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Shuttle Roller Coasters
A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards. These are sometimes referred to as boomerang roller coasters, due to the ubiquity of Vekoma's Boomerang coaster model. Early history The first shuttle coasters were in fact the first roller coasters ever built. Inspired by the so-called "Russian Mountains," these wheeled cars built on tracks found popularity in the early 19th century in Paris. In 1884, Switchback Railway opened at Coney Island, and consisted of a car that traveled on two tracks between two towers. It was the first roller coaster designed as an amusement ride in America. The next shuttle roller coaster to be built was Backety-Back Scenic Railway, built in 1909. First launched shuttle coasters The first two launched shuttle coaster designs were introduced in 1977 by competitors Arrow Development and Anton Schwarzkopf ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afterburner (Fun Spot)
Afterburner was a roller coaster that operated at Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo in Angola, Indiana. History From 1977 to 1990, it was known as "Zoomerang", first at Circus World (theme park), Circus World, then at its short-lived replacement, Boardwalk and Baseball. Both parks were located in Haines City, Florida. The coaster is the original prototype of Arrow Development's "Launched Loop (Arrow Dynamics), Launched Loop" shuttle style coaster. It was also notable for formerly using an elevator to transport disabled passengers to the loading platform. It was the only operating roller coaster with an inversion in the state of Indiana until 2008 when Steel Hawg opened at Indiana Beach. Afterburner was taken down in early 2017 and its train, launch sleds, controls, brakes, roof and sections of staircases were sent to Frontier City in Oklahoma, where they are used on the Diamond Back coaster. References Former roller coasters in Florida Roller coasters in Indiana 1977 establi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Walibi Belgium
Walibi Belgium is a 64-hectare (158.15 acres) theme park located in Wavre, Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgium, close to the city of Brussels. The park complex consists of the titular theme park and the Aqualibi indoor water park that is located next door. It is one of the largest theme parks in Belgium; with roughly 1.45 million visitors attending in 2018. Initially established by entrepreneur in 1975, Walibi expanded into a chain of six amusement parks located across Belgium, France, and Holland. The park spent a brief period in the 2000s under the Six Flags brand following Walibi's sale to the American-based theme park operator, but was reverted after being sold to Palamon Capital Partners and eventually its current owners Compagnie des Alpes. History The park originally opened on 26 July 1975 by entrepreneur Eddy Meeùs. The park's name; "Walibi", is aabbreviated play-on-words of three local districts within the province of Walloon Brabant near where the park sits - Wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cliff's Amusement Park
Cliff's Amusement Park (previously known as Uncle Cliff's Amusement Park prior to 1991) is a combination amusement park and water park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It opened in 1959. It features 24 rides for all ages, food, and carnival style games. It also features a water attraction, WaterMania!, which operates Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. It also has the only wooden-hybrid roller coaster in New Mexico, the final coaster designed by Custom Coasters International, called the New Mexico Rattler. Early beginnings (1959–1962) Cliff and Zella Hammond built a small kiddie park located at 7600 Lomas Blvd in 1959 and named it Uncle Cliff’s Kiddieland. After a few years at this location, the neighbors started a petition to have the park shut down. They relocated for a very short time to Little Beavertown in Tijeras Canyon Tijeras Canyon (sometimes also referred to as Tijeras Pass) is a prominent canyon in the central part of the U.S. state o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Greezed Lightnin' (Cliff's)
Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks. History The first installation of a Shuttle Loop dates back to 1977 when King Kobra opened at Kings Dominion. Two other rides were also installed that year: White Lightnin' at Carowinds and Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (California). Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (Illinois) opened in 1978 and was the last to feature the weight drop launch system. Also that year, Knott's Berry Farm opened Montezooma's Revenge and Six Flags AstroWorld opened Greezed Lightnin' as the first installations to feature the flywheel launch system. A number of installations followed across the world. Twenty-two theme parks have operated Shuttle Loops, with half of the twelve original installa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a amusement park in Buena Park, California, United States, owned and operated by Six Flags. In March 2015, it was ranked as the List of amusement park rankings#North America, twelfth-most-visited theme park in North America, while averaging approximately 4 million visitors per year. The park features over 40 rides, including roller coasters, Family-friendly, family rides, dark rides, and water rides. Walter and Cordelia Knott first settled in Buena Park in 1920. The park began as a roadside berry stand run by Walter Knott along California State Route 39, State Route 39 in California. In 1941, the replica ghost town opened, paving the way for Knott’s Berry Farm to become a theme park. It was officially named Knott’s Berry Farm in 1947. By the 1940s, a restaurant, several shops, and other attractions had been constructed on the property to entertain a growing number of visitors. The site continued its transformation into a modern amusement park over the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Montezooma's Revenge
MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress, previously known as Montezooma’s Revenge, is a shuttle roller coaster located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, United States. Designed by Werner Stengel and built by Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH, the ride opened to the public on May 21, 1978. It is one of eight flywheel-launched units around the world and the oldest looping shuttle coaster still operating in its original location. MonteZOOMa was closed in early 2022 for a major refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen in 2025. History Montezooma's Revenge was named after the bluegrass group, Montezuma's Revenge, a musical act that performed regularly in the wagon camp at Knott's Berry Farm. Based on the launch mechanism for aircraft carriers, the flywheel-launched shuttle loop is a successor of the drop-tower launch shuttle, and predates modern Linear Induction Motor, LIM and hydraulic launch systems by over 15 years. The drop tower models had a large silo with a weight inside ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
California's Great America
California's Great America is an amusement park located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, it originally opened in 1976 as one of two parks built by the Marriott Corporation. Great America features over 40 rides and attractions, with Gold Striker among its most notable, which has ranked as a top wooden roller coaster in the world in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from ''Amusement Today''. Other notable rides include RailBlazer, a single-rail coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction, and Flight Deck, an inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. The park made appearances in the 1994 films '' Beverly Hills Cop III'' and '' Getting Even with Dad''. Ownership of the park transitioned several times, beginning with the city of Santa Clara's acquisition from Marriott in 1985. It was then sold to Kings Entertainment Company in 1989, while Santa Clara retained ownership of the land. Paramount Parks acq ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carowinds
Carowinds is a amusement park primarily located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The park is owned and operated by Six Flags. Carowinds straddles the state line between North and South Carolina, adjacent to Interstate 77, with a portion of the park located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The park has a sign telling guests where the state line lies. The park was constructed at a cost of $70 million following a four-year planning period led by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall. Carowinds first opened to the public on March 31, 1973. The park features Carolina Harbor, a water park that is included with park admission. Annual events include the Halloween-themed SCarowinds and the Christmas-themed WinterFest. History Early history, Carowinds Corporation (1969–1974) Carowinds was announced on October 10, 1969, and originally planned on being a large resort which would include a Amusement park, theme park, hotels, a shopping center, a golf course, and an National Football Leagu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gold Reef City
Gold Reef City is an amusement park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Located on an old gold mine which closed in 1971, the park is themed around the gold rush that started in 1886 on the Witwatersrand, and the buildings in the park are designed to mimic this period. There is a museum dedicated to gold mining on the grounds where it is possible to see a gold-containing ore vein and see how gold is poured into barrels. There are many attractions at Gold Reef City, including water rides, roller coasters, and the famous Gold Reef City Casino. Gold Reef City is located to the south of Johannesburg's Central Business District off the M1. It is also the site of the Apartheid Museum. Rides and attractions Some of the popular rides at the theme park include: * The Anaconda, the world's only Giovanola inverted coaster. * Golden Loop, a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop coaster. Originally White Lightnin' at Carowinds. * Jozi Express, a high-speed roller coaster built and manufactured b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
