Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum explained

Previousnames:Road Runner Express at Kentucky Kingdom (2000-2009)
Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum
Location:Six Flags New England
Section:DC Universe
Coordinates:42.0406°N -72.6146°W
Status:Operating
Year:2011
Extend:
Location:Kentucky Kingdom
Status:Relocated to Six Flags New England
Year:2000
Previousattraction:The Squid
Replacement:Professor John's Flying Machines, and Cyclos
Type:Steel
Type2:Wild Mouse
Type3:Family
Manufacturer:Maurer AG
Designer:Ingenieur Buro Stengel GmbH
Model:Wilde Maus Classic
Height Ft:49.25
Length Ft:1213.9
Speed Mph:28
Duration:1:32
Angle:46
Inversions:0
Capacity:900
Restriction In:46
Virtual Queue Name:Flash Pass
Virtual Queue Image:Fastpass availability icon.svg
Virtual Queue Status:Available
Rcdb Number:9431

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum, formerly known as Road Runner Express, is a steel wild mouse roller coaster at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts.[1]

History

In May 2000, Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky opened a new wild mouse roller coaster. It opened on the former site of The Vampire, (which was also relocated to Six Flags New England as Flashback). The ride operated as the Road Runner Express until the end of the 2009 season when Six Flags rejected the park's lease after a dispute with the Kentucky State Fair Board and closed the park.[2] [3] As part of Six Flags' settlement with the Kentucky State Fair Board, Road Runner Express was removed from the Kentucky Kingdom site and relocated to Six Flags New England.[1] [4] [5] In 2011, the ride reopened as the Gotham City Gauntlet Escape From Arkham Asylum.[6]

The coaster opened on a site that formerly housed the Batman Stunt Show arena and was previously prepared for the canceled Dark Knight indoor wild mouse roller coaster. The Gauntlet is generally a mirror image of the layout of the Dark Knight coaster that initially was intended to be installed on that same site.

Ride

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape From Arkham Asylum follows the same layout as many other wild mouse roller coasters, with four people per individual car. The highest point is 49feet and the coaster includes 17 turns and numerous drops. The ride is primarily intended for younger children and families, but it is not specifically a junior roller coaster as the minimum height requirement is 46inches.

Theme

There are eight different Batman villain themed cars. The story of the ride is that passengers are going along with their car's villain to escape from Arkham Asylum. The ride was previously themed to The Looney Tunes when it was at Kentucky Kingdom.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Gotham City Gauntlet Escape from Arkham Asylum. Six Flags New England. 9431. January 6, 2011.
  2. Web site: Kentucky Kingdom Rejects Lease Park to Close . Roller Coaster Database . February 4, 2010 . January 6, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110908083454/http://www.rcdb.com/4563.htm?dt=126 . September 8, 2011 .
  3. Road Runner Express. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. 702. January 6, 2011.
  4. Web site: Six Flags New England: New Coaster in 2011 . Six Flags . January 6, 2011.
  5. News: Fair board strikes deal for Kentucky Kingdom . Business First . July 23, 2010 . January 6, 2011.
  6. Web site: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Investor Meeting Presentation. Six Flags. January 6, 2011. November 4, 2010.