What if one were to build an entire amusement park, from the ground up, using only cloned roller coasters models and recycled names? Welcome to The Clone Zone, a bold concept that flips the script on originality and instead celebrates the greatest hits of coaster design and build. But while cloning rides might sound like a shortcut, there is a delicate art to it and one that requires a keen eye for quality and a deep understanding of what makes a ride truly enjoyable.
The Idea is Simple
Populate a new fake park with proven cloned ride models that continue to thrill guests around the world. These are the cloned coasters that have stood the test of time. Some have compact layouts, reliable engineering, and enthusiast-pleasing elements. Each ride will be given a name that has been used before, tapping into a shared amusement park vocabulary that evokes nostalgia and a lack of originality.
In The Clone Zone, the goal isn’t just to replicate… it’s to curate… By selecting the best of the best and giving them familiar names, the park becomes a living museum of roller coaster evolution. It’s a place where guests can experience the thrill of iconic layouts without the risk of outdated engineering. And while the rides may be clones, the experience is anything but ordinary.
Recycled Names: Celebrating the Legacy of Ride Naming
Recycled ride names tap into a shared cultural memory among amusement park fans, evoking nostalgia and familiarity while reinforcing the park’s theme of replication. Names like “Cyclone,” “Vortex,” or “Wildcat” have been used across decades and continents, often attached to vastly different coaster types. By reusing these names in The Clone Zone, the park creates a sense of “Déjà Vu” that’s both intentional and playful. Celebrating the legacy of coaster naming through recycling while highlighting the irony of originality in a park built entirely on clones. These names aren’t just reused; they’re repurposed as part of a curated experience that honors the past while delivering proven thrills.
Rides to Exclude
Hey, not all clones are created equal. One must be especially sensitive to avoid infamous models that have earned a reputation for discomfort or poor ride experience. Chief among these to leave out are the Vekoma – Boomerangs and Vekoma – Suspended Looping Coasters (SLCs), which, despite their widespread presence, often receive well deserved criticism. These rides are just terrible, with roughness and headbanging no matter where you them installed. Including these would undermine the park’s appeal and alienate enthusiasts who’ve had one too many bruises from a jarring or janky ride.
Why we Exclude a Ride
- Roughness: Excessive vibrations or jolts can cause discomfort or even injury, especially on older or poorly maintained coasters.
- Headbanging: Common on coasters with over-the-shoulder restraints and tight inversions, leading to neck strain and a negative ride experience.
- Poor Restraints: Uncomfortable or overly restrictive restraints can detract from the ride and pose safety concerns.
- Very Low Throughput: Coasters with slow loading/unloading processes or cannot run more than one or two trains on a full-circuit coaster causing poor guest flow.
- Maintenance Issues: Frequent breakdowns or high maintenance costs can disrupt operations and increase expenses.
- Outdated Design: Older ride models may lack modern safety features, smooth track design, or thematic appeal, making them less attractive to guests.
Vekoma
Interestingly, Vekoma, once known for those very terrible models above, has undergone a renaissance in recent years. The manufacturer has reinvented itself with smoother experiences and more innovative designs. These new models from Vekoma rival even the best from industry giants like B&M, RMC, and Intamin. Their new generation of coasters, such as the Bermuda Blitz and Super Boomerang showcase how far the company has come, making them a preferred choice for modern parks looking to blend reliability with excitement.
Rules for the Clone Zone
For a ride to qualify, its track layout must be a direct clone… meaning identical in shape, elements, and sequencing. To maintain a balance between variety and consistency, the park follows a strict set of design rules:
Only Cloned Rides: Every roller coaster must be a clone of a model that has been installed at least three times globally with no custom layouts allowed, proving its popularity and reliability.
Recycled Names Only: Ride names must be reused from other parks while the name won’t be the same as the ride model. A ride cannot be called “Boomerang” just because it’s a Boomerang model, instead it could be “The Bat” or “Ricochet” if chosen.
Licensing Restriction: To avoid legal complications and maintain the park’s creative integrity, The Clone Zone prohibits the use of any names or themes based on licensed intellectual property. This includes characters, franchises, or brands owned by external entities such as superheroes from DC™ or Marvel™, movie titles, or other trademarked content. For example, while “Batman™: The Ride” is a well-known cloned coaster, the name “Batman™” itself is off-limits due to licensing restrictions. Instead, the park must use generic or historically recycled names that evoke similar energy without infringing on copyrights, ensuring all attractions remain original in branding, even if cloned in layout.
Manufacturer Cap: Maximum three rides per manufacturer are allowed, which ensures diversity in ride styles and engineering philosophies.
Total Park Coaster Count: The park must feature at least 14 roller coasters (no more than 20), making it a full-fledged thrill destination and better Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Great Adventure in coast count.
Thrill-Focused: All rides must be over 50 feet tall or reach speeds greater than 40 mph.
Smooth Ride Experience: The ride must be known for smooth tracking, minimal roughness, and no headbanging. Modern restraint systems (lap bars, vest restraints) are preferred.
High Throughput: The ride should support efficient operations, ideally with multiple trains and fast loading/unloading.
Positive Reputation: The ride should be well-reviewed by enthusiasts, with consistent praise across multiple installations.
Cautionary Tale
When building a park like The Clone Zone, it’s important to clarify that the rides must share exactly the same layout, not just the same model or type. This distinction excludes coaster families with customizable or variable designs, such as extreme spinners, which all differ significantly from installation to installation. Example: a coaster being a B&M Invert, does not make it a Batman™ clone and thusly cannot be included at The Clone Zone…
Cloned Roller Coaster Models with Three Plus Installations
Selecting rides for The Clone Zone, consistency and proven success are key, for operators. The park’s foundation rests on roller coasters that have been cloned at least three times globally, ensuring that each layout has been tested, refined, and enjoyed by thousands of riders across different parks and cultures. These aren’t just duplicates, they’re celebrated blueprints of thrill, reliability, and engineering excellence.
By focusing on models with multiple installations, The Clone Zone guarantees a lineup of coasters that have earned their place in the amusement park hall of fame.
Ride Variety
Despite its reliance on cloned layouts, The Clone Zone will offer a surprisingly diverse ride experience. The park’s lineup will be designed to span a wide spectrum of coaster types, from intense inverted coasters from B&M’s to high-speed launched models from Intamin. Guests will also enjoy the unpredictable spinning coasters, the airtime-rich hills of wooden designs, and the sleek single-rail thrills too. This variety in the park will ensure that while the layouts may be familiar, the sensations and ride styles remain fresh and exciting. By curating clones across multiple manufacturers and coaster categories, The Clone Zone avoids the trap of repetition. Each ride selected brings a distinct physical and emotional experience, whether it’s the weightless inversions of a flying coaster, the vertical suspense of a shuttle loop, or the splashdown finale of a launched water coaster.
The Clone Zone – Final Selections
| Manufacturer | Selected Model | Ride Name | Example Link |
| Intamin | Mega-Lite | Wildcat | Mega-Lite – Coasterpedia |
| Intamin | Intamin Blitz | Comet | LSM Launch Coaster – Coasterpedia |
| B&M Coasters | Batman™: The Ride – Invert | Patriot | Batman The Ride – Coasterpedia |
| B&M Coasters | Flying Coaster – Superman™ | The Bat | Superman Ultimate Flight Amusement Ride Wiki |
| Schwarzkopf | Shuttle Loop | Cyclone | Shuttle Loop (Schwarzkopf) – Coasterpedia |
| RMC | Raptor (Prototype) | Goliath | Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster – Coasterpedia |
| Mack | Blue Fire Clone | Phoenix | Blue fire Megacoaster – Coasterpedia |
| Mack | BigDipper | Shockwave | BigDipper (Mack Rides) – Coasterpedia |
| Mack | PowerSplash | Hydra | Aquaman: Power Wave – Coasterpedia |
| Premier Rides | Spaghetti Bowl | Mind Eraser | Flight of Fear – Coasterpedia |
| Premier Rides | Sky Rocket II | Viper | Electric Eel Coasterpedia |
| Vekoma | Firestorm | Colossus | Wrath of Zeus – Coasterpedia |
| Vekoma | Giant Inverted Boomerang | Ricochet | Aftershock Coasterpedia |
| S&S | 4D Free Spin | Revolution | Joker – Coasterpedia |
| S&S | El Loco | Ninja | Timber Drop – Coasterpedia |
| Gerstlauer | Spinning Coaster | Vortex | Pandemonium – Coasterpedia |
| Gravity Group | Jungle Trailblazer | Jack Rabbit | Jungle Trailblazer – Coasterpedia |
| Custom Coasters International | Compact out-and-back | Thunderbolt | Boss – Coasterpedia |
Honorable Mentions
While The Clone Zone launches with a carefully curated lineup of the 18 coasters noted above, there’s no shortage of worthy contenders waiting in the wings. The Honorable Mentions list here includes ride models that meet most of the park’s criteria or show strong potential for future inclusion once they’ve been cloned at least three times globally. These rides, like the Vekoma Super Boomerang and the RMC Wild Moose, represent exciting innovations in coaster design and could elevate the park’s diversity and thrill factor. However, with space and operational limits in mind, not every great ride can be installed from day one. The Honorable Mentions serve as a blueprint for future expansion, ensuring that The Clone Zone remains dynamic and forward-thinking while staying true to its core philosophy of celebrating proven, repeatable thrills.
- Maurer X-Car Coaster
- Intamin Impulse Coaster
- Intamin LIM Coaster (e.g., Flight of Fear)
- Intamin Family Launch Coaster (e.g., Juvelen clones)
- Schwarzkopf Jet Star – Compact spiral lift coaster
- Zamperla MotoCoaster – Launched motorbike-
- B&M Superman: Ultimate Flight (Flying Coaster)
- B&M Dive Coaster (e.g., Griffon, SheiKra, Valravn)
- Zamperla Thunderbolt – Compact looping coaster
- WOOD – Gravity Group – Jungle Trailblazer
- Schwarzkopf Looping Star
- Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter 320
- Gerstlauer Sky Fly (flat ride coaster hybrid)
Rides That Could Never Make the Cut
Not every cloned coaster deserves a new life, and The Clone Zone draws a hard line when it comes to rides known for discomfort, inefficiency, and outdated design. These models below have earned infamy among enthusiasts for their brutal roughness, painfully restrictive restraints, and sluggish operations. Primary offenders include the Vekoma Boomerang and Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC), notorious for headbanging and jerky transitions. Others, like the Zamperla Volare and Intamin ZacSpin, feature awkward restraint systems that feel more like cages than safety devices. Many of these rides also suffer from low throughput, meaning long lines and slow loading that frustrate guests and operators alike.
- Zamperla Volare (Flying Coaster)
- Vekoma Boomerang
- Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC)
- Intamin ZacSpin
- Gerstlauer Bobsled Coaster
- Pinfari Zyklon Loop Coaster
- Arrow Corkscrew (Double Loop + Double Corkscrew)
- SBF Visa Spinning Coaster (Compact)
- Vekoma Mine Train (e.g., Roller Skater)
- Golden Horse Mine Train Coaster
- Golden Horse Spinning Coaster
- Golden Horse Suspended Coaster
- Zierer Tivoli Coaster (Junior Coaster)
- Miler Wacky Worm
- Martin & Vleminckx Wooden Coasters
- Vekoma Junior Coaster (e.g., Roller Skater)
- Maurer SkyLoop XT 150
- Mack YoungStar Coaster
- Schwarzkopf Wildcat
- SBF Visa Drop ‘n Twist Coaster
- Pinfari TL Series Looping Coasters
The Final Brake Run
As the train coasts into the final brake run, The Clone Zone stands tall as a tribute to the enduring legacy of roller coaster design. This park isn’t about chasing the newest gimmick or breaking records but about honoring the proven thrills that have captivated riders for decades. By carefully curating cloned layouts and pairing them with recycled names, the park becomes a living archive of coaster excellence, where every ride is a familiar friend but with a fresh coat of paint.
The selection process was rigorous, guided by a philosophy of quality over novelty. Each coaster had to meet strict criteria to be installed and provide excitement. The result is a lineup that spans manufacturers, styles, and eras, yet feels cohesive in its celebration of what works. From the intense inversions of B&M’s Batman™ clone to the airtime-rich hills of Gravity Group’s Jungle Trailblazer, every ride earns its place not by being new, but by being timeless.
Ultimately, The Clone Zone is a concept that challenges the notion that originality is the only path to greatness. In a world where innovation often overshadows refinement, this park could prove the best thrills come from revisiting classics. With familiar names, beloved layouts, and a commitment to quality, The Clone Zone invites guests to experience the past, present, and future of coaster design all in one unforgettable and fictitious park.
Disembarking at the Station
We’ve tried to strike a balance between nostalgia, proven thrills, and operational excellence, but maybe we missed the mark… or maybe we nailed it… So, what do you think?
- Would you visit The Clone Zone?
- Does the idea of a park built entirely on cloned coasters and recycled names spark your interest?
- Did the concept leave you wanting more originality?
- What changes would you make to the ride lineup?
- Are there clones you think deserve a spot, or ones you’d leave out entirely?
The Clone Zone is a concept built on conversation as much as coasters, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on what makes a perfect thrill park. Let us know: did we hit the nail on the head, or is there still room to tweak the blueprint?