Dragon Coaster (Playland)
 |
| Dragon Coaster | |
|---|---|
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1929 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Designer | Frederick Church |
| Track layout | Out & back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Drop | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Length | 1,036 m (3,399 ft) |
| Duration | 1:40 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
| Dragon Coaster at RCDB | |
The Dragon Coaster is a
Ride experience
The Dragon Coaster's boarding station is wrapped around the right leg of the layout.[3] After climbing into the new Morgan trains,[3] the operator pushes a lever to release the still used manual braking system. The trains roll down a short inclined curve toward the lift hill.
Once at the top, riders are given a quick view of the
As they enter the tunnel, a roaring sound-effect plays and the eyes of the dragon light up. The tunnel wraps around the turn off the lift hill's upper middle, and sends the riders out into the coaster's left leg.
The trains dip down out of the tunnel into a short straightaway, and then climb up into a turnaround at the far end of the left leg. The trains head back toward the center lift hill turn portion. After a few dips, the trains reach another turn around, directly under the dragon tunnel.[3] They trains proceed back out into the left leg for one more out-and-back trip before heading toward the boarding station. Riders exit the trains; which are manually blocked by the operator, and exit the boarding station. The train then heads from the unload section to the load section.
The ride was master planned by Church to fit directly on top of the Old Mill ride;[3] which he also designed. The ride's dips are consequently placed in clearings in between the Old Mill's tunnels, and some dips dive up over the tunnels. Both are veteran attractions from the opening day, and have shared the same plot of land for almost a century.
Historical preservation
The coaster, along with other historic rides at Playland like the Derby Racer (1927), is a contributing component to the site's
An original train car is mounted across the path from the entrance, next to the on-ride photo purchase booth, so visitors can sit down and take pictures.
In popular culture
- The coaster was featured in Mariah Carey's 1995 video for "Fantasy".
- Glenn Close and Ellen Latzen ride the roller coaster in the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction.
References
- ^ "Dragon - Playland - Roller Coasters".
- ^ http://www.ryeplayland.org/.../2009PAPlayland'sDragonCoastertoGetanAward.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d "Dragon Coaster (Playland, Rye) photos at RideZone". Archived from the original on 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- Rutherford, Scott, The American Roller Coaster
- Burke, Kathryn W., Images of America: Playland