- Cyclone (Revere Beach)
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Cyclone 
Postcard illustrating the Cyclone roller coaster at Revere Beach Location Revere Beach Status Demolished Opened 1925 Closed 1969 Cost $125,000 Type Wood Manufacturer Traver Engineering Designer Fredrick Church Height 100 ft (30 m) Length 3,600 ft (1,100 m) Max speed 45 mph (72 km/h) Inversions 0 Capacity 1400 riders per hour Cyclone at RCDB Pictures of Cyclone at RCDB 
Amusement Parks PortalThe Cyclone was a wooden roller coaster that operated at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts from 1925 until 1969.[1] When Cyclone was constructed, it was the tallest roller coaster ever built,[2] as well as being the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 feet (30 m) in height.[3] In addition to being the tallest roller coaster of its day, some also claim that it was the largest and fastest roller coaster in the world,[2][4] with a length of 3,600 feet (1,100 m) and top speeds between 45 and 50 mph[4] (some dispute the speed record claim and instead award that honor to the Giant Dipper[5]). Cyclone held the title of world's tallest roller coaster until 1964 when it was surpassed by Montaña Rusa at La Feria Chapultepec Mágico in Mexico City, Mexico.[6]
Given its location near the Atlantic Ocean, Cyclone would take much damage throughout the years from ocean storms, flooding, and blizzards.[7] Despite the abuse the coaster took from the ocean, however, it was a fire that eventually destroyed the Cyclone.[8] When the Cyclone burned down in 1969, it was an event that signaled the demise of the Revere Beach amusement industry.[7] The coaster's charred ruins were finally torn down in 1974.[1]
As with Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, Revere Beach's attractions were owned by a variety of amusement operators, with the Cyclone being owned by the Shayeb family.[2] In its heyday, Cyclone was a popular ride, regularly transporting as many as 1,400 riders per hour—a rate which was quickly able to recoup the 125,000 dollar cost of the coaster.[9]
Design and construction
Cyclone was constructed by the notable roller coaster builder and pioneer Harry Traver of Traver Engineering and designed by Fredrick Church.[1] Cyclone was one of two roller coasters that Traver built at Revere Beach, the other one being the Lightning. Lightning was part of a model line known as "Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters". These coasters were steel-framed coasters, which, ironically enough, had a particularly poor safety record.[10] Because Cyclone predated Lightning at Revere Beach, Lightning was the only Cyclone Safety Coaster to not share the Cyclone name of its sister coasters.
References
- ^ a b c RCDB listing for Cyclone
- ^ a b c Craig, William J.; Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation (2004). Revere. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 128. ISBN 0738536717. http://books.google.com/books?id=rTUZaHGyZ4YC&pg=PA82&dq=%22revere+beach%22+cyclone&hl=en&ei=m4FRTI-CIoG88gaUooGLAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22revere%20beach%22%20cyclone&f=false.
- ^ RCDB list of roller coasters by height
- ^ a b Revere Beach historical site
- ^ RCDB listing for Giant Dipper
- ^ RCDB listing for Montaña Rusa
- ^ a b Schmidt, Leah A. (2002). Revere Beach. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 128. ISBN 0738510300. http://books.google.com/books?id=ze7rZQHyGzcC&pg=PA8&dq=%22revere+beach%22+cyclone&hl=en&ei=m4FRTI-CIoG88gaUooGLAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22revere%20beach%22%20cyclone&f=false.
- ^ Robertson, Kitty Crockett (2008). Measuring Time - By an Hourglass. Dog Ear Publishing. pp. 292. ISBN 1598586823. http://books.google.com/books?id=f-2Drsf6EOwC&pg=PA45&dq=%22revere+beach%22+cyclone&hl=en&ei=m4FRTI-CIoG88gaUooGLAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22revere%20beach%22%20cyclone&f=false.
- ^ Francis, David W.; Francis, Diane DeMali (2003). The Golden Age of Roller Coasters. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 128. ISBN 0738523380. http://books.google.com/books?id=4d9oXyOZubIC&pg=PA66&dq=%22derby+racer%22+%22revere+beach%22&hl=en&ei=7wotTLTXLIGglAeKtOy9CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22derby%20racer%22%20%22revere%20beach%22&f=false.
- ^ Rutherford, Scott (2004). The American Roller Coaster. MBI Publishing Company. pp. 156. ISBN 0760319294. http://books.google.com/books?id=NoeG5n87dWQC&pg=PT46&dq=%22revere+beach%22+cyclone&hl=en&ei=m4FRTI-CIoG88gaUooGLAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CD0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22revere%20beach%22%20cyclone&f=false.
Preceded by
UnknownWorld's Tallest Complete Circuit Roller Coaster
1925 - 1964Succeeded by
Montaña RusaRoller coasters formerly operated at Revere Beach Former: Cyclone · Derby Racer (1911) · Derby Racer (1937) · Dragon Gorge · Jack Rabbit · Lightning · Thompson Scenic Railway · Thunderbolt · Virginia Reel · Wild MouseCategories:- Wooden roller coasters
- Traver Engineering roller coasters
- Roller coasters introduced in 1925
- Buildings and structures in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
- Demolished buildings and structures in the United States
- Revere, Massachusetts
- Roller coasters in Massachusetts
- Defunct roller coasters
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