We launched CoasterRadio.com on April 25, 2005 with a podcast that was frankly a liitle rough around the edges. But what followed has been three years of good times on-line and at the parks. A lot has changed in three years, but we're back today with a brand new podcast to celebrate the occasion. Mario, Flava and I don't spend a lot of time looking back, but we do spend time talking about some of the latest stories and trends in the amusement industry. We also talk about some of our upcoming podcasts and events for Summer, 2008. Thanks to all of you who have stuck with us during the past three years.

Today we're re-launching CoasterRadio.com with some all-new features, including this new blog and the return of the "New Forum Forums". To help explain it all, we produced an all new podcast episode. This is the first of three new episodes we promised our listeners for putting us over the $1000 mark during the 2007 Coaster Crew Single Riders Marathon. Enjoy!

There have been several puzzling clues given on this site over the past few weeks.

Many of the loyal CoasterRadio.com listeners have been using their vast knowledge to decipher the clues and figure out the true meaning.

But only the worthy will find the grail.

We have received news from Europe that might shed some light on this situation.

Tom Hanks and that French chick have found an ingenious device called a "Cryptex", and they believe it has something to do with CoasterRadio.com

Inside the Cryptex is a message.

But to open it, you must prove your worthiness by solving this riddle.

On a sunny day it came to be,
when people celebrated being free.

An amazing fountain of light and sound,
is what this young man eventually found.

The name you seek is a common one,
shared by James' Boy and Carol's son.

To use the woodwind would be mistake.
Summon the full name for "his" sake.

Click on the Cryptex to test your worthiness.

You must enter in the code and click on the top of the Cryptex to see if you are correct.

Good luck.

P.S.  If you do open the Cryptex, don't be a CoasterBoy!  Keep the secret to yourself and let others have fun trying to figure it out.

Hi everyone,

I'm sitting here at Gate C17 at Washington Dulles International Airport waiting for my flight to Orlando.  I'm taking a few days off to head down to EPCOT to take in the Food and Wine Festival.

I can't wait to get down there and see Spaceship Earth without that ridiculous Mickey Mouse wand on top of it.  That was almost as bad as when they transformed Cinderella Castle into a gaudy pink birthday cake during WDW's 25th Anniversary.  YUCK!

Anyway, I've received more than a few e-mails lately from people wondering about the new show.  To be honest, some of the e-mails were from some upset people.  Here are some quotes....

"You guys promised us a new podcast!  It's been a year?  What gives?"

"You guys need to get up off your asses and start up podcast again!"

"Who cares that EB had a baby and Flava is buying a house! Start up the damn podcast already!"

And my personal favorite...

"You suck, Mike Collins!"

I completely agree.... I do suck.

It's my responsibility to start up the new show and I've been slacking.

Well, actually I haven't been slacking in real life.  I've been really busy with work and life in general.  But I do miss doing the show and I just have to set aside some time to get the party started again.

So, as soon as I get back from Disney, I'm going to commit to not only producing the three new CoasterRadio.com episodes we owe you, but more importantly, starting up the new show.

What's funny about the new show is that Flava, Mario, EB, Greg and I know exactly what we want it to be like.  We just have to find the time to kick it off.

They're starting to board the plane now.  So, I'll make you this promise:

I'll use my flight time to brainstorm some ideas for the three new CoasterRadio.com episodes.  If you guys have ideas of what you want us to cover, let me know by leaving a comment here.

Have a good weekend guys,
Mike

We're back from the first ever Single Riders Marathon at Kennywood Park.

Despite the rain, the event was a complete success and brought in close to $4000 in donations to Give Kids The World.

Congratulations to Clint Novak, Will Holder, Katie and the rest of the Coaster Crew for coming up with such a great idea.  They devoted a lot of time and energy in order to pull the event off.

In our opinion, this is exactly what coaster enthusiast groups should be doing.  Hopefully this is the first of many successful charity events that they will have.  We also hope that other coaster groups and websites will follow their lead.

Mario, Flava and Mike presented a check for $1,138 on behalf of the listeners and friends of CoasterRadio.com.  They then got to marathon on The Racer, logging 25 rides in just over an hour.

The highlight of the weekend, was getting a chance to host The Coaster Crew's Guide to the Midway podcast.  This was the first time the guys have actually done a real "theme park" podcast in 9 months.

They interviewed Kennywood GM Jerome Gibas, dished on their favorite rides and attractions, and also had a chance to try the world-famous Potato Patch fries.

You can listen to the show HERE.

I have ALWAYS said that the listeners of CoasterRadio.com are by far the best podcast audience around.

We know we can always count on the hardcore fans for support, whether it be during interactive segments of our show, contests or in this case, helping to raise money for charity.

For those of you who don't know, we have been raising money for the past two months as part of the upcoming Single Riders Marathon.  All of the money raised is going to benefit Give Kids The World and Kennywood Cares.

Last night, we passed the $1000 mark!  ($1095)  This means that three more episodes of CoasterRadio.com are on the way.  These three shows will be the "opening act" for the new podcast that will follow immediately after.

AND, anyone who has donated will receive a super-secret link to a show specifically for donors.

PLUS, Mario, Flava and I will be hosting a special edition of The Coaster Crew's Guide To The Midway when we are at Kennywood this weekend.

So, that means there are technically five more CoasterRadio.com episodes coming your way.

But, there still is time to get your donations in.  We'll be accepting donations up until midnight on Friday night.

Thanks again to all of you.