Polercoaster

Last updated
Polercoaster
Polercoaster logo.png
Polercoaster concept.jpg
A concept image released in 2012 for the Polercoaster
StatusCancelled/scrapped
No. of installations4 cancelled
Manufacturer Intamin
Designer US Thrill Rides
Capacity850–1,600 riders per hour

Polercoaster was a type of amusement ride offered by US Thrill Rides and Intamin. An installation consists of a large tower structure which features glass elevators to an observation deck, as well as a steel roller coaster wrapping around the tower. The model was first introduced in 2012, and in 2013, four were proposed for construction. However, US Thrill Rides cancelled all future Polercoaster locations, after the company went bankrupt.

Contents

History

At the 2011 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, the Polercoaster was initially announced as a joint venture between US Thrill Rides and S&S Worldwide. US Thrill Rides' Bill and Michael Kitchen invented the concept to allow amusement parks with little available space to be able to design a full-size roller coaster. S&S Worldwide would manufacture roller coaster component, which would be designed by Alan Schilke. [1] [2] US Thrill Rides and S&S Worldwide would have subcontract parts of the ride's fabrication to Celtic Engineering and Haskell Steel. [3]

Bill Kitchen was pleased with the ride's initial reception at the show stating "we should have firm contracts signed by the end of the year", with anticipation that at least one installation would open in 2014. [4] The first contracts were announced in late 2013 with design and construction expected to take 24 months. [1]

In July 2015, it was announced that the supply contract for the Orlando Polarcoaster had been awarded to Intamin, and that S&S was no longer involved. [5]

During July 2022, it was announced that US Thrill Rides, the ride’s designer, had filed a lawsuit with Intamin for an alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and copyright infringement over a roller coaster designed and built by Intamin, located at the Dubai Hills Estate Mall Development, which US Thrill Rides claims to be a direct copy of the Polercoaster. [6] On December 21, 2022, US Thrill Rides, the ride’s manufacturer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. [7]

Specifications

General specifications of the ride were listed at the Polercoaster's debut at IAAPA 2011. Two glass elevators would've transported riders to the top of the tower. This area would've featured dining or retail space, or the potential for a dark ride. Statistics of the two standard towers that were proposed were shown in the table below. Although these were two standard models, the Polercoaster would've been designed as small as 100 feet (30 m) tall, or extend beyond the 500-foot (150 m) mark. [2]

Height200 ft or 61 m300 ft or 91 m
Lift height180 ft or 55 m270 ft or 82 m
Track length2,400 ft or 730 m3,300 ft or 1,000 m
Tower diameter50 ft or 15 m70 ft or 21 m
Top speed44 mph or 71 km/h50 mph or 80 km/h
Maximum g-force 4 Gs
Duration108 seconds144 seconds
Capacity960 riders per hour
Trains8 eight-seater trains

Installations

LakePoint Sporting Community in Georgia, United States was announced as the first installation of a Polercoaster. The ride, which was set to debut in 2015, would have stood approximately 325 feet (99 m) tall. [3] The project has stalled, however, and as of December 1, 2015, there was no mention of the Polercoaster on LakePoint Sporting Community's website. [8]

A second sale of the ride was confirmed for a Florida location at the IAAPA Trade Show in 2013. The location was officially confirmed on June 5, 2014 as going to the new Mango's Tropical Cafe development project on International Drive in Orlando, Florida, as well as the roller coaster's name, Skyscraper. [9] The ride was to stand 570 feet (170 m) tall and begin with an inversion at its maximum height. As a result, it would've become the tallest roller coaster in the world, beating the 456-foot-tall (139 m) record set by Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka ; it was to feature the world's tallest inversion, surpassing the 197-foot-tall (60 m) inversion on Kennywood's Steel Curtain ; and it was to be among the longest roller coasters in the world, with a track length of approximately 5,200 feet (1,600 m). [1] [10] [11] [12]

ABC News reported in June 2013 that a third installation had been proposed for the Las Vegas Strip, standing 650 feet (200 m) tall. [13]

In May 2015, Wallack Holdings, who was developing the Orlando Polercoaster, was reported to be in talks to build a Polercoaster on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. [14] The roller coaster reportedly went into the design phase in July 2015, with a planned height of nearly 350 feet (110 m). [15] [16] The project was later cancelled, after US Thrill Rides went bankrupt on September 29, 2023.

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 usually 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">Stand-up roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A stand-up roller coaster is a roller coaster where passengers aboard a train stand throughout the course of the ride. The first manufacturer to employ the format was TOGO, a Japanese company that converted two traditional roller coasters in 1982 to stand-up configurations. Arrow Dynamics followed suit in the United States the following year with their own conversion. The first roller coaster designed from the ground up as a stand-up coaster was King Cobra, built by TOGO, which opened at Kings Island in 1984. Intamin and Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) have also designed stand-up models beginning in the 1990s, with the latest opening in 2023 as Pipeline: The Surf Coaster in SeaWorld Orlando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six Flags Magic Mountain</span> Theme park in Valencia, California

Six Flags Magic Mountain, formerly known and colloquially referred to as simply Magic Mountain, is a 209-acre (85 ha) amusement park located in Valencia, California, 35 miles (56 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It opened on May 29, 1971, as a development of the Newhall Land and Farming Company and Sea World Inc. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added "Six Flags" to the park's name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intamin</span> Liechtensteiner design and manufacturing company

Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein, best-known for designing and constructing thrill rides and roller coasters at dozens of international theme parks, amusement parks and other establishments. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement installations". The company has corporate offices across the world, including three in Europe, three in Asia, and two in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millennium Force</span> Steel roller coaster at Cedar Point

Millennium Force is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. Manufactured by Intamin, it was the park's fourteenth roller coaster when it opened in 2000, dating back to the opening of Blue Streak in 1964. Upon completion, Millennium Force broke five world records and was the world's first giga coaster, a term coined by Intamin and Cedar Point to represent a roller coaster that exceeds 300 feet (91 m) in height. It was briefly the tallest and fastest in the world until Steel Dragon 2000 opened later the same year. The ride is also the third-longest roller coaster in North America following The Beast at Kings Island and Fury 325 at Carowinds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourth-dimension roller coaster</span> Type of steel roller coaster

A fourth-dimension roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster where riders are rotated independently of the track's orientation, generally about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the track. The cars do not need to be fixed to an angle.

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

Montu is an inverted roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 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).

<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. The ride originally opened in 1992 as Rattler, the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. It was converted to steel in 2013 by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), led by designer Alan Schilke, and reopened as Iron Rattler. RMC installed their patented I-Box track onto Rattler's existing wooden structure, increasing the drop height from 124 to 171 feet and the maximum speed from 65 to 70 mph. A notable addition to its layout was a zero-g roll inversion, which was a first among hybrid coasters made of wood and steel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project 305</span> Steel roller coaster at Kings Dominion

Project 305 is a steel roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, United States. Manufactured by Intamin, the ride opened to the public as Intimidator 305 on April 2, 2010. Themed to racing, the coaster was originally named after the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, who was commonly known as "The Intimidator". It is located in the Jungle X-Pedition section of the park near Anaconda on the former site of the Safari Monorail ride. Standing at 305 feet (93 m) tall and reaching speeds up to 90 mph (145 km/h), it is the second giga coaster to be built in North America, following Millennium Force at Cedar Point. The $25-million investment was the most expensive of any ride in park history and the 14th coaster to debut at the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheetah Hunt</span> Amusement ride in Tampa, Florida

Cheetah Hunt is a steel launched roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. The roller coaster was manufactured by Intamin and designed in collaboration with Mark Rose. Cheetah Hunt opened to the public on May 27, 2011, alongside a cheetah exhibit called Cheetah Run. Cheetah Hunt features three linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches and a single inversion. The roller coaster reaches a height of 102 feet (31 m), with a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and a total track length of 4,429 feet (1,350 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Loco (roller coaster)</span> Type of roller coaster manufactured by S&S Worldwide

El Loco is a model of steel roller coaster manufactured by S&S Worldwide. The rides are characterised by a vertical or beyond-vertical drop, tight corners and abnormal banking. As of November 2013, there are six El Locos operating around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyscraper (roller coaster)</span> Cancelled roller coaster concept

Skyscraper was a roller coaster concept originally planned for a future Skyplex entertainment complex located in Orlando, Florida. Development began in 2012 by American manufacturer US Thrill Rides and Swiss manufacturer Intamin, with both companies designing the attraction as the first Polercoaster model utilizing an observation tower for its main support structure. Skyscraper would have been the tallest roller coaster in the world at over 500 feet (150 m), and it would have featured both the steepest drop and highest inversion in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderbird (Holiday World)</span> Steel wing roller coaster

Thunderbird is a steel roller coaster in the Thanksgiving section of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari amusement park in Santa Claus, Indiana. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened in 2015 as the eighth Wing Coaster in the world and the fourth in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannibal (roller coaster)</span> Roller coaster in Utah

Cannibal is a steel roller coaster located at Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah. It opened with the tallest beyond-vertical drop in the world on July 2, 2015, and its drop angle of 116 degrees was the steepest in the United States for a brief time. A large portion of the $22-million ride was built and designed in-house, a rare move for an amusement park. Since its debut, Cannibal has also consistently ranked in the top 50 among steel roller coasters worldwide in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today.

Skyplex was a planned entertainment complex, It was to be located on a 14-acre (5.7 ha) lot at the northeast corner of Sand Lake Road and International Drive in Orlando, Florida. Plans for the complex were to include a 570-foot (170 m) tower which would’ve featured the world's tallest roller coaster, Skyscraper, and the world's largest Perkins Restaurant and Bakery. In January 2019 the project was expected to cost US$250,000,000 and include space for a future hotel. The complex was originally planned to open first in 2016. But pushed back to 2017, then 2018. The project was once again delayed to 2019, until the final delay to 2020. In 2020, Lionsgate was originally set to build the complex called Lionsgate World Resort Orlando, which was set to be constructed in early 2021 and was set to open in 2024. However, on December 21, 2022, US Thrill Rides and Polercoaster, LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On January 30, 2023, WPC confirmed that the project would not be moving forward, resulting in the complex being cancelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Thrill Rides</span> Defunct american entertainment design and consulting company

US Thrill Rides was an entertainment design and consulting company in Orlando, Florida. It was best known for creating thrill rides in several US locations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Kitchen (inventor)</span> American inventor and business executive (born 1948)

William Joel Kitchen is an American inventor and business executive. Kitchen is the Founder and CEO of U.S. ThrillRides, Inc. and Thrillcorp, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VelociCoaster</span> Launched roller coaster at Universal 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">Kondaa</span> Steel roller coaster at Walibi Belgium

Kondaa is a steel roller coaster at Walibi Belgium in Wavre, Belgium. First unveiled at the IAAPA 2018 Expo, the coaster marks the end of a three-year park investment plan and upon opening became the tallest and fastest coaster in the Benelux region, as well as the park's ninth coaster. Kondaa features a top speed of 70.2 mph (113.0 km/h), a notable 15 airtime moments, and the world's first non-inverting cobra roll element.

<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 Kitchen, Michael (November 19, 2013). "S&S & US Thrill Rides Announce New Poler Coaster that will be Worlds Tallest Coaster". The Coaster Crew (Interview). Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Kitchen, Michael (13 November 2012). "IAAPA 2012 Trade Show Coverage". Theme Park Review (Interview). Interviewed by Robb Alvey . Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Polercoaster confirmed for Georgia". Park World Magazine. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  4. ↑ Ralph, Owen (26 November 2012). "IAAPA Attractions Expo – still no.1!". Park World Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Behind the Thrills - Intamin Rides to supply the world's tallest coaster as Skyscraper eyes 2018 opening". behindthethrills.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Bilbao, Richard. "Orlando's USThrillRides sues major ride company Intamin over Dubai project". Orlando Business Journal.
  7. ↑ "US Thrill Rides files for bankruptcy". 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  8. ↑ "US News". screamscape.com. Screamscape. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Dennis, Andrea (5 June 2014). "World's tallest roller coaster 'Skyscraper' officially coming to I-Drive, will open in 2016". WESH News. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Levine, Arthur (21 June 2013). "Another High Roller Coming to Vegas?". About.com . The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  11. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (August 30, 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain adding Full Throttle coaster in 2013". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  12. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Length)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  13. ↑ Brown, Genevieve Shaw (18 June 2013). "World's Tallest Coaster May Find Home in Vegas". ABC News. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  14. ↑ Hilario, Kenneth. "EXCLUSIVE: Fla. developer in talks to open major attraction on Atlantic City Boardwalk". bizjournals.com. Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  15. ↑ Hilario, Kenneth. "AC polercoaster development moves into design phase". bizjournals.com. Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  16. ↑ "A.C. 'Polercoaster' gets CRDA approval". Press of Atlantic City. 28 December 2015.
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.