New Superman ride helps promo plans at Six Flags Great America

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AMUSEMENT PARKS

Thanks to good outdoor construction weather in the Chicago area, Superman - Ultimate Flight should open May 3 at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Ill., as planned.

"That has been our target date all along," said the parks GM Jim Wintrode.

The Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster will replace Shockwave in the coaster lineup at the park. "In 1988, when the Shockwave was built, it was located on what literally was the parking lot," Wintrode told AB.

"The new coaster will fit into the same area, but you won't recognize it. We're grading il,bringing in dirt and it will be beautifully landscaped."

When the grading is done, there will be mounds, valleys and at one point, the coaster will go below the new grade.

Wintrode is excited about the new coaster.

"It balances out our coaster lineup quite nicely We have wood, hyper, inverted, traditional looping and all kinds of variations. We've always gone for the unique and have never been in the battle for the tallest or fastest," he said.

Superman - Ultimate Flight has a...