Voodoo (roller coaster)

Infobox roller coaster
name = Voodoo


caption =
location = Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
type = Steel
type2=Inverted
type3=Launched
status = Open
opened = May 17, 2008
manufacturer = Intamin AG
designer = Werner Stengel
model = "Twisted Impulse"
track =
lift =
height = 184
drop = 125
length = 704
speed = 70
inversions = 0
duration =
angle = 90
capacity = 950
cost =
acceleration =
gforce =
rcdb_number=4039

"Voodoo" is a launched steel Inverted roller coaster designed by Intamin AG and located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.

Layout

The ride's layout consists of two vertical spikes, one twisted and the other with a holding brake on it. The ride begins after riders pull down the restraints and are then catapulted forwards by the use of linear induction motors. After the initial launch, the train heads up the twisted vertical spike that twists the train 180 degrees. The train then repeats the course backwards and shuttles back and forth three times.

History

The ride was originally built by Six Flags in 2000 where it opened at what had been known as Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio and was known as "Superman: Ultimate Escape". When Six Flags sold Worlds Of Adventure to Cedar Fair, the park reverted to its original name, Geauga Lake. Due to the fact that Six Flags had exclusive rights to the name Superman, the coaster had to be renamed and it became known as "Steel Venom".

The coaster was disassembled at the end of the 2006 season. At that point, rumors began to surface that Geauga Lake was going to cut back their offerings and maybe even close. At the end of the 2007 season, it was decided that Geauga Lake would close the ride side of the park and keep only the waterpark side open beginning in 2008.

This coaster had already been sent to Dorney Park and construction began in the fall of 2007. Construction was completed in April 2008. According to the staff and management of the park, the coaster was expected to open on opening day of the 2008 season which was May 3, 2008 but did not. On April 30, Screamscape stated that the date of opening will be in mid-to-late-May. Park representatives comfirmed this on May 1.

On Friday, May 16, 2008, Voodoo was given the authorization to open. The coaster had a soft opening on Saturday May 17th, 2008 in the late afternoon.It also ran when the park was closed for a private event on May 18. Media day was on Wednesday May 21, 2008. The coaster finally had its grand opening on Friday, May 23, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.dorneypark.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill_rides/voodoo "Voodoo" at the official Dorney Park website]