Storm Coaster

Last updated

Storm Coaster
Storm Coaster.jpg
Sea World (Australia)
Location Sea World (Australia)
Coordinates 27°57′23″S153°25′33″E / 27.9563°S 153.4258°E / -27.9563; 153.4258
StatusOperating
Soft opening date2 December 2013 (2013-12-02)
Opening date6 December 2013 (2013-12-06)
Cost AU$20 million
Replaced Bermuda Triangle
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer Mack Rides
ModelWater Coaster
Track layout Water Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height28 m (92 ft)
Length470 m (1,540 ft)
Speed70 km/h (43 mph)
Inversions 0
Duration2 minutes [1]
G-force 3 Gs [2]
Height restriction110 cm (3 ft 7 in)
Trains6 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Storm Coaster at RCDB

Storm Coaster is a Water Coaster located at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. [3] The ride is designed by Mack Rides of Germany and combines the flume and splashdown elements of a log flume, with the chain lift hill and drops of a steel roller coaster.

Contents

Original plans for a Water Coaster at Sea World were released by the local council in 2008; however, they were put on hold. In 2010, the Bermuda Triangle ride closed, sitting dormant until mid-2012 when construction for the Storm Coaster began. After demolition works were completed, track for the Storm Coaster arrived at Sea World, taking five months to erect. Storm Coaster officially opened to the public on 6 December 2013.

Storm Coaster is themed to the effects of a Category 5 Tropical Cyclone at a coastal shipping port. The 470-metre-long (1,540 ft) ride stands 28 metres (92 ft) tall and features a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). The ride has not been well received, with park goers missing the old Bermuda Triangle ride that was on the same site.

History

In January 2008, the Gold Coast City Council released plans for a Mack Rides Water Coaster at Sea World. The ride would have been located at the front of the park, with the ride's station situated where the Penguin Encounter exhibit exists and the main track extending out and over the car park. [4] These plans were shelved. In December 2008, Sea World opened Jet Rescue, an Intamin JetSki Coaster. [5] [6]

In June 2012, Sea World applied for a permit to demolish the Bermuda Triangle water ride system and the interior of its show building. [7] The Bermuda Triangle had been sitting dormant since its closure in October 2010 and had been earmarked by the park as a site for a future attraction. [8] [9] [10] [11] On 12 July 2012, Christian von Elverfeldt from Mack Rides revealed Australia would be receiving a water roller coaster in 2013; [12] [13] leading to speculation that Sea World might have revived its plans. [13] Further development application filings, and reports by the Roller Coaster DataBase and the Gold Coast Bulletin, confirmed this speculation. [3] [14] [15] [16] In September 2012, Sea World asked Austrian firm Dynamic Motion Rides (DyMoRides) to develop a theming and show design concept for the yet-to-be-announced Storm Coaster. DyMoRides was ultimately contracted for the full turnkey project in April 2013. [17] DyMoRides subsequently contracted PEL Creative for creative direction, Full-On Lighting for lighting design, Volume One for audio and visual effects, and Sculpt Studios for theming design. [18] [19]

Prior to the commencement of construction, Sea World announced a new attraction for 2013 and released a promotional image on their Facebook page which read "The storm is building. It's gonna be a big one.". [20] Demolition works began in August 2012. [21] Due to this construction, nearby attractions, including Viking's Revenge Flume Ride, Jet Rescue and the Skyway, were intermittently closed throughout the latter part of 2012 and into 2013. [22] [23] The first pieces of ride track arrived on site in April 2013, with vertical construction commencing in the following month. [24] [25] An official announcement for Storm Coaster made by Sea World in May 2013 detailed the ride would feature 470 metres (1,540 ft) of track and a series of water and fire effects. [26] [27] Although an opening date of September 2013 was initially set, Sea World later revised this to be Summer 2013. [26] [28] [29] By September 2013, the ride's track was complete, with focus moving towards theming and testing the ride. [30] On 2 December 2013, Storm Coaster soft opened to the public, [31] with an official opening held four days later. [1]

Characteristics

Storm Coaster is a Water Coaster designed by Mack Rides. [3] The 470-metre-long (1,540 ft) track layout is identical to Skatteøen at Djurs Sommerland in Denmark. [3] [32] The ride stands 28 metres (92 ft) tall and features a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph). [1] [33] Unlike most roller coasters which have two rails and a wheel assembly to wrap around the track, Storm Coaster features six rails where the wheels run within the track. [34] The ride features six Coast Guard-themed vehicles that each seat eight riders in four rows of two. [33] Riders are restrained through the use of both lap bars and seat belts. [3] Storm Coaster is reported to have cost $20 million, making it the single biggest investment in an Australian theme park attraction. [1] [35]

Experience

Storm Coaster is themed around the effects of a Category 5 Tropical Cyclone at a coastal shipping port. [36] Theming surrounding the ride depicts a path of destruction from the storm, with boats, cars, shipping containers and other debris strewn throughout. [37] [38] However, the port is in the eye of the storm and everyone must evacuate via Coast Guard rescue boats. [36]

Riders enter the queue area by passing through a shipping container with a rusty Storm Coaster sign on it. [39] A short outdoor path leads riders towards a stack of containers. [38] [40] Riders enter the containers through a series of black rubber flaps, before emerging into a warehouse. [41] [42] Once at the station riders board one of the Coast Guard boats. [43]

After departing the station, the boats travel through a short flume section before emerging from the building and ascending a 28-metre-tall (92 ft) chain lift hill. Once at the top of the hill, the track dips and turns 180 degrees to the right, entering a mid-course brake run. A sweeping 180 degree downward turn to the right is followed by an upward turn into another brake run. The ride then drops below ground, passing under the queue path before emerging over an air-time hill, where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness. This hill drops into the hull of an upturned boat and is followed by the ride's splashdown. On the boat's return path to the station it passes a variety of lighting, fire, and water effects. [1] Riders exiting Storm Coaster pass alongside the ride's finale, with the chance to get soaked by other boats in the splashdown area. [44]

Reception

The reception of Storm Coaster has been negative. The Bermuda Triangle which was situated on the same site and was demolished for the Storm Coaster was a fan favourite among Sea World visitors and had a cult following. Other negatives include riders calling it one dimensional due to the same 2 turns being the bulk of the ride and it not being thrilling compared to other roller coasters on the Gold Coast. [45]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea World (Australia)</span> Oceanarium, theme and marine mammal park

Sea World is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and theme park located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It offers attractions such as rides and animal exhibits and promotes conservation through education and the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. The park is commercially linked to Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast as part of the theme park division of Village Roadshow. The park has no affiliation with an American park chain of a similar name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreamworld (Australia)</span> Theme park in Queensland, Australia

Dreamworld is a theme park and zoo situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is Australia's biggest theme park with over 40 rides and attractions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast</span> Water park on the Gold Coast, Australia

Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast is a water park situated in Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, owned and operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks. In 2019, the park received 1,120,000 visitors making it the most visited water park in Australia and the 19th most visited water park in the world. Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast is located adjacent to Warner Bros. Movie World, a movie-related park also owned by Village Roadshow Theme Parks. The park remains open all year with some seasonal ride closures and maintenance periods in winter. It is one of several water parks operating under the Wet'n'Wild brand globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy</span> Roller coaster in Queensland, Australia

Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy was a Vekoma SLC roller coaster located at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. When the ride was introduced in 1995, it was themed to the Lethal Weapon film series created by Shane Black and was named Lethal Weapon – The Ride. In 2012, the ride was rethemed to Batman: Arkham Asylum and renamed Arkham Asylum. The ride was the first steel inverted roller coaster at an Australian theme park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower of Terror II</span> Roller coaster at Dreamworld Australia

The Tower of Terror II was a steel shuttle roller coaster located at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. When the Tower of Terror opened on 23 January 1997, it was the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), making it the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world of its time. The ride was situated on the Dreamworld Tower, which also houses The Giant Drop free fall ride. The ride was originally known as the Tower of Terror until it was modified and relaunched in September 2010 as Tower of Terror II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Gold Coaster</span> Steel roller coaster at Dreamworld

The Gold Coaster is a steel roller coaster operating at Dreamworld. The roller coaster is one of the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere, after originally being the tallest when it was first built. Designed by Arrow Dynamics, built in Melbourne by Able Leisure Pty. Ltd the ride was originally installed at Luna Park Sydney in 1995 as the Big Dipper before being sold and relocated to Dreamworld on the Gold Coast in 2001. When it was brought to Dreamworld, the ride was the first roller coaster to be opened on the Gold Coast since 1997. The roller coaster was named Cyclone from 2001 until 2015 when it was refurbished and named Hot Wheels SideWinder as part of the new Motorsport Experience themed land from 2015 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet Rescue</span> Amusement ride

Jet Rescue is a steel launched jet ski roller coaster made by Intamin that opened on 26 December 2008 at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride has a very twisted and banked layout with several fast directional changes. Unlike other family launch roller coasters, Jet Rescue features two launches. The ride features a unique jet ski style of seating with lap bar restraints. The ride is based upon Sea World's Research and Rescue Foundation performing the rescue of a sea lion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bermuda Triangle (Sea World)</span> Defunct flume ride in Australia

The Bermuda Triangle was a themed indoor water ride at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. In 2013, the ride was replaced by Storm Coaster, a Mack Rides water coaster.

The Thrillseeker was a steel roller coaster located at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Designed by S.D.C., the Galaxi model opened to the public in 1982. The ride is now a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria known as Taipan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flash: Speed Force</span> Roller coaster in Australia

The Flash: Speed Force is a steel shuttle roller coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Opened on 13 May 2024, it is an Intamin Half Pipe roller coaster themed to the DC Comics superhero the Flash. The ride originally opened as Surfrider at the nearby Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast, where it operated from September 2007 until 2020, before being removed in April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Rush Country</span> Themed land at the Dreamworld theme park

The Gold Rush Country is a themed land at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raging Waters Sydney</span> Water park in Sydney

Raging Waters Sydney, formerly Wet'n'Wild Sydney, is a water park in the greater western Sydney suburb of Prospect, New South Wales, Australia, that opened on 12 December 2013. The park was announced on 11 September 2010 and was the third Wet'n'Wild water park operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks, after locations on the Gold Coast and Las Vegas. On 2 July 2018, it was announced that the park had been acquired by Parques Reunidos who renamed the park Raging Waters Sydney for the 2019 season. It is the only attraction outside the United States owned by Palace Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BuzzSaw (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster in Australia

BuzzSaw was a Maurer AG SkyLoop roller coaster located within the Gold Rush Country section of the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast of Australia. The ride began operation on 17 September 2011 as part of Dreamworld's 30th birthday celebrations. The ride was permanently closed on 31 August 2021, due to Dreamworld prioritising future development plans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Lantern Coaster</span> Roller coaster in Queensland, Australia

Green Lantern Coaster is a steel roller coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The ride is themed after DC Comics' Green Lantern and is located within the park's DC Comics superhero hub. The ride is an El Loco roller coaster manufactured by S&S Worldwide, characterised by a tight circuit featuring a beyond-vertical drop and an outward banked turn. When it opened in 2011, it held the record for having the second steepest drop in the world among roller coasters, and the steepest drop in the Southern Hemisphere, the latter of which is a record it still holds as of 2020. Green Lantern Coaster officially opened on 23 December 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Reef</span> Ray exhibit at Sea World in Australia

Ray Reef is a ray exhibit located at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. The exhibit opened on 14 January 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Dreamworld</span>

The history of Dreamworld dates back to the mid-1970s when John Longhurst envisioned the future theme park. After a seven-year construction period, Dreamworld officially opened to the public on 15 December 1981. Now owned by publicly listed Ardent Leisure, the park has seen many expansions, closures and replacements over its 30-year history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viking's Revenge Flume Ride</span> Defunct log flume in Australia

Viking's Revenge Flume Ride was a log flume at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Rivals HyperCoaster</span> Roller coaster in Queensland, Australia

DC Rivals HyperCoaster is a steel hypercoaster at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Manufactured by Mack Rides, it is the fastest, and tallest hypercoaster in the Southern Hemisphere. It officially opened on 22 September 2017, becoming the newest attraction added to Warner Bros. Movie World since Doomsday Destroyer in 2016 and the latest roller coaster addition since Green Lantern Coaster in 2011. The roller coaster reaches a height of 61.6 metres (202 ft) with a maximum speed of 115.1 kilometres per hour (71.5 mph) and has a total track length of 1.4 kilometres (4,593.2 ft).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Laughlin, Shaya (5 December 2013). "Shaya Laughlin tries out Sea World's newest attraction - the Storm Coaster". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Bochenski, Natalie (6 December 2013). "Sea World opens new rollercoaster and flume ride: the $20m Stormcoaster". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Marden, Duane. "Storm Coaster  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  4. ↑ Department of Infrastructure and Planning. "Gold Coast Marine Development Proposal – Northern Development Area" (PDF). Queensland Government. Retrieved 8 December 2010.[ dead link ] Alt URL
  5. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Jet Rescue  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  6. ↑ "JetSki Coaster". Intamin Worldwide. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Demolish Bermuda Triange ride & building interior". Development Application BLD201204743. Gold Coast City Council. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  8. ↑ Messenger, Jordan (22 November 2010). "Bermuda Triangle The Ride – RIP 1994 to 2010". GC Guy. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  9. ↑ "Attractions Maintenance - Sea World". MyFun. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Attraction Maintenance". MyFun. Archived from the original on 18 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  11. ↑ "What is happening..." Facebook. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Das Looping-Märchen" (PDF). Interview. insideB. 12 July 2012. p. 54. Retrieved 16 July 2012.[ dead link ]
  13. 1 2 Wilson, Richard (16 July 2012). "Water coaster bound for Australia in 2013". Parkz. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  14. ↑ Elder, Jessica (3 January 2013). "Secret's out on new Sea World ride". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Sea World Water Coaster Ride". Development Application BLD201208267. Gold Coast City Council. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Water Coaster Ride - Stage 2 - Full Works". Development Application BLD201209344. Gold Coast City Council. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Motion rides and more". Park World Magazine: 33. January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Storm Coaster - Sea World surges into 2014". Park World Magazine: 32–33. January 2014.
  19. ↑ "Storm Coaster". Sculpt Studios. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  20. ↑ Sea World (29 July 2012). "Timeline Photos". Facebook. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  21. ↑ Wilson, Richard. "Sea World, August 2012". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  22. ↑ "Attractions Maintenance". Sea World. 2012. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "Attractions Maintenance". Sea World. 2013. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  24. ↑ Wilson, Richard; Mason, Chris (16 April 2013). "Sea World, April 2013". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  25. ↑ Wilson, Richard (11 June 2013). "Sea World, June 2013". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Storm Coaster". Sea World. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
  27. ↑ "Media Release" (Press release). Sea World. 2 May 2013.
  28. ↑ "Storm Coaster". Sea World. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  29. ↑ Village Roadshow Limited (21 February 2013). "Results Commentary For The Half-Year Ended 31 December 2012" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. p. 16. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  30. ↑ Wilson, Richard (20 September 2013). "Sea World, September 2013". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  31. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin. "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  32. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Skatteøen  (Djurs Sommerland)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  33. 1 2 "Storm Coaster (Sea World)". Parkz.
  34. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin. "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  35. ↑ "A new & exciting Storm arriving at Sea World" (Press release). Sea World. 5 December 2013.
  36. 1 2 Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Entrance". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  37. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Theming". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  38. 1 2 Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Theming". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  39. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Entrance". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  40. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Queue". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  41. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Queue". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  42. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster Queue". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  43. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  44. ↑ Seipelt, Gavin (3 December 2013). "Storm Coaster". Parkz. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  45. ↑ Tapper, Michelle (5 December 2013). "Most expensive theme park ride". Sunrise. Seven News. Retrieved 10 December 2013.

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.