Polercoaster

Polercoaster is a type of amusement ride offered by US Thrill Rides and Intamin. An installation consists of a large tower structure which features glass elevators to an observation deck, as well as a steel roller coaster wrapping around the tower. The model was first introduced in 2012, and as of November 2013, four have been proposed for construction.

Polercoaster
A concept image released in 2012 for the Polercoaster
StatusIn Development
No. of installations1 confirmed, 2 proposed, 1 cancelled/stalled
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerUS Thrill Rides
Capacity850–1,600 riders per hour

History

At the 2011 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, the Polercoaster was initially announced as a joint venture between US Thrill Rides and S&S Worldwide. US Thrill Rides' Bill and Michael Kitchen invented the concept to allow amusement parks with little available space to be able to design a full-size roller coaster. S&S Worldwide would manufacture roller coaster component, which would be designed by Alan Schilke.[1][2] US Thrill Rides and S&S Worldwide will subcontract parts of the ride's fabrication to Celtic Engineering and Haskell Steel.[3]

Bill Kitchen was pleased with the ride's initial reception at the show stating "we should have firm contracts signed by the end of the year", with anticipation that at least one installation would open in 2014.[4] The first contracts were announced in late 2013 with design and construction expected to take 24 months.[1]

In July 2015, it was announced that the supply contract for the Orlando Polarcoaster had been awarded to Intamin, and that S&S was no longer involved.[5]

Specifications

General specifications of the ride were listed at the Polercoaster's debut at IAAPA 2011. Two glass elevators would transport riders to the top of the tower. This area could feature dining or retail space, or the potential for a dark ride. Statistics of the two standard towers that were proposed are shown in the table below. Although these were two standard models, the Polercoaster could be designed as small as 100 feet (30 m) tall, or extend beyond the 500-foot (150 m) mark.[2]

Height 200 ft or 61 m300 ft or 91 m
Lift height 180 ft or 55 m270 ft or 82 m
Track length 2,400 ft or 730 m3,300 ft or 1,000 m
Tower diameter 50 ft or 15 m70 ft or 21 m
Top speed 44 mph or 71 km/h50 mph or 80 km/h
Maximum g-force 4 Gs
Duration 108 seconds144 seconds
Capacity 960 riders per hour
Trains 8 eight-seater trains

Installations

LakePoint Sporting Community in Georgia, United States was announced as the first installation of a Polercoaster. The ride, which was set to debut in 2015, would have stood approximately 325 feet (99 m) tall.[3] The project has stalled, however, and as of December 1, 2015, there is no mention of the Polercoaster on LakePoint Sporting Community's website.[6]

A second sale of the ride was confirmed for a Florida location at the IAAPA Trade Show in 2013. The location was officially confirmed on June 5, 2014 as going to the new Mango's Tropical Cafe development project on International Drive in Orlando, Florida, as well as the roller coaster's name, Skyscraper.[7] The ride will stand 570 feet (170 m) tall and begin with an inversion at its maximum height. As a result, it will become the tallest roller coaster in the world, beating the 456-foot-tall (139 m) record set by Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka; it will feature the world's tallest inversion, surpassing the 197-foot-tall (60 m) inversion on Kennywood's Steel Curtain; and it will be among the longest roller coasters in the world, with a track length of approximately 5,200 feet (1,600 m).[1][8][9][10]

ABC News reported in June 2013 that a third installation has been proposed for the Las Vegas Strip, standing 650 feet (200 m) tall.[11]

In May 2015, Wallack Holdings, who is developing the Orlando Polercoaster, was reported to be in talks to build a Polercoaster on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.[12] The roller coaster reportedly went into the design phase in July 2015, with a planned height of nearly 350 feet (110 m).[13][14]

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References
  1. Kitchen, Michael (November 19, 2013). "S&S & US Thrill Rides Announce New Poler Coaster that will be Worlds Tallest Coaster". The Coaster Crew (Interview). Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  2. Kitchen, Michael (13 November 2012). "IAAPA 2012 Trade Show Coverage". Theme Park Review (Interview). Interviewed by Robb Alvey. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  3. "Polercoaster confirmed for Georgia". Park World Magazine. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  4. Ralph, Owen (26 November 2012). "IAAPA Attractions Expo – still no.1!". Park World Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  5. "Behind the Thrills - Intamin Rides to supply the world's tallest coaster as Skyscraper eyes 2018 opening". behindthethrills.com. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  6. "US News". screamscape.com. Screamscape. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  7. Dennis, Andrea. "World's tallest roller coaster 'Skyscraper' officially coming to I-Drive, will open in 2016". WESH News. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  8. Levine, Arthur (21 June 2013). "Another High Roller Coming to Vegas?". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  9. MacDonald, Brady (August 30, 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain adding Full Throttle coaster in 2013". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Length)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  11. Brown, Genevieve Shaw (18 June 2013). "World's Tallest Coaster May Find Home in Vegas". ABC News. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  12. Hilario, Kenneth. "EXCLUSIVE: Fla. developer in talks to open major attraction on Atlantic City Boardwalk". bizjournals.com. Philadelpiha Business Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  13. Hilario, Kenneth. "AC polercoaster development moves into design phase". bizjournals.com. Philadelpiha Business Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  14. "A.C. 'Polercoaster' gets CRDA approval". Press of Atlantic City.
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