Coaster Enthusiast

All about roller coasters and amusement parks.

[coasterenthusiast]

Dollywood Announces First Launching Wooden Roller Coaster

After many teasers and hints, Dollywood revealed plans for the world’s first wooden coaster with a launch. Lightning Rod will be built by Rocky Mountain Construction, the innovative new company behind Goliath and Twisted Colossus.

Lightning Rod will start with a 45 mph inclined LSM launch which leads into a 165 ft drop. Then riders will experience overbanked curves and twisted hills. The ride ends with a quadruple-down drop along the mountainside. With a top speed of 73 mph, Lightning Rod will be the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world.

The theme for this $22 million, record-breaking coaster is based on the classic hot rods of the 20th century.

Lightning Rod is expected to open in March 2016.

Length: 3,800 ft

Height: 200 ft (165 ft Drop)

Inversions: 0

Speed: 73 mph

Watch the video here.

Logo and renderings by Dollywood.

[coasterenthusiast]

Karacho (Erlebnispark Tripsdrill)

Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster

Length: 2,296.6 ft Height: 98.4 ft

Inversions: 4

Speed: 62.1 mph

Photo by  Erlebnispark Tripsdrill.

[coasterenthusiast]

Boomerang (Knott’s Berry Farm)

Vekoma Boomerang

Length: 935 ft

Height: 116.5 ft

Inversions: 3

Speed: 47 mph

Photo by California Coaster Kings.

[coasterenthusiast]

Abismo (Parque de Atracciones de Madrid)

Length: 1476.4 ft

Height: 151.6 ft

Inversions: 2

Speed: 65.2 mph

Photo by Antonio Alelu.

[coasterenthusiast]

Twister (Gröna Lund)

Gravity Group Wooden Coaster

Length: 1,574.8 ft

Height: 50 ft

Inversions: 0

Speed: 37.9 mph

Photo by Joel Rogers.

[coasterenthusiast]

Twisted Colossus (Six Flags Magic Mountain)

Rocky Mountain Construction Hybrid Length: 4,990 ft Height: 121 ft (128 ft Drop) Inversions: 2 Speed: 57 mph

Photo by Matthew Nelson.

[coasterenthusiast]

Fun Fact!

Storm Runner at Hersheypark opened in 2004. It was the first Intamin Accelerator to have inversions and OTSR's. This is the only coaster to feature a flying snake dive element, just barely out of sight in this photo.

Storm Runner also launches riders from 0 to 72 mph in an impressive 2 seconds using a hydraulics system.

Intamin Accelerator Coaster

Length: 2,600 ft

Height: 150 ft (180 ft Drop)

Inversions: 3

Speed: 75 mph

Photo by Joel Rogers.

[coasterenthusiast]

Hair Raiser (Ocean Park)

B&M Floorless Coaster

Length: Unknown

Height: Unknown

Inversions: 4

Speed: 54.7 mph

Photo by Jay.

[coasterenthusiast]

Black Mamba (Phantasialand)

B&M Inverted Coaster

Length: 2,519.7 ft

Height: 85.3 ft (88.6 ft Drop)

Inversions: 4

Speed: 49.7 mph

Photo by Kevin Schmitz.

[coasterenthusiast]

Joris en de Draak (Efteling)

GCI Dueling Wooden Coaster

Length: 2,585 ft

Height: 72.4 ft

Inversions: 0

Speed: 46.6 mph

Photo by Joel Rogers.

[coasterenthusiast]

Goliath (Six Flags Great America)

Rocky Mountain Construction Wooden Coaster

Length: 3,100 ft

Height: 165 ft (180 ft Drop)

Inversions: 2

Speed: 72 mph

Photo by Joel Rogers.

[coasterenthusiast]

Lightning Run (Kentucky Kingdom)

Chance Rides Hyper GT-X Coaster

Length: 2,500 ft

Height: 100 ft

Inversions: 0

Speed: 55 mph

Photo by Zach Clarke.

[coasterenthusiast]

Holiday World Announces First-Of-Its-Kind Coaster

Last night, Holiday World revealed its plans for a $22 million ride, which they teased as the "first of its kind." In 2015, the park will receive the first ever launched B&M Wingrider, Thunderbird.

Thunderbird will feature a 60 mph launch, an Immelman, vertical loop, zero-g roll, and an in-line roll.

This ride is also a major change for Holiday World. Known for their massive wooden coasters (Voyage, Legend, and Raven), Thunderbird will be the first major steel coaster. It also will cost "more than twice as much as we've spent on any other ride," said spokeswoman Paula Werne. This ride is unusual for B&M as well, who in the past has refrained from building launching coasters. (The launch on Incredible Hulk was not manufactured by B&M.)

Thunderbird is expected to open in Spring of 2015.

B&M Wingrider

Length: 3,035 ft

Height: 140 ft

Inversions: 4

Speed: 60 mph

Watch the POV here.

Logo and renderings by Holiday World.

[coasterenthusiast]

Superman Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)

Premier Rides Launched Coaster

Length: 863 ft

Height: 150 ft

Inversions: 1

Speed: 62 mph

Photo by Andrew Kirby.

[coasterenthusiast]

Mystery Mine (Dollywood)

Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter

Length: 1,811 ft

Height: 85 ft

Inversions: 2

Speed: 46 mph

Photo by Coasterimage.

[coasterenthusiast]

Iconic Colossus Closing

Yes, it's sad but true. What was billed as "the greatest coaster in the world" will be closing permanently August 16, according to banners around Magic Mountain.

This classic woodie was featured in National Lampoon's Vacation, as well as in many other movies and TV shows.

Could this mean that the long-speculated Iron Colossus is on its way? It's certainly possible, but nobody knows for sure. No matter what replaces it, Colossus will forever be missed.

International Amusement Devices, Inc. Woodie

Length: 4,325 ft

Height: 125 ft (115 ft Drop)

Inversions: 0

Speed: 62 mph

Photo by Eric Hernandez.

[coasterenthusiast]

Blue Streak (Cedar Point)

Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Woodie

Length: 2,558 ft

Height: 78 ft (72 ft Drop)

Inversions : 0

Speed: 40 mph

Photo by Bellzatk.