BUENA PARK – Riders were spun up in the air, turned upside down and spun around on the new “Sol Spin” ride at Knott’s Berry Farm.
The farm quietly opened the new thrill ride Friday, after getting the okay from state inspectors.
Construction for the new ride started in the fall last year, at the same time the Knott’s started work on a new restaurant. The heavy rains over the winter stalled work on the restaurant, but the ride was completed in time for the upcoming summer season.
The new ride sits on the concrete platform where the Windseeker ride once stood, during its short stay at the theme park.
That ride had several breakdowns, causing state regulators to ask for many changes to its evacuation procedures. Knott’s removed the ride shortly after that.
Sol Spin sits in the Fiesta Village of the theme park, near the merry-go-round and the Jaguar roller coaster. Riders can go as high as six stories into the air while spinning around.
There is a minimum height requirement of 54 inches to go on the ride.