:TMNT Shellraiser

{{Infobox roller coaster

|name=TMNT Shellraiser

|image=-i---i-_(48973757538).jpg

|imagedimensions=

|caption=TMNT Shellraiser (green track)

|previousnames=

|location=Nickelodeon Universe

|section=

|subsection=

|coordinates={{Coord|40.806591|-74.071201|format=dms|display=it}}

|opened={{Start date and age|2019|10|25}}

|year=2019

|closed=

|cost=

|type=Steel

|type2=Launched

|type3=Euro-Fighter

|status=SBNO

|manufacturer=Gerstlauer

|designer=

|model=1000

|track=

|lift= LSM launch, chain lift hill

|height_ft=141

|drop_ft=138

|length_ft=3,280.8

|speed_mph=62.1

|inversions=7

|duration=1:52

|angle=121.5

|capacity=

|acceleration_from=0

|acceleration_mph=62.1

|acceleration_in=2

|gforce=5

|restriction_in=48

|trains=6

|carspertrain=2

|rowspercar=1

|ridersperrow=4

|virtual_queue_name=

|virtual_queue_image=

|virtual_queue_status=

|single_rider=

|custom_label_1=

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|custom_label_2=

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|accessible=

|transfer_accessible=

|rcdb_number=15594

}}

TMNT Shellraiser is a steel indoor roller coaster at Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, within the American Dream mall, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The roller coaster is a Euro-Fighter model manufactured by Gerstlauer, and is themed to the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series. It is the steepest roller coaster in the world, with a vertical drop of 121.5 degrees.

History

In September 2016, officials at the long-delayed American Dream shopping mall announced that the Nickelodeon Universe theme park would be built inside the mall.{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2016/09/13/spongebob-ninja-turtles-sign-on-with-american-dream/93001992/|title=SpongeBob, Ninja Turtles sign on with American Dream |publisher=NorthJersey.com|date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=September 15, 2016}} Details about the park's coasters, including a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter with the world's steepest drop, were revealed in December 2017.{{cite web|last=Jerd|first=Sara|date=December 5, 2017|url=https://www.nj.com/bergen/2017/12/world_record_roller_coasters_coming_to_american_dream_no_really.html|title=Meadowlands megamall to house pair of world record roller coasters|work=nj|access-date=March 17, 2019 }} According to the mall's attractions director, Jeff Davis, the Euro-Fighter design was chosen because it would "break a world record [...] to claim the steepest coaster in the world", and that he "anticipate[d] up to 50 percent" of residents in the New York metropolitan area to ride the coaster.{{cite web|url=https://www.iaapa.org/news/funworld/tmnt-shellraiser|title=TMNT Shellraiser – The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions|website=IAAPA|access-date=November 10, 2019}} Vertical construction of the attraction officially began in early 2018.{{cite web|url=https://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2018/03/new-gerstlauer-coaster-going-vertical.html|title=New Gerstlauer Coaster Going Vertical at Nickelodeon Universe at the American Dream|date=March 28, 2018 |publisher=NewsPlusNotes}} The names for the TMNT Shellraiser and three other coasters were first announced by Nickelodeon Universe representatives at American Coaster Enthusiasts' February 2019 "EastCoaster" summit. At that point, construction on the coaster was well underway.{{Cite web|url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/ridgewood/heres-what-roller-coasters-are-coming-american-dream-video|title=Here's What Roller Coasters Are Coming To American Dream [Video]|date=February 13, 2019|website=Ridgewood-Glen Rock, NJ Patch|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}} Ride testing began in April 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/bergen/2019/04/american-dream-mega-mall-is-testing-its-amusement-park-rides-murphy-says.html|title=American Dream mega-mall is testing its amusement park rides, Murphy says|last=Pries|first=Allison|date=April 5, 2019|website=nj|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}}

The TMNT Shellraiser soft-opened October 25, 2019, as part of the opening of the first attractions at Nickelodeon Universe in American Dream.{{Cite web|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2019/10/american-dream-heres-a-full-list-of-rides-open-at-nickelodeon-universe.html|title=American Dream: Here's a full list of rides open at Nickelodeon Universe|last=Porpora|first=Tracey|date=October 26, 2019|website=silive|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/20/us/giant-nickelodeon-theme-park-new-jersey-trnd/index.html|title=Nickelodeon Universe, the largest indoor theme park in North America, opens this week|author=Gabrielle Sorto|website=CNN|date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=November 10, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/bergen/2019/10/nickelodeon-universe-rides-open-at-american-dream-here-are-10-we-know-of-so-far.html|title=Nickelodeon Universe rides open at American Dream. Here are 10 we know of, so far.|last=Pries|first=Allison|date=October 24, 2019|website=nj|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}} The ride was temporarily closed after its soft opening because it did not have a permit to operate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/10/31/american-dream-some-nickelodeon-universe-rides-still-lack-permits/4098907002/|title=American Dream is open, but some Nickelodeon rides still don't have permits to operate|last=Rimbach|first=Jean|date=October 31, 2019|website=North Jersey|language=en|access-date=2019-11-23}}

The ride has been closed since January 9, 2024, for extensive renovations.

Ride experience

TMNT Shellraiser is located entirely inside the structure of American Dream. Upon leaving the station, the train immediately enters a slow heartline roll. It is then propelled by linear motors from a standstill to {{convert|62.1|mph}} in two seconds. The train ascends from the launched track section into a {{convert|125|ft|m|adj=on}} tall corkscrew. Immediately afterward, the coaster enters a banana roll inversion, a second corkscrew, and an airtime hill. The train ascends onto a set of block brakes, slowing the train down before it makes a U-turn to the right and ascends the {{convert|141|ft|adj=on}} vertical chain lift hill. Once at the top, the car is held by a brake before entering the 121.5°, {{convert|141|ft|adj=on}} beyond-vertical drop. Once the car is released from the top of the hill, it traverses a dive loop, an inline loop, and an Immelmann loop, before hitting the final brake run and returning to the station.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=TMNT Shellraiser|location=American Dream Meadowlands|url=https://rcdb.com/15594.htm|accessdate=November 10, 2019}}{{Citation|title=SHELLRAISER POV World Record Roller Coaster Nickelodeon Universe American Dream Mall TAKABISHA|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAKEmeE5afQ|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2019}}

Characteristics

File:-i---i-_(48974141851)_(cropped).jpg

TMNT Shellraiser has green track with purple and light-blue supports, and has a total of seven inversions.{{cite web | last=Levine | first=Arthur | title=Roller coasters with the most inversions: 12 record-breaking rides | website=usatoday | date=May 9, 2019 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2019/05/09/roller-coasters-most-inversions/1142615001/ | access-date=November 10, 2019}}{{efn|The Roller Coaster DataBase counts the banana roll as a single inversion. Takabisha, which contains a similar layout to TMNT Shellraiser, is listed as having seven inversions, counting the banana roll once. Steel Curtain at Kennywood, another coaster with a banana roll element, counts the banana roll twice.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Steel Curtain|number=16479| accessdate=December 30, 2019}}}} It ties with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure for having the highest number of inversions on any New Jersey roller coaster.{{cite web|url=https://nj1015.com/medusa-is-back-12-secrets-of-great-adventures-classic-roller-coaster/|title=Medusa is back: 12 secrets of Great Adventure's classic coaster|date=July 22, 2022 }} At the top of the lift hill, the train is held by the brake for 14 seconds before being released into the drop.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2019/11/08/american-dream-mall-nickelodeon-universe-brings-thrills-indoors/2517222001/|title=Nickelodeon Universe brings the thrills indoors at New Jersey's American Dream mall|last=Levine|first=Arthur|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=November 10, 2019}} Riders are positioned so that they have a view of the New York City skyline in the distance.{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/10/22/american-dream-mega-mall-finally-opening-with-nickelodeon-theme-park-and-dreamworks-water-park/|title=American Dream mega-mall finally opening with Nickelodeon theme park and DreamWorks water park – Orange County Register|date=October 22, 2019|website=Orange County Register|access-date=November 10, 2019}} A section of the building's ceiling is raised slightly to accommodate the lift hill, as well as the windows facing New York City. The {{Convert|141|ft||abbr=|adj=on}} drop, at an angle of 121.5 degrees, is the steepest in the world,{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/life/nickelodeon-universe-american-dream-mall-new-jersey-meadowlands-20191024.html|title=Largest indoor theme park in the Western Hemisphere opening tomorrow in N.J.|last=Vadala|first=Nick|date=October 24, 2019|website=Inquirer|access-date=November 10, 2019}} beating the previous record-holder Takabisha by half a degree.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/this-state-is-getting-the-worlds-steepest-roller-coaster/ar-BBTlPY2|title=This state is getting the world's steepest roller coaster|website=www.msn.com|access-date=November 10, 2019}} The ride also features the same layout as Takabisha, save for having a steeper drop.

There are six trains, each featuring a single car. Each car has two rows of seating, with four seats per row. The trains were given a custom paint design by a "local auto body artist".

The ride is themed to the concept of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting the supervillain Shredder in New York City's streets.

Reception

A writer for USA Today said, "Shellraiser was a tad rough, but a load of fun." Travel + Leisure magazine said that "thrill seekers will love the scream-inducing Shellraiser".{{cite web|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/amusement-parks/american-dream-complex-new-jersey-nickelodeon-universe-theme-park|title=Nickelodeon Just Opened the Largest Indoor Theme Park in the Western Hemisphere|website=Travel + Leisure|access-date=November 10, 2019}}