Steel Force Explained

Steel Force
Location:Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Type:Steel
Status:Open
Opened:May 30, 1997
Manufacturer:D. H. Morgan Manufacturing
Designer:Steve Okamoto
Model:Hyper Coaster
Track:Out and Back
Lift:Chain lift hill
Height Ft:200
Drop Ft:205
Length Ft:5600
Speed Mph:75
Inversions:0
Duration:3:00
Angle:61
Capacity:1,700
Cost:US$10,000,000
Gforce:3.4
Restriction In:48
Trains:3
Carspertrain:6
Rowspercar:3
Ridersperrow:2
Virtual Queue Name:Fast Lane
Virtual Queue Image:Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg
Virtual Queue Status:available
Rcdb Number:276
Coordinates:40.5789°N -75.5381°W

Steel Force is a steel roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. At 5600feet in length, Steel Force is the eighth-longest steel coaster in the world as of 2024.[1]

Built by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing and designed by Steve Okamoto, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 30, 1997, and was billed as "the tallest and longest roller coaster on the east coast",[2] featuring a 205feet drop, of track, and a maximum speed of 75mph.[3]

History

On September 16, 1996, Dorney Park announced that Steel Force would be added to the park.[4] The ride opened on May 30, 1997.

Steel Force has been ranked among the top steel coasters in the world several times.[5] Its logo was originally intended to be used for the stand-up coaster Mantis (now Rougarou), which opened at Cedar Point a year earlier. Mantis was originally going to be named "Banshee," but the name and logo were changed prior to its debut.[6] Dorney Park adopted it for its Steel Force coaster a year later.[7]

Ride experience

The train departs the station entering a slight decline into the lift hill. After reaching the top, the train enters the first drop of, reaching a maximum vertical angle of 61 degrees. At the bottom of the first drop, riders pass through a tunnel and into a camelback hill. The train then ascends a third hill, which doubles as the entrance to the downward helix turnaround. After the helix, the train enters a mid-course brake run, before entering the ride's finale – a series of three back-to-back airtime hills and a double-up. The first airtime hill in this series features a tunnel, and an on-ride camera snaps photos at the bottom of the second. Following the double-up element, the train passes over the entrance plaza and enters the final brake run before returning to the station.

Construction data

The following materials are included:

Ride elements

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Record Holders - Length. RCDB.com. April 6, 2018.
  2. News: Dorney Park's Steel Force Is Engineered To Deliver A Thrilling Performance. Salter. Rosa. May 20, 1997. The Morning Call. April 6, 2018.
  3. Steel Force. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. 276. April 6, 2018.
  4. Web site: DORNEY UNLEASHES STEEL FORCE FOR 1997.
  5. Web site: Top 10 Coasters. Ultimate Rollercoaster. 15 July 2012. 1999.
  6. Mantis. Cedar Point. 7. 15 July 2012.
  7. Steel Force. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom. 276. 15 July 2012.