Batman The Ride (Six Flags Great America)

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Batman The Ride
A train about to descend the first drop
Six Flags Great America
Location Gurnee, Illinois, USA
Coordinates 42°22′06″N 87°56′01″W / 42.368467°N 87.933749°W / 42.368467; -87.933749
Park section DC Universe
Status Operating since May 9, 1992
Cost $7,000,000
Rider height 54 inch minimum
Replaced Tidal Wave
Statistics
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Product Inverted Coaster - Batman
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Inverted
Riders per train 32
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 100 feet
Drop 84.5 feet
Top speed 50 mph
Length 2700 feet
Inversions 5
Duration 2:00
G-Force 4
HELP

Batman The Ride is a steel inverted roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, USA. The ride opened on May 9, 1992 as the first inverted roller coaster in the world.[1] It was built by Bolliger & Mabillard, making it the fourth coaster to be manufactured by the company.

History

Batman The Ride in 2002

Batman The Ride opened on May 9, 1992.[2] The attraction was a new prototype inverted roller coaster based on the Batman movies. The ride costed $7 million to build.[3] Although prior roller coasters (called suspended roller coasters) have seated riders below the track, the train swung round corners and none of them featured inversions. Batman The Ride was the first inverted roller coaster as the trains did not swing. It was also the first roller coaster to seat riders below the track and feature inversions.

On June 20, 2005, a plaque was presented to the park designating Batman The Ride a Roller Coaster Landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts.[4]

From May 4, 2013 to July 7, 2013, Batman The Ride ran backwards for a limited time.[5]

Design

Elements

Batman The Ride begins with a chain lift hill followed by curved drop leading into the first vertical loop. Next, it travels through a zero-g roll, and a second vertical loop. Several turns follow, and then two wing overs before the finishing brakes.

Color scheme

When the ride first opened, it was painted all black. During the 2004 season, it was repainted with yellow track and dark purple supports.

Trains

2 trains with 8 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 32 riders per train.

Images

Queue line

Exterior

Layout

References

  1. Batman The Ride - American Coaster Enthusiasts
  2. "Holy thrill ride!". The Reporter. April 30, 1992. p. 53. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  3. "A guide to what's new in theme parks".
  4. "Batman The Ride Coaster Landmark Award". American Coaster Enthusiasts. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |archive= ignored (help)
  5. Batman: The Ride goes backward at Six Flags Great America - Kenosha News

External links

The category Batman The Ride (Six Flags Great America) contains additional media.


Articles on Six Flags Great America