Sidewinder (Elitch Gardens) Explained

Sidewinder
Previousnames:Roaring Tornado at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Location:Elitch Gardens
Locationarticle:Elitch Gardens Theme Park
Type:Steel
Type2:Launched
Type3:Shuttle
Manufacturer:Arrow Dynamics
Designer:Arrow Dynamics
Extend:
Location:Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Status:Relocated to Elitch Gardens
Opened:1980
Year:1980
Closed:1989
Model:Launched Loop
Track:Shuttle Loop
Lift:Launch
Status:Operating
Opened:May 27, 1995
Height Ft:56
Drop Ft:47
Length Ft:635
Speed Mph:45
Duration:1:06
Angle:47
Inversions:1
Capacity:400
Gforce:4.0
Restriction In:48
Trains:1
Carspertrain:6
Rowspercar:2
Ridersperrow:2
Rcdb Number:209

Sidewinder is a steel roller coaster located at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.

This is a fairly simple coaster that takes rides through one loop. Instead of starting from the ground, riders have to ascend stairs fifty feet up to the loading station. The train is launched down a hill, goes into the loop, then ascends a slope opposite of the station with a braking section. The train repeats the layout backwards, and returns to the station.

Before being operated at Elitch Gardens this roller coaster was at the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park as the Roaring Tornado. The coaster operated at the original Elitch Gardens from 1990 to 1994, then was relocated to the current Elitch Gardens in 1995.

It is one of only three Arrow Dynamics launched loop coasters to be operating around the world, the others being Diamond Back at Frontier City, and the Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The ride has received new paint for the 2010 season, and is now more of a lime green than the darker shade it has been since being repainted from its original white.

References