Corkscrew (Michigan's Adventure)

Corkscrew
Corkscrew as seen from Wolverine Wildcat
Location	Michigan's Adventure
Coordinates	43°20′35″N 86°16′46″W / 43.342979°N 86.279440°W / 43.342979; -86.279440Coordinates: 43°20′35″N 86°16′46″W / 43.342979°N 86.279440°W / 43.342979; -86.279440
Status	Operating
Opened	1979
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Model	Corkscrew
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift
Height	70 ft (21 m)
Length	1,250 ft (380 m)
Max speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions	2
Duration	30 seconds
Max vertical angle	42°
Capacity	750 riders per hour
Height restriction	4 ft 0 in (122 cm)
Corkscrew at RCDB
Pictures of Corkscrew at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

Corkscrew is a steel roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon, Michigan. It was manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. Corkscrew was the park's first roller coaster during the Deer Park days. Arrow Dynamics has built several Corkscrew coasters and some, such as the Corkscrew at Cedar Point, or the Corkscrew at Valleyfair have an additional inversion, typically a loop in addition to the two corkscrew loops that give this coaster type its name. ^[1]

This is one of the oldest original Arrow coasters still in existence. For the majority of its life, Corkscrew was painted white. Sometime after the purchase of Michigan's Adventure by Cedar Fair the track has been painted yellow and orange, and the supports painted teal or aqua. These are common corporate colors for Cedar Fair parks.

Color Scheme

Prior to the park being bought by Cedar Fair, Corkscrew had an all white track with white supports. The trains were red, white, and blue. After the park was purchased by Cedar Fair, the track was painted orange and the corkscrew portion was painted yellow. The supports were also painted to a teal/green color. The trains were as well given new colors, they now sport a red and yellow paint job. The station was given a face lift as well, changing the wood and white portions to a teal and tan color.

History

The corkscrew was added by Roger Jourden to help turn his small deer park petting zoo into a full fledged amusement park. Many of his additions to Michigan's Adventure were to help compete with its neighbor park Cedar Point. This was the reason he decided on adding an Arrow corkscrew at the time. When the ride was built it was considered one of the most high tech and thrilling rides in existence and was considered by many including the manufacturers to be too big for what was at the time nothing more than a petting zoo. Roger Jourden has been quoted as saying that he would of liked to have had a loop in addition to the two corkscrews, but at the time it was too much for his budget.

References

1. ^ "Corkscrew search page". Roller Coaster Database. http://www.rcdb.com/ir.htm?coastername=Corkscrew. Retrieved 2-6-2008.