Superman: Krypton Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the Floorless Coaster model opened to the public in 2000 as one of the first of its kind in the world. The well-received ride held the title for the world's tallest vertical loop (145 feet) from its opening until 2013. Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 168 feet (51 m) tall and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).
History
In 1999, Six Flags Great Adventure spent $42 million on new attractions including a prototype Floorless Coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard, Medusa.[1] The immediate popularity of the ride,[2] led to Six Flags Fiesta Texas to announce plans to install a Floorless Coaster in 2000;[3] Superman: Krypton Coaster was announced on November 1, 1999.[4] The announcement of the $20 million roller coaster was a part of a wider multimillion-dollar expansion of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.[5]
At the time of the ride's announcement, construction had already begun on unused land bordered by quarry walls and an irrigation pond.[5][6] The initial plans for the ride specified it would have seven inversions including a 114-foot-tall (35 m) vertical loop and a 96-foot-tall (29 m) dive loop.[6] Following the ride's announcement, the design was altered to remove the dive loop and increase the size of the vertical loop to 145 feet (44 m).[7][8] This saw Superman: Krypton Coaster obtain the record for the world's tallest vertical loop when it officially opened to the public on March 11, 2000.[7] It held the title for 13 years until the addition of Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2013.[8]
On March 6, 2010, Six Flags Fiesta Texas offered exclusive ride time on Superman: Krypton Coaster to help celebrate the ride's 10th anniversary.[9] On June 22, 2013, Superman: Krypton Coaster lost the title of having the world's tallest vertical loop when Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California opened Full Throttle, which features a 160-foot-tall (49 m) vertical loop, 15 feet (4.6 m) taller than the loop on Superman: Krypton Coaster.[8][10][11][12]
On March 3, 2016, Six Flags announced that the roller coaster would be one of several rides at various Six Flags parks to feature a VR system. Riders have the option of wearing a Samsung Gear VR headset, powered by Oculus to create a 360-degree, 3D experience while riding. It is themed to Superman saving a city from Lex Luthor's Lex Bots who are causing chaos with an anti-gravity ray.[13]
Characteristics
The ride's vertical loop and mid-course helix
Statistics
The 4,025-foot-long (1,227 m) Superman: Krypton Coaster stands 183 feet (56 m) tall.[7] With a top speed of 70 miles per hour (110 km/h), the ride ties with Iron Rattler as the fastest roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.[7][14] The ride features six inversions including a 145-foot-tall (44 m) vertical loop, a Spriling Camelback (also known as a zero-g roll), a 78-foot-tall (24 m) cobra roll and two Flatspins, similar to acorkscrew.[7][8]
Trains
Superman: Krypton Coaster operates with three floorless trains. Each train seats 32 riders in eight rows of four. This gives the ride a theoretical hourly capacity of 1600 riders per hour.[7] The open-air trains feature seats which leave riders' legs dangling above the track. Riders are restrained with over-the-shoulder restraints.[5] As the trains are floorless, the station has a retractable floor for safe boarding.[6]
Ride experience
Superman: Krypton Coaster's initial plunge over the quarry wall
After riders have boarded and the station floor is retracted, the train makes a left turn out of the station. This leads directly to the 183-foot-tall (56 m) chain lift hill. Followd by a fairly level 180 degree turn to the right above the quarry wall. This leads into a 168-foot (51 m) drop off the quarry wall directly into the 145-foot-tall (44 m) vertical loop. With the quarry wall on the track's right, the train climbs to the top of the wall and passes through a 360 degree clockwise helix. After dropping from the quarry wall again, the train enters the Sprialing Camelback (zero-g roll), where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness, then through a 78-foot-tall (24 m) cobra roll. Exiting the cobra roll, the train makes a left hand ascent, then veers right as it approaches the quarry wall and enters block brakes. the train dives to the right and enters a set of interlocking Flatspins (corkscrews). After passing through the second Flatspins, the train makes a right hand turn, and rises into the final brake run before returning to the station.[7][15][16]
Reception
Prior to launch, General Manager of Six Flags Fiesta Texas John Odum stated Superman: Krypton Coaster was "the big-league ride we have really needed". He stated the design of the ride, which interacts with the quarry wall, would make a thrilling ride: "being that close to the wall there is a good sense of speed".[5] In May 2000, two months after Superman: Krypton Coaster opened, it was reported that the park was "off to a flying start" for the season.[17] Six Flags Fiesta Texas officials stated the ride proved popular in its first year of operation.[18]
In Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards, Superman: Krypton Coaster was ranked in the top 50 steel roller coasters numerous times since its opening. It peaked at position 24 in 2002,[19] before it dropped to 50 in 2008[20] and rose again to 38 in 2011. Since then, it has not ranked on the Golden Ticket Awards' list of top 50 steel coasters.[21]
