Superman: Krypton Coaster

Coordinates: 29°35′43″N 98°36′36″W / 29.595150°N 98.609991°W / 29.595150; -98.609991
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Superman: Krypton Coaster
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Superman: Krypton Coaster at RCDB

Superman: Krypton Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Floorless Coaster model opened to the public in 2000 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The well-received ride held the title for the world's tallest vertical loop (145 feet) from its opening until 2013. Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

History

In 1999,

Medusa.[1] The immediate popularity of the ride,[2] led to Six Flags Fiesta Texas to announce plans to install a Floorless Coaster in 2000;[3] Superman: Krypton Coaster was announced on November 1, 1999.[4] The announcement of the $20 million roller coaster was a part of a wider multimillion-dollar expansion of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.[5]

At the time of the ride's announcement, construction had already begun on unused land bordered by

dive loop.[6] Following the ride's announcement, the design was altered to remove the dive loop and increase the size of the vertical loop to 145 feet (44 m).[7][8] This saw Superman: Krypton Coaster obtain the record for the world's tallest vertical loop when it officially opened to the public on March 11, 2000.[7] It held the title for 13 years until the addition of Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2013.[8]

On March 6, 2010, Six Flags Fiesta Texas offered exclusive ride time on Superman: Krypton Coaster to help celebrate the ride's 10th anniversary.[9] On June 22, 2013, Superman: Krypton Coaster lost the title of having the world's tallest vertical loop when Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California opened Full Throttle, which features a 160-foot-tall (49 m) vertical loop, 15 feet (4.6 m) taller than the loop on Superman: Krypton Coaster.[8][10][11][12]

On March 3, 2016, Six Flags announced that the roller coaster would be one of several rides at various Six Flags parks to feature a VR system. Riders have the option of wearing a

Oculus to create a 360-degree, 3D experience while riding. It is themed to Superman saving a city from Lex Luthor's Lex Bots who are causing chaos with an anti-gravity ray.[13]

Characteristics

The ride's vertical loop and mid-course helix

Statistics

The 4,025-foot-long (1,227 m) Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall.

corkscrews.[7][8]

Trains

Superman: Krypton Coaster operates with three floorless trains. Each train seats 32 riders in eight rows of four. This gives the ride a theoretical hourly capacity of 1600 riders per hour.

station has a retractable floor for safe boarding.[6]

Ride experience

Superman: Krypton Coaster's initial plunge over the quarry wall

After riders have boarded and the station floor is retracted, Superman: Krypton Coaster departs with a left turn out of the station. This leads directly to the 168-foot-tall (51 m)

brake run. The exit from the mid-course brake run banks down to the right into the two interlocking corkscrews. This leads to a final turn before the final brake run and return to the station.[7][15][16]

Reception

Prior to launch, General Manager of Six Flags Fiesta Texas John Odum stated Superman: Krypton Coaster was "the big-league ride we have really needed". He stated the design of the ride, which interacts with the quarry wall, would make a thrilling ride: "being that close to the wall there is a good sense of speed".[5] In May 2000, two months after Superman: Krypton Coaster opened, it was reported that the park was "off to a flying start" for the season.[17] Six Flags Fiesta Texas officials stated the ride proved popular in its first year of operation.[18]

In

Golden Ticket Awards, Superman: Krypton Coaster was ranked in the top 50 steel roller coasters numerous times since its opening. It peaked at position 24 in 2002,[19] before it dropped to 50 in 2008[20] and rose again to 38 in 2011. Since then, it has not ranked on the Golden Ticket Awards' list of top 50 steel coasters.[21]

Golden Ticket Awards
: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Ranking [22] 36[23] 24[19] 25[24] 27[25] 33[26] 33[27] 36[28] 50[20] 44[29] [30] 38[21] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38]

References

  1. ^ O'Brien, Tim (February 1, 1999). "Six Flags Great Adventure to turn into 'superpark'". Amusement Business. 111 (5): 3.
  2. ^ O'Brien, Tim (June 7, 1999). "Park attendance off to a great start for 1999". Amusement Business. 111 (23): 1.
  3. ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Category = Floorless)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  4. ^ "Late News". Amusement Business. 111 (44): 3. November 1, 1999.
  5. ^ a b c d O'Brien, Tim (November 8, 1999). "$20 Mil Floorless Coaster To Have Superman Theme At Fiesta Texas". Amusement Business. 111 (45): 21.
  6. ^ a b c "Six Flags Fiesta Texas to Build New Coaster" (Press release). Six Flags Fiesta Texas. November 1, 1999.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Marden, Duane. "Superman Krypton Coaster  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  8. ^
    Tribune Company
    . Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  9. ^ Six Flags Fiesta Texas (March 10, 2010). "Superman Krypton Coaster 10th Anniversary". Facebook. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  10. Tribune Company
    . Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  11. ^ "Magic Mountain Announces Next Mega-Coaster". SCVNews. August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  12. ^ Marden, Duane. "Full Throttle  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  13. ^ "Six Flags adds VR roller coasters". Digital Trends. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  14. ^ Marden, Duane. "Iron Rattler  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  15. ^ "Superman Krypton Coaster Front Row Seat on-ride HD POV Six Flags Fiesta Texas". Coaster Force. YouTube. August 29, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  16. ^ "Superman (HD POV) Six Flags Fiesta Texas". Sharp Productions. YouTube. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  17. ^ Emmons, Natasha (May 8, 2000). "Pacific Currents". Amusement Business. 112 (19): 3.
  18. ^ Mooradian, Don (March 26, 2001). "Parks Have High Hopes For Upcoming Season". Amusement Business. 113 (12): 22, 24.
  19. ^ a b "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  21. ^ a b "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  22. ^ "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000.
  23. ^ "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  24. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  25. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 18–19B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007.
  26. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  27. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  28. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  29. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  30. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  31. ^ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012.
  32. ^ "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  33. ^ "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014.
  34. ^ "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015.
  35. Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today
    . September 2016.
  36. . September 2017.
  37. . September 2018.
  38. . September 2019.

External links

Preceded by
Riddler's Revenge
World's Tallest Vertical Loop
March 2000 – June 2013
Succeeded by