The Bat is a

Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch amusement ride manufacturer. Vekoma is syllabic abbreviation of Veld Koning Machinefabriek (Veld Koning Machine Factory) which was established in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld. History The company originally ...

Suspended Family Coaster A Suspended Family Coaster is a steel inverted roller coaster built by Vekoma designed for families with no inversions. Just like all inverted roller coasters the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. ...

located at

Lagoon Amusement Park Lagoon is a privately owned amusement park in Farmington, Utah, United States, located about 18 miles north of Salt Lake City. It has ten roller coasters, five of which are unique; '' Colossus the Fire Dragon'', the last Schwarzkopf Double Lo ...

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History

The Bat debuted at

on April 16, 2005. Lagoon had hoped to open the Bat on the opening day of the 2005 season on April 9, but the opening was delayed a week.Arave, Lynn: "Lagoon to open its gates, unleash new 'Bat' coaster", ''

Deseret Morning News The ''Deseret News'' () is the oldest continuously operating publication in the American west. Its multi-platform products feature journalism and commentary across the fields of politics, culture, family life, faith, sports, and entertainment. Th ...

'', April 8, 2005. It was built on the site of the Lake Park Terrace, a pavilion moved to Lagoon from the park's original location on the shore of the

Great Salt Lake The Great Salt Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere and the eighth-largest terminal lake in the world. It lies in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah and has a substantial impact upon the local climate, particula ...

. The Terrace was removed on October 12, 2004, to make room for the new roller coaster, as the structure's deterioration had passed the point of feasible maintenance.Arave, Lynn: "'The Bat' a different kind of fun", ''

'', January 14, 2005. It was one of four roller coasters added to the park in a 10-year span, and the first to use a magnetic braking system. The Bat was the third 'family-friendly' ride, allowing both adults and children, to be installed in the park, following the Kontiki and Dragon Fly flat rides installed in 2004. The ride was also the first inverted roller coaster for the park.

Ride Description

The Bat begins with a turn out of the station and up a pinch wheel lift, into a series of helixes and small hills around the bat cave and other themed features and trees. The Bat comes to an end with as the train is slowed by magnetic brakes and returns to the station. The minimum height for riders of the Bat is , a smaller minimum height restriction than most of the other roller coasters located in the park.

Theme

The ride theming is based on bats. The ride façade and queue area resembling a cave with roosting bats, and the light coverings in the station area are decorated with images of bats. The ride track is painted purple with green supports, and the train is black and purple with orange restraints. As of 2008, The Bat is the only roller coaster at Lagoon with over-the-shoulder restraints.

References

{{Lagoon Utah Coasters Inverted roller coasters Roller coasters in Utah Lagoon (amusement park) 2005 establishments in Utah