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Location
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Six Flags Magic
Mountain, Valencia, CA |
Designer
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Anton Schwarzkopf of Germany for Intamin AG of Switzerland |
| Max Height |
113' |
| Length |
3457' |
| Inversions |
1 |
| Opened
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1976 |
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The Revolution has
quite a bit of history behind it, and it makes a great entry as the first
Featured Coaster.
 The Revolution was originally called
The Great American Revolution, since
not only did the coaster contain a vertical loop, it also opened during
the country's bicentennial celebration.
In 1996, an employee was
killed while trying to cross the tracks of the
Revolution. The woman was hit by the train and killed instantly. The park
was fined $8,745 for failing to discipline employees that had attempted
the same maneuver.
The Revolution's claim to fame is its
vertical loop, which was the first
to be built in 75 years. At the turn of the century, a few very
unsuccessful contraptions made entirely of wood contained vertical loops.
The Revolution is considered to be the world's first vertical looping
roller coaster.
Prior to the mid-1970s, steel roller coasters were considered by park
owners and patrons alike to be suitable only for mild, family-orientated
rides like the Matterhorn or the Run-A-Way Mine Train. That changed when
designers discovered that steel coasters were suited for turning riders
upside-down. However, as one rides the Revolution, one notices that the
majority of the ride is up and down hills that try to imitate the thrills
found on wooden roller coasters. Many riders complained that the
Revolution was too smooth to give those kind of thrills, but the loop was
a winner, and this turned steel coasters to focus more on loops and
other inversions, rather than hills.
After the death in 1996, Magic Mountain added
over-the-shoulder
restraints to the trains on the Revolution. It was publicized that the
coaster was safer than ever, when in fact, the restraints had nothing to
do with the accident. Three years later
(after many rider complaints) the over-the-shoulder restraints were
removed, and the Revolution now has only lap bars as it did for the first
20 years of its history.
As with most good coasters, the Revolution was designed around certain
ride elements, almost like the plot of a movie. The main element of this
coaster, or the main fear or suspense factor, is the loop. While the ride
features many steep drops, the one that directly takes riders into the
loop is only very gradually inclined. At the top of this hill, trim brakes
slow the train to almost a complete stop, building the anticipation for
riders. Then the train inches forward, heading slowly at first down the
very
gradual descent. The speed is so slow at first, it appears to both
onlookers and riders that the train will enter the loop too slowly to make
it around. This slow approach also builds the tension. Finally, after a
short eternity, the train enters the loop, and of course, the riders are
fine. But, the suspense created for this first of the vertical loopers
helped fuel the world's drive for scarier and scarier rides to come.
In the 1970s, a short-lived Saturday mornings children's activity show
called Way Out Games was filmed at Magic Mountain. The Revolution
was featured heavily in the shows promotional ads.
The Revolution also
co-starred in the late-70s film, Roller Coaster.
The Revolution has also been called
Revolucíon, when that section of
Magic Mountain was re-themed as Baja Ridge. The name was later changed
back to Revolution. |
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