Township Commissioners Approve New Coaster For Dorney Park

South Whitehall commissioners on Wednesday night approved Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom's plan to install a 138-foot inverted coaster at the park for the 2012 season.

The ride will be moved to the site from another amusement park in California owned by Dorney's parent company, Cedar Fair L.P., park representatives said.

 officials have not disclosed the name of the coaster, but a sketch of the coaster submitted to the township planning office has identified "Project 2012" as the Invertigo coaster from Great America park, which Cedar Fair owns in California.

Described as an inverted boomerang, the ride will carry 28 riders at a time through several loops. It will be located at the site of the former Laser, removed in 2008.

Township planners in February had recommended the project be sent to the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners for final approval.

Board President Brad Osborne, along with Commissioners Howard Ellsworth, Tori Morgan and Thomas Johns voted for approval. Commissioner Dale Daubert was not present for the vote.

Invertigo was at Great America for 12 years.  According to a published report, 24 riders got stuck on the ride for hours in 2009 because of a mechanical failure. No one was injured, and the ride was reopened at the park last summer.