I just found this bit of news today. They're building a new Batman coaster to coincide with the release of "The Dark Knight" this summer. It's a "wild mouse" indoor coaster that combines special effects with what seems like an audience participation aspect.

Here is the press release:

A new roller coaster is coming to Six Flags Great America after a three year wait. The Gurnee theme park announced today "The Dark Knight Coaster," will open to much fanfare in 2008.

The coaster will be built indoors, said Great America spokeswoman Brooke Gabbert, and will be based on the upcoming Warner Bros. "Batman"-themed movie, "The Dark Knight." The coaster is expected to cost about $7.5 million.

Officials said the coaster will transform guests into citizens of the fictitious Gotham City. Those people will be caught in the middle of a city under siege being torn apart by the villain, The Joker.

On the coaster, guests will venture through demented hallways of twists, turns and hallucinatory images while being tormented by The Joker. Then, after stepping on a distressed, vandalized train platform, they can only guess at what awaits them as they speed through hairpin turns, climb unseen hills, plunge into pitch darkness and dip into unforeseen danger.


Also, I heard that Heath Ledger was invited to the opening of the ride, but he said he planned on sleeping in that day.

EDIT: Thanks to Shawn for pointing out something that I forgot to mention -- I had to use the press release for the Great America version of the ride. So there's no confusion, there will be a Dark Knight ride at Great Adventure in New Jersey, in addition to Great America in Illinois, and Six Flags New England.