Mine Blower

Mine Blower is a hybrid wooden roller coaster located at Fun Spot America Kissimmee, in Kissimmee, Florida. Manufactured by The Gravity Group, the compact roller coaster is one of only three wooden roller coasters in Florida, the others being White Lightning at Fun Spot America Orlando and Coastersaurus at Legoland Florida. Features of the ride include a zero-gravity roll above the station area, as well as a 115° overbanked turn.

Mine Blower
Mine Blower
Fun Spot America (Kissimmee)
LocationFun Spot America (Kissimmee)
Coordinates28.3303512°N 81.5146559°W / 28.3303512; -81.5146559
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 23, 2017
Cost$6,000,000
ReplacedGo-Karts[1]
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerThe Gravity Group
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height83 ft (25 m)
Drop80.5 ft (24.5 m)
Length2,290 ft (700 m)
Speed48.5 mph (78.1 km/h)
Inversions1
Max vertical angle65°
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 12 riders per train.
Mine Blower at RCDB
Pictures of Mine Blower at RCDB

History

In December 2016, it was speculated that Fun Spot America Kissimmee was going to build a new roller coaster for $6 million.[2] The name for the attraction was announced on February 5, 2017, during the 2017 Super Bowl.[3][4] In May 2017, parts of the roller coaster were revealed during construction, including the 115° overbanked turn.[5] On June 15, 2017, it was announced that Mine Blower would be opening later in the month.[6][7] Mine Blower opened to the public eight days later, on June 23.[8][9]

Ride experience

The ride starts with a mild 180° turn to the left, taking it straight into the lift hill. It takes approximately 23 seconds to ascend before the ride hits another 180° turnaround to the left, and plunges just over 80 feet before going into the only inversion, a corkscrew. Then, it goes into the first high speed turnaround of many to the left, leading straight up an airtime hill that's followed by a "double down", then passing another bunny hill, and into a right hand turnaround. Two more small hills follow, and then goes towards the 115° over-banked turn to the right. A few more curvy airtime hills sprint the train towards a low lying, left hand turnaround, up another two hills, and into the brake run.[10][11][12]

Mine Blower is one of 8 wooden roller coasters with at least one inversion as of its construction.[13]

Characteristics

Support structure

Mine Blower is a Gravity Group wooden roller coaster that is built with a steel support structure.[11] Other Gravity Group Coasters that have similar steel support structures include Oscar's Wacky Taxi and Switchback.

Trains

Mine Blower utilizes two custom themed "Timberliner" trains that seat 12 passengers each.[11][14][15] The train front consists of a firework and dynamite figurehead.[14]

Statistics

Mine Blower is 2,290 feet (700 m) long, 83 feet (25 m) tall, and reaches a top speed of 48.5 mph (78 km/h).[11] This is currently the longest, tallest, and fastest of the three operating wooden coasters in Florida.

Reception
Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride for 2017
Ranking
3[16]
Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year201720182019
Ranking -[17]48[18]-[19]
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gollark: Well, enjoy randomly being interrupted!
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gollark: Forced updates: have seen.Candy Crush randomly appearing: have seen.Advertising: have seen screenshots.
gollark: What specifically?

See also

References
  1. Storey, Ken (December 9, 2016). "Fun Spot plans to build massive $6 million wooden coaster for summer 2017". Orlando Weekly. Euclid Media Group. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  2. Storey, Ken (December 9, 2016). "Fun Spot plans to build massive $6 million wooden coaster for summer 2017". Orlando Weekly. Euclid Media Group. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  3. Wolf, Colin (February 6, 2017). "Everything we know about Fun Spot's new $6 million coaster Mine Blower". Orlando Weekly. Euclid Media Group. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  4. Bevil, Dewayne (February 5, 2017). "Fun Spot's wooden coaster has a name: Mine Blower". Orlando Sentinel. Tronc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  5. Bevil, Dewayne (May 23, 2017). "Fun Spot takes another dramatic turn with Mine Blower roller coaster". Orlando Sentinel. Tronc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  6. Sanza, Christina (June 15, 2017). "Thrilling wooden coaster "Mine Blower" ride opening announced for Fun Spot America in Kissimmee". Inside the Magic. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  7. Bevil, Dewayne (June 15, 2017). "Fun Spot: Mine Blower coaster to open June 23". Orlando Sentinel. Tronc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  8. Tittle, Brittani (June 24, 2017). "'Mine Blower' wooden coaster now open at Fun Spot Kissimmee". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  9. "New wooden roller coaster debuts at Fun Spot". WESH. June 23, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  10. Alvey, Robb (June 21, 2017). "Mine Blower Roller Coaster Front Seat POV Fun Spot America Orlando New 2017". Theme Park Review. Retrieved October 29, 2018 – via YouTube.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Mine Blower - Fun Spot America (Kissimmee, Florida, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on 2018-09-13. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  12. Bevil, Dewayne (June 23, 2017). "Mine Blower roller coaster explodes onto scene at Fun Spot". Orlando Sentinel. Tronc. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  13. Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Most Inversions". Roller Coaster DataBase. Archived from the original on 2013-11-06. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  14. Caran, Shelley (June 20, 2017). "Mine Blower wooden coaster set for Friday opening at Fun Spot". icFlorida. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  15. Bevil, Dewayne (May 4, 2017). "Keeping eye on new Fun Spot coaster". Orlando Sentinel. Tronc. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  16. "Park and ride winners" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  17. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  18. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  19. "2019 Top Wood". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
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