Canobie Lake Park’s ‘Untamed’ promises to be one wild ride
It’s been 20 years since Canobie Lake Park has added a roller coaster, and staff say anticipation about this weekend’s opening of “Untamed” is at its peak.
“When people find out you work here, they always ask about the new roller coaster first thing,” said Chris Nicoli, the park’s marketing manager. “It’s nice to know that a lot of people not only in this area but around New England are so excited.”
The new coaster, called a Gerstlauer 320 Compact Euro-Fighter, is the first of its kind in New England and fourth in the U.S., said Nicoli.
The German “Euro-fighter” style features a completely vertical lift tower at the beginning of the ride and an inverted drop of beyond vertical at 97 degrees, said Nicoli. Nicoli said the ride is much quieter than a traditional coaster and is meant to fit a lot of action into a compact space.
In the minute-long course, riders are taken through two upside-down loops and a barrel roll.
“By the time it’s done, you’re ready for it to be done,” said Nicoli. “It’s made for movement on the track, so it’s constantly twisting and going upside down.”
The first handful of riders picked for Untamed’s opening day on Saturday are the high-bidders in an eBay auction to benefit local charities.
Taken together, the 16 “Very First Riders” bid roughly $3,200 for their places in the first run Saturday, said Nicoli. That money will be split between the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Boys and Girls Club of Salem, the Make a Wish Foundation of New Hampshire and the Give Kids the World nonprofit amusement park for children with life-threatening diseases.
“We’re always looking for ways to give back and we wanted this to be a unique experience for guests of the park, but also the charities we work with,” Nicoli said.
But if you didn’t snag those first-run seats, you’ll still have a chance to ride Untamed and pick up some perks on Saturday.
The first 2,500 people to ride the new coaster will be given Very First Riders Club ID cards, which Nicoli said can be redeemed at the park for a certificate, T-shirt and a pass to Canobie’s Screeemfest in October.
The park is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit
www.canobie.com.
