Demon (roller coaster)

File:Turn of the Century roller coaster 3 (cropped).jpg

In 1976, the Marriott Corporation opened two nearly identical theme parks in Illinois and California, both named Marriott's Great America. Each park featured an area called The Great Midwest Livestock Exposition at County Fair, themed to an early 20th-century rural county fair. This area was set in the Midwest at the turn of the 20th century. In line with this theme, both parks included a roller coaster called Turn of the Century in the County Fair themed area. The Turn of the Century coasters were custom-built by Arrow Dynamics, featuring a height of {{Convert|102|ft|m}} and a length of {{Convert|2130|ft|m}}.{{cite news |last1=Magazines |first1=Hearst |title=Popular Mechanics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ouIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA81&dq=%22Turn+of+the+Century%22+%22Great+America%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiuz9Twq8GJAxUflYkEHUtxN70Q6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22Turn%20of%20the%20Century%22%20%22Great%20America%22&f=false |access-date=November 3, 2024 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |date=November 1976 |language=en}}{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Demon |location=California's Great America|rcdb_number=76 |access-date=February 19, 2012}}{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Demon |location=Six Flags Great America|rcdb_number=3 |access-date=February 19, 2012}}

Ron Toomer, the designer of Turn of the Century, mentioned that it cost the park $1.2 million dollars {{USDCY|1200000|1976}} for the design and fabrication of the coaster. He estimated that construction cost the park around another million dollars {{USDCY|1000000|1976}}. The Turn of the Century coasters were the largest and most thrilling of the three original roller coasters at the Great America parks. Both coasters were identical and were among the first roller coasters to feature a double corkscrew.{{cite web |url=https://www.greatamericaparks.com/great-america-rides/turn-of-the-century/ |title=Great America parks: the Turn of the Century |website=greatamericaparks.com |date=March 24, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Roller Coaster Search Results |url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=-8&ot=2&el=8876 |website=rcdb |access-date=April 18, 2024}} They also featured two airtime hills after the first drop. These hills were known for ejecting loose articles from the trains, such as hats, sunglasses, and cameras.

Both coasters were originally painted white. Around 1979, the double corkscrews of the coasters in both parks were painted red.

After the 1979 season, both Turn of the Century coasters were heavily modified. The airtime hills after the first drop were removed and replaced with two consecutive vertical loops and a lighted tunnel.{{cite web |title=Roller Coaster {{!}} Demon {{!}} California's Great America |url=https://www.cagreatamerica.com/rides-experiences/demon |website=www.cagreatamerica.com |publisher=California's Great America |access-date=April 15, 2024 |language=en}} Fake rock formations were built around the second loop and around the first half of the lift hill, with a third formation just before the corkscrews.{{cite web |title=video - 1980 Marriott's GREAT AMERICA commercial -- the Demon - GREATAMERICAparks.com |url=https://www.greatamericaparks.com/images/displayimage.php?pid=1666 |website=Great America Parks |access-date=April 17, 2024 |language=en}} Both rides were painted black and were renamed Demon. With the addition of the loops, the Demon coasters became the second in the world to feature four inversions, after Carolina Cyclone at Carowinds which opened two months earlier.

In addition to the re-design, the theme was changed as well. The storyline of the ride's transformation heard in the Demon soundtrack is that the park accidentally missed three payments on the roller coaster, and that a demon has repossessed the ride. Fog machines were placed in the tunnels, blood red colored water fell out of the rock formation by the corkscrews, and a unique logo was unveiled. This logo featured red eyes staring out of a boarded up pipe. A large version of this logo was placed on the Demon's sign with a pool of red dyed water in front of it. The original trains were also modified, with a three-dimensional version of the logo was attached to the front car of each train and flames painted on the sides of the cars. 1,700 red lights were placed into the ride's second tunnel, creating a swirl effect.{{cite news |title=The Telegraph-Herald |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X-lFAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA34&article_id=6936,4308285&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRlJ7ns6OIAxW3rYkEHRurEQwQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q&f=false |access-date=September 2, 2024 |date=March 28, 1980 |language=en}} These changes allowed the parks to market Demon as a new attraction for the 1980 season without having to construct a new roller coaster.

Due to opposition from religious groups, much of Demon's theming elements both parks were eventually removed, including the pipe on the ride's sign, the 3D logos and flames on the trains, the smoke and lighting effects, and the ride's soundtrack.{{cite web |title=Great America History Author Talks Rollercoasters |url=https://www.svvoice.com/great-america-history-author-talks-rollercoasters/ |website=The Silicon Valley Voice |access-date=April 17, 2024 |date=June 25, 2014}}{{cite web |title=Behind the Scenes of Demon: Re-Ignited – Coaster101 |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2017/10/02/behind-scenes-demon-re-ignited-ca-great-america/ |website=Coaster101 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |date=October 2, 2017}}

File:Demon entrance (Six Flags Great America) (cropped).JPG

In 2005, for Six Flags Great America's Fright Fest event, almost all of Demon's original theming returned. Decals similar to the original logos were added to the noses of the trains, fog returned in the tunnels, the Demon song played in the queue again, and red lights and tiki torches were placed all around the ride. A re-creation of the original sign was present at Fright Fest. Built from an oil barrel with red lights and fog, it was placed in the flower bed in front of the ride's sign. This display returned for subsequent Fright Fests.{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=John |title=Six Flags Great America Fright Fest 2016 – Coaster101 |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2016/10/26/six-flags-great-america-fright-fest-2016/ |website=Coaster101 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |date=October 26, 2016}}

On the park's 2006 opening day, the Demon song continued playing in the queue, the decals were still on the front of the trains,{{cite web |title=The Demon – Six Flags Great America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8SX38kYLNs |website=YouTube |date=November 9, 2006 |publisher=paticus212 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |language=en}} and the flames were still painted on the station. The rest of the theming was removed, as it was for Fright Fest only.

By 2008, the Demon logos on the front of the trains were updated. The stylized decals reading "Demon" were replaced with logos that more closely resembled the original Marriott-era logos, featuring red eyes peering out of a pipe.

In 2009, Demon's black train was given airbrushed flames on the sides of the front car with no red stripe.{{cite web |last1=Drabek |first1=Paul |title=Six Flags Great America Gurnee, Illinois Summer 2009 Page One |url=https://negative-g.com/six-flags-great-america/2009/september-2009/six-flags-great-america-summer-2009-1.htm |website=Negative-G |access-date=April 17, 2024}} Around 2010, the waterfall after the stone demon head was disabled.{{cite web |title=Demon Front Seat on-ride POV Six Flags Great America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrSqDXkeAUM |website=YouTube |date=March 29, 2010 |publisher=CoasterForce |access-date=April 20, 2024 |language=en}} For a 2010 advertising deal with Six Flags, the red train was wrapped in Stride Gum advertisements for the entire season.{{cite web |title=Excessive Advertising |url=http://www.coaster-net.com/blogs/excessive-advertising |website=COASTER-net |access-date=April 18, 2024 |language=en}}

For the 2016 season, the Demon sign's letters were repainted black with airbrushed flames.{{cite web |title=The Demon Roller Coaster's Post |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10153831850763108&set=a.10150667142768108 |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=April 30, 2024}}{{Better source needed|date=April 2024}} In late 2016, the attraction was given a virtual reality (VR) upgrade. The experience would be called Rage of the Gargoyles. Riders had the option to wear Samsung Gear VR headsets, powered by Oculus to create a 360-degree, 3D experience while riding. The illusion was themed to a fighter jet, where riders flew through a futuristic city as co-pilots battling demonic creatures.{{cite web |title=Six Flags Demon coaster launches virtual reality experience |url=https://abc7chicago.com/six-flags-great-america-demon-coaster-roller/1465882/ |website=ABC7 Chicago |access-date=April 17, 2024 |language=en}}

In 2019, flashing yellow eyes were added to the ride's first tunnel.{{cite web |title=2019 Demon Roller Coaster On Ride Front Seat HD POV Six Flags Great America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3AoWcQR9Ss |website=YouTube |date=February 26, 2020 |publisher=Theme Park POV |access-date=April 18, 2024 |language=en}}

For the 2021 season, several changes were made. The multicolored bowl-shaped lights around the first tunnel were replaced with red cage lights, and the two red demon eye lights in the first tunnel were fixed, as they previously did not turn on. Furthermore, flames were restored on the operator's booth, replacing the gray paint that had covered them for years.{{cite web |title=[4K-On Ride] Demon – Six Flags Great America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1KUMYo5J40 |website=YouTube |date=August 16, 2023 |publisher=DLP Welcome |access-date=April 18, 2024 |language=en}}

In late 2023, the rockwork around the loops was removed. The other theming and rockwork stayed.{{cite web |title=Is Demon at Six Flags Great America Closing or Just Losing its Rocks? – Coaster101 |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2023/10/17/is-demon-at-six-flags-great-america-closing-or-receiving-a-facelift/ |website=Coaster101 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |date=October 17, 2023}}

In July 2024, Six Flags started teasing Great America's 2025 addition. The teasers used the word "demon" multiple times, banners were put up directly next to Demon, and signpost reading "This is a mysterious sign" was placed in Demon's queue. Prior to the announcement, it was speculated that Demon could be getting removed to make way for a new attraction.{{cite web |title=Six Flags Great America posts cryptic message on social media, causing rumors to swirl |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/six-flags-great-america-posts-cryptic-message-on-social-media-causing-rumors-to-swirl/3501283/ |website=NBC Chicago |access-date=August 29, 2024 |date=July 26, 2024}} When Wrath of Rakshasa was announced, it was revealed that Demon was not being removed.{{cite web |last1=Marzano |first1=Peter |title=What does Six Flags' new ride mean for the popular Demon coaster? Answers after weeks of speculation, concern from fans |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/what-does-six-flags-new-ride-mean-for-the-popular-demon-coaster-answers-after-weeks-of-speculation/3522812/ |website=NBC Chicago |date=August 15, 2024}} Instead, another demonic-themed roller coaster was being constructed directly across from Demon, and they are exploring retheming the area between the two.{{cite web |last1=Leshock |first1=Marcus |title=11am Six Flags Great America WRATH OF RAKSHASA dive coaster press conference! {{!}} By news anchor Marcus Leshock |website=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/MarcusLeshock/videos/384794771312294 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Potempa |first1=Philip |title=Six Flags Great America announces plans for new thrill ride with 'the world's steepest drop with the most inversions on any dive coaster' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/15/six-flags-announces-plans-for-new-thrill-ride-the-worlds-steepest-drop-with-the-most-inversions-on-any-dive-coaster/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 29, 2024 |date=August 15, 2024}}

File:Demon (California's Great America) 2.jpg

Upon the ride's conversion into Demon, it was painted fully black.{{cite web |title=Demon - Demon train - GREATAMERICAparks.com |url=https://www.greatamericaparks.com/images/displayimage.php?album=127&pid=1056#top_display_media |website=www.greatamericaparks.com |access-date=August 31, 2024}} Since then, the rails have been repainted orange.

In 2017, for the park's Halloween event, California's Great America temporarily modified Demon into what they called "Demon Reignited". During this, a large amount of the ride's original theming returned, as well as additional effects. Decorations were added to the ride's station, flames were painted around the first tunnel, and red gobo projections were put in the second tunnel. Strobe lights were installed in the first tunnel, after the stone demon statue, and during the corkscrew elements. Additionally, various thematic elements were added to the stone demon head statue. This included the water being dyed blood red, a jet of flame being added next to the stone structure, and projection mapping being used to display blood, flames, and eyes onto the demon's face.{{cite web |title=Demon: Re-Ignited, Great America's Instant Halloween Classic |url=https://www.parkjourney.com/cedar-fair/demon-re-ignited-great-americas-instant-halloween-classic |website=Park Journey |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en}} A new pre-show and on-ride soundtrack accompanied the ride, both voiced by James Iglehart.{{cite web |publisher=BWW News Desk |title=James Monroe Iglehart to Voice 'The Demon' During California's Great America's Halloween Haunt |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/James-Monroe-Iglehart-to-Voice-The-Demon-During-Californias-Great-Americas-Halloween-Haunt-20170921 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=April 20, 2024 |language=en}} The majority of these effects were for Halloween only. The pyrotechnics, projections, and strobe lights were removed after Halloween. The waterfall still operated, but without its coloring. The flames painted around the first tunnel stayed past Halloween, but have since been painted over.

The ride's first tunnel used to feature red, green, and blue LED strip lights.{{cite web |title={The Demon} Roller Coaster POV California's Great America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDk7I2SgzRU |website=YouTube | date=May 7, 2010 |publisher=TheCoasterViews |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en}} However, these began to stop working in 2012,{{cite web |title=Demon – California's Great America – POV |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMotqWLZuE |website=YouTube |date=May 31, 2012 |publisher=Steven UkuleleHatter |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en}} and were removed by 2015.{{cite web |title=(POV) – DEMON Roller Coaster Ride at California's Great America 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2oGFGpDLVA |website=YouTube |date=August 17, 2015 |publisher=Attractions 360° |access-date=April 16, 2024}} Later, strip lights of the same colors were added back to the first tunnel in a vertical configuration.{{cite web |title=2022 The Demon Roller Coaster On Ride 4K POV California's Great America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7IzOTzGngw |website=YouTube |date=February 6, 2023 |publisher=Theme Park POV |access-date=April 16, 2024 |language=en}} For the 2021 season, red lights were added back into the second tunnel, fog was added around the ride, and the waterfall was reactivated. Unlike for Fright Fest 2017, these effects are permanent.{{cite web |title=8 New Things You'll Find In California's Great America When it Opens – Coaster101 |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2021/05/14/8-new-things-youll-find-in-californias-great-american-when-it-opens/ |website=Coaster101 |access-date=April 17, 2024 |date=May 14, 2021}}

During the queue, a 25-minute-long soundtrack is played, including dialogue, sound effects, and the ride's theme song. The backstory of the ride is that a demon slithered into Great America and attached himself to one of the ride's cars, then disappeared into the ride's structure. He has supposedly grown large from repossessing riders and is unable to escape.{{cite web |title=Marriott's Great America – The Demon Song (Complete Soundtrack) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXSC7g7DvFA |website=YouTube |date=October 2, 2013 |publisher=Kris Rowberry |access-date=April 12, 2024 |language=en}}

File:Demon (roller coaster) Layout.png

After boarding the ride, riders start by traveling through a small tunnel with lights which turns slightly to the left. An eerie sound effect is played, then the train then ascends the lift hill. A pre-drop is followed by a nearly 180° turn just before the first drop, which leads directly into two vertical loops. According to the park, riders can experience between 2 and 6 g's during these loops. Next, riders fly through a tunnel containing red lights at {{convert|45|mph|km/h}}, before climbing a small hill, where their speed significantly decreases. At the top of the hill is the midcourse brake run and another pre-drop followed by a turn, this time with a slightly greater angle than 180°. This leads into another drop, this one through the mouth of a stone structure. At the bottom of this drop, the track sharply banks to the right, and the train begins a double corkscrew. These corkscrews have a diameter of {{convert|35|ft|m}}. Afterwards, the track makes a large, approximately 270° turn to the right, traveling up and over itself, before finally making a smaller right turn back into the final brake run and the station.{{cite web |title=Demon |url=https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/attractions/demon |website=Six Flags |publisher=Six Flags Great America |access-date=April 12, 2024}}

Upon their debut, the Turn of the Century coasters were very highly praised. Sunset Magazine awarded the Santa Clara coaster five out of five stars, a rating shared by only two other coasters at the time.{{cite news |title=Revolution 'Coaster Rates Five Stars |url=https://latimes.newspapers.com/image/383076110/?clipping_id=71455191 |access-date=August 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=July 13, 1976 |language=en}} The Santa Clara version accommodated over a million riders in its first six months.{{cite news |title=Marriott's roller coaster closed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/38042903/?clipping_id=59027782&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM4MDQyOTAzLCJpYXQiOjE3MjQ5NzExNTMsImV4cCI6MTcyNTA1NzU1M30.jAtwu1IY3d8fm4nngd6bQZV6NDQSD_Uvy0WXqAI2VJk |access-date=August 29, 2024 |work=The Argus |date=August 14, 2024 |language=en}}

{{See also|Incidents at Six Flags parks#Six Flags Great America}}

File:Demon (Six Flags Great America) 3.jpg

In August of Turn of the Century's opening year, a wheel guide assembly fell off of a train on the version in Santa Clara. This occurred directly after the ride's two corkscrews. The train was automatically stopped by a built-in safety system. This same issue occurred twice in the span of nine days, and the coaster was temporarily shut down for inspections shortly after. Out of the two incidents, no guests were seriously injured. Passengers evacuated the train using ladders, and two "shaken up" passengers were taken to a hospital.{{cite news |title=Roller Coaster Takes Nosedive |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O_pLAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Turn+of+the+Century%22+derail+%22santa+clara%22&pg=PA31&article_id=4525,887506 |access-date=August 30, 2024 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |language=en}}

In 1993, two trains collided at low speeds in the station of the Gurnee ride due to a switch malfunction, causing injuries to eight people. All of them were treated at to local hospitals and released the same day. After the incident, the ride remained closed for a short period for repairs, following an investigation from the park staff and the fire department.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-07-15-9307150221-story.html |title=Switch Flaw Blamed for Demon Accident |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |first=Mary |last=Hill |access-date=August 30, 2024 |date=July 15, 1993}}{{cite news |title=Eight Injured In Roller-Coaster Accident |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pqE_AAAAIBAJ&dq=demon%20great-america&pg=2827%2C2695665 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |newspaper=Times-Union |date=July 13, 1993 |agency=Associated Press}}

Around 11{{nbsp}}am on Saturday, April 18, 1998,{{cite news |title=Passengers stuck upside down on roller coaster for 2 hours |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G9YvAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Demon%22+roller+coaster&pg=PA1&article_id=6138,4398203 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |publisher=The Item |date=April 9, 1998 |language=en}} Twenty-three riders were left stranded upside down on the Gurnee ride after the black train came to an unexpected halt in the middle of one of the vertical loops.{{cite news |title=Roller-coaster riders stranded upside down |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vooxAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Demon%22+roller+coaster&pg=PA2&article_id=3227,3848400 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |publisher=Reading Eagle |date=April 20, 1998 |language=en}} Riders were stuck for over two hours before being brought to the ground by firefighters using a cherry picker.{{cite news |title=Passengers stuck on roller coaster |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R1ogAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Demon%22+roller+coaster&pg=PA2&article_id=1527,1810514 |access-date=April 15, 2024 |newspaper=Gadsden Times |date=April 19, 1998 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=USA: ILLINOIS: 23 STUCK UPSIDE DOWN ON ROLLERCOASTER FOR 2 HOURS |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roB7nNwYz6I |website=YouTube |date=July 21, 2015 |publisher=AP Archive |access-date=April 15, 2024 |language=en}} Four passengers were taken to local hospitals out of precaution but released that afternoon.{{cite news |title=Roller coaster stuck in loop at Six Flags |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JDpFAAAAIBAJ&dq=demon%20great-america&pg=6613%2C4120790 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |newspaper=The Telegraph Herald |date=April 19, 1998 |agency=Associated Press}} Investigators determined that the incident was caused by a guide wheel that runs along the inside of the track separating from the axle of the last car. A mechanical safety system built into the wheel assembly engaged, preventing the train from derailing. The roller coaster reopened shortly after the conclusion of the investigation.{{Cite web |date=April 21, 1998 |title=SIX FLAGS ACCIDENT BLAMED ON AXLE FLAW |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-04-21-9804210271-story.html |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Chicago Tribune}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Demon (roller coaster)}}

• [https://www.cagreatamerica.com/play/rides/demon Demon] at California's Great America (official)
• [https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/attractions/demon Demon] at Six Flags Great America (official)

{{Six Flags Great America rides}}

{{California's Great America}}

Category:California's Great America

Category:Roller coasters in Illinois

Category:Roller coasters in California

Category:Roller coasters introduced in 1976

Category:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags

Category:Six Flags Great America

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