With COASTER-net.com now having The SHQ as their podcast, Theme Park Universe will be taking over The Inversion. The content of the podcast will still stay focused on theme parks, but we're starting fresh for cast and crew this year. If you are interesting in being a full-time host, guest host, or support staff (like an editor) for the podcast, please apply through Theme Park Universe. Tryouts will begin soon!

Welcome to the new and improved Theme Park Universe, your source for everything to do with theme parks, thrill parks, and action parks! We strive to make you feel at home and like part of our family here. The first step to that is joining our forums! We'd love to get to know you, learn more about your favorite rides, parks, and attractions. We've also got other great features that we're looking forward to sharing with you like our News and Blogs where we'll bring you stories from all around the industry. Our News will cover the facts of the situation and let the reader come to his or her own conclusions, where our Blogs will cover a variety of topics like reviews of theme park food, ride reviews, opinions on news stories, insight and perspective on park operations....you name it.

Being that Las Vegas is in the middle of a desert, water park may not be the first thing that pops into your head. However, the new Wet 'n' Wild water park is nearing completion and is scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend. Twenty-five rides will populate this park including water slides and other family attractions. One such slide named the Hoover Halfpipe will feature a 57 foot drop into a halfpipe. Another slide named The rattler is being hailed as the only of its kind in North America. The park will also feature family attractions such as a 1000 foot long lazy river named the Colorado Cooler and an interactive children area featuring interactive features such as spouting geysers, dumping buckets, and slides.

The adage that everything is bigger in Texas definitely applies to the ride that guests will experience at Six Flags over Texas. According to a report on NewsOK, Six Flags over Texas has just topped off the 400 foot tower swing ride known as the Texas Skyscreamer. This will break the world record for the tallest suspended swing ride. According to the report, guests will be lifted to a height of 400 feet and then swing in full complete circles of 124 feet and will reach speeds of up to 34 MPH. Steve Martindale, Six Flags Over Texas park president said, "This ride experience will be unlike any other tower swing ride ever built and we take great pride in offering the best, the biggest and the most innovative attractions for our guests." The project was said to be a massive construction project as the foundation and the planning stages were quite intense.

Dorney Park is combining thrill rides, family entertainment, and now sports entertainment as the park announced they are adding a sports bar right in the middle of the park. According the Southwhitehallpatch.com, the park will be opening a location of Chickie's & Pete's on May 3 when the park opens for the 2013 season. Chickie's & Pete's is a sports bar chain that began in Philadelphia sometime in the 1970s. The bar inside the park will feature memorabilia from the original bar and plans to incorporate the Dorney Park theme into many of the dishes and beverages that will be served.