Runaway Mountain

Last updated
Runaway Mountain
Runaway Mountain logo SFOT.gif
Six Flags Over Texas
Location Six Flags Over Texas
Park section Old South
Coordinates 32°45′26″N97°04′16″W / 32.757286°N 97.071015°W / 32.757286; -97.071015 Coordinates: 32°45′26″N97°04′16″W / 32.757286°N 97.071015°W / 32.757286; -97.071015
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 12, 1996
General statistics
Type Steel  Enclosed
Manufacturer Premier Rides
Designer Werner Stengel
ModelStandard Coaster
Lift/launch systemTire lift hill
Height65 ft (20 m)
Drop30 [1]  ft (9.1 m)
Length1,500 ft (460 m)
Speed40 mph (64 km/h)
Inversions 0
Capacity950 riders per hour
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Fastpass availability icon.svg Flash Pass Available
Runaway Mountain at RCDB
Pictures of Runaway Mountain at RCDB

Runaway Mountain is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. It was the first Premier Rides coaster when it opened on June 12, 1996. [2]

Dubbed "The Roller Coaster that Dares the Darkness," Runaway Mountain is an enclosed roller coaster made to look as if it takes place within a dark cave. The queue line is themed to resemble a mineshaft and upon entering the "cave," pre-recorded audio tracks are played at intervals giving the background of a character known as "Gator McGee" giving safety instructions to riders. The ride features no inversions and is 65 feet tall. [3] [4]

History

In 1996, Six Flags, then a subsidiary of Time Warner, debuted two different indoor roller coasters. These rides were Skull Mountain at Six Flags Great Adventure and Runaway Mountain at Six Flags Over Texas. The first of these was Runaway Mountain, a roller coaster that would mimic a mine train inside of a mountain. The ride was put into the Old South section, replacing Spinnaker, a Schwarzkopf Enterprise that was shipped off to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Old South would also receive a renovation with the introduction of the mountain.

A mirrored and modified "Wildstorm" coaster model was ordered from Premier Rides, and it was enclosed with a large sound stage that also pitted the ride in darkness. This sound stage, dubbed the "gravity room", is separated by a tunnel from the room where guests enter the ride.

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References

  1. "How to Conquer Roller Coaster Fears - TripSavvy".
  2. "Runaway Mountain opens". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. June 15, 1996. Retrieved June 23, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  3. http://www.coasterphotos.com/SFOT/runaway.htm
  4. http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/rides/ThrillRides.aspx