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"Superman: Ultimate Escape" Roller Coaster
Posted by Neil Cole
The ride was originally built by Six Flags in 2000 where it opened at what had been known as Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio and was known as Superman: Ultimate Escape. When Six Flags sold Worlds Of Adventure to Cedar Fair, the park reverted to its original name, Geauga Lake. Due to the fact that Six Flags had exclusive rights to the name Superman, the coaster had to be renamed and it became known as Steel Venom. Steel Venom, while receiving new signage featuring a black background with a silver and purple snake, retained its original blue, red, and yellow track.
The coaster was disassembled at the end of the 2006 season. At that point, rumors began to surface that Geauga Lake was going to cut back their offerings and maybe even close. At the end of the 2007 season, it was decided that Geauga Lake would close the ride side of the park and keep only Wildwater Kingdom for expansion.
Steel Venom became relocated to Dorney Park and construction began in the fall of 2007. Construction was completed in April 2008. According to the staff and management of the park, the coaster was expected to open on opening day of the 2008 season which was May 3, 2008 but did not. On April 30, Screamscape stated that the date of opening will be in mid-to-late-May. Park representatives confirmed this on May 1.
On Friday, May 16, 2008, Voodoo was given the authorization to open. The coaster had a soft opening on Saturday May 17, 2008 in the late afternoon. It continued to run when the park was closed for a private event on May 18. Media day was on Wednesday May 21, 2008. The coaster finally had its grand opening on Friday, May 23, 2008.
In 2009, the name was changed to Possessed in light of the fact that fellow theme park operator Six Flags claimed a trademark on the name "Voodoo." Rather than incur a legal dispute, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, the owners of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, had the name changed as part of a marketing gimmick claiming that the ride was now super-saturated with evil spirits. All memorabilia with the "Voodoo" name were sold at tremendous discounts via the park's website.
