by Donald Wood
Last updated: 5:55 PM ET, Tue May 9, 2017
As Seaside Heights and the Jersey Shore continue the rebuilding process even five years after Hurricane Sandy, the Casino Pier reached another milestone with the opening of the Hydrus roller coaster Saturday.
According to CBS New York, the Hydrus features a 72-foot vertical drop, an astounding 1,050 feet of track and has been painted green and blue. The attraction was built on a new pier that runs parallel to the boardwalk instead of perpendicular.
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The new roller coaster will be the centerpiece of the new pier's amusement park.
The Hydrus will be just one of the 25 rides added to the pier, including a Ferris wheel that is scheduled to open during Memorial Day weekend. Tourism officials said they are hopeful that the new attractions will entice more travelers to visit the area.
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The Casino Pier was the previous home of the JetStar roller coaster, which was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Casino Pier spokeswoman Maria Mastoris said in a statement that the new roller coaster will "bring so many people and families back and that's what Seaside needs."
New Jersey has other new attractions opening in 2017, including several at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township. The rides will be themed after Warner Brothers and DC Comics branded experiences.
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