Superman: Krypton Coaster
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
LocationSix Flags Fiesta Texas
Park sectionDC Universe
Coordinates29°35′43″N 98°36′36″W / 29.595150°N 98.609991°W / 29.595150; -98.609991
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 11, 2000 (2000-03-11)
Cost$20 million
General statistics
TypeSteel – Floorless Coaster
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelFloorless Coaster - Custom
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height168 ft (51 m)
Drop163 ft (50 m)
Length4,025 ft (1,227 m)
Speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions6
Duration2:35
Max vertical angle58°
Capacity1600 riders per hour
G-force3.8
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Flash Pass available
Superman: Krypton Coaster at RCDB

Superman: Krypton Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Floorless Coaster model opened to the public in 2000 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The well-received ride held the title for the world's tallest vertical loop (145 feet) from its opening until 2013. Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

History

In 1999, Six Flags Great Adventure spent $42 million on new attractions including a prototype Floorless Coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard, Medusa.[1] The immediate popularity of the ride,[2] led to Six Flags Fiesta Texas to announce plans to install a Floorless Coaster in 2000;[3] Superman: Krypton Coaster was announced on November 1, 1999.[4] The announcement of the $20 million roller coaster was a part of a wider multimillion-dollar expansion of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.[5]

At the time of the ride's announcement, construction had already begun on unused land bordered by quarry walls and an irrigation pond.[5][6] The initial plans for the ride specified it would have seven inversions including a 114-foot-tall (35 m) vertical loop and a 96-foot-tall (29 m) dive loop.[6] Following the ride's announcement, the design was altered to remove the dive loop and increase the size of the vertical loop to 145 feet (44 m).[7][8] This saw Superman: Krypton Coaster obtain the record for the world's tallest vertical loop when it officially opened to the public on March 11, 2000.[7] It held the title for 13 years until the addition of Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2013.[8]

On March 6, 2010, Six Flags Fiesta Texas offered exclusive ride time on Superman: Krypton Coaster to help celebrate the ride's 10th anniversary.[9] On June 22, 2013, Superman: Krypton Coaster lost the title of having the world's tallest vertical loop when Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California opened Full Throttle, which features a 160-foot-tall (49 m) vertical loop, 15 feet (4.6 m) taller than the loop on Superman: Krypton Coaster.[8][10][11][12]

On March 3, 2016, Six Flags announced that the roller coaster would be one of several rides at various Six Flags parks to feature a VR system. Riders have the option of wearing a Samsung Gear VR headset, powered by Oculus to create a 360-degree, 3D experience while riding. It is themed to Superman saving a city from Lex Luthor's Lex Bots who are causing chaos with an anti-gravity ray.[13]

Characteristics

The ride's vertical loop and mid-course helix

Statistics

The 4,025-foot-long (1,227 m) Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall.[7] With a top speed of 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), the ride ties with Iron Rattler as the fastest roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.[7][14] The ride features six inversions including a 145-foot-tall (44 m) vertical loop, a zero-g roll, a 78-foot-tall (24 m) cobra roll and two corkscrews.[7][8]

Trains

Superman: Krypton Coaster operates with three floorless trains. Each train seats 32 riders in eight rows of four. This gives the ride a theoretical hourly capacity of 1600 riders per hour.[7] The open-air trains feature seats which leave riders' legs dangling above the track. Riders are restrained with over-the-shoulder restraints.[5] As the trains are floorless, the station has a retractable floor for safe boarding.[6]

Ride experience

Superman: Krypton Coaster's initial plunge over the quarry wall

After riders have boarded and the station floor is retracted, Superman: Krypton Coaster departs with a left turn out of the station. This leads directly to the 168-foot-tall (51 m) chain lift hill. At the top, the train crests the lift hill and follows a fairly level 180 degree turn to the right above the quarry wall. This leads into a 168-foot (51 m) drop off the quarry wall directly into the 145-foot-tall (44 m) vertical loop. With the quarry wall on the track's right, the train inclines to the top of the wall where it performs a helix to the right. After dropping from the quarry wall again, the train enters the zero-g roll where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness. This is followed by the 78-foot-tall (24 m) cobra roll and a mid-course brake run. The exit from the mid-course brake run banks down to the right into the two interlocking corkscrews. This leads to a final turn before the final brake run and return to the station.[7][15][16]

Reception

Prior to launch, General Manager of Six Flags Fiesta Texas John Odum stated Superman: Krypton Coaster was "the big-league ride we have really needed". He stated the design of the ride, which interacts with the quarry wall, would make a thrilling ride: "being that close to the wall there is a good sense of speed".[5] In May 2000, two months after Superman: Krypton Coaster opened, it was reported that the park was "off to a flying start" for the season.[17] Six Flags Fiesta Texas officials stated the ride proved popular in its first year of operation.[18]

In Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards, Superman: Krypton Coaster was ranked in the top 50 steel roller coasters numerous times since its opening. It peaked at position 24 in 2002,[19] before it dropped to 50 in 2008[20] and rose again to 38 in 2011. Since then, it has not ranked on the Golden Ticket Awards' list of top 50 steel coasters.[21]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Ranking –[22]36[23]24[19]25[24]27[25]33[26]33[27]36[28]50[20]44[29]–[30]38[21]–[31]–[32]–[33]–[34]–[35]–[36]–[37]–[38]

References

  1. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (February 1, 1999). "Six Flags Great Adventure to turn into 'superpark'". Amusement Business. 111 (5): 3.
  2. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (June 7, 1999). "Park attendance off to a great start for 1999". Amusement Business. 111 (23): 1.
  3. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Category = Floorless)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  4. ↑ "Late News". Amusement Business. 111 (44): 3. November 1, 1999.
  5. 1 2 3 4 O'Brien, Tim (November 8, 1999). "$20 Mil Floorless Coaster To Have Superman Theme At Fiesta Texas". Amusement Business. 111 (45): 21.
  6. 1 2 3 "Six Flags Fiesta Texas to Build New Coaster" (Press release). Six Flags Fiesta Texas. November 1, 1999.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Marden, Duane. "Superman Krypton Coaster  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  8. 1 2 3 4 MacDonald, Brady (August 30, 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain adding Full Throttle coaster in 2013". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  9. ↑ Six Flags Fiesta Texas (March 10, 2010). "Superman Krypton Coaster 10th Anniversary". Facebook. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
  10. ↑ Martin, Hugo (August 30, 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain announces 18th coaster". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Magic Mountain Announces Next Mega-Coaster". SCVNews. August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  12. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Full Throttle  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  13. ↑ "Six Flags adds VR roller coasters". Digital Trends. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  14. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Iron Rattler  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  15. ↑ "Superman Krypton Coaster Front Row Seat on-ride HD POV Six Flags Fiesta Texas". Coaster Force. YouTube. August 29, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Superman (HD POV) Six Flags Fiesta Texas". Sharp Productions. YouTube. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  17. ↑ Emmons, Natasha (May 8, 2000). "Pacific Currents". Amusement Business. 112 (19): 3.
  18. ↑ Mooradian, Don (March 26, 2001). "Parks Have High Hopes For Upcoming Season". Amusement Business. 113 (12): 22, 24.
  19. 1 2 "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  20. 1 2 "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  21. 1 2 "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000.
  23. ↑ "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 18–19B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007.
  26. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012.
  32. ↑ "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  33. ↑ "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014.
  34. ↑ "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015.
  35. ↑ "2016 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016.
  36. ↑ "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017.
  37. ↑ "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018.
  38. ↑ "2019 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019.
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