Sidewinder (Elitch Gardens)

Sidewinder is a steel roller coaster located at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.

Sidewinder
Previously known as Roaring Tornado at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Sidewinder's Loop
Elitch Gardens
Coordinates39°44′55″N 105°00′45″W / 39.748614°N 105.012612°W / 39.748614; -105.012612
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 27, 1995
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Coordinates34°31′08″N 93°00′58″W / 34.519°N 93.016°W / 34.519; -93.016
StatusRemoved
Opening date1980
Closing date1989
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched – Shuttle
ManufacturerArrow Dynamics
DesignerArrow Dynamics
ModelLaunched Loop
Track layoutShuttle Loop
Lift/launch systemLaunch
Height56 ft (17 m)
Drop47 ft (14 m)
Length635 ft (194 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions1
Duration1:06
Max vertical angle47°
Capacity400 riders per hour
G-force4.0
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
TrainsSingle train with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Sidewinder at RCDB

This is a fairly simple coaster that takes rides through one loop. Instead of starting from the ground, riders have to ascend stairs fifty feet up to the loading station. The train is launched down a hill, goes into the loop, then ascends a slope opposite of the station with a braking section. The train repeats the layout backwards, and returns to the station.

Before being operated at Elitch Gardens this roller coaster was at the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park as the Roaring Tornado. The coaster operated at the original Elitch Gardens from 1990 to 1994, then was relocated to the current Elitch Gardens in 1995.

It is one of only three Arrow Dynamics launched loop coasters to be operating around the world, the others being Diamond Back at Frontier City, and the Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The ride has received new paint for the 2010 season, and is now more of a lime green than the darker shade it has been since being repainted from its original white.

References

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