Amusement Park News

Fun-Plex Waterpark is making a major move into thrill rides. This summer, the Omaha, Nebraska park plans to debut Mammoth, a 70-foot roller coaster featuring a 2,000-foot track.

The park has already begun building excitement through social media, teasing that area residents may spot “Mark the Mammoth” around Omaha. Guests are encouraged to capture sightings and post them using #FunPlexMammoth for a chance to win season passes, tickets, and other prizes. According to park manager Sarah Riedmann, participants may win “gift cards, day tickets, season passes, and cabanas.” The costumed character has already been appearing throughout the city.

The park's press release describes Mammoth as the “largest coaster of its kind in Nebraska,” highlighting its high-speed thrills. According to the Roller Coaster Database, Mammoth will be one of only four coasters in the state, with the other three being smaller rides designed primarily for children.

Once it opens, Mammoth will represent a significant investment for Fun-Plex. The park began in 1979 as Kart Ranch and gradually expanded to include mini golf, pinball games, a wave pool, lazy river, water slides, a splash area, and a swim-up bar. It was renamed Fun-Plex in 1987 and has since grown into the largest amusement park in Nebraska.

The park previously operated a roller coaster, The Big Ohhhhhh!!!, which opened about 19 years ago. Based on a design the park's owner saw at Scandia Amusement Park in Ontario, California, the ride was a fan favorite for a decade before being retired due to high maintenance costs.

Today, Fun-Plex offers a variety of dry attractions, including Wipe Out, bumper cars known as Crazzzy Cars, Bumper Boats, a balloon Ferris wheel, a carousel, a Tilt-A-Whirl, and numerous kiddie rides.

In addition to the new coaster, the Fun-Plex Speedway go-kart attraction will receive a major upgrade this season, including a redesigned track and a new covered pit area. The park will also introduce extended Friday evening hours during the summer.

Still, the centerpiece of the expansion is Mammoth itself. The ride's theme is loosely based on a story tied to its construction. According to the park, excavation crews “uncovered what appeared to be the remains of an Ice Age mammoth,” inspiring both the ride's name and its overall concept. While the story may be more imaginative than factual, it has become a key part of the attraction's identity.

What is certain is that Mammoth represents a major step forward for Fun-Plex as it expands its thrill offerings and seeks to attract more visitors from across the region. The coaster will feature a series of twists, turns, and drops described by the park as “stomach dropping.”

The train itself is themed as a mammoth and will seat 24 riders. Park officials say the ride will not only alter the skyline but also reshape the surrounding area, creating additional space for guest exploration. While a height requirement has not yet been announced, Mammoth is being promoted as a “family thrill coaster.”

The attraction will also include a themed area called Mammoth Landing, where guests can purchase ride photos and souvenirs. Nearby, a food and beverage location called The Tusk will offer coffee drinks and mini donuts.

Mammoth builds on recent additions at the park. Last year, Fun-Plex introduced two new water attractions: Shipwreck Chutes and The Sprayway.

Shipwreck Chutes features two body slides designed to accelerate riders through high-banked turns, ending with a plunge into a splash pool. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall. The Caribbean-themed slides stand 35 feet tall and circulate approximately 750 gallons of water per minute.

The Sprayway is an all-ages splash pad designed especially for younger guests. It includes spray trees, ground jets, shade structures, and 31 different water features, including several arching elements.

Additional water attractions at Fun-Plex include Typhoon Falls, Rockin' Rapids, Makana Splash, and the Lazzzy River.

In advance of Mammoth's debut, the park is offering a limited-time online promotion featuring a four-ticket package for $99.99.