Skull Mountain

Infobox roller coaster
name = Skull Mountain

---

caption = Skull Mountain's exterior
location = Six Flags Great Adventure
section= Lakefront
type = Steel
type2= Enclosed
status = Open
opened = 1996
manufacturer = Intamin AG
designer =
model = Indoor/Family Roller Coaster
track = steel twister
lift =Drive tire lift hill
height = 41
drop = 40
length = 1377
speed = 33
inversions = 0
duration = 1:24
angle =
capacity = 28 guests per train, 2 trains
cost =
acceleration =
restriction = 42
gforce = 2.3
rcdb_number= 35

Skull Mountain is a steel enclosed roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. It is of moderate size and considered a family-oriented junior coaster. Children as well as unaccompanied adults may ride.

The Ride

After ascending part of the lift hill, the train travels around the front of the enclosure themed to a cave with paintings and skulls. The train then ascends the rest of the lift hill which starts into complete darkness. The coaster then drops and the ride is traveled in complete darkness, punctuated by strobe lights, visual effects and creepy sound effects. However, in more recent years the strobes and visuals were stopped due to fears of epileptic seizures. Occasionally the ride will be running with them, sometimes during Fright Fest. Water comes out of the skull's eyes, and pours down into the water below.

Skull Mountain's restraints are two-across lap bars, so the smaller of the two riders in each row may be able to stand up and get off the train while the restraints are down. Often, this ride is unoccupied and guests may ride the mountain several times without leaving their seats.

While all of the park's coasters (except Kingda Ka) will operate in the rain, Skull Mountain remains open during thunderstorms, since it is enclosed.

History

Skull Mountain was opened in 1996 and has been one of Six Flags Great Adventure's most safe and reliable roller coasters. The ride itself is a timid one, mostly occurring in one large, dark, enclosed room. The top height of the ride (41 ft.) is not even a tenth of Kingda Ka's record height.

As of the 2008 park season, the building in which the coaster is contained is no longer completely dark; it is now fairly brightly lit all the time exposing the track and mechanics of the ride. Previously, the room was completely dark with the exception of two separate strobe lights which would flash at separate points on the ride. The coaster was never intended to be lit, thus removing the most exciting part of the ride.As of July 2, the ride has 2 different props left over from Fright Fest one is skeleton that has a purple light always on and a pumpkin at the other end these lights make out the whole ride and make it not as much fun as it was with the complete darkness.

References