BuzzSaw (roller coaster)

BuzzSaw is a Maurer AG SkyLoop roller coaster located within the Town of Gold Rush section of the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast of Australia. The ride began operation on 17 September 2011 as part of Dreamworld's 30th birthday celebrations.[1][2][3]

BuzzSaw
Dreamworld
LocationDreamworld
Park sectionGold Rush Country
Coordinates27.862344°S 153.314935°E / -27.862344; 153.314935
StatusOperating
Opening date17 September 2011 (2011-09-17)
CostA$7 million
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerMaurer Söhne
ModelSkyLoop, X-Coaster
Lift/launch systemVertical chain lift hill
Height46.2 m (152 ft)
Length150 m (490 ft)
Speed105 km/h (65 mph)
Inversions2
Duration0:50
Max vertical angle360°
Capacity600 riders per hour
G-force5
Height restriction130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
TrainsSingle train with 2 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 12 riders per train.
Q4U available
BuzzSaw at RCDB
Pictures of BuzzSaw at RCDB

BuzzSaw is one of Dreamworld's "Big 9" thrill rides and has a track length of 150 metres (490 ft). The steel ride consists of a single train which holds 12 riders and lasts approximately 50 seconds. BuzzSaw features the tallest inversion in the Southern Hemisphere and is currently the second-highest inversion of its type in the world.

The ride is themed around a series of unexplainable occurrences in the Town of Gold Rush which date back to the late 1800s. The setting is based on encounters with the ghost of one Jack Darke, who was killed by a buzz saw at a sawmill built after the gold rush ended.

History

In December 2009, a Gold Coast Bulletin report detailed a variety of new attractions for the region's theme parks and stated that Dreamworld was in negotiations with a manufacturer to add to its "Big 6" thrill rides.[4] In February 2011, Dreamworld's operator, Ardent Leisure, announced the addition of two new rides in 2011 as part of Dreamworld's 30th Birthday.[5] In April 2011, it was announced that in addition to a family thrill ride (Shockwave which opened in June 2011), another major ride would be opened in time for the September school holidays.[6] The name "BuzzSaw" was confirmed two months later by the park's outgoing CEO, Noel Dempsey, who also confirmed plans to team up with DreamWorks Animation.[7] Vertical construction for BuzzSaw started around the same time.[8]

On 20 July 2011, Dreamworld officially announced the addition of BuzzSaw to the Dreamworld park to the public.[9][10] Testing for the ride began in early September 2011,[11] and BuzzSaw opened officially to the public on 17 September 2011.[3]

Marketing

Marketing for BuzzSaw began on 6 July 2011 when Dreamworld released a television commercial promoting their plans to open a "new bone-chilling thrill ride" by September of that year. At this stage, the name BuzzSaw had not been officially announced.[12] A second television marketing campaign was released for BuzzSaw on 8 September 2011, just before its official opening on 17 September 2011. The commercial stated "this September fear will reach new heights".[13] Banners around Dreamworld advertise BuzzSaw as a "ripper of a ride".[14]

Characteristics
The BuzzSaw viewed from the entrance to Dreamworld where the 50-metre-high (160 ft) "360 degree heartline roll" is clearly seen.

BuzzSaw is one of Dreamworld's "Big 8 Thrill Rides" alongside The Claw, Cyclone, The Giant Drop, Mick Doohan's Motocoaster, Pandamonium, Tower of Terror II and Wipeout. It boasts the tallest inversion in the Southern Hemisphere at 46.2 metres (152 ft) above the ground.[10][15] This also ranks it tied as the third-highest inversion worldwide.[15][16][17] BuzzSaw's steel roller coaster track is 150 metres (490 ft) in length.[15]

The ride consists of a single Maurer Söhne X-Car train which holds 12 riders.[15] The train features two cars, each of which seats riders in three rows of two.[15] Riders are seated in the open carriage and are restrained by a lap bar.[2][18]

Experience

Backstory

BuzzSaw is themed around a series of unexplainable occurrences in the Town of Gold Rush which date back to the late 1800s.[10] In 1876, the Town of Gold Rush was formed. It was a prosperous town during the great gold rush. Eleven years later, in 1887, the town's Gold supply was completely gone. The town then established a sawmill and turned their focus to timber. On a clear moon-lit night, a sawmill worker named Jack Darke was killed by the buzz saw after he had a scuffle with some other workers who were attempting to set the building on fire. The circumstances leading up to his death were covered up by the town with the legend stating that Jack tried to burn down the sawmill and slipped into the path of the buzz saw.[19] The sawmill has remained closed since[19] with many people claiming encounters with the ghost of Jack on nights similar to that of his death.[20]

Entrance and station

The entrance to BuzzSaw is located in the Town of Gold Rush where the Helicopter Joy Flights used to operate,[14] opposite the former entrance of the Eureka Mountain Mine Ride.[21][22] The station is themed to the abandoned sawmill in the town of Gold Rush and tells the story of Jack Darke.[23] Within the building, guests are directed through a series of queue switchbacks and pathways. Several television screens are embedded in the walls and show burning timber. Parts of the theming are caged off with crime scene signs. Throughout the queue, guests are able to hear the sound of buzzsaws as well as several warnings to not go any further and to escape while they can.[24] Large circular saws (a.k.a. buzzsaws) are located on the side and roof of the building.[14]

Ride

BuzzSaw is a steel, Maurer Söhne SkyLoop XT 150 roller coaster.[15][25] As part of Maurer Söhne's X-Coaster range of roller coasters, the SkyLoop begins with a vertical chain lift hill to a height of 46.2 metres (152 ft).[26] At the top of this lift hill, the car is pulled slowly back over on itself before it is released into a full heartline roll and a drop down a steep hill back towards the station. The train then oscillates between the two hills before it is caught by the chain hill and slowly lowered back down into the station.[3][26][27][28][29] A single ride on BuzzSaw is completed in approximately 50 seconds.[15]

Reception

The reception of BuzzSaw has been generally positive. Melinda Siegmeier of the Gold Coast Bulletin stated "the scream machine is certainly a fitting way to describe Dreamworld's newest thrill ride the BuzzSaw".[3] Siegmeier also commented on the vertical lift hill: "by this stage I was certainly wishing I was back on the ground".[3] Ardent Leisure, the owners of Dreamworld, have claimed the launch of the ride to be a success.[30] In the first year of operation, over 435,000 people rode the attraction.[31] However, in the worldwide Best Roller Coaster Poll in 2012, BuzzSaw (along with other identical SkyLoop rides) ranked 221 out of 365.[32]

Incidents

In 2018 the BuzzSaw malfunctioned and six people got stuck on the ride for 15 minutes,[33] the same incident happened in 2017 and where rescued after being left suspended high up in the air for half an hour near the end of its 46-meter ascent.[34]

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See also

References
  1. "Dreamworld - Australia's Favourite Gold Coast Theme Parks". Dreamworld. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  2. Maeseele, Melanie (15 September 2011). "New thrill rides for Coast theme parks". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Limited. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  3. Siegmeier, Melinda (16 September 2011). "New Dreamworld ride a real Buzz". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Limited. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  4. Ardern, Lucy; Westthorp, Tanya (30 December 2009). "Gold Coast theme parks in ride war". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Limited. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  5. Ardent Leisure (16 February 2011). "Ardent Leisure Group - 2011 Half Year Results" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  6. Ardent Leisure (7 April 2011). "UBS Australian Emerging Companies Conference" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  7. Wilson, Richard (7 July 2011). "Buzzsaw ride, Dreamworks coming to Dreamworld as CEO departs". Parkz. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  8. Wilson, Richard (10 July 2011). "July 10, 2011 - BuzzSaw". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  9. Hayman, Peter (21 July 2011). "Queensland theme park adds new thrill ride". Attractions Management. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  10. Bedo, Stephanie (21 July 2011). "Dreamworld unveils latest thrill ride". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Limited. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  11. Wilson, Richard (13 September 2011). "Buzzsaw". Parkz. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  12. Dreamworld (6 July 2011). "$99.99 Unlimited Entry World Pass Offer - Dreamworld & WhiteWater World Theme Parks". YouTube. Archived from the original on an unspecified date. Retrieved 7 July 2011. Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
  13. Dreamworld (8 September 2011). "Dreamworld's Buzzsaw". YouTube. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  14. Wilson, Richard (16 September 2011). "The Parkz Update: September 16, 2011 - Dreamworld". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  15. Marden, Duane. "BuzzSaw  (Dreamworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Volcano, The Blast Coaster  (Kings Dominion)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  17. Marden, Duane. "GateKeeper  (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  18. "Maurer X-Car Coaster" (PDF). Maurer Söhne. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  19. "BuzzSaw - Backstory". Dreamworld. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  20. Dreamworld (18 August 2011). "BuzzSaw Ghost Videos". YouTube. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  21. Park Map, Dreamworld, 2002
  22. Park Map, Dreamworld, 17 September 2011
  23. Gordon, Rebecca (16 September 2011). "BuzzSaw - Dreamworld". Nine Gold Coast News.
  24. Wilson, Richard (22 October 2011). "Dreamworld, October 22, 2011". The Parkz Update. Parkz. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  25. "Buzzsaw (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  26. "SkyLoop XT 150". Maurer Söhne. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  27. Haydon, Nicky (16 September 2011). "BuzzSaw - Wild Ride". Ten News.
  28. Maurer Söhne (14 October 2008). "Maurer Söhne: SKYLOOP official video". YouTube. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  29. "BuzzSaw - The Ride". Dreamworld. 19 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  30. Ardent Leisure (16 February 2012). "Ardent Leisure Group 2012 Half Year Results" (PDF). Australian Securities Exchange. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  31. Dreamworld (27 September 2012). "Wall Photos". Facebook. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  32. Hawker, Mitch (2013). "Detailed Steel Roller Coaster Poll Results 2012". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  33. Robbemond, Amanda (22 March 2018). "Six people left stranded on BuzzSaw rollercoaster on Gold Coast". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  34. Gillman, Ollie (6 March 2017). "'The final curtain for Dreamworld?' Four tragic deaths, gate takings down 50%, ride malfunctions and now six left hanging mid-air on the Buzzsaw rollercoaster - so would YOU take your family there". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
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