Side Friction - Episode 121 - "Keep Your Wood"

March 21st, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic cover a whole lot of stuff this week including a whole bunch of potential wood coaster revivals as well as corporations being corporations and United Parks being, well, United Parks. Amongst all of the news there are plenty of laughs and rabbit trails to keep this an entertaining episode you won't want to miss.

• SeaWorld sued over mishandling 'Sesame Street' brand, unpaid royalties
• Jana Partners pushes Six Flags to explore sale, replace board chair, letter says
• Storm tears open historic Rye Playland music tower
• Rye Playland Sets 2026 Opening Dates and Fees, Confirms Dragon Coaster Comeback
  • Playland's Iconic Dragon Coaster Getting Back on Track
• Rampage at Alabama Adventure to Reopen in Summer of 2026!
• Lakeside Cyclone Work?
• World's of Fun Titan Teaser
• Behind the Bricks of Galacticoaster at LEGOLAND
• This 100-Year-Old Amusement Park Still Hasn't Lost Its Retro Charm
  • 100 Years of Knoebels
• WhiteWater's Vantage platform selected by Enchanted Parks
  • Vantage's Smart Park Platform
  • Vantage at Island H2O Live! Waterpark in Kissimmee, Florida

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 120 - "Half Dozen Wings"

March 14th, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic go so far off the rails this week that they likely left the park a few times. A fair amount of news gets covered, some speculation, and lots of rabbit trail all combine for an incredibly fun episode.

• Travis Kelce Joins Six Flags as Brand Ambassador for 2026
• The Family Auto Mart
• Six Flags Park Begins Major Revitalization Ahead of 2026 Season as Company Sells off 7 Properties
• Disneyland hazmat incident sends seven cast members to hospital
• Stardust Racers closure extended again at Epic Universe, now through April 5
• Guests sent to hospital after 'ride pause' made them feel unwell, SeaWorld Orlando says
• Belugas facing euthanasia at shuttered Canada theme park may find new homes in US
• Muskegon County leaders react to sale of Michigan's biggest amusement park
• Swimming beach next up for Geauga Lake redevelopment
• Tyler center displays Idora Park artifacts

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 119 - "Mammoth Deal"

March 7th, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic talk about huge news... you might even call it mammoth! There's only a couple real stories this week but you'll hear lots of entertaining information and stories in the abundance of rabbit trails this week.

• 2026 New Attraction
• Wild Adventures launches 30th anniversary season
  • The Harlem Globetrotters want to join the NBA
• Looking Forward: A New Chapter for Six Flags
  • Six Flags to Sell Off 7 Beloved Amusement Parks Around the Country amid Financial Woes
  • EPR Properties - Wikipedia
  • EPR Properties Announces Definitive Agreements to Acquire Portfolio of Seven Regional Parks
  • Enchanted Parks acquires multiple Six Flags properties
• Websites:
  • Enchanted Parks
  • IAM (Innovative Attraction Management)
  • EPR Properties

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 118 - "Omaha's Biggest"

February 28th, 2026

Bob, Greg and especially Ryan the Ride Mechanic are in rare form tonight as the rabbit trails hit some pretty funny moments -- especially starting the show off. Plenty of news gets talked about to keep you up to date.

• You Care What We Think: Biggest Cock In Omaha
• United Parks & Resorts Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results
• Stardust Racers Refurbishment Extended Again at Epic Universe
• Twin Brothers Allegedly Injured on New Harry Potter Ride at Universal Orlando After It 'Thrusted Erratically' Mid-Ride
• A Theme Park with Spongebob AND Jurassic World? Universal Kids Resort Deep Dive
• Doswell Virginia Industrial & Infrastructure Opportunity
• Six Flags says 'We want you back' | New CEO's plans for future
• Does Dolly Parton have competition? Nate Bargatze's Nashville theme park plans
• Kennywood restores iconic trash can for upcoming season
• Super Bowl LX players lose thousands to California's 'jock tax' on athlete income
• Disney World's Villains Land Is Pivoting Away From Scaring Kids
• Disneyland abandoned plans for Disney Villains land, report says
• A Beloved Amusement Park Nearly Closed for Good 6 Years Ago. Now It's Preparing for Its 100th Birthday

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 117 - "Flares and Orange Vests"

February 21st, 2026

Bob and Ryan the Ride Mechanic hold down the fort since Greg is a little under the weather this week but there is plenty to talk about starting off with Six Flags and ending with Geauga Lake.

• Six Flags 2025 Results
  • Six Flags (FUN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Beloved Roller Coaster Is Permanently Shutting Down After 33 Years
• Six Flags begins building new 'record-breaking' roller coaster on Wednesday
  • https://opencoaster.net/@ElToroRyan/116093195168193545
• Kentucky Kingdom gives sneak peak at its 1st new roller coaster since 2019
• Allegiant Announces "Flight #925: Destination Dollywood" for Travelers Headed to the Great Smoky Mountains this November
• Disney Files NEW Permit for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets
• New Jersey man accused of boosting almost $200K of metal from Ferris wheel renovation site
• Aurora begins development of new park at former Geauga Lake site

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 116 - "Dragon Fire"

February 14th, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic talk about the scraps of news this week amongst rabbit trails that are sure to entertain.

• Social media age verification is full of risks and unclear rewards
• Alton Towers U-turns on plan to restrict disability pass for people with ADHD and autism
• Beloved Theme Park Files for Bankruptcy 4 Years After Fatal Accident That Killed 6-Year-Old Girl
• Elon Musk's Tunnel Company Chosen to Develop Transit System to Connect Universal Orlando Theme Parks
  • Experts say Elon Musk's tunnel empire has a 99% chance of ending in serious trouble – Morning Overview
  • Crossing Norway's fjords is going to get easier with world's first submerged floating tunnel
• Brendan Fraser is back for a new 'Mummy' movie — should Universal update coaster?
• Locals breathe fire as dragon from iconic Playland coaster chucked in dumpster: 'Should be in a museum'
• Six Flags Great Adventure reveals return of 'Wild' ride and guest experience upgrades for the upcoming season
• Mr. Freeze ride at Six Flags Over Texas is about to get even cooler
• Levchuk: Amusement park not returning
• Office Building Getting Demolished to Make Way for New Disneyland Resort Parking Structure

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 115 - "The Search for More Gold"

February 7th, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic are back to finding rabbit trails in an episode that finally has some bigger news stories and a lot of real time surprises.

• New Gold Pass Benefit: Visit Regional Six Flags Parks for Free
• Six Flags changes filming policy for roller coaster POVs
• Kings Island announces return of classic ride
  • Polyp Octopus Monsters
• Alton Towers to remove disability pass for people with ADHD and anxiety
• Disney names Josh D'Amaro as new chief executive
• Disney warns of hit from flagging foreign visits
  • Starbucks scraps $250,000 cap on boss's use of company jet
• You can say 'I do' at Disney's Haunted Mansion starting this summer
• Universal Orlando Launches New Advertising Campaign Ahead of Super Bowl LX
  • Here's Why Companies Can't Say 'Super Bowl' in Their Super Bowl Ads
• 'Hell of a day:' Texts reveal state inspectors' response to Universal roller coaster death
• Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Opens This Summer

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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Side Friction - Episode 114 - "Blizzard Beach IRL"

January 31st, 2026

Bob, Greg and Ryan the Ride Mechanic have another slower news week but we get to hear about the Netherlands from Ryan as well as everything freezing over.

• Rare Extreme Cold Watch Issued for Walt Disney World: Wind Chills Could Drop to 7F Degrees
• Canada gives conditional approval for Marineland to export remaining belugas to the US
• Dreamland to put historic Scenic Railway into 'retirement'
• Six Flags Great Adventure - 450 ft. tall Crane for Roller Coaster Construction
• POV Antique Autos at Indiana Beach
• Swedish amusement park fined over fatal roller coaster derailment
• Who can pronounce death in FL
• Arnolds park receives $100K investment
• Legend - Arnolds Park (Image 22)

Mastodon: https://worldkey.io/@sidefriction

Web: https://sidefriction.com

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