Wicked Cyclone

File:Cyclone Incline (53815793390).jpg

In 1983, Riverside Amusement Park decided to open a wooden roller coaster named the Riverside Cyclone. The ride was the second full-sized roller coaster to open at the park since its re-opening in 1940, following the installation of Thunderbolt in 1941.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Six Flags New England|rcdb_number=4565|accessdate=August 9, 2014}} The $2.5 million Riverside Cyclone was designed by William Cobb & Associates and built by the Frontier Construction Company. The ride officially opened to the public on June 25, 1983, with Cobb as well as Norm Howells from Frontier Construction in attendance. The opening of Riverside Cyclone was expected to increase park attendance by more than 10% to 1 million annual visitors.{{cite journal|last1=Powell|first1=Tom|title=Cyclone coaster expected to blow Riverside gate to 1 mil|journal=Amusement Business|date=July 9, 1983}}

During its first season of operation, Riverside Cyclone featured two trains from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) where riders were restrained via a lap bar. Part-way through the first season, shoulder belts were added; however, these were removed prior to its second season. During its second season, the ride's trains were damaged, forcing the park to combine parts from both trains to form a single operational train. Two new replacement trains were purchased from D. H. Morgan Manufacturing in 1985.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Cyclone|location=Six Flags New England|rcdb_number=180|accessdate=August 9, 2014}}

{{Stack|File:Cyclone, Six Flags New England.jpg}}

In the late 1990s, Premier Parks (later Six Flags) purchased Riverside Amusement Park. Over a period of four years, approximately $100 million was invested in the renovation and expansion of the park, culminating in its rebranding to Six Flags New England in 2000.{{cite journal|last1=O'Brien|first1=Tim|title=Premier parks flags 4 more; invests millions|journal=Amusement Business|date=January 3, 2000|volume=112|issue=1|page=1}} As a result, the Riverside branding was dropped, with the ride being renamed to the Cyclone. The D.H. Morgan Manufacturing trains were replaced with two PTC trains. The new operators made modifications to the track in 2001, shortening the first drop by between {{Convert|15|and|20|ft|m}}.

A refurbishment of the Cyclone in 2011 saw Topper Track from Rocky Mountain Construction added to sections of the ride.{{cite web| title=Two Six Flags Rides Receive "Topper Track" for 2011| date=March 7, 2011 | accessdate=July 30, 2014 | url=http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2011/03/two-six-flags-rides-receive-topper.html| publisher=News Plus Notes}} Topper Track is steel plating that replaces the upper layers of laminated wooden track. This track style is designed to reduce the maintenance typically required for a wooden roller coaster and provide a smoother ride experience.{{cite web|title=Georgia Cyclone: A Classic "Woodie"|url=http://content.sixflags.com/news/overgeorgia/rides/georgia-cyclone?ic=I0028E136&gc=GTEST0000000002|publisher=Six Flags|accessdate=July 8, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Rocky Mountain Construction Company|url=http://www.coaster-net.com/blogs/160-rocky-mountain-construction-company/|work=Coaster-Net|accessdate=July 9, 2012|date=February 16, 2011}}

Over the years, the popularity of Cyclone began to decline.{{cite web|url=http://sfneonline.org/2014/12/24/cyclone-at-six-flags-new-england-is-closing/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716143449/http://sfneonline.org/2014/12/24/cyclone-at-six-flags-new-england-is-closing/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 16, 2020|title=Cyclone at Six Flags New England is closing - SFNE Online}} In June 2014, Six Flags New England announced that the ride would close permanently on July 20, 2014.{{cite web|title=Cyclone at Six Flags to close next month|url=http://wwlp.com/2014/06/24/cyclone-at-six-flags-to-close-next-month/|publisher=WWLP.com|accessdate=24 June 2014|date=24 June 2014}} A closing ceremony and farewell celebration was held on its last day of operation. Enthusiasts, including members of American Coaster Enthusiasts, were onboard for the media shoot, as John Winkler and the mayor of Agawam hosted a small ceremony to cut the cake. Fireworks were set off that night during the last ride, with wait times to ride reaching 90 minutes long. After the last rides were given, Six Flags showcased a future announcement scheduled in August using construction signs and a sandwich board near Cyclone's entrance.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfneonline.org/2014/12/22/cyclone-closed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615014024/http://sfneonline.org/2014/12/22/cyclone-closed/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 15, 2019|title=Farewell Cyclone - SFNE Online}} During its 31 seasons in operation as a wooden coaster, Cyclone was ridden by more than 15 million riders. The decision to close the ride was made over a period of one and half years.{{cite web|last=Zeitlin|first=Hugh|title=After three decades, Six Flags New England retires Cyclone|url=http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/26066395/after-three-decades-six-flags-new-england-retires-cyclone|publisher=CBS3Springfield.com|accessdate=29 July 2014|date=20 July 2014}}{{cite web|last=Warner|first=Dan|title=Last chance to ride Cyclone after 30 years of memories|url=http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/after_30_years_of_summer_memor.html|publisher=MassLive.com|accessdate=30 July 2014|date=18 July 2014}}

On August 28, 2014, it was announced that Cyclone would undergo a transformation into Wicked Cyclone, converting its wooden track to steel. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction and designed by Alan Schilke, it features a 10-story drop, a maximum speed of {{Convert|55|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, and the world's first "double-reversing bank airtime hill" element. Dubbed a hybrid coaster, it is the first hybrid on the East Coast, and the only one to feature a 200-degree stall and two Zero G Rolls. The ride reopened as Wicked Cyclone in May 2015.{{Cite press release|title=Hybrid Coaster "Wicked Cyclone" is Coming to Six Flags New England in 2015|url=https://www.sixflags.com/newengland/attractions/wicked-cyclone/news-release|accessdate=August 28, 2014|date=August 28, 2014|publisher=Six Flags}}

{{GTA table

| type = steel

| accessdate = September 12, 2016

| 2015 = 23

| 2016 = 18

| 2017 = 14 (tie)

| 2018 = 33

| 2019 = 39

| 2021 = 42 (tie)

| 2022 = 45

}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://www.rockymtnconstruction.com/wicked-cyclone/ Wicked Cyclone] at Rocky Mountain Construction

{{SFNE Coasters}}

Category:Roller coasters in Massachusetts

Category:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags

Category:Six Flags New England

Category:2015 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:Hybrid roller coasters