El Loco roller coaster debuts at Las Vegas' Adventuredome

February 18, 2014, 11:43 PM · LAS VEGAS — We returned to The Adventuredome at Circus Circus in Las Vegas for the first time in a long time today, for the debut of the indoor amusement park's new El Loco roller coaster, from S&S Power.

At just five acres, Adventuredome's a tight fit compared with the outdoor theme parks we typically cover here at Theme Park Insider. So don't look here for rides with a massive footprint, and El Loco's no exception. But while the coaster might look at first glance like just another Wild Mouse, a closer inspection reveals some unexpected, un-mouse-like elements, including overbanked turns and a couple of inversions.

Let's go to the video, as S&S Power Project Manager Chad Severance tells us a little about the unique features on this coaster, then ride along with some POV video from my trip on the coaster this afternoon.

It's a quick trip, sure, but with some unique elements that will reward coaster fans when they're in Vegas. Located inside the Circus Circus resort, Adventuredome is free to enter, with rides available with individual ticket purchases, or through buying an all-you-can-ride wristband (by far the better deal).

Replies (13)

Anon Mouse

February 19, 2014 at 11:24 AM · Will you be in Vegas when the High Roller opens near the LINQ? I'm looking forward to this new ride.

Robert Niles

February 19, 2014 at 11:51 AM · Circus Circus has some interesting history for fans of themed entertainment. Its casino opened in 1968, with the hotel following four years later. Circus Circus was among Vegas' first themed casino/hotels, helping create a template that's been followed in countless themed resorts around the world.

Heck, Circus Circus was so fashionable it was the setting for a James Bond flick. (Diamonds are Forever in 1971, with Sean Connery as Bond.)

The theme park opened in 1993 as Grand Slam Canyon, during the 1990s building boom when Las Vegas fancied itself a family-friendly theme park destination, before casino owners came to their senses and realized that kids can't gamble. Renamed Adventuredome in 1998, the indoor park is the last major remaining development from Vegas' theme park era.

While Circus Circus no longer retains the theme design coherence it once had, and can't match newer Vegas developments for grandeur, there is a lot of history here for themed entertainment fans.

Robert Niles

February 19, 2014 at 11:56 AM · Anon,

I saw the High Roller, which looked to me like it could be opening at any time. I thought it might be done, and actually went online to check. No dice, as they say in Vegas... ;^)

For those who haven't heard, the High Roller is another Orlando Eye/Singapore Flyer/London Eye-type observation wheel. At 550 feet tall, it'll be the tallest of the bunch when it opens.

Anon Mouse

February 19, 2014 at 1:58 PM · Circus Circus is one of the few casinos that caters to kids. You can spend lots of time there watching the free circus shows and play the midway games. Despite the newer casinos that have a more mature theming and the disappearance of many theme park and family oriented attractions, Las Vegas is no longer a mere adult mecca of girly shows and crude comics. Cirque du Soleil owns Las Vegas. There is quite a bit of shows and attractions that ensure kids can participate. It isn't like in the past when I went to Las Vegas as a kid in the 1970s and can't do anything there.

Robert Niles

February 19, 2014 at 2:53 PM · Yeah, between all the Cirque productions and other top-quality shows, the great restaurants, and the other amusements (such as Adventuredome), you could spend weeks in Vegas without turning to casinos or other adults-only entertainment. Of course, it's the casinos and bars pull in the biggest money, but it's nice to have those alternatives there, too.

Daniel Etcheberry

February 19, 2014 at 5:13 PM · If anyone visits Las Vegas with the kids, don't walk at night next to the MGM hotel; there are guys giving cards, and they have shirts that say 'get a girl in 20 minutes'. That's no meet and greet.

Jay R.

February 19, 2014 at 5:25 PM · The Adventuredome (called Grand Slam Canyon when it first opened) was a part of the "Super theme expansion in the 90's".

Treasure Island, Luxor, NYNY, MGM were all going after a different group than the old school gamblers. These new maga resorts were geared toward families.

MGM had a theme park, the Luxor had a Nile river that flowed through the casino, Treasure Island had the (original) pirate show outside.

Did anyone else go to the MGM theme park? I spent plenty of summer afternoons there, haha.

James Rao

February 19, 2014 at 5:45 PM · But everything is so...so...so...uh...pink. What gives?

Robert Niles

February 19, 2014 at 6:17 PM · The glass in the dome is rose-tinted. It's got to have some tint (like sunglasses) to keep it from becoming a giant temperature-roasting greenhouse.

James Rao

February 19, 2014 at 9:21 PM · Think I would have gone with black or blue rather than pink...but hey, it's Vegas!