Movie World starts on testing of new Wizard of Oz-themed rollercoaster

Gold Coast theme park Warner Bros. Movie World has started testing its new Wizard of Oz-themed rollercoaster, Kansas Twister.

Scheduled to open for the peak summer season in Movie World’s new Wizard of Oz themed land, the new ride, supplied by Dutch roller coaster specialist, Vekoma has two racing tracks of 225 and 220 metres long, a top speed of 58 km/h, and a top height of 22 metres.

In addition to Kansas Twister, the new $50 million precinct - the first world’s first Wizard of Oz themed land - includes a suspended coaster called ‘Flight of the Wicked Witch’ with a maximum speed of 67 km/h, a top height of 19 metres, and a 454-metre-long track.

The land also features immersive theming, including a recreation of the 1939 film’s Yellow Brick Road.

Following the opening of the Flash Speed Force ride at Easter, the new land marks Village Roadshow Theme Parks’ (VRTP) latest investment in its Gold Coast properties.

Speaking to the Gold Coast Bulletin in July, VRTP Chief Operating Officer Bikash Randhawa advised that the new land would be able to accommodate more than 2000 people every hour, advising “this is something that has never been done before, so the beauty of this attraction is that everything has had to be built from scratch.

“There were numerous people from Warner Brothers Discovery, our thematic team and our internal teams who had to create every square inch of this area from nothing.

“What we’ve achieved here, especially with all the talent and the skill set coming out of Gold Coast, and to be able to do something that has not been done anywhere in the entire world is a big tick for tourism, and a big tick for the city of Gold Coast.

“Theme parks drive visitation and I believe this will be something that is so iconic that, for years and years to come, we’ll have families come here with mums, dads and kids, who will one day bring their own children, making it a generational piece.”

The Wizard of Oz precinct is being built on the former location of the Arkham Asylum roller coaster, which was originally known as the Lethal Weapon ride.

In September, Warner Bros. Discovery - from whom VRTP licences Warner Bros. intellectual property - announced a new division for all of its location-based experiences, including theme parks, touring exhibitions, retail destinations and studio tours.

Image: Concept artwork for the Movie World's new Wizard of Oz-themed land. Credit: Village Roadshow.