Buckle Up: $138 Million ‘Polercoaster’ Coming To Atlantic City
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The Polercoaster is on the way
ABC Ownership will build a 350-foot-high roller coaster named the “Polercoaster” on the grounds where the Sands casino once stood. The project’s approval was contingent upon the New Jersey Economic Development Authority pitching in roughly 28 percent of the construction costs, which happened on April 13.
The Press of Atlantic City had the details, reporting:
“ABC Ownership, LLC asked the state Economic Development Authority to chip in $38.4 million of the project’s total cost of $138,000,000. The money will go toward reimbursing certain taxes, according to the authority’s agenda.”
More on the new AC attraction
According to U.S. Thrill Rides, the Polercoaster’s designer, the ride will be oriented vertically, instead of spread out across a wide swath of land.
“Turning the roller coaster on its end” is one of the Polercoaster’s tag lines, and USTR goes on to say that the coaster has the same length of track as a horizontally oriented coaster, but with a “very small footprint.”
Another nuance to the coaster is that riders board at the top of the track and gravity pulls it down through a series of twists, turns and loops.
If the ride in Atlantic City is the same as what’s touted on USTR’s site, then there will be retail and restaurant space at the top of the coaster’s tower, along with an observation deck.
[i15-table tableid=4306]Coaster development another win for AC
The approval of ABC’s application for the coaster is another indication the once-floundering city is experiencing the early stages of an economic comeback.
Other good news in recent months includes:
- Hard Rock International’s purchase of the Trump Taj Mahal. Hard Rock will renovate the casino and hotel into one of its world-renowned Hard Rock properties. The company is investing $375 million in the renovation and creating 3,000 jobs.
- The Atlantic Club will reopen as a waterpark resort, without gambling.
- Atlantic City was able to settle its outstanding tax appeal with Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
All of these developments have come in the wake of the state’s takeover of Atlantic City’s finances.