Looping Star (Nagashima Spa Land) Explained

Looping Star
Location:Nagashima Spa Land
Type:Steel
Status:Open
Opened:1 March 1982[1]
Manufacturer:Anton Schwarzkopf
Designer:Werner Stengel
Model:Looping Star
Lift:Chain lift hill
Height Ft:80.4
Length Ft:1942.3
Speed Mph:47.8
Inversions:1
Duration:1:18
Capacity:1,700
Restriction In:48
Rcdb Number:1178
Carspertrain:7
Rowspercar:2
Ridersperrow:2
Height M:24.5
Length M:592
Speed Km/H:76.9
Restriction Cm:121.9

Looping Star (ルーピングスター) is a steel roller coaster located at Nagashima Spa Land in Mie, Japan. It is a Looping Star model built by Scwarzkopf in 1982, two years after the park’s Shuttle Loop roller coaster was built.

The trains on Looping Star use a single lap bar to hold riders in the seat. This restraint is effective since the centripetal forces from the loop and helices press riders in their seats, and are a common feature on Schwarzkopf’s looping coasters. However, the ride is known to be considerably shaky and rough. The ride originally opened with four trains, but currently operates with only two. The ride has an orange and white paint scheme with blue trains.

Ride experience

As the train climbs the chain lift hill and enters the drop, it falls into a large vertical loop, and then into multiple 180-degree helixes. Then ride goes around a large 180-degree helix and into a brake run. After two small left turns and a straightaway, the train returns to the station.

Notes and References

  1. 昭和57年 ルーピングスターの新設. 1982 introduced "Looping star". 目で見る長島温泉の30年(Me de miru Nagashima Onsen no 30 nen (Visual 30 years of Nagashima Spa)). Nagashima Resort Co.Ltd. . 1982.