C.J. Barrymore’s has a new thrill in store this summer. The popular entertainment complex debuted a new roller coaster - simply called The Coaster - over Fourth of July weekend, replacing its former loop coaster with a smoother, more family-accessible ride.
The new attraction covers 1,100 linear feet of track on the same footprint as its predecessor, but with one notable change: no loop.
“We deleted the loop because we found a lot of people don’t like to go upside down,” said David Dalpizzol, vice president of C.J. Barrymore’s.
Dalpizzol described the new ride as a “classic family coaster,” with a big drop and speed-building sections designed to thrill without overwhelming younger or more cautious riders. “The whole design is family-oriented, so it’s not too scary,” he said.
The coaster was manufactured in Italy and arrived after more than a year in production - and three months behind schedule. Dalpizzol placed a deposit in December 2024, with manufacturing consuming all of 2025. “It came from Italy,” he said, “and there’s a process with the shipping and the manufacturing, so it does take a little time. They’re not just on the shelf that you can pull off and ship there.”
The early response from guests has been strong. “A lot of people that were hesitant to ride the loop coaster came out and tried this one out,” Dalpizzol said, noting riders appreciate “the difference of not going upside down.”
The Coaster is now open at C.J. Barrymore’s in Clinton Township as part of the venue’s summer season lineup.
Live in the D broadcast a full hour from C.J. Barrymore’s to highlight all the new and exciting things happening at the amusement park. Check out the video at the top of this article – and the videos at the end of this article to watch all the segments.
If you’d like more information about hours or tickets, visit cjbarrymores.com.