Shivering Timbers

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Shivering Timbers
MichiganAventure ShiveringTimbers Dscn8247.jpg
As seen from Midway near Wolverine Wildcat
Michigan's Adventure
Location Michigan's Adventure
Coordinates 43°20′32″N86°16′34″W / 43.34222°N 86.27611°W / 43.34222; -86.27611
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 23, 1998 (1998-05-23)
Cost$4.5 million
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer Custom Coasters International
Track layout Out and Back
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height122 ft (37 m)
Length5,383 ft (1,641 m)
Speed57 mph (92 km/h)
Duration2:30
Max vertical angle53.3°
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Shivering Timbers at RCDB

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. [1] Shivering Timbers is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Michigan.

Contents

Ride experience

The ride starts with a left turn out of the station and onto the 122 feet (37 m) lift hill. At the base of the first drop, the train reaches its maximum speed of 57 mph (92 km/h). Following the lift hill are two camelback hills. In both, riders experience "ejector air-time". The train then jumps a bunny hop and another camelback hill and a double uphill, before turning around for the second half of its course. After the turnaround, the train hits another bunny hop and another double uphill. After the double uphill, there is a series of six bunny hop hills. After the last hill, there is an on-ride photo camera and the ride's finale, a 630-degree helix, in which riders experience lateral g-force. After the helix, the train slides onto the final brake run and executes a U-turn back into the station.[ citation needed ]

Incidents

On June 19, 2021, a train with guests was stopped by the ride's computer on the final emergency brakes set on the brake run after slipping past the first set due to persistent rain. Maintenance arrived shortly on the scene and deactivated the E-Stop. This caused the emergency brakes to disengage and released the stopped train, thus colliding with the second empty train in the station. The collision was not at high speed, and none of the guests faced severe injuries. The ride was closed afterward for two weeks to repair and reinforce the damaged track caused by the collision. The ride was later reopened on July 3, 2021, with only one train in operation.[ citation needed ] The ride has since gone back to having two trains in operation for the 2022 season.

Rankings

Shivering Timbers has been consistently ranked as being among the best wooden roller coasters in the Golden Ticket Awards, having always been ranked in the top 25.

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202120222023
Ranking4 [2] 2 [3] 2 [4] 2 [5] 2 [6] 2 [7] 3 [8] 6 [9] 6 [10] 7 [11] 10 [12] 11 [13] 9 [14] 9 [15] 10 [16] 15 [17] 20 [18] 19 [19] 25 [20] 21 (tie) [21] 15 [22] 21 [23] 19 [24] 17 [25]
NAPHA Survey: Favorite Wood Roller Coaster [26]
Year2006
Ranking
3

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