Predator (roller coaster)

{{Short description|Wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Darien Lake}}

{{Infobox roller coaster

| name = Predator

| image = Predator lift hill.JPG

| caption = Predator's lift hill

| location = Six Flags Darien Lake

| type = Wood

| type2 = Out and back

| manufacturer = Dinn Corporation

| designer = Curtis D. Summers

| status = Operating

| opened = May 25, 1990

| height_ft = 95

| drop_ft =

| length_ft = 3400

| speed_mph = 50

| inversions = 0

| capacity = 1300

| duration = 1:50

| restriction_in = 48

| trains = 1

| carspertrain = 6

| rowspercar = 2

| ridersperrow = 2

| rcdb_number = 223

|coordinates={{coord|42|55|45|N|78|23|10|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=title,inline}}

|cost=$2.5 million}}

Predator is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Darien Lake. It was designed by Curtis D. Summers and built by Dinn Corporation and opened on May 25, 1990.{{cite news|last=Rook|first=Christine Leta|date=May 25, 1990|title=The Predator is set to pounce in Darien|work=Democrat and Chronicle|publisher=D&C Staff Writer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39141290/predator-opens-at-darien-lake-part-1/|access-date=February 14, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

Design

The coaster is a double out-and-back design and does so in a fairly confined space. The main section of the coaster runs along the lake to its north.

Renovations and upgrades

At the end of the summer of 2006, a major re-tracking took place and some wood was replaced on the ride to help make it more enjoyable for guests. In 2001, during an earlier tracking job, part of the queue line was removed to make way for an expanded seating area for the nearby food stand.

In 2010, Six Flags Darien Lake purchased 12 PTC articulated cars from Holiday World, where they were used on The Voyage.{{cite web |url=http://thedailynewsonline.com/lifestyles/features/article_14233737-5fdc-5263-babd-a928c945af8e.html |title=Coasters get new look, upgrades at Darien Lake |author=Ben Beagle |date=May 8, 2010 |publisher=The Daily News |accessdate=Dec 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203203657/http://thedailynewsonline.com/lifestyles/features/article_14233737-5fdc-5263-babd-a928c945af8e.html |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |url-status=dead }} These trains replaced the original PTC trailer-style trains which were known to have an extremely rough ride. With the closure of Raging Wolf Bobs at the defunct Geauga Lake in 2007, The Predator was the last roller coaster to operate with PTC trailered trains.{{cite web |url=http://capital2.capital.edu/admin-staff/dalthoff/coastercar.html |author=Dave Althoff, Jr. |accessdate=Dec 30, 2011 |title=How Roller Coaster Cars Work (or don't) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205092812/http://capital2.capital.edu/admin-staff/dalthoff/coastercar.html |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

In 2020, it was revealed that Great Coasters International will be replacing some sections of Predator's track with their new steel Titan Track.{{cite web |url=https://coasternation.com/six-flags-darien-lakes-predator-to-receive-new-titan-track/ |title=Six Flags Darien Lake's Predator To Receive New Titan Track |author=Coaster Nation |date=November 8, 2020 |publisher=Coaster Nation |accessdate=March 31, 2021}}

In 2022, Predator received its first section of Titan Track, Approximately 250 feet (76.2 m), Followed by 200 feet (61 m) in 2023, over 360 feet (110 m) in 2024, and nearly 370 feet (113 m) in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Attractions |first=Skyline |date=2023-05-27 |title=Predator Titan Track – Six Flags Darien Lake (New York, USA 🇺🇸), 2022-2024 |url=https://skylineattractions.com/portfolio/predator-titan-track/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Skyline Attractions, LLC |language=en-US}}

References

Category:Six Flags Darien Lake

Category:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags

Category:Roller coasters in New York (state)

Category:Roller coasters introduced in 1990

Predator, The

Category:Roller coasters operated by Herschend Family Entertainment