Storm Chaser (roller coaster) explained

Storm Chaser
Imagedimensions:250px
Previousnames:Twisted Sisters (1998–2001) and Twisted Twins (2002–2007)
Location:Kentucky Kingdom
Coordinates:38.1958°N -85.7503°W
Status:Operating
Cost:$10 million
Previousattraction:Twisted Twins
Type:Steel
Manufacturer:Rocky Mountain Construction
Designer:Alan Schilke
Model:I-Box – Custom
Lift:Chain lift hill
Height Ft:100
Length Ft:2744
Speed Mph:52
Inversions:3
Duration:1:40
Angle:78
Capacity:960
Gforce:3.8
Trains:2
Carspertrain:6
Rowspercar:2
Ridersperrow:2
Rcdb Number:12941

Storm Chaser is a steel roller coaster located at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. Designed by Alan Schilke and manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) at an estimated cost of $10 million, the ride opened to the public on April 30, 2016. It features three inversions, a 78-degree drop, and a maximum speed of 52mph utilizing RMC's patented I-Box track technology.

Originally manufactured by Custom Coasters International, the ride first opened as a wooden dueling coaster named Twisted Sisters in 1998. After American heavy metal band Twisted Sister threatened to sue the park, the name was changed to Twisted Twins in 2002. It closed indefinitely in 2007, and its future became uncertain after Kentucky Kingdom ceased operations in 2010. RMC was hired to renovate the ride for the 2016 season, 2 years after the park reopened in 2014. As a budgetary measure, some of the supports from Twisted Twins were reused. It was nominated for "Best New Ride For 2016", an Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award, placing second behind Dollywood's Lightning Rod.[1]

History

In September 1997, operation rights for Kentucky Kingdom were sold by Themeparks LLC to Premier Parks for $64 million.[2] Weeks after the deal was finalized in November 1997, the new operators announced plans to build a $5-million dueling roller coaster, called Double Trouble, in time to open during the 1998 season.[3] The name was later changed to Twisted Sisters prior to the ride's opening.[4] [5] Following the purchase of Six Flags by Premier Parks in June 1998, the park was rebranded as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.[2] [6]

In 2002, the heavy metal band Twisted Sister threatened the park with legal action regarding the name of the roller coaster. To avoid a lawsuit, the park changed the ride's name to Twisted Twins.[7] It operated under that name until the end of the 2007 season when the park closed the ride indefinitely, and the Gerstlauer trains were relocated to Six Flags St. Louis to be used as spare parts for The Boss, another Custom Coasters International ride with Gerstlauer trains.[8]

Amid corporate bankruptcy on February 4, 2010, Six Flags announced that the park would cease operations immediately following the rejection of an amended lease by the Kentucky State Fair Board.[9] Former operator of Kentucky Kingdom, Ed Hart, along with several other investors formed the Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company with the aim of reopening the park quickly.[10] [11] [12] However, plans were abandoned after sixteen months of negotiations.[13] [14] [15] [16] On February 23, 2012, the Kentucky Fair Board approved a lease agreement which would see the park operate as Bluegrass Boardwalk. The plans called for the removal of Twisted Twins and T2 as a result of safety concerns.[17] [18]

On June 27, 2013, Ed Hart's group negotiated an agreement to spend $36 million to reopen the park in May 2014. They also announced plans to transform Twisted Twins into "a much superior ride" and hoped to reopen it in 2016.[19] [20] Rocky Mountain Construction was eventually hired to refurbish the roller coaster with their patented IBox track design. In July 2015, Kentucky Kingdom announced plans to name the renovated ride Storm Chaser and open it during the 2016 season.[21] The estimated cost for the new ride was $10 million.[22]

Characteristics

Twisted Twins

In its original form, Twisted Twins was a dueling roller coaster, which featured two roller coaster tracks that departed from opposite ends of a single station. The two tracks followed different paths, passing by each other four times.[23] Despite this, both tracks measured 3000feet in length, stood 80feet tall, and featured top speeds of . The ride was the only dueling roller coaster manufactured by Custom Coasters International, and was one of only two dual-tracked roller coasters manufactured by the company (Stampida at PortAventura Park is a racing roller coaster).[24] [25] The ride was designed by Dennis McNulty and Larry Bill, a duo responsible for many of the company's roller coasters.[26] [27] Construction of Twisted Twins was completed by Martin & Vleminckx.

A single train, manufactured by Gerstlauer, ran on each of the tracks. These two trains were named Stella and Lola, respectively.[28] Each train seated 28 riders across seven cars configured in two rows of two. These trains required riders to be of a minimum height of 48inches.[29]

Storm Chaser

According to park officials, Storm Chaser utilized some components of Twisted Twins' structure as a budgetary feature, but is otherwise a completely new experience.[21] Storm Chaser utilized Rocky Mountain's IBox steel track system to create a ride experience that has the smoothness of a steel coaster with the faster pace of a wooden coaster.[21] The new track also allows the train to perform inversions, something not normally seen on wooden roller coasters.[21]

Comparison

Statistic Twisted Twins (Twisted Sisters)[30] Storm Chaser[31]
Years 1998-2007 2016–
Manufacturer Custom Coasters International Rocky Mountain Construction
Designer Dennis McNulty, Larry Bill Alan Schilke
Track Type Wood Steel
Track Layout Out and back
Height 80disp=orNaNdisp=or 100disp=orNaNdisp=or
Drop
Length 3000disp=orNaNdisp=or 2744disp=orNaNdisp=or
Speed 55disp=orNaNdisp=or 52disp=orNaNdisp=or
78°
G-force 3.2 3.8
Capacity 960 riders per hour
Duration 2:12 1:40
Inversions 0 3
Trains Gerstlauer Rocky Mountain Construction

Ride experience

Storm Chaser departs the station and makes a U-turn to the right to start up its lift hill. After cresting the top of the lift, the train banks left and enters a barrel-roll drop back down to ground level, followed by an airtime hill and an overbanked left-hand turn that leaves the train partially upside down for a short time. Storm Chaser then climbs another hill and banks right before turning to the left and heading back in the opposite direction and rounding an overbanked turn to the right.

The train crests another airtime hill before banking right and entering the final inversion, a corkscrew. Exiting the corkscrew and banking to the left, Storm Chaser passes over a series of camelback hills where the banking varies from side to side. The train then enters a 270-degree banked helix to the right, then rises to the left before entering the final brake run and returning to the station.

Reception

1998–2007: Wood

The ride did not earn any placements in the Golden Ticket Awards' Top 50 wooden coasters during this time.

2016–present: Steel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Cedar Point welcomes 2016 Golden Ticket Awards. September 2016. Amusement Today. September 21, 2016.
  2. Book: Kleber, John E.. The Encyclopedia of Louisville. 2000. University Press of Kentucky. 0-8131-2100-0. 32.
  3. News: Whew! What a wild ride for Kentucky Kingdom. June 29, 2013. Louisville Morning Call. November 24, 1997. Advance Publications.
  4. Twisted Twins. Kentucky Kingdom. 472. June 29, 2013.
  5. Web site: Dueling coasters offer a twist. Guido. Anna. February 28, 1998. The Enquirer. September 19, 2016.
  6. O'Brien. Tim. Premier Converts More To Six Flags. Amusement Business. November 2, 1998. 110. 44. 3, 44.
  7. News: Kentucky Kingdom plans to turn a defunct coaster into a jaw-dropping marvel. MacDonald. Brady. March 11, 2016. Los Angeles Times. September 19, 2016.
  8. Boss. Six Flags St. Louis. 616. June 29, 2013.
  9. Web site: Kentucky Kingdom Rejects Lease Park to Close. RCDB. November 15, 2010. February 4, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110908083454/http://www.rcdb.com/4563.htm?dt=126. September 8, 2011.
  10. News: Kentucky Kingdom will not re-open until 2012 . . October 28, 2010 . November 4, 2010.
  11. News: Kentucky Kingdom gets a new boss. November 15, 2010. Fox 41. May 28, 2010.
  12. News: New Owner Approved For Kentucky Kingdom. November 15, 2010. News Channel 5. May 28, 2010. Associated Press. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120324104039/http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=12558030. March 24, 2012.
  13. Web site: Karman. John R.. Fair board strikes deal for Kentucky Kingdom property. Business First. November 15, 2010. July 26, 2010.
  14. Web site: Shafer. Sheldon S.. Kentucky fair board OKs deal to get Six Flags land, rides. Courier Journal. November 15, 2010. July 25, 2010. dead. https://archive.today/20100913164425/http://m.courier-journal.com/BETTER/news.jsp?key=693342&rc=bz&p=1. September 13, 2010.
  15. News: Shafer. Sheldon. Kentucky Kingdom gets boost. https://archive.today/20120712130819/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2434566041.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&fmac=2f87fe9d0b79084e4197a2e5f0693207&date=Aug+24,+2011&author=&pub=&desc=Kentucky+Kingdom+gets+boost. dead. July 12, 2012. September 1, 2011. Courier-Journal. August 24, 2011.
  16. News: Karman. John. Company sues state to recoup Kentucky Kingdom investment. November 4, 2011. Business First. November 4, 2011.
  17. News: Brown. Joey. Kentucky Kingdom reopening as Bluegrass Boardwalk in May 2013. February 23, 2012. Wave 3 News. February 23, 2012.
  18. Web site: Gazaway . Charles . Tentative opening date for Bluegrass Boardwalk . Wave3.com . October 29, 2012.
  19. News: Kentucky Kingdom operators announce expansion plans for amusement park reopening in 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202732/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/kentucky-kingdom-operators-announce-expansion-plans-for-amusement-park-reopening-in-2014/2013/06/27/1e615ea0-df6d-11e2-8cf3-35c1113cfcc5_story.html. dead. December 3, 2018. June 28, 2013. Washington Post. June 28, 2013. Associated Press.
  20. News: Shafer. Sheldon S.. Kentucky Kingdom operator promises 'bigger, better, wetter' park in 2014. June 29, 2013. The Courier-Journal. June 27, 2013. Gannett Company.
  21. Web site: Ky. Kingdom unveils steel-wood hybrid coaster. Roberto Roldan. courier-journal.com. Gannett Newspapers. July 20, 2015. July 21, 2015.
  22. News: Kentucky Kingdom plans to turn a defunct coaster into a jaw-dropping marvel. MacDonald. Brady. March 11, 2016. November 11, 2017.
  23. O'Brien. Tim. Park preview '98. Amusement Business. May 4, 1998. 110. 18. 17–18, 20.
  24. Roller Coaster Search Results. June 29, 2013. http://rcdb.com/r.htm?nm=na&co=6868&ca=104&ot=2.
  25. Stampida. PortAventura Park. 759. June 29, 2013.
  26. Roller Coaster Search Results. Dennis McNulty. June 29, 2013. http://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&pe=6931&page=1&order=10.
  27. Roller Coaster Search Results. Larry Bill. June 29, 2013. http://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&pe=6869&page=1&order=10.
  28. Web site: Twisted Twins. Ultimate Rollercoaster. June 29, 2013.
  29. Web site: Twisted Twins. Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. June 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20071118035900/http://www.sixflags.com/kentuckyKingdom/rides/TwistedTwins.aspx. November 18, 2007.
  30. Twisted Twins. Kentucky Kingdom. 472. July 21, 2015.
  31. Storm Chaser. Kentucky Kingdom. 12941. July 21, 2015.