Shining Waters Roller-coaster is originally from Moncton
If the roller-coaster now being installed at Shining Waters amusement park in Cavendish looks familiar, there's a good reason: it's the same one that once thrilled visitors at Crystal Palace in Moncton.
"It's one of the biggest projects we've ever done," said Matthew Jelley, president of Maritime Fun Group.
"Certainly this roller-coaster is well known to people in the Maritimes."
When Crystal Palace closed its doors last year, the roller-coaster was one of several rides purchased by the Jelley family, owners of Maritime Fun Group, for use in their amusement parks in Cavendish and in Moncton.
This fall, crews began installing the roller-coaster's steel towers and 60 sections of track in the 'Buccaneer Bay' area of Shining Waters Family Fun Park, along busy Route 6 in Cavendish.
The site supervisor said his workers are old hands at setting up rides, but that this one is special.
"Hopefully this is something that's going to stand on P.E.I. for many, many decades to come," said Adam Hickey, operations manager at Shining Waters.
"It's something thousands of children will have a good time on."
Although Crystal Palace was an indoor amusement park, Jelley said he's not worried about the ride withstanding the sometimes-harsh elements on the Island's North Shore.
"Our general manager just got back from a meeting with the manufacturer," said Jelley, "We're going over some of the different issues that we have to be aware of with the ride, like making sure we have the proper wheels for outdoor operation, that sort of thing."
Jelley said the German-made roller-coaster was installed in Crystal Palace in 1989, adding it is a Tivoli-style machine that remains in wide use across North America.
Shining Waters has also opened a maintenance shop that will operate year-round. Staff will service rides for amusement parks on P.E.I. and on the mainland.
Complete safety check
"Every section of this roller-coaster went through that facility to be checked, to be cleaned up and repainted, ready for use," said Jelley.
"We're in the process of doing other rides now, including a ride for Magic Mountain in Moncton."
Jelley declined to say how much he paid for the roller-coaster, but said is a "significant investment."
The refurbished cars will hit the track next spring, once construction is complete, for testing and certification by P.E.I.'s provincial rides inspector.
Jelley expects the ride will be ready to roll when Shining Waters opens for the season in June.
