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Demon @ Six Flags Great America | Coaster Reviews
A few years ago I ventured out to Chicago for a Six Flags Great America-Wisconsin Dells trip. The main attraction of the Great America visit was the B&M hyper coaster Raging Bull. But, it was almost overshadowed by my surprisingly fun rides on Demon. Riding decades-old Arrow loopers is generally an unenjoyable, ho-hum kind of experience where you’re happy to come away with a ride credit. But, Demon completely caught me by surprise on my visit to Great America.Demon opened as Turn of the Century in 1976. It was one of the first roller coasters to feature two corkscrews. Then in 1980, it underwent a redesign where two hills were replaced with two more loops. Aside from the new, wildly popular vertical loops, the ride was re-themed with a new name and rock formations, tunnels, and a water fall of red blood was added.
As I entered the queue I was greeted by the Demon theme song. It was a cheesy, dated song, but for some reason I loved it. So many rides at Six Flags have sparse theming, so even really old theming was a welcomed change. After climbing the modest 102′ foot lift hill the train dropped and sped into two back-to-back vertical loops. The second loop has a cool rock formation through it which can be seen while riding if you look up. The next element deserves its own post in my memorable moments category.
After a short break, the train dove into a tunnel lined with red and white lights. The lighting system was probably pretty sophisticated in 1980, but now it just seems so Disco and so 70’s that it’s not even funny. I felt like I was in a pinball machine as the lights followed the train as we zoomed through and flew out the other end of the tunnel. Just as you exit the tunnel you pass by that red waterfall and right into the first of the two corkscrews. The first one passes over the park’s train track. Demon finishes with a short helix (in a tunnel) and your return to the station.
I’m so glad that Great America never updated this ride. For some reason, the dated, corny theming is endearing. For a thirty year old Arrow coaster, Demon was surprisingly smooth. And, I found this bit of information from Dave Althoff, Jr. who wrote a review for the Roller Coaster Database that might explain why Demon was so smooth:I noticed something interesting as I exited. It appears that each axle on the Demon has been modified with the addition of a single shock-absorber, connected to the back right-hand end of the axle and to the car spine. It’s a bit like the shock Chance-Morgan uses on their Runaway Train copy, but it’s the first time I’ve seen this on an Arrow coaster. -RCDB
Overall, this is a very fun ride regardless of it’s pedestrian stats by today’s standards. I’d take Demon over pretty much any Arrow looper besides the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens. I implore Six Flags and Cedar Fair to re-theme and rehab their other old loopers in the same way. Final Rating – 7.0 (Good)Check out this commercial advertising the newly remodeled Demon at Great America for the 1980 season. Note that the park was called Marriot’s Great America, in the pre-Six Flags days.
Demon is rated ‘TH’ for Thrilling. It’s a 3 out of 5 on my Thrill Scale because it includes four loops. If you fear going upside-down, then you may want to skip Demon.
What’s Your Take?
Have you ridden Demon at Six Flags Great America? What’d you think? Leave a comment below. Images courtesy of CoasterImage.
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Looks like a fun ride, although many of there coasters were so similar. Still, it’s a step up from Arrow’s other loopers, like Carolina Cyclone and the sort due to its smoothness.
I rode Demon this summer and I told people off of going on it. I got about 1/2 the people out of the line. Also at Great America, when I rode Iron Wolf, the power went dead, and I was stuck on the brakes right before the station. I and my two friends (along with the other passengers) had to wait 30 minutes to be released. Worst coaster experience I’ve ever had. I hear that we would have been first to be released if it wasn’t for Superman: Ultimate Flight at the other side of the park.
I don’t understand your comment. Do you mean that you talked people out of going on Demon? Why?
I’ve ridden a pretty close clone at Great America at santa clara, california. It was fun, and also smooth like this one. I probally would rate it 7.0 too.
Very nice review! It’s always great to hear what people think about my home park. Just a couple things though. The first corkscrew goes over the train tracks and the second goes over the pedestrian path. When was the last time you rode the Demon? They havn’t had the bloodfall/waterfall running for quite some time. I believe they did this because it was rusting the track. I love the Demon theme song, I have the full 20 minute version on my iPod. Here is a nice picture of the original Demon sign with a pool of blood. http://www.negative-g.com/SFGAM/SFGAM80s/SFGAM-Demon-Logo.jpg
Thanks for the correction on the corkscrew. Like I admitted in the review I couldn’t remember which one went over the train track. I went to the park back in the Summer of ‘06: “Coaster Critic Headed to the Windy City”. I definitely remember the water fall running.
I’m glad that you liked the review. You have a nice home park. I need to re-visit as I only got to ride three coasters (Viper, Raging Bull, & Demon) as many were closed due to rain. The clones like Batman & Superman weren’t a big deal, but I wish I would’ve made it on American Eagle & Iron Wolf. I couldn’t wait out the rain too long because I had to zoom on up to the Wisconsin Dells for Hades!
CC, which would you say is better, Six Flags Great Adventure or Six Flags Great America.
Like I said, I didn’t get to ride everything at Great America. Based on what I know and JUST on the roller coasters of each park I’d have to go with Great Adventure. I can’t speak to the parks as a whole though.
I talked people out of riding Demon yes. I went on Demon and I was fighting to retain consciousness after the first corkscrew inversion. I used that info to talk people out of the line. I’ve ridden the three Arrow’s at My native park in Minnesota. One is a corkscrew clone. It came before Demon, but I wanted to ride every coaster that wasn’t a clone of one I’ve been on. Demon is worse than our Corkscrew up here.
Different rides have different effects on different people. I don’t think I’d want anyone else deciding what I’ll like or trying to talk me out of something before I rode it. I’d like to make that decision myself, thank you.
If it has a bad effect on me, I’ll choose to not ride it again. I assume that is what you (Prof. BAM) did. Have you been on any other rides that have caused you to almost lose consciousness? Fortunately, I’ve never experienced that!
I agree Judy. Sorry you had a bad ride on Demon Prof. BAM, but like Judy said rides can affect people differently. I blacked out for a moment on Goliath at Magic Mountain from the g-force heavy helix. Others have as well, but plenty of others have not. After researching blackouts, I found out they can can be more likely depending on your condition. When I was at SFMM, I hadn’t eaten or drank much and it was hot, so that probably affected my ride.
cyclone at six flags new england.
That could be a reason for my near blackout. I didn’t eat anything at all that day. But Arrow caosters have definately had a bad effect on me. Arrow may have given us some good rides in the past, but this is the future.
Hey, time rolls on. Arrow is obsolete, but now we’ve got Intamin and B&M. And one day, Intamin and B&M will become obsolete, just as Arrow has. Time rolls on.
Schwarzkopfs never got old. well, they got old as in age, but not as in popularity.
By the way, does Schwarzkopf still make coasters? They haven’t made one in a while.
Case in point.
Sorry Coaster Critic I got everyone off Topic. Back to Demon at Six Flags Great America.