Pacific Park to redesign steel roller coaster to celebrate Route 66

Pacific Park in Los Angeles, Calif. will send travelers to get their kicks on Route 66 with the reimagining of their steel roller coaster into something new inspired by the Mother Road.

Set to debut in summer 2020, this re-conceptualization of the park’s steel coaster will cost more than $1 million and will include a new guest experience that starts at the loading station. That section of the attraction will receive enhancements in the form of old-time gas pumps, license plates, maps of Route 66, and specialty memorabilia.

The guest experience along the length of track that runs throughout the park will feature vintage-themed billboards that highlight the roadside attractions, landscapes, and towns that link the historic Mother Road. The new coaster has been designed from the wheels up, with new ride cars that call back to the bygone era where automobiles traveled only for the sake of traveling.

“The Route 66 enthusiast can get hip to this timely tip to celebrate its namesake roller coaster at the western end of Route 66. Guests are sure to revel in the authenticity of the reconcepted roller coaster,” said Nathan Smithson, director of marketing and business development at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “Route 66 presented travelers with an open road from Chicago to Los Angeles that offered unique mom and pop dining spots, first-of-its-kind motor lodging and one-of-a-kind roadside attractions; all facets represented in the new Route 66 West Coaster roller coaster.

Pacific Park’s Route 66 West Coaster is designed by the park’s design and operations team, and is built by Chance Rides in Wichita, Kansas. Construction will take approximately six months to complete.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is the only admission-free amusement park in Los Angeles. The park offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza, and beachside shopping.

To learn more, visit PacPark.com.