I hope that you have some tissues nearby. This post could be a real tear jerker if you’re still missing a roller
coasterthat’s no longer with us. I invite you to let go. A good cry could help you move on.
A recent comment on the Drachen Fire post inspired me to take a look at some of the most missed defunct roller coasters of the past decade or so. Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to aggregate all of the hurt feelings and broken hearts of thousands of roller coaster enthusiasts. So, this list is in no particular order.
Hypersonic XLC at Kings Dominion (2001 to 2007)
I didn’t lose a wink of sleep over my former home park (Kings Dominion) deciding to remove Hypersonic XLC. In my opinion, it was the epitome of a gimmicky roller coaster. Hypersonic boasted a fun air powered launch, but the short 1,500 foot layout was over before you knew it. I know that others may hold a special place for the ride in their hearts as you’ll see from the comments on my Hypersonic XLC review.
Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure (1989 to 2010)
To my surprise there are quite a few enthusiasts who will miss this rough Arrow looper. According to the poll on the “Chang Could Replace Great American Scream Machine” post, 30% of respondents say that they would rather keep GASM than have stand-up stand out Chang which I gave a 8.0 (Great) rating. And an additional 35% agree with Six Flags move, but are sad to see the punishing looper go. Maybe all of that head banging gave GASM’s biggest fans some kind of amnesia and they forgot how rough it was. Read my Great American Scream Machine review.
Drachen Fire at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1992 – 1998, Removed in 2002)
Apparently, there are still people finding out (this week!) that Drachen Fire is no longer at Busch Gardens. The legendary Arrow-designed looper promised new and innovative elements. Unfortunately, those elements did nothing just found new and innovative ways to rough riders up. Read the full Drachen Fire saga.
Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1984 – 2009)
The wounds may still be a little fresh with this one. There was an out pouring of support to “Save the Wolf” last summer. But in the end according to the park, Big Bad Wolf had reached the “end of its service life.” Everyone wanted to invent their own reasons that the park closed the ride, but from what park told me on their Coaster Tour (in so many words) was that Arrow suggested that Big Bad Wolf would have a lifespan of about 25 years. I was sad to see Big Bad Wolf go. It’ll be weird seeing that section of the park without that suspended red track diving to the river. Where’d I put those tissues? More on Big Bad Wolf: Big Bad Wolf Review| Video of Big Bad Wolf’s Final Run
Hercules at Dorney Park (1985 – 2003)
When I rode Hercules in its last days it was mega rough. The record setting drop was long, but not very steep. And the banked turn over the pond was as rough as you’d expect on a turn that immediately follows such a tall drop. In the Fall of 2003, Hercules was dismantled and removed. Since it was a World record holder and a prominent woodie, I’m sure that there are many that have fond memories of it. The aptly-named floorless B&M coaster Hydra: The Revenge was built in its place. Read more on Hercules and watch this professionally filmed video of Hercules:
Note – This video was filmed by a professional with permission from the park.
For safety reason, please DO NOT take a camera on a roller coaster.
Here are a few other notable defunct roller coasters from the past decade:
Corkscrew at Alton Towers (1980 to 2008), Python at Busch Gardens Tampa (1976 to 2006), Hurricane at the Myrtle Beach Pavillion (2000 to 2006), Psyclone at Six Flags Magic Mountain (1991 to 2006), Flashback at Six Flags Magic Mountain (1992 to 2003), Shockwave at Six Flags Great America (1988 to 2004), Villian and Raging Wolf Bobs at Geauga Lake.
Future Candidates for the Scrap Heap in the Sky
Freestyle Music Park’s collection of coasters could be in trouble. Hopefully, they’ll be sold to other parks if there aren’t any other buyers willing to take a turn at re-opening the park. But, there’s a chance that no one’s in the market for a B&M looper like Time Machine or the prototype ferris wheel-driven Round About coaster. Will Kings Island’s Son of Beast be saved or finally removed after years of issues?
What’s Your Take?
Are there roller coasters that you miss? Did I forget your most missed coaster? Leave a comment below.
August 11, 2010 at 17:07
the Soap Box Racers at Knott's Berry Farm. Sure it was just a family coaster, but it was unique and fun. Arrow only made two that I know of and the one at Blackpool doesn't appear to have the same charm.
August 11, 2010 at 18:45
I really miss the Orient Express at Worlds of Fun. It was the younger brother of Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens Virginia.
Like Nessie, it had interlocking 360s, but it also had the first of its kind Kamikaze Roll, which I think is called a Batwing now.
Fortunately, I'll be riding Loch Ness Monster next week on a TPR trip. And Vortex and Kings Island has a Kamikaze Roll element, so if you put the two together, it's close to the Orient Express.
But nothing beats the original.
August 11, 2010 at 19:22
Ditto on Orient Express and Big Bad Wolf
Also Mr. Twister from the original Elitch's.
August 13, 2010 at 11:32
Just rode Twister @ Knoebels and I wish I could have been on the original.
July 28, 2012 at 09:08
Mister Twister was the first big coaster I ever rode on. It was probably a bad choice–a great coaster, but too much for a newbie! That was an intense ride.
August 11, 2010 at 21:15
You gave Chang an 8.0 (Great) rating. But I agree with this, especially with Big Bad Wolf. I have heard countless enthusiasts rave on it, and those same people practically cried when it was removed. I never rode it, since I never was able to make it that way in time. I wish I did, though. I've never ridden a Suspended coaster before.
August 12, 2010 at 08:19
To be honest, I cannot understand why so many people miss the Big Bad Wolf. Sure it was a great starter coaster for little kids, but half the time I visited the park it was broken down for significant portions of the day, and many times for the entire day. Capacity was always horrible, and it led to much longer lines than reasonable. I am from the area, and BGW is my home park. The only reason I ever come close to missing it is because it was my first steel coaster. Once I got up to the realm of Apollo's, Alpengeist, and Griffon, I never rode the BBW again. The ride my have great themeing and terrain, but it lacked the excitement it could have had. I was very happy when they announced it would be put to the scrap heap. That just means a much better coaster can take the space and utilize the terrain better. I really just can't understand why so many people miss it.
August 12, 2010 at 12:41
GASM saved great adventure from closing. It's a very special coaster, and it's reAlly not that rough. You kind of overreacted in your review.
April 20, 2011 at 07:46
Ikr! The part was about to shut down do to the haunted castle fire (causing 8 deaths) and the girl who fell off lightnin' loops and died. If it weren't for GASM the park would've lost all its visitors and closed down!
August 16, 2011 at 15:09
The GASM was one of the roughest coasters ever! as soon as u got off they should of been there handing u a bottle of Advil!
August 12, 2010 at 15:59
They have been removed due to low popularity, high maintenence costs and lack of space to place that new ride anywhere else. GASM is being replaced by Chang, Hercules was replaced by Hydra, Big Bad Wolf is going to be replaced by a coaster to be named later, didn't Drachen Fire get replaced by Sheikra? or was that Python? Freestyle Music Park will likely be auctioned off, and I think Apollo will buy. As for Son of Beast, I heard that they're waiting to see what happens with Texas Giant first. I also have heard that Six Flags Great America is going to get rid of Whizzer soon (they tried to do that earlier, but Shockwave came down instead for Superman: Ultimate Flight).
April 20, 2011 at 07:44
Drachen Fire was at Busch Gardens Europe, Python and Sheikra are at Busch Gardens Africa.
July 30, 2012 at 08:33
The steel from Drachen Fire was melted into Griffon's supports
August 12, 2010 at 17:28
Maybe you could ad Son of Beasts' loop. Even though it's not a full coaster, a lot of people miss it.
August 13, 2010 at 16:57
Son of Beast might never open again anyway.
August 14, 2010 at 08:26
Good point.
August 13, 2010 at 20:33
Prof. BAM, Drachen Fire was never replaced, though Apollo's Chariot was constructed in DF's first year of being SBNO. And both coasters you mentioned are actually located at BGT.
August 14, 2010 at 19:21
I guess I'm in the minority here. I'll truly miss The Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg and I guess I miss Hypersonic simply on its uniqueness. BBW was tied for first place with Top Gun at Kings Island as my favorite suspended coaster. The final drop was always a breathtaking experience as we swooped down over the water. Also it was my first of that genre and had some historic signicance in that respect. Huge or terrifying, no. Fun? Definitely! (Especially when they turned off the trim brakes on the last drop!)
All of the others were in my "NA" group. (NEVER AGAIN!) Drachen Fire was painful even though it was brand new. Like GASM. it suffered from painful transitions. GASM started off pretty good and was one of the first mega-loopers from Arrow, but like other Arrow coasters, it did not age well. Drachen Fire had a nice design and a great new car design, but was seemingly built badly from the start. After my first ERT at an ACE event, I had an 8:30 am headache and immediately gave it a NA rating, (just like I did Steel Dragon at Kennywood).
Hercules or "Hurt Your Knees" as even the Dorney Park staff called it began as a great ride. It had a wonderful, fast first drop into a great banked curve before beginning a completely nutso layout that included an incredible head-chopper. Unfortunately, like other Bill Cobb coasters, it did not age well. Like Mean Streak and The Texas Giant, it became unbearably rougher with each passing year. Whether this was due to bad intial design or a lack of routine maintenance remains to be seen.
I’ll assume I’m like most coaster buffs in that I hate seeing any coaster permanently dismantled or demolished. I firmly believe that even the worst riding ones can be redeemed with some re-tracking or moderate modifications. Wooden coasters especially, require constant care and I understand that the hardships of our current economy make this difficult. I don’t think any of these five coasters deserved the fate of destruction and I wish steps had been taken to correct and preserve them.
August 27, 2010 at 18:05
Actually, Hercules was a Dinn woodie.
That being said, there are still many Cobb woodies that could qualify as rough, such as the Riverside Cyclone…
April 21, 2011 at 15:56
Cobb realy failed with the Cyclone@SFNE. From what I've heard, they failed on most of their other projects as well.
July 15, 2011 at 18:54
Makes you wish Coobb was undr the employ of Gravity Group, CCI or someone else. Great concepts and layouts but poor execution. Poor maintenance never helps either.
August 16, 2010 at 00:52
I miss the Texas Cyclone and Viper from the now defunct Astroworld. In fact… I miss Astroworld
August 27, 2010 at 18:06
October 30, 2005. That dark, dark, day…
September 28, 2010 at 15:50
At Six Flags Great Adventure, Batman & Robin: The Chiller was DEFINITELY the best roller coaster in the world! They should have NEVER got rid of it. It needs to re-surface at a new park! Preferably Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida…Wishful thinking…
Batman & Robin: The Chiller
1997-2007
July 15, 2011 at 18:55
Another painful Premier pairing! OUCH!
July 29, 2012 at 17:03
Good news for you John.. The Chiller is going to be rebuilt. Bad news, it is in South America.
April 20, 2011 at 07:40
The great american scream machine was just so permenant to the park that I could never see it leaving, I was wrong…
April 29, 2011 at 19:16
I really miss the python. i rode it it's last season. yeah, it was an arrow corkscrew, but there was something special about it. i loved the atmosphere in the congo area where it was. i really miss that area. unfortunatly, even the gorgeous, full, old spanich moss trees were also ripped out for the new kiddie secition.
September 10, 2011 at 09:04
i miss de ja vu from six flags over georgia
June 10, 2012 at 20:45
Me Too!!! It was my favorite ride until they had to close it down and it sure is missed:///
November 25, 2011 at 19:26
The worst coaster I rode was blue streak at cedar point it hurt my head so much that i could barely walk same thing with the beast and the raptor it hurt my feet!
January 25, 2012 at 12:29
What?
November 25, 2011 at 19:27
I miss the son of the beast so much it was a great experience
November 25, 2011 at 19:29
I miss Hypersonic XLC to
March 21, 2012 at 18:29
I miss the King Cobra at Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH was a great coaster I wish KI would put a new stand up in and incorporate some elements that made the Cobra famous
King Cobra 1984-2001
June 3, 2012 at 01:12
Great America is running Screams and Dreams II. Well just in that presentation and it's former we have lost the following: Tidal Wave, Z-Force,Shockwave, De Ja Vu, Rolling Thunder, the Edge, Iron Wolf. All other parks combined have not lost such a grand collection of unique rides.Somehow inspite of many complaints nothing was added to replace properly many of these rides. Look Splashwater Falls and The Cars had been close for years and now X-Flight sits on that spot. Everyone is loving this new ride, but it can't replace everything else we lost. So Cedar Point removes an old viewing tower nobody rode. An out of date bobsled, we all new they would build the mother of Wing Coaster. They always outdo Great America. Next year ride it enjoy it and forget about the old rides. X-Flight will be our best steel coaster for years to come. We've learned to deal with loss here in Gurnee. Every nine years something good comes along.