Worlds of Fun adding a new twist to Timber Wolf wooden roller coaster for 2018

Worlds of Fun is adding a new twist to its venerable wooden roller coaster Timber Wolf for the 2018 season.

The helix at the end of the ride will become "a high-speed, over-banked 70-degree turn," according to the theme park's website. "This thrilling final corner turns riders nearly sideways."

The park's opening day is April 21 and the new Timber Wolf will be ready by late spring.

Worlds of Fun is also adding a new family boat ride called Nordic Chaser in which riders board mini ships "that rotate speedily around a circuit," the park says. "The ride captures the imagination as guests experience the sensation of rising and falling along ocean waves."

The park has been re-engineering parts of the Timber Wolf, which opened in 1989 and climbs 100 feet high, since 2015.

"The Timber Wolf has been a park staple for 29 years," said Worlds of Fun general manager Tony Carovillano. "Over the past three years guests have felt the difference that re-tracking and re-engineering has made in the ride's overall experience. We know that the new twist at the end of this classic coaster will give guests a whole new reason to ride."

This story was originally published March 6, 2018 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Worlds of Fun adding a new twist to Timber Wolf wooden roller coaster for 2018."