ArieForce One

Last updated
ArieForce One
ArieForceOne logo.png
ArieForce One 1.jpg
Fun Spot America Atlanta
Location Fun Spot America Atlanta
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 31, 2023
Cost$18,000,000 USD [1]
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer Rocky Mountain Construction
DesignerJoe Draves
ModelI-Box
Track layoutOut and Back
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height154 ft (47 m)
Drop146 ft (45 m)
Length3,400 ft (1,000 m)
Speed64 mph (103 km/h)
Inversions 4
Duration1:40
Max vertical angle83°
Capacity900 riders per hour
G-force 3.75
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Website Official website
ArieForce One at RCDB

ArieForce One is a steel roller coaster at Fun Spot America Atlanta in Fayetteville, Georgia. The project was first announced by representatives of the Fun Spot America chain in May 2021, and the coaster was formally unveiled at the IAAPA Orlando Expo on November 16, 2021. [2] At an accumulated cost of $18 million, ArieForce One represents the single largest investment on any ride in Fun Spot America's history. [3] ArieForce One officially opened to the public on March 31, 2023.

Contents

History

Background

Fun Junction USA originally opened as Dixieland Fun Park in 1990 with Go-kart tracks, batting cages, and a miniature golf course. Management eventually added a small selection of rides over the years, including the Hurricane Coaster in 2007. [4] In July 2017, Florida-based Fun Spot America Theme Parks announced the acquisition of Fun Junction USA as their first property outside of the state, with plans to roll out new attractions and branding. [5] Chief among these investments was a new go-kart track for the 2018 season, but Fun Spot America CEO John Arie Jr hinted at a signature new coaster to perhaps eventually be built at the park. [6] [7]

Land was first cleared for this purpose in early 2019, with deforestation taking place where the lift hill and first portion of the coaster are now. [8] Sometime during the following two years, Fun Spot began accepting proposals for a new coaster; GCI and Gravity Group – the respective manufacturers of the chain's White Lightning and Mine Blower wooden coasters – both reportedly (and unsuccessfully) bid on the project. [9]

Announcement

On May 25, 2021, Fun Spot America Atlanta announced that they had selected Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction (otherwise known as RMC) to construct a major new steel coaster for the 2022 season. [2] Management attempted to secure a naming rights deal with the Atlanta Hawks professional basketball team, although such efforts fell through the following month. [10] [11] [12] Fun Spot America Theme Parks subsequently trademarked the name "Arie Force One" on June 11, 2021. [13] [14]

ArieForce One lead train during unveiling at the IAAPA Expo Orlando 2021 ArieForce One Ride Lead Car.jpg
ArieForce One lead train during unveiling at the IAAPA Expo Orlando 2021

Throughout the summer, Fun Spot socials systematically released conceptual renderings of the coaster. [15] ArieForce One was officially unveiled on November 16, 2021, at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida. [1] The coaster train's lead car was also unveiled that day at RMC's event booth, and was kept on display at Fun Spot Orlando for a few months before moving to Atlanta. [16] [17] Budgeted at $13 million at the time, the coaster would represent the single largest investment ever put into a Fun Spot park. [3] An animated onride point-of-view video was released on Christmas Day. [18]

Construction

Work on ArieForce One was marred by serious delays, with progress bogged down by supply chain bottlenecks, zoning woes with Fayette County, and a modest construction crew. The issues ultimately pushed back ArieForce One's scheduled opening into 2023. In August 2022, John Arie Jr. stated that, "[the] project has been delayed by about eight months. We have had to invest $5 million more into property changes to satisfy the county". Fayette County officials ordered the park to construct a new parking lot and more storm drainage, which required the removal of their miniature golf courses. As stated by Arie Jr, "Basically, we had to remove one income source to build another”. [19]

Steel first began arriving for the coaster in the Fall of 2021. [20] Fun Spot America held ArieForce One's groundbreaking ceremony on January 6, 2022. [21] [22] The first pieces of the support structure were installed in February, with construction continuing up until the end of the year. [23]

Ride experience

Departing the station, the train traverses two bunny hops before ascending the 154-foot (47 m) tall lift hill at an angle of 45°. Upon reaching its peak, the train plummets down a 146-foot (45 m) first drop at 83°, reaching an advertising top speed of 64 mph (103 km/h). Riders rise up into the coaster's first inversion, a dive loop (dubbed as a Raven Truss Dive) acting as a turnaround. A speed hill directly proceeds such, leading up into the second inversion, a large Zero-G stall underneath the lift hill. A large outwards-banked airtime hill follows, redirecting the train 90° to the left and into the park. After speeding through a double up, riders sharply drop into the third inversion, a tight barrel roll overtop of the arcade. Behind the park's main buildings, the coaster twists through an off-axis hill, right-hand turnaround, and a final Zero-g roll. A second low hill above the arcade leads riders into the coaster's final stretch, consisting of an extended quad-down. Riders pop up into the final brake run and proceed back to the station through a 90° turn to the right. One ride on ArieForce One is advertised to last 100 seconds.[ citation needed ]

Characteristics

ArieForce One stands 154 feet (47 m) tall, 3,400 feet (1,000 m) long, and reaches a top speed of 64 mph (103 km/h) throughout the ride. The natural topography results in a total elevation change of 180 feet (55 m) throughout the ride layout. The coaster runs two 5-car trains, each car of which seats riders in two rows of two, resulting in an occupancy of 20 passengers per train and an estimated hourly capacity of 900 people per hour. In terms of the layout, ArieForce One contains an 83° first drop and four inversions, including a headlining "Raven Truss Dive" and the largest Zero-G stall in the United States. [1] G-forces throughout the ride vary, with riders being subjected to vertical G-forces between 3.75 g and -1.0 g, as well as lateral forces of +/- 1.25 g. [24]

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year2023
Ranking25 [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller coaster</span> Rail-based amusement park ride

A roller coaster is a type of amusement ride employing a form of elevated railroad track that carries passengers on a train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements designed to produce a thrilling experience. Trains consist of open cars connected in a single line, and the rides are often found in theme parks around the world. Roller coasters first appeared in the 17th century, and LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained one of the first known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885, based on the Switchback Railway which opened a year earlier at Coney Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Coasters International</span> Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer

Great Coasters International, Inc. is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird at PowerPark in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in Europe and Asia. Günter Engelhardt GmbH handles the company's marketing rights in Europe. In addition to designing and building new roller coasters, GCI also refurbishes and re-tracks existing roller coasters, regardless of manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nemesis (roller coaster)</span> Inverted coaster at Alton Towers

Nemesis is an inverted roller coaster located at the Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire, England. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the ride was designed by Werner Stengel in collaboration with attraction developer John Wardley. It opened in the Forbidden Valley area of the park on 19 March 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron Rattler</span> Steel roller coaster in San Antonio

Iron Rattler is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. Originally opening as a wooden coaster called Rattler in 1992, it was converted to steel and renamed Iron Rattler in 2013. Designed by Alan Schilke and built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), the ride features a zero-g-roll inversion, which was a first among hybrid coasters made of wood and steel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Storm Runner</span> Roller coaster at Hersheypark

Storm Runner is a launched roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by Intamin and situated in the Pioneer Frontier section of the park, the Accelerator Coaster opened to the public on May 8, 2004. It reaches a height of 150 feet (46 m) and catapults riders from 0 to 72 mph (116 km/h) in two seconds. Storm Runner features a top hat element, three inversions, a dual loading station, and a magnetic braking system. In addition, it was designed to interact with three other Hersheypark rides: Dry Gulch Railroad, the Monorail, and Trailblazer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildcat's Revenge</span> Roller coaster at Hersheypark

Wildcat's Revenge is a steel roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. The ride originally opened in 1996 as Wildcat, a wooden coaster manufactured by Great Coasters International (GCI). The wooden coaster was the first from GCI and served as the anchor attraction of the Midway America section of the park. It cost $5.6 million to construct and was built on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) plot of land that had previously been used for parking. The ride traversed a 90-foot lift hill and twelve banked turns, subjecting riders to forces of up to 3.5 Gs. From 1998 to 2009, Wildcat ranked among the top 50 wooden roller coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. Wildcat initially received critical acclaim, but it gained a negative reputation for its increasing roughness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medusa Steel Coaster</span> Steel roller coaster at Six Flags México

Medusa Steel Coaster, formerly known as simply Medusa, is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags México in Mexico City. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) and designed by Alan Schilke, the ride opened to the public on 14 June 2014. It was originally a wooden coaster constructed by Custom Coasters International that debuted in June 2000. The wooden track was completely removed and replaced with RMC's I-Box track technology, a steel conversion that resulted in a new track layout with increased speed and the addition of three inversions. Medusa was generally well-received, ranking several times in the top 50 among steel roller coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Mountain Construction</span> Roller coaster manufacturer

Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), is a manufacturing and construction company based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. The company is best known for its I-Box track and Topper Track for wooden roller coasters. Established in 2001, the company was founded by Fred Grubb and Suanne Dedmon. The company has built over 20 roller coasters. In 2023, amusement ride manufacturer Larson International merged with Rocky Mountain Construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Lightning (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster in Orlando, Florida

White Lightning is a wooden roller coaster located at Fun Spot America amusement park in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Great Coasters International (GCI), White Lightning opened to the public on June 8, 2013, as the first wooden coaster to be built in Orlando. Unlike traditional wood designs, the support structure is made of steel to reduce maintenance costs, and it was the first time GCI incorporated the design into one of their coasters. White Lightning has also been well-received, consistently ranking in the top 50 among wooden roller coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fun Spot America Theme Parks</span> Amusement park in Orlando, Florida

Fun Spot America Theme Parks is a group of amusement parks. Since 1979, the group has owned and operated a number of small amusement parks over the years and currently has three locations in Orlando, Florida, Kissimmee, Florida, and Fayetteville, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Flyer</span>

Freedom Flyer is a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster at the Fun Spot America Amusement Park in Orlando, Florida. It has yellow track and blue supports. Opened in May 2013, it is 1,295 feet (395 m) long.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Timbers</span> Steel roller coaster at Kings Dominion

Twisted Timbers is a steel roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. It originally opened as a wooden coaster named Hurler in 1994, designed and manufactured by International Coasters, Inc., with a name and layout that matched an identical installation at Carowinds. The ride closed for extensive maintenance in 2015 according to the park, which later teased in 2016 that Hurler was being replaced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jersey Devil Coaster</span> Roller coaster in Jackson, New Jersey

The Jersey Devil Coaster is a single-rail roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The roller coaster was built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC). It is themed to the Jersey Devil, a mythical creature rumored to live in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The roller coaster is 3,000 feet (910 m) long and contains a 130-foot (40 m)-tall lift hill and three inversions. The Jersey Devil Coaster uses four trains, each containing 12 seats, which achieve a maximum speed of 58 miles per hour (93 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stunt Pilot (roller coaster)</span> Single-rail coaster at Silverwood

Stunt Pilot is a steel roller coaster at Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho. The single-rail Raptor model was manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, who is headquartered 20 minutes south of the park. Its stunt pilot theme pays homage to the daily air shows that were once hosted at the park from 1988 to 1996. Stunt Pilot opened to the public on May 29, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VelociCoaster</span> Roller coaster at Islands of Adventure

VelociCoaster is a launched roller coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public on June 10, 2021. It is themed to the Velociraptor dinosaurs depicted in the Jurassic World film franchise and is located in the Islands of Adventure's Jurassic Park area, occupying the site of the former Triceratops Encounter attraction. VelociCoaster features two high-speed launches powered by linear synchronous motors, a signature 155-foot-tall (47 m) top hat, four inversions, and a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mystic (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster at Walibi Rhône-Alpes

Mystic is a steel roller coaster located at Walibi Rhône-Alpes in Les Avenières, France. The coaster marked the park's 40th anniversary as well as a headlining part of a decade-long, €25 million investment plan. The coaster was manufactured by Gerstlauer and traverses a total 1,886.5 feet (575.0 m) of track both forwards and backwards, at a top speed of 52.8 mph (85.0 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickelodeon Slime Streak</span> Indoor roller coaster at Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream Meadowlands

Nickelodeon Slime Streak is a steel family roller coaster located in the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park at the American Dream Meadowlands megamall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The coaster opened for the park's grand opening on October 25, 2019, and is primarily targeted at children and younger audiences.

Toutatis is a steel launched roller coaster located at Parc Astérix in Plailly, France. Toutatis was first announced at the IAAPA Orlando Expo in 2018 and upon opening became France's tallest and fastest coaster. It features four launches with a top speed of 107 km/h (66 mph) and a 51-metre (167 ft) top hat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipeline: The Surf Coaster</span> Roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, or simply Pipeline, is a launched roller coaster located at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the roller coaster opened on May 27, 2023. Pipeline is a Surf Coaster model from B&M and is themed to surfing, featuring surfboard-shaped vehicles.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fun Spot America to reveal ArieForce One roller coaster at IAAPA Expo". www.globenewswire.com. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Tuttle, Brittani (May 25, 2021). "Fun Spot America teams up with Rocky Mountain Construction for new coaster". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Nick (November 16, 2021). "Fun Spot Atlanta Announces "ArieForce One" RMC Roller Coaster". Coaster101. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  4. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Hurricane Coaster  (Fun Spot America Atlanta)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  5. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (November 16, 2021). "Fun Spot purchases Georgia attraction". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Fun Spot America purchases Fun Junction USA near Atlanta". Attractions Magazine. July 3, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Fun Spot America Announces Expansion to Their Atlanta Property's Rides and Attractions". www.prnewswire.com. May 3, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ground clearing at Fun Spot America Atlanta [Baseless conjecture]". Reddit . March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Fun Spot Atlanta - ArieForce One - RMC IBox Steel Coaster - 2023". CoasterForce. June 5, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Fun Spot America Announces partnership with Rocky Mountain Construction". www.globenewswire.com. May 25, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  11. ↑ Kyle (May 25, 2021). "Fun Spot Atlanta to Partner with RMC in 2022". Coaster101. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Fun Spot America Atlanta". Facebook . June 3, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  13. ↑ "ARIE FORCE ONE Trademark Information". trademark.trademarkia.com. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ "I got the opportunity to go behind the scenes of [ArieForce One]! Lengthy TR in replies". Reddit . March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ @FunSpotAtlanta (June 30, 2021). "🌟BREAKING NEWS! 🌟 View the first images of our..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ @FunSpotAtlanta (November 15, 2021). "The #RMC train reaveal for @FunSpotAtlanta's..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ @FunSpotAmerica (December 17, 2021). "Do you see what I see? 👀..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ↑ @FunSpotAtlanta (December 25, 2021). "Merry Christmas from Fun Spot America Theme Parks!..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ Sherborne, Pam (January 6, 2022). "Fun Spot America breaks ground on Arieforce One roller coaster". Amusement Today. p. 16. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  20. ↑ @gavinwaple (November 27, 2021). "Lots of steel for ArieForce One's support structure has been dropped off..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ Sim, Natalie (January 7, 2022). "$13 Million RMC Roller Coaster, ArieForce One Breaks Ground At Fun Spot America Atlanta". Theme Park Tourist. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Fun Spot America breaks ground on Arieforce One roller coaster". Amusement Today. January 6, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ @FunSpotAtlanta (February 14, 2022). "Roses are red, Violets are blue, Here's the first piece of #ArieForceOne,..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ↑ "ArieForce One Roller Coaster Reveal". YouTube . Fun Spot America Theme Parks. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  25. ↑ "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today . 27 (6.2): 66–70. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.