Patriot (California's Great America)

Last updated
Patriot
Previously known as Vortex (1991–2016)
Patriot Logo, California's Great America, 2017.png
Patriot at California's Great America (33838683241).jpg
California's Great America
Location California's Great America
Park section Hometown Square
Coordinates 37°23′48.11″N121°58′23.61″W / 37.3966972°N 121.9732250°W / 37.3966972; -121.9732250 Coordinates: 37°23′48.11″N121°58′23.61″W / 37.3966972°N 121.9732250°W / 37.3966972; -121.9732250
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 9, 1991 (1991-03-09)
General statistics
Type Steel  Floorless Coaster
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Floorless Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height91 ft (28 m)
Length1,920 ft (590 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions 2
Duration2:14
Capacity1200 riders per hour
Height restriction54–78 [1]  in (137–198 cm)
Trains2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Cedar Fair Fast Lane availibility.svg Fast Lane available
Patriot at RCDB
Pictures of Patriot at RCDB

Patriot is a floorless roller coaster located in Hometown Square at the California's Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, California, United States. The roller coaster originally opened as Vortex on March 9, 1991. It was a stand-up roller coaster designed by Werner Stengel and manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. [2]

Contents

Vortex last operated as a stand-up coaster on September 5, 2016, and it reopened as Patriot on April 1, 2017. [3] [4] [5] The ride was converted to a sit-down configuration featuring new floorless trains and a new color scheme. [3]

History

Vortex (1991–2016)

When the ride was known as Vortex (1991-2016) Californias-Great-America-Vortex.jpg
When the ride was known as Vortex (1991–2016)

Vortex was a stand-up roller coaster that officially opened at California's Great America on March 9, 1991. [2] It was the second coaster from the manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard following Iron Wolf, which was installed a year earlier at Six Flags Great America. It shares a similar design with Vortex at sister park Carowinds but features a different layout. It featured purple track with yellow rails and gray supports. The ride became rough over the years, [4] and its last day of operation was on September 5, 2016.[ citation needed ]

Patriot (2017–present)

On August 18, 2016, the park announced Vortex would be converted to Patriot for the 2017 season, including new Bolliger & Mabillard floorless trains [3] and a new color scheme consisting of (repainted) blue track and white supports. [6] [3] [7] Although this is the first floorless coaster in the park’s 41-year history [7] [8] it is the second floorless conversion in the Cedar Fair chain, following Mantis turning into Rougarou at Cedar Point back in 2015. [4]

Patriot will be an outstanding addition to our family of roller coasters and we’re honored to provide active and past military service members free admission through Memorial Day (March 25 - May 29, 2017) weekend.

California’s Great America Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg [4] [8]

The transformation began in September 2016 shortly after Vortex closed. [9] The park opened on Saturday, March 25 for the 2017 season, with Patriot opening to the public the following Saturday on April 1. [4] [5] In celebration of the opening (and name) of the coaster, the park offered free entry to all current and past military service members through Memorial Day (May 29, 2017) weekend with up to 6 of their guests being offered discount tickets. [5] [8] Season pass holder previews were announced to start on March 31, 2017, a day before the official opening of the ride. [4]

When looking at the logo of the ride, it closely resembles the other one of its namesake, Patriot, which is located at the Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, which also forms part of the Cedar Fair chain of amusement parks.

Ride experience

Track elements

The coaster takes riders to a 91-foot height after which it makes an initial left hand drop into its first loop. [3] It then executes a left turnaround to travel into another left turnaround through its loop. The train then travels to the other end of its layout into the corkscrew element and another left turnaround after which it enters into the final brake run. [10]

The course used to cross over the park train's railroad tracks by the corkscrew. The coaster's lift hill stands parallel to the footers of the former Tidal Wave looping shuttle coaster.

Related Research Articles

Inverted roller coaster

An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but swings via a pivoting bar attached to the wheel carriage. The coaster type's inverted orientation, where the passengers' legs are exposed, distinguishes it from a traditional roller coaster, where the passengers' arms are instead exposed.

Bolliger & Mabillard, officially Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers, Inc. and often abbreviated B&M, is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, both of whom had worked for Giovanola.

Floorless Coaster Type of roller coaster

A Floorless Coaster is a type of steel roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard where riders sit with no floor underneath them, allowing their feet to swing freely just above the track. Development of the Floorless Coaster model began between 1995 and 1996 with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure opening on April 2, 1999, making it the world's first Floorless Coaster. Floorless Coasters also tend to have 3 to 7 inversions incorporated in the layout of the coaster.

Rougarou (roller coaster) Steel roller coaster at Cedar Point

Rougarou, formerly known as Mantis, is a floorless roller coaster located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. Designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster originally opened in 1996 as a stand-up roller coaster called Mantis, which at the time was the tallest, fastest, and longest of its kind in the world. Cedar Point had planned to name the ride Banshee, but due to negative publicity following the announcement, the name was later changed to Mantis.

Green Lantern (Six Flags Great Adventure) Steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure

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The Riddlers Revenge Roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Riddler's Revenge is a stand-up roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened as the park's eleventh roller coaster on April 4, 1998, setting multiple world records among stand-up coasters. Originally located in the Movie District section of the park, which later became Metropolis in 2017, The Riddler's Revenge was also the park's single biggest investment at a cost of $14 million. It features a height of 156 feet (48 m), a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h), six inversions, and a track length of 4,370 feet (1,330 m).

Nemesis (roller coaster) Steel inverted roller coaster

Nemesis is an inverted roller coaster located at the Alton Towers theme park in England. It opened to the public on March 19, 1994. The ride was manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel, in collaboration with attraction developer John Wardley. It is located in the Forbidden Valley area of the park, adjacent to Galactica and The Blade attractions.

Superman: Krypton Coaster Roller coaster in Texas, U.S.

Superman: Krypton Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Floorless Coaster model opened to the public in 2000 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The well-received ride held the title for the world's tallest vertical loop from its opening until 2013. Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

Firebird (roller coaster) Steel coaster at Six Flags America

Firebird is a floorless roller coaster located at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland. The roller coaster had originally debuted in 1990 as a stand-up roller coaster named Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America. It was later relocated to Six Flags America in 2012 and renamed Apocalypse, under which it operated until 2018.

Montu (roller coaster) Inverted roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa

Montu is an inverted roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa, Florida. Designed by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, it is the park's second roller coaster designed by that company following the success of Kumba, which opened 3 years prior. When the ride opened on May 16, 1996, it was the world's tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster, a title it has since conceded to Alpengeist at sister park Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The ride stands 150 feet (46 m) tall and reaches speeds of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).

Kraken (roller coaster) Steel roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando

Kraken is a steel roller coaster located at SeaWorld Orlando in the United States. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened as the second longest floorless coaster in the world on June 1, 2000, with a track length measuring 4,177 feet (1,273 m). It features a total of seven inversions and reaches a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h). The coaster was named after a fictional sea monster of the same name. In late 2016, Kraken underwent a refurbishment and reopened as Kraken Unleashed in June 2017. A virtual reality experience was added to the ride, but due to technical difficulties and extensive wait times, the feature was permanently removed the following year.

Dominator (roller coaster) Floorless roller coaster at Kings Dominion

Dominator is a floorless roller coaster located at Kings Dominion amusement park in Doswell, Virginia. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, it originally opened in 2000 as Batman: Knight Flight at Six Flags Ohio in Aurora, Ohio. It obtained its current name when Cedar Fair purchased Geauga Lake in 2004. Following the park's permanent closure in 2007, the roller coaster was relocated to Kings Dominion where it opened in the International Street section of the park on May 24, 2008.

Scream (roller coaster) Steel roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Scream is a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Floorless Coaster model was the park's sixteenth roller coaster and is located in the Screampunk District area of the park. The 150-foot-tall (46 m) ride consists of a series of roller coaster elements including seven inversions ranging from a zero-g roll to interlocking corkscrews. The ride is a mirror image of Bizarro at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Flight Deck (Californias Great America)

Flight Deck is a steel inverted roller coaster located at California's Great America in Northern California. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, Flight Deck made its debut March 20, 1993 as Top Gun. This was Bolliger & Mabillard's second inverted coaster behind Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great America. The third inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard opened a little under two months later at Six Flags Great Adventure. Flight Deck at California's Great America isn't quite as tall, nor as fast or long as its partner, Afterburn at Carowinds.

Batman: The Dark Knight (roller coaster) Steel roller coaster at Six Flags New England

Batman: The Dark Knight is a steel floorless roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard located in the Gotham City section of Six Flags New England. The roller coaster has 2,600 feet (790 m) of track, reaches a maximum height of 117.8 feet (35.9 m) and features five inversions. The coaster was announced on February 6, 2002 and opened to the public on April 20, 2002. In 2008, the ride's name was changed to Batman: The Ride to avoid confusion with Six Flags New England's installation of The Dark Knight Coaster that was planned to be built at the park; but after the project was cancelled, the ride's name reverted to Batman: The Dark Knight.

Dive Coaster Roller coaster model

The Dive Coaster is a steel roller coaster model developed and engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard. The design features one or more near-vertical drops that are approximately 90 degrees, which provide a moment of free-falling for passengers. The experience is enhanced by unique trains that seat up to ten riders per row, spanning only two or three rows total. Unlike traditional train design, this distinguishing aspect gives all passengers virtually the same experience throughout the course of the ride. Another defining characteristic of Dive Coasters is the holding brake at the top of the lift hill that holds the train momentarily right as it enters the first drop, suspending some passengers with a view looking straight down and releasing suddenly moments later.

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Silver Bullet is a western-themed steel inverted roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard located at Knott's Berry Farm, an amusement park in Buena Park, California. The $16 million roller coaster was announced on December 1, 2003 and opened on December 7, 2004. A first rider auction was also held where people would bid on seats to be the first riders. The track is approximately 3,125 feet (952 m) long and the lift hill is about 146 feet (45 m) tall. The ride lasts two minutes and thirty seconds and features six inversions including a vertical loop, cobra roll, zero-g roll, and two corkscrews.

Medusa (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom) Floorless roller coaster at Six Flags Discover Kingdom

Medusa is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard, Medusa opened in 2000 as the first floorless roller coaster on the West Coast. The coaster features seven inversions, a 150-foot (46 m)-tall lift hill with a 150-foot (46 m) drop, and the first Sea serpent roll element ever built on a B&M coaster. The ride is the longest coaster in Northern California at 3,937 feet (1,200 m) long and is notable as having one of the largest vertical loops in the world at 128 feet (39 m). It also shares the height record in Northern California with another two rides in the same park, The Flash: Vertical Velocity, and Superman: Ultimate Flight at 150 feet (46 m) high.

Vortex (Carowinds) Steel roller coaster at Carowinds

Vortex is a stand-up roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the ride opened to the public on March 14, 1992. Vortex was built a year before Paramount Parks purchased Carowinds and is situated on the former site of the Carolina Speedway miniature car attraction. It was B&M's third coaster and features a loop and a corkscrew element in its relatively short track layout. Vortex represented a new era of stand-up coasters at the time, which were more advanced than the previous generation introduced in the 1980s.

Nitro (Imagicaa) Floorless coaster at Imagicaa in India

Nitro is a steel Floorless Coaster at Imagicaa amusement park in Khopoli, Maharashtra, India. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the roller coaster reaches a maximum height of 132 feet (40 m) and a maximum speed of 65.2 miles per hour (104.9 km/h). The coaster also features five inversions. Nitro opened to the public in October 2013.

References

  1. "Patriot". California's Great America.
  2. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Patriot (California's Great America)". Database Entry. Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Great America Introduces Patriot Floorless Coaster for 2017". California's Great America . Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Patriot Gets an Opening Date, and more from CA Great America". COASTER101. 22 March 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "New Patriot Floorless Coaster to Open at California's Great America Saturday, April 1". Interstate 5 Exit Information Guide. 23 March 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  6. "Patriot (California's Great America)". Coasterpedia. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Patriot – Floorless Coaster for California's Great America!". California Coaster Kings. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 Pizarro, Sal (21 March 2017). "Pizzaro: Great America's new roller coaster Patriot — and what it replaced". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  9. "The Patriot Coming to Life at California's Great America". NewsPlusNotes. 21 September 2016.
  10. "Patriot Cycling". California's Great America. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved March 25, 2017.