Patriot (California's Great America)

Patriot
Previously known as Vortex 1991-2016
California's Great America
Coordinates 37°23′48.11″N 121°58′23.61″W / 37.3966972°N 121.9732250°W / 37.3966972; -121.9732250Coordinates: 37°23′48.11″N 121°58′23.61″W / 37.3966972°N 121.9732250°W / 37.3966972; -121.9732250
Status Under construction
Opening date 2017
Replaced

Vortex

California's Great America
Name Vortex
Status Closed
Opening date March 9, 1991[1]
Closing date September 5, 2016
Replaced Tidal Wave
Replaced by Patriot
General statistics
Type Steel Floorless
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Floorless Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 91 ft (28 m)
Length 1,920 ft (590 m)
Speed 40 mph (64 km/h)
Inversions 2
Duration 2:14
Capacity 1200 riders per hour
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Trains 2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Patriot at RCDB
Pictures of Patriot at RCDB

Vortex 1991-2016

Vortex was a stand-up roller coaster at California's Great America. It had a different layout but is generally the same size as Vortex at Carowinds. It was Bolliger & Mabillard's second coaster after Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America and officially opened on March 9, 1991.[2] The coaster at the time of closing had a paint scheme of purple track with yellow rails and gray supports.

Vortex before its transformation to Patriot

Patriot 2017-Present

On August 18th, 2016, the park announced Vortex would be converted to Patriot for the 2017 season, which will include new Bolliger & Mabillard Floorless trains and a new color scheme.[3]

Ride elements

The coaster makes a left hand first drop into its first loop then executes a left turnaround. The train next travels in another left turnaround through its loop. The train then travels to the other end of its layout into another turnaround after which it enters the corkscrew element and lastly into the final brake run. The course used to cross over the park train's railroad tracks by the corkscrew. The coaster's lift hill stands parallel to the footers of the former Tidal Wave looping shuttle coaster.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patriot (California's Great America).
  1. Myers, Laura (March 8, 1991). "Upstanding Citizens Test-Ride New Coaster". Los Angeles Daily News (Valley ed.). Associated Press. p. N11.
  2. Marden, Duane. "Vortex (California's Great America)". Database Entry. Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  3. https://www.cagreatamerica.com/what-s-new/2017-announcement
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.