Ozark Wildcat

Last updated
Ozark Wildcat
Ozark Wildcat.jpg
Celebration City
Location Celebration City
Coordinates 36°39′03″N93°17′38″W / 36.650879°N 93.293839°W / 36.650879; -93.293839
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 1, 2003 (2003-05-01)
Closing dateOctober 25, 2008 (2008-10-25)
CostUS$4,000,000
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer Great Coasters International
DesignerMike Boodley
Height80 ft (24 m)
Drop73 ft (22 m)
Length2,613 ft (796 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions 0
Duration1:30
Trains2 trains with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.
Ozark Wildcat at RCDB

Ozark Wildcat was a wooden roller coaster at the now-defunct Celebration City amusement park in Branson, Missouri. Manufactured by Great Coasters International, it opened to the public on May 1, 2003. After only six seasons, it permanently closed on October 25, 2008, along with the rest of the park. In October 2015, Herschend Family Entertainment announced that it would be removed. It was demolished on December 15, 2015, [1] and its trains were sent to Dollywood for the Thunderhead GCI roller coaster.

Contents

Rider Experience

Once riders were carried out of the station, they entered a slow helix turn and the train went up into the chain lift. After the lift, a short dip was followed by a steep helix turn-drop. Many bunny-hops provided plenty of "air-time" while the padded seats of the coaster still provided a smooth ride. A large, fast, helix and a sudden drop proclaimed the final act before the train rolled into the train shack, turned 90 degrees to the right, and entered the loading station. The safety restraints automatically released, and after detaching precautionary seat belts, riders were free to exit the ride.

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2003200420052006200720082009
Ranking26 [2] 21 [3] 16 [4] 20 [5] 18 [6] 20 [7] 36 [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)</span> Steel roller coaster

Nitro is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Hyper Coaster model opened to the public on April 7, 2001. Since its debut, Nitro has consistently ranked high among steel coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today, peaking in third place during its tenure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman – Ride of Steel</span> Steel roller coaster

Superman – Ride of Steel is a steel roller coaster based on the DC Comics character Superman at two Six Flags theme parks in the United States. Both hypercoasters were manufactured by Intamin and feature identical layouts, opening one year apart; Six Flags Darien Lake in 1999 and Six Flags America in 2000. The roller coaster at Six Flags Darien Lake, was renamed in 2007, to Ride of Steel, dropping the character theme, when the company sold the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beast (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster at Kings Island

The Beast is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio, United States. Designed and manufactured in-house for approximately $3 million, the ride opened in 1979 as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world. Decades later, it is still the longest, spanning 7,361 feet (2,244 m) across 35 acres (14 ha) of hilly terrain. Two lift hills contribute to the ride's duration of more than four minutes, which also ranks as one of the longest among roller coasters. A refurbishment in 2022 increased the angle of the first drop and lengthened the ride by 2 feet (0.61 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GhostRider (roller coaster)</span> Roller coaster at Knotts Berry Farm

GhostRider is a wooden roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It is located in the Ghost Town section of the park, south of the main entrance. Manufactured by Custom Coasters International, GhostRider is the longest wooden coaster on the West Coast of the United States, measuring 4,533 feet (1,382 m) long and 118 feet (36 m) tall. The ride follows an L-shaped double out and back pattern, with a station themed to a mining building. There are three trains, each themed to a different precious metal, though only two are in use at any given time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderbolt (Kennywood)</span> Wooden roller coaster at Kennywood

Thunderbolt, previously known as Pippin, is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. It was originally built and designed by John A. Miller and opened in 1924. It was later renovated for the 1968 season, which involved a major track expansion designed by Andy Vettel. It reopened to the public as Thunderbolt. It is partially known for being one of the few rides at Kennywood to require a partner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kumba (roller coaster)</span> Ride at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Kumba is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened in 1993. It stands 143 feet (44 m) tall and has a top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Kumba features a total of seven inversions across the 3-minute ride. It is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's oldest roller coaster that is still operating, following the closure of Scorpion in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Toro (Six Flags Great Adventure)</span> Wooden roller coaster

El Toro is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. Designed by Werner Stengel and manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public on June 11, 2006. Intamin subcontracted Rocky Mountain Construction to build the ride, and the coaster's track was prefabricated, allowing for quicker installation and lower construction costs. El Toro is the main attraction of the Mexican-themed section of the park, Plaza Del Carnaval. It replaced another roller coaster, Viper, which closed following the 2004 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twisted Cyclone</span> Roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia

Twisted Cyclone, formerly known as Georgia Cyclone, is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), the ride opened to the public on May 25, 2018. It features RMC's patented I-Box Track technology and utilizes a significant portion of Georgia Cyclone's former support structure. Originally constructed by the Dinn Corporation, Georgia Cyclone first opened on March 3, 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boss (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster

The Boss is a wooden roller coaster located in the Britannia section of Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. It opened on April 29, 2000, and was manufactured by Custom Coasters International. It features a lift hill height of 122 feet (37 m) and a first drop of 150 feet (46 m). Prior to the 2018 season, it also featured a 570-degree helix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Raven (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster at Holiday World

The Raven is a wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari's Halloween section in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States. It began to be designed and built in 1994 by the now-defunct roller coaster manufacturer Custom Coasters International, with the help of designers Dennis McNulty and Larry Bill. The roller coaster opened on May 6, 1995. The Raven takes its name from Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven" and features sudden drops and turns which mimic the flight of a raven. From 2000 to 2003, The Raven was voted the world's "Best Wooden Roller Coaster" at the Golden Ticket Awards, which are presented annually by Amusement Today magazine. It was named an "ACE Roller Coaster Landmark" by American Coaster Enthusiasts on June 23, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Riddler Mindbender</span> Roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia

The Riddler Mindbender, previously named Mind Bender, is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta, Georgia. Billed as "the world's first triple-loop roller coaster" when it opened on March 31, 1978, Mindbender has maintained its popularity since its opening. In its 30th anniversary season in 2008, Mindbender was ranked #15 by Amusement Today magazine in its annual Golden Ticket Awards, and was one of only two roller coasters built before 1980 on the list; the other was its "fraternal twin," Shockwave, at Six Flags Over Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twister (Knoebels Amusement Resort)</span> Roller coaster in Pennsylvania

Twister is a wooden roller coaster located at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. It is a custom wooden coaster designed by John Fetterman, with heavy inspiration taken from Mister Twister at Elitch Gardens.

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

Wildcat's Revenge is a hybrid 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">Thunderhead (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster at Dollywood

Thunderhead is a wooden roller coaster located at Dollywood amusement park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Manufactured by Great Coasters International, the ride opened on April 3, 2004, as the anchor attraction of a new section added to the park that season called Thunderhead Gap. Thunderhead features 22 turns and 32 crossovers, and utilizes GCI's Millennium Flyer trains, which have been used on all GCI coasters since 1999.

Wildfire (Silver Dollar City) Steel roller coaster

Wildfire is a steel roller coaster located at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the $14-million ride opened to the public on April 4, 2001. It is themed as a flying machine developed by a fictional 1880s Ozark inventor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Legend (roller coaster)</span> Wooden roller coaster

The Legend is a wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States. It was designed and built beginning in 1999 by the now defunct Custom Coasters International, with the help of designers Dennis McNulty and Larry Bill; it opened on May 6, 2000. The Legend is themed after Washington Irving's short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and mimics the frightful ride Ichabod Crane took as he was chased through the woods by the Headless Horseman. The Legend has been consistently ranked among the world's top twenty-five wooden roller coasters at the Golden Ticket Awards, which are presented annually by Amusement Today magazine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornball Express</span> Roller coaster in Monticello, Indiana, US

Cornball Express is a wooden roller coaster at Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana. The ride was designed and manufactured by Custom Coasters International. It opened on May 18, 2001. The Cornball Express had gained critical acclaim among enthusiasts, being named the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world by website ThemeParkCritic.com in 2002. Cornball Express, along with 2002's Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain, were among Custom Coaster International's last roller coasters designed before closing their doors in 2002. It was their 48th roller coaster designed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Behemoth (roller coaster)</span> Roller coaster at Canadas Wonderland

Behemoth is a steel roller coaster located at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario. Designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), Behemoth opened to the public in May 2008 as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada, a claim it held until 2012 when Leviathan opened at the same park. Behemoth is similar to Diamondback and Thunder Striker (Carowinds).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shivering Timbers</span> Roller coaster at Michigans Adventure

Shivering Timbers is a wooden roller coaster located at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon County, Michigan. It was developed and built by Custom Coasters International. Opened in May 1998, Shivering Timbers debuted for the park's 32nd year in operation and was a success. Construction for the ride began in 1997. The trains were made by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. The ride's out and back layout is 5,383 feet (1,641 m) long, making it the fourth-longest wooden roller coaster in the world. The ride has been re-tracked by Martin & Vleminckx and Great Coasters International. Shivering Timbers is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamondback (Kings Island)</span> Steel roller coaster

Diamondback is a steel roller coaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, United States. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the ride opened in 2009 as the first hypercoaster to feature a splashdown effect and the first B&M roller coaster at Kings Island. It is located in Rivertown just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower. Diamondback was the biggest investment in Kings Island’s history at the time, costing $22 million to build, but that figure was surpassed in 2014 by Banshee. The coaster features a 230-foot (70 m) lift hill with a 215-foot (66 m) drop and a maximum speed of 80 mph (130 km/h). It is similar to Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland in statistics, layout, and seating.

References

  1. "Watch the destruction of Celebration City's Ozark Wildcat roller coaster". 15 December 2015.
  2. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  3. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  5. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today : 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  6. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today . 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  7. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today . 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  8. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today . 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.