Wicked Twister
{{Short description|Defunct roller coaster}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
|name = Wicked Twister
|image = Wicked twister1 CP.JPG
|caption =
|location = Cedar Point
|coordinates = {{coord|41|28|55.25|N|82|40|47.50|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
|type = Steel
|type2 = Inverted
|type3 = Launched
|status = Removed
|soft_opened = {{Start date|2002|05|02}}
|opened = {{Start date|2002|05|05}}
|closed = {{Start date|2021|09|07}}
|previousattraction = Aquarium
|replacement= Grand Pavilion Restaurant & Bar
|manufacturer = Intamin
|designer = Werner Stengel
|model = Twisted Impulse Coaster
|track =
|lift = LIM Launch track
|height_ft =215
|drop_ft = 206
|length_ft = 675
|speed_mph = 72
|inversions = 0
|duration =
|angle = 90
|capacity = 1000
|cost = $9 million
|acceleration =
|gforce =
|restriction_in = 52-78
|trains = 1
|carspertrain = 8
|rowspercar = 2
|ridersperrow = 2
|rcdb_number = 1571
|}}
Wicked Twister was an inverted roller coaster located at Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. Designed by Werner Stengel, it was a second-generation, double-twisting Impulse model manufactured by Intamin. Wicked Twister opened as the tallest and fastest inverted coaster in the world on May 5, 2002. It was retired by the park on September 6, 2021, closed on September 7, and gave over 16 million rides during its lifetime.
History
Construction on Wicked Twister began on October 15, 2001, shortly after Stadium Games, formerly known as the Aquarium, was razed.{{cite web|title=PointBuzz history|url=http://pointbuzz.com/c/history.aspx|publisher=PointBuzz|access-date=October 22, 2012|archive-date=October 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081858/http://pointbuzz.com/c/history.aspx|url-status=dead}} The new coaster was officially announced the following month,{{cite web|title=Wicked Twister Press Release|url=http://www.rcdb.com/1571.htm?dt=126&d=53|access-date=October 22, 2012|date=November 20, 2002}} and its media day was held on May 2, 2002.
Built as the tallest and fastest double-twisting impulse coaster ever built,{{cite news |last1=DeCicco |first1=Diana |title=Record-breaking roller coasters: Ride the world's 10 tallest, fastest and longest coasters |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31046379 |access-date=May 2, 2020 |work=NBC News |date=June 8, 2009}} Wicked Twister actually opened as the tallest and fastest inverted coaster in the world on May 5, 2002.{{cite web |title=Tallest rollercoaster inverted design |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/85487-tallest-roller-coaster-inverted-design |publisher=Guinness World Records |access-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908153510/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/85487-tallest-roller-coaster-inverted-design |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |date=2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Fastest rollercoaster inverted design |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/85487-tallest-roller-coaster-inverted-design |publisher=Guinness World Records |access-date=September 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908153425/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/85489-fastest-roller-coaster-inverted-design |archive-date=September 8, 2021 |date=2021 |url-status=live}}{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Wicked Twister|location=Cedar Point|rcdb_number=1571|accessdate=October 22, 2012}} It held both records until the opening of Legendary Twin Dragon at Chongqing Sunac Land in China in 2021.{{cite web|last=Weisenberger|first=Nick|date=August 6, 2021|title=Cedar Point Announces Closure of Wicked Twister Coaster|url=https://www.coaster101.com/2021/08/06/cedar-point-announces-closure-of-wicked-twister-roller-coaster/|access-date=September 2, 2021|publisher=Coaster101}} Additional supports were added to the ride's structure for the 2003 season. Two yellow supports were added to each spike to connect the track to the top of the main support structure.{{cite web|title=New support pictures|url=http://travel.webshots.com/album/70983109sUbnIs|publisher=Magnumforcexl200|access-date=October 22, 2012|date=April 26, 2003}}
In Early 2018 season rumors started swirling around that Wicked Twister was going to be removed within a couple of years because of some buildings next to it being demolished.
{{Stack|File:Wicked Twister.jpg}}
In May 2021, park official Tony Clark implied in a series of tweets that Wicked Twister was going to be retired.{{cite web |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/places/cedar-point/cedar-point-wicked-twister-roller-coaster/95-17a42ac9-c1d7-439d-936b-853351455a0c |title=Is Cedar Point removing its Wicked Twister roller coaster? Here's what park officials are saying about the rumors|date=7 May 2021 }} This was confirmed on August 6, 2021, when Cedar Point officially announced the closure of Wicked Twister, scheduled for September 6, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/cedar-point-announces-wicked-twister-will-close-in-september|title=Cedar Point announces Wicked Twister will close in September|date=6 August 2021 }}{{cite web |last1=Haidet |first1=Ryan |title=Cedar Point closing the Wicked Twister roller coaster forever |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/places/cedar-point/cedar-point-closing-wicked-twister-roller-coaster-forever/95-99c41257-7f2f-4837-857b-c6c5e458948a |access-date=August 7, 2021 |date=August 6, 2021}} The ride then closed September 7, and on its last day of operation, park employees handed out "last launch" buttons to riders, sold limited-edition commemorative t-shirts, and gave away 16 "golden tickets" granting winners a spot on the last public train.{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarpoint.com/blog/last-launch-details|title=Last Launch Details|publisher=Cedar Point}} Wicked Twister had accumulated over 16 million rides in 20 seasons of operation.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc57.com/news/cedar-point-plans-to-close-down-one-of-its-roller-coasters|title=Cedar Point plans to close down one of its roller coasters}}
On November 3, 2021, Cedar Point announced that Wicked Twister would be demolished.{{cite web|url=https://www.wxyz.com/news/cedar-point-official-details-what-happens-in-the-winter-wicked-twister-is-being-disposed-of|title=Cedar Point official details what happens in the winter; Wicked Twister is 'being disposed of'|date=3 November 2021 }} Demolition and removal was completed on February 8, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://fox8.com/news/wicked-twister-coaster-officially-gone-from-cedar-point/|title=Wicked Twister coaster officially gone from Cedar Point|date=9 February 2022 }} This would make it the first impulse coaster to be demolished since Linear Gale at Tokyo Dome City, which closed in 2010.
After the closure of Wicked Twister, Cedar Point lost the record for most rollercoasters at any amusement park in the Cedar Fair chain to sister park Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario.
Ride details
Wicked Twister consisted of two {{convert|215|ft|m}} tall spikes. Both ends of the track were designed with 450-degree vertical twists, referred to as the front and rear towers, which differentiated Wicked Twister from other Impulse Coaster models from Intamin. The loading platform and linear induction motor (LIM) propulsion system sat between the two towers along a horizontal track section. The ride was built directly on Cedar Point Beach, and its entrance plaza was located in the former Aquarium location. The track was painted yellow with teal supports.
The ride featured one train that consisted of eight cars. Riders were arranged two across in two rows for a total of 32 riders. Wicked Twister's theme song was "The Winner" by the Crystal Method.
=Layout=
File:Wicked Twister (Launch).JPG
Linear induction motors propelled the train forward out of the station at {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} during the first launch, which carried the train approximately halfway up the front tower. After coming to a stop, the train then fell and returned through the station, re-entering the LIM section and accelerating for a second launch to {{convert|63|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} in the opposite direction. After climbing to its peak approximately halfway up the rear tower, the process would repeat a third time accelerating to {{convert|69|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and climbing to its highest point on the front tower.
A fourth and final LIM launch on the train's return through the station accelerated the train to its maximum speed of {{convert|72|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}, reaching a maximum height of {{convert|206|ft|m|abbr=on}} up the rear tower. The train then made one more final pass through the station without any interaction from the LIM launch section and up the front spike. Subsequent passes through the station were met with the brakes being applied to slow the train slightly more each time until finally coming to rest.{{cite web|url=http://www.americacoasters.com/Reviews/?page=wickedtwister|title=Wicked Twister|publisher=AmericaCoasters.com|access-date=June 24, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Wicked Twister POV|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMXcr1Oln4w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/jMXcr1Oln4w |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|publisher=Sharp Productions|access-date=October 25, 2012|date=August 3, 2010}}{{cbignore}}
See also
- The Flash: Vertical Velocity – similar coaster located at Six Flags Great America
- Possessed – similar coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
- Steel Venom – similar coaster located at Valleyfair
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.cedarpoint.com/rides/Roller-Coasters/Wicked-Twister Cedarpoint.com - Official Wicked Twister page]
- [http://thepointol.com/wicked-twister/ Wicked Twister Photo Gallery] at The Point Online
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box | title=World's tallest inverted roller coaster| before=Alpengeist | years=May 2002–February 2021| after=Legendary Twin Dragon}}
{{Succession box | title=World's fastest inverted roller coaster| before=Volcano, The Blast Coaster | years=May 2002–February 2021| after=Legendary Twin Dragon}}
{{S-end}}
{{Cedar Point}}
{{Intamin}}
Category:Roller coasters introduced in 2002
Category:Roller coasters operated by Cedar Fair
Category:Former roller coasters in Ohio