- Diamondback (roller coaster)
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This article is about a roller coaster at Kings Island. For other uses, see Diamondback.
Diamondback 
Diamondback Logo Location Kings Island Park section Rivertown Coordinates 39°20′26″N 84°16′04″W / 39.3405624°N 84.2678618°WCoordinates: 39°20′26″N 84°16′04″W / 39.3405624°N 84.2678618°W Status Operating Opened April 18, 2009 Cost $22 million Type Steel Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard Designer Bolliger & Mabillard Model Hypercoaster Lift/launch system Chain Lift Height 230 ft (70 m) Drop 215 ft (66 m) Length 5,282 ft (1,610 m) Max speed 80 mph (130 km/h) Duration 3:00 Max vertical angle 74° Capacity 1,620 riders per hour Acceleration no launch Max G force 4.2 Height restriction 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) Trains 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 32 riders per train. 
Fast Lane available
Must transfer from wheelchairDiamondback at RCDB Pictures of Diamondback at RCDB 
Amusement Parks PortalDiamondback is a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. [1] The ride is 5,282 feet (1,610 m) long and spans from just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower and over the Rivertown area, and into a wooded area. The roller coaster contains a splashdown element near the end of the ride in the former Swan Lake area in Rivertown, near The Beast. Construction of this ride restored The Beast's entrance to its original 1979 location. [2] Diamondback is the biggest investment in Kings Island’s 38-year history at $22 million (ahead of The Crypt and Son of Beast, each of which cost $20 million). The coaster has a 230 ft (70 m) lift hill with a 215 ft-drop, featuring 10 total drops and a top speed of about 80 mph (130 km/h). This ride is similar to Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland in dimensions and statistics, and like Behemoth has staggered seating.[citation needed] It opened on April 18, 2009. It is also the park's first ever Bolliger and Mabillard roller coaster. It is also the first new coaster to be installed after Kings Island was bought by Cedar Fair.
Contents
Awards
Diamondback was ranked 7th best steel roller coaster in its opening year by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. It was also rated the best new attraction for 2009 by NAPHA.[3]
Golden Ticket Awards: Top Steel Roller Coasters[4][5][6] Year 2009 2010 2011 Ranking 7 7 11[7] Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster Year 2009 2010 Ranking 4[8] 19 Features
- Open-air stadium-style seating
Layout and Ride Experience
Diamondback's lift hill from the exit.
The coaster starts straight out of the station and up the 230' lift. Once reaching the top of the hill, the coaster descends the 215' drop at 74° over the Rivertown midway and curves to the right up the second hill and down the drop into the ravine, curving again to the left. The ride then ascends another camelback hill and drops straight into the hammerhead turn. After dropping out of the hammerhead, the train speeds up the fourth hill (which has a trim brake) and down into a 287° counter-clockwise helix and into the mid course brake run. After the short brake run the train drops down into the ravine, raising into a bunny hop hill, then into another bunny hop and into the final clockwise helix of 323°. After the final helix, the train passes over the Rivertown midway a second time and drops into the splashdown finale, slowing the train down and leading it into the final brake run. After braking, the train takes a left U-turn and heads back into the station.
Splashdown
A test train splashes down in Rivertown. Notice the scoops under the last car on the train.Diamondback is one of only five roller coasters around the world to feature a splashdown. Scoops positioned at the sides of the last car on each train send water soaring at heights of 50 ft (15 m) as the train passes. Diamondback is the first sitdown hypercoaster to perform this element. (Dive machines SheiKra and Griffon at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Williamsburg also feature a splashdown.)
Trains
The trains on this coaster are the same prototype trains that feature staggered, unobstructed view seating seen on Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland and Intimidator at Carowinds. The front car of each train features a yellow snake head with long fangs, while the inside of the trains are black, red, and orange. There are three trains total, each train featuring a different fin color: green, red, or brown. Under the sides of the last car on each train are the scoops for the splashdown at the end.
History
Advertising
A CoasterDynamix model at Kings Island shows the Diamondback's whole ride in the form of an electric model. There is also a virtual simulation video. An official press conference was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 6, 2008. A countdown was displayed on the park's official site with an eye of a creature and a message that said, "OUR MEANEST RIDE HITS THE PARK IN: XX:XX".[9] Also, teaser signs had been posted around the construction site with phrases saying:
"Warning"
Steep Incline Ahead.
Slippery when wet...
Move slowly, Do not disturb!!
Run for the hills!!!
Ride, Sally, ride!!!
Easily angered, Do not disturb!!
Avoid sudden moves, Do not disturb!!
Keep your hands and feet away!!
Beware of snakes!
Infrared detectors are in use, Do not disturb!!
Extreme danger, Do not disturb!!
The park strikes back in 2009The countdown clock also featured an Easter egg in the form of a glitch that would cause the timer to incorrectly display the hours at midnight. At midnight the day of the media event, the entire clock began to shake violently, then screaming faces flashed by, followed by a menacing, monster-like eye. The Easter egg was only visible for a brief amount of time.[10]
An official webpage for Diamondback was created at kidiamondback.com with web cams, a blog, pictures, and video of the ride.
First Riders
On February 4, 2009, Kings Island announced they would hold an auction for the first riders on Diamondback. The winners of the auction would be given a commemorative first rider ticket, a special gift from the park, and an admission ticket. All proceeds from the auction would go to A Kid Again non-profit organization, formerly known as Adventures for Wish Kids.[11] On opening day the first 10,000 riders received a shirt with the ride's logo on it.
Construction
Construction of Diamondback began on October 11, 2007, with the removal of a tree.[12] Adena Corporation was Diamondback's general contractor during construction.
Timeline
- October 11, 2007 Construction of Diamondback began with the removal of a tree.[12]
- April 20, 2008 Kings Island fan sites have been keeping a close eye on the project and have many pictures of the construction.[13][14]
Construction plans filed with the city of Mason, Ohio for a new ride at Kings Island- July 9, 2008 A local newspaper posted images taken from the official filed blueprints of the new 2009 coaster.[15]
- July 22, 2008 - The three sections of track are sitting in the former Swan Lake area. One is near the idle Back Porch Stage, while the other two are sitting near the closed Paradise Island food stand. Also near Paradise Island is a new stack of red steel material, which appears to be either wiring conduit or railings. In addition, The Crypt's entrance and exit have now been rerouted, and even more concrete footers are being drilled in close proximity to the railroad tracks.[16]
- July 23, 2008 Kings Island delivered to the media large metal bolts attached to invitations for the announcement of the new ride currently under construction. A second invite was sent out with a bottle of Tremor Tonic inviting press to the August 6 press release.[17]
- July 30, 2008 Vertical construction has begun in the former Swan Lake area of Rivertown.
- August 6, 2008 Diamondback is officially announced to the media and the public.[18]
- August 18, 2008 The first piece of track has been laid. The track is a piece of transfer track that will be used to place the trains into the storage/maintenance shed. Also a piece of catwalk was added to the track.
- October 3, 2008 The workmen start on the 230-foot (70 m) lift hill.
- October 20, 2008 The construction continues with a 88-foot (27 m) piece is added with some support beams
- October 30, 2008 Diamondback's lift hill was topped off.
- November 11, 2008 Diamondback's first drop was finished.
- December 15, 2008 Construction on the second 193-foot (59 m) drop.
- December 18, 2008 The 131-foot (40 m) hill is complete.
- January 9, 2009 Workers work on the first helix.
- January 20, 2009 Press releases that the world's best new roller coaster nears completion.
- January 26, 2009 Final track piece was put in place at approximately 2:42 p.m.
- February 4, 2009 Bidding for the first ride on Diamondback began.
- February 16, 2009 Diamondback's trains arrived and were set into place.
- February 26, 2009 The first test run is conducted at 4:41 p.m.
- March 6, 2009 Splashdown area is filled and is tested.
- March 7, 2009 3-train testing begins after each train has gone through the certain number of test runs.
- March 17, 2009 Diamondback's entrance begins being built.
- March 20, 2009 The splashdown area is drained to finish landscape in and around it.
- March 25, 2009 The splashdown is filled as the landscape is completed.
- April 7, 2009 Diamondback's sign for the entrance is installed.
- April 18, 2009 Diamondback opens with an estimated 12,000 riders.
- May 17, 2009 Your on-ride photos could be e-mailed to your computer.
- July 20, 2009 Diamondback reaches its one millionth rider.
- September 10, 2009 Golden Ticket Awards names Diamondback the 2nd best new ride of 2009, the best new steel coaster of 2009, and the 7th best steel coaster of 2009.
References
- ^ Helbig, Don. "Diamondback Rising From Its Den". www.kidiamondback.com. http://www.kidiamondback.com/public/latest/blog/index.cfm?entry=35874431-4bfa-4db8-933c-9c420c951fbc. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ Callahan, Denise G.. "New Kings Island ride for 2009 will be hypercoaster". www.daytondailynews.com. http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/07/10/pjm071008kirideA1.html. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ NAPHA's 2009 Survey Results
- ^ Golden Ticket Awards - Top 25 Steel/Wooden Roller Coasters
- ^ Amusement Today
- ^ "Amusement Today — Golden Ticket Winners 2010" (PDF). Amusement Today. http://www.goldenticketawards.com/PDF/GTA2010issue.pdf. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ Amusement Today 2011 Park and Ride Winners
- ^ 2009 Internet Steel Tracked Roller Coaster Poll
- ^ "Kings Island official site". www.visitkingsisland.com. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ "YouTube Video of Kings Island Countdown Clock Easter Egg". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoNiMrFcrok.
- ^ http://www.kidiamondback.com/public/latest/blog/index.cfm?entry=d031ae22-3367-4f21-8f31-fe9174e45c62 kidiamondback.com Blog - Let the bidding begin!
- ^ a b http://kidiamondback.com/public/latest/blog/index.cfm?entry=badd8f9e-684a-46ba-80d0-a4ced97a1822 kidiamondback.com Blog - Did you know?
- ^ "Project 2009 photo gallary at kiextreme.com". www.kiextreme.com. http://www.kiextreme.com/gallery/index.php?cat=46. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ "Project 2009 Rivertown photo gallary at kicentral.com". www.kicentral.com. http://www.kicentral.com/photos/index.php?cat=22. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ "New KI coaster plans". www.DaytonDailyNews.com. http://www.daytondailynews.com/p/content/gen/sharedoh/photos_galleries/news/local/070908coaster.html. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ^ "Dark Red Steel Track Is Now Arriving At Kings Island". www.kiextreme.com. http://www.kiextreme.com/. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
- ^ Ryan Suhr. "Project 2009 Press Invite". www.kicentral.com. http://www.kicentral.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=253. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
- ^ Official Diamondback website - Press Release Format:.doc File Size:36 kb
External links
- Diamondback official site
- Diamondback on RCDB
- Diamondback construction photo gallery
- Diamondback official site - Onride video animation
- Diamondback official site - Construction Webcam
- Kings Island official page - Advertisement for New Ride
- Pictures from Diamondback's Announcement Day
- Youtube - Official Onride Video
- Diamondback Photo Gallery
Kings Island Roller coasters Adventure Express · Backlot Stunt Coaster · The Beast · Diamondback · Woodstock Express · Firehawk · Flight Deck · Flight of Fear · Invertigo · The Great Pumpkin Coaster · The Racer · Flying Ace Aerial Chase · VortexFlat Rides Peanuts 500 · Character Carousel · Charlie Brown's Wind Up · Joe Cool's Dodgem School · Kite Eating Tree · Linus' Beetle Bugs · Linus' LauncherOther attractions Action Theater · Surf Dog · Dinosaurs Alive! · Drop Tower: Scream Zone · The Crypt · Boo Blasters on Boo Hill · Thunder Alley · WindSeekerWater rides Defunct The Bat · Bavarian Beetle · Screamin' Demon · Enchanted Voyage · King Cobra · Lion Country Safari Monorail · Phantom Theater · Son of Beast · Halley's Comet · Scooby's Ghoster Coaster · Skylab · Tumble BugCategories:- Steel roller coasters
- Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters
- Megacoasters
- Kings Island
- Roller coasters in Ohio
- Cedar Fair roller coasters
- Roller coasters introduced in 2009
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