: Power Wave, a combination roller coaster and water ride.

Mattel Adventure Park

Crystal Lagoons Island Resort, Glendale, Arizona

Three micro parks are set to open next year. Mattel Adventure Park, part of Crystal Lagoons Island Resort in the Phoenix area, will include indoor and outdoor attractions themed to the toy brand, such as a Hot Wheels roller coaster.

Peppa Pig Theme Park

Legoland Florida Resort, Winter Haven, Florida

Children and their families will discover attractions such as Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster and Muddy Puddles Splash Pad when the world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park opens in February at Legoland Florida Resort in the Orlando area.

Sesame Place San Diego

Also geared to wee ones, Sesame Place San Diego will feature Elmo’s Rockin’ Rockets, along with water slides and other wet fun when it debuts in March.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Theme parks: 2022's most anticipated new roller coasters and rides