Goliath
Bad to the Chrome...(2006, Bolliger & Mabillard,
200 feet tall (first drop is 170), 4,400 feet long, maximum speed
67 MPH, Two trains with 9 cars with riders arranged 4 across,
54" minimum height requirement.) After loading into a very
comfortable seated train with a lap restraint and reclining so
the feet won't touch the floor the train leaves the USA section
from the location of the old Great Gasp to peak at 200ft.
followed by a 170-foot first drop, then
the first of six zero-gravity camelback hills over the Georgia
Scorcher and log flume before a 175-food drop heading over
traffic on the entrance road coming into the East parking lot.
Then the ride flies through the trees and around the ponds on
an island outside the front gate, performing what should be a
traffic-stopping double helix by Six Flags Drive before another
camelback followed by a high banked horseshoe turn returning back
to the station arcing over the entrance path, Scorcher (again)
and up to the brakes. Excitement should be gigantic with a ride
that includes six camel backs, one high speed banked turn, the
fantastic helix and the overbanked horseshoe turn. With the interaction
over the midways of the park, diving over other rides, zipping
past traffic and then hopping back up to the USA section, this
isn't your standard run-of-the-mill hyper coaster. Finally after
all these years of dreaming a world class hypercoaster has landed in Georgia. Too bad they couldn't come up with an original
name, but if we have to live with it to get a fantastic coaster
so be it.
You are the man of steel. [2002, Bolliger
& Mabilliard, 106 feet tall from station, 115 feet tall from
ground, 101 foot drop, 51 MPH, 7 row / 4 position train x 3, 54"
minimum height requirement] Replaced the Schwartzkopf shuttle
loop coaster Viper that was removed in September, 2001,
Superman creates
a riding sensation very close to a hang-gliding or flying experience.
The passengers no longer sit on seats but hang under the track
in a lay-down position facing away from the track. Most coaster
enthusiasts consider this a "flying" position but the
manufacturer classifies it as a lay-down coaster. From
the 2 second seat lift in the station to the very end, the cars
are in a flying position, with riders strapped into cars like
the man of steel straps on his cape. The ride layout enhances
the unique riding position by using sharp dives to the ground,
highly banked curves, spirals, close fly-bys to objects and two
inversions to accentuate the flying sensation of the ride experience.
The entire ride has been designed to take every conceivable advantage
of the unique passenger riding configuration. And the first inversion
is a true world's first - a pretzel loop - an unbelievable element
where you enter a loop at the top and go head over heels down
and around (imagine a traditional sit-down coaster loop flipped
over) exiting at the same upper level going in the same direction
you entered on the other side of the loop. As you enter the bottom
of the element, the forces that were letting you float and fly
will plaster you into the back of your seat - releasing you again
to fly at the top of the loop. An truely unbelievable unbeatable
ride that is great for the entire family (above 54 inches in height).
I think that if you could really fly, this is what it would feel
like!
Put your feet to the fire.™ [1999, Bolliger &
Mabillard; 107-foot lift, 2,768 feet long, 54 MPH, approx. 2 minutes,
8 row / 4 position train x 2, 54" minimum height requirement]
This B&M-designed stand up roller coaster carries 32 Thrillseekers
in purple bullet-nosed trains. The Scorcher's purple and gold
structure and track twists through two inversions after making
an initial 101 foot dive. Passengers first feel the burn as they
soar through an 81-foot-tall vertical loop. The rest of the trip
includes a 79-foot tall inclined turn, a high speed spiral crossing
the vertical loop, a nearly-sideways camel-back hill, a corkscrew
and a tight figure-eight, with several head-chopper moments and
plenty of float. Finally, you'll pull 4 Gs barreling through a
final figure-eight. New for 2000 were added seat belts to the
shoulder harnesses which increased the wait times as it is very
difficult to buckle the belt while standing up. This is my favorite
stand-up coaster anywhere because of the wild variations in forces
that take full advantage of the fact that the rider is standing
up. And this ride is a stand-up coaster; when boarding, stand
erect with your knees slightly bent until the seats are locked
into position. This is a method to get a very comfortable ride.
Many passengers go as far down to the floor as possible, making
it almost a sit-down coaster - which makes for a very unpleasant
ride.
Answer the Call [1997, Bolliger & Mabillard; 105-foot lift,
2,700 feet long, 50 MPH, 2 minutes, 8-row/4-seat train x 2, 54"
minimum height requirement] This is the standard inverted roller
coaster design found at several Six Flags parks. You sit
in a well-harnessed ski-lift-style chair as the station floor
drops with only the air below your dangling feet and the track
and sky above. The ride soars through 2 loops, a weightless inversion
/ heart line roll, a few high-speed turns, and 2 single corkscrews
(each 40 feet long), ending with a blast of vapor mist as you
return to the Batcave. Part of the Batman experience is
the queue line with extensive theming (including a "Toxic
Waste Accumulator," a wrecked Police car and a drain pipe
fan). Note that most of the queue is under the station house (look
up to see the humorous labels attached to the electrical conduit
pipes for freon, acid, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), etc.). There
is a sample ride chair next to the Bruce Wayne obelisk near the
Gotham City Park entrance (great for photos). The ride
exit is through the Gotham City Gifts shop. This is a non-stop
intense ride that, while short, continues to pack quite a punch.
A doorway was installed in 2003 right before the main part of
the "warehouse" section - so on lightly attended days
the queue heads right in front of the "fan" before the
stairs up to the loading platform in the Batcave. No more up and
down over the queue rails required.
The Most A Coaster Can Beeeeeeeeee!
[1990, Curtis D. Summers, Inc.,
95-foot lift (max. drop 78.5 feet @ 53 degrees), 2,970 feet long,
50 MPH, 1 min. 48 sec., 6-car/4-seat train x 2, 48" minimum
height requirement] A variation on the New York classic, this
wooden coaster has a great first drop followed by wonderful surprises
including changes of direction and air time. Consistently ranks
in the top 10 of most coaster enthusiasts woodie list, a 10-acre
ride on a 3-acre site. The sign over the lift used to say the
slogan above, but now it says STAY SEATED! (Just try to
stay keep your bottom in the back seat at all times during this
air-time filled ride.) In 1997 all of the coasters received new
warning signs on their seat backs (except Batman). Photos
are taken during this ride on the drop (#4) after the second turn
around. Would probably be on everyone's top 10 list if they fixed
the trains - the seat dividers and hard foam paddings make this
one of the roughest wood coaster trains around, but it is an excellent
"don't miss" ride.
World's First Triple Looping* Roller
Coaster [1978, Anton Schwarzkopf,
97-foot lift (max. drop 80 feet), 3,253 feet long, 50 MPH, 2 min.
33 sec., 7-car/4-seat train x 2, 42" minimum height requirement]
Re-painted and themed to fit the new Gotham City section
in 1997 when they also moved the entrance, there's a black train
with green "?"s that rides on a Riddler-green track
(rumor is that this was to be the first Riddler's Revenge).
This is a classic looping steel roller coaster that has two 56-feet
high upside down inversions, a swooping drop into an inclined
helix (which SFOG claims makes this the first triple-loop roller
coaster in North America), a short tunnel and a flight over the
Gotham City park and circus midway. Best of all - no horse
collars - only a lap bar and marvelous G-forces hold you in place!
The entrance was re-located in 1997 to the other side of Ultrazone
(a laser tag game) and the exit now finishes in an arcade area.
Watch out for the green water! Other than a paint job, MindBender
runs just like it did when it opened - a classic looping steel
coaster that almost anyone can ride - even kids who are just 3
and a half feet tall! *Note that the third loop isn't an inversion,
it's a tilted helix in the middle of the ride.
An American
Classic [1973, John Allen /
PTC, 105-foot lift (max. drop 87 feet @ 45 degrees), 3,800 feet
long, 57 MPH, 2 minutes, 4-car/6-seat train x 2, 42" minimum
height requirement] This is a great wooden out-and-back design
that is fun and while greatly improved recently - but is not as
exciting as the Cyclone. This was one of the world's longest
and tallest roller coasters built as part of the roller coaster
renaissance of the early 1970's. It's in a picturesque setting
by the lake and is currently brakeless outside of the station.
The running brakes were removed in 1997 to be replaced by brakes
right after the head-chopper entrance into the station: be prepared
for a very quick stop, especially if the second train isn't on
the lift hill. And as you exit the ride look straight down the
track's return for one of the most photographed shots in Six
Flag's coaster collection - the coaster train going up and
down over a series of small hills straight into the station house.
I've personally seen this image on different Six Flags commercials
from New York to California. In 1994 & 1995 the trains were
turned and ran facing backwards (after several special short periods
of backwards operation during preceding years). Due to the length
of the name many locals call it by the initials GASM (pronounced
"gah-zem"). A great wood coaster ride with classic
feeling trains with single position lapbars.
(2004, Chance Rides, 16 feet tall,
900 feet long, maximum speed 30 MPH, Single train with 5 cars.
Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 16 riders,
36" minimum height requirement, no maximum limit as long
as the restraints can be locked, being with a child is not required
to ride). Finally a kiddie coaster returns to the park, although
this is more of a family coaster with a minimum height requirement
and a thrilling couple of drops. A new station location over the
drawbridge Bugs Bunny World entrance it is an eyecatching addition
to the area as the track climbs and dives around the fort now
puntuated with props from a Roadrunner / Coyote chase. The queue
begins inside the Carrot Club courtyard and ascends next to the
Coyote's ACME warehouse. Not a simple copy of an existing ride,
this is a brand new version expanding into a modified figure 8
layout; the lift approach circles one of the castle's turrets,
the lift climbs over the Carrot Club, followed by a first drop
into the courtyard and then back up and over the fort. What follows
is a drop down into a speed turn through a tunnel (made from the
old Wiggle Worm location), then back up and over the new Carousel
Hill pedestrian bridge, with a drop down back under the bridge
prior to ascending the hill back to the station. Definitely more
than a standard kiddie coaster.
Ninja ®
The Black Belt of Roller Coasters™
[1989, relocated to SFOG 1992, Vekoma,
110-foot lift, 2,900 feet long, 7-car/4-seat train, 48" minimum
height requirement] A 5-loop twisted steel coaster that's over
a small lake (because of the lake the 110-foot hill is 122 feet
over the water), but lately it's running a little rough. Relocated
from the Jersey shore (Hunt's Pier/Conko's Party Pier) where it
ran as Kamikaze (1989-1992). This is a custom compact
design with a double-loop "butterfly" and "diving
loop" elements along with a double corkscrew. Ninja replaced
Z-Force that ran at the current queue house
location. Z-Force was an Intamin "Space Diver"
coaster (the only one ever built) that traveled between three
parks; 1985-1988 at Six Flags Great America (near Chicago,
Il.), 1988-1992 SFOG, and ended up at Six Flags Magic Mountain
(Los Angeles, Ca.) as Flashback. A lot of locals really
dislike this coaster since Mind Bender is in the same park and
is smoother and lacks the head-banging over-the-shoulder harnesses,
but for people visiting it's a truly unique coaster that's not
as bad as it's rough repuation - especially if you sit in the
front row of the last car. In fact, I have many friends who love
the ride and they aren't crasy, it's just that they are used to
Arrow looping coasters which tend to be even rougher than Ninja.
Dahlonega Mine Train
Take a Wild Ride Back in Time [1967, Arrow Development with later modifications
by Hopkins, Inc., 37-foot lift (3 lifts total, max drop 47 feet
@ 45 degrees), 28.86 MPH (42.3 feet per second), 2,323 feet long,
2 min. 51 sec., 5-car/6-seat train x 3, 42" minimum height
requirement] The first coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia
was named after Dahlonega (dah-LON-ee-ga), Georgia, home to the
first US "gold rush." A 3-lift hill ride with no great
drops or surprises until you go through the mine shack at the
end. If you're very lucky you may also get splashed by Splashwater
Falls. Younger kids love this because it's "their size"
but it tends to be a little jerky for adults. The tallest person
enters first in order to guarantee clearing the trees during the
ride's turns. Originally a Mini-Mine Train was located
over the tunnel but was removed when Bugs Bunny World was
developed (it was replaced by BBW's Convoy Trucks). Herky-jerky
and pretty tame till the end - it's a fun ride but is outclassed
by every other coaster in the park. Would be greatly improved
by a little care and returning the tunnel shack at the far turn.
The Hopkins modifications substituted most of the wood support
structure with steel.
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