Delirium (ride)

This article is about a thrill ride at Kings Island. For other uses, see Delirium.

Delirium
Kings Island
Area	Action Zone
Status	Operating
Cost	$4.5 million
Opening date	April 12, 2003
Ride statistics
Manufacturer	HUSS Maschinenfabrik
Model	Giant Frisbee
Height	137 ft (42 m)
Speed	76 mph (122 km/h)
Capacity	600 riders per hour
Duration	1:40
Fast Lane available

Delirium is a Giant Frisbee ride located at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Designed by HUSS Park Attractions, the ride opened to the public on April 12, 2003 as the largest Frisbee ride of its kind in the world.

History

Throughout the 1990s, the number of roller coasters across major amusement parks greatly increased. As the U.S. economy slowed in 2001, however, many parks began to turn to more cost-effective thrill rides. HUSS Park Attractions (previously known as Huss Maschinenfabrik) spent most of its existence since the late 1970s creating small and mid-size flat rides for travelling carnivals and small amusement parks. As the company evolved taking on more challenging projects, they quickly discovered a growing market for unique flat ride designs that were affordable and could be easily marketed. The rides grew in size and accommodated larger capacities over time attracting larger amusement parks around the world.

Paramount's Kings Island, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, decided to test the waters in 2002 with a Giant Top Spin ride manufactured by HUSS that would open as the largest in the world and the first to be completely enclosed. Originally known as Tomb Raider: The Ride, PKI viewed the ride as a complete success and worked with HUSS to open another flat ride the following year in Kings Island's Action Zone. This time, HUSS went with a concept that would create a significant visual impact on the spectator. Their Frisbee design was first introduced in 1994 and quickly evolved into a model that could swing 40 passengers up to 90 degrees at 63 feet (19 m) off the ground. For its debut at Kings Island, HUSS created its first Giant Frisbee version that increased the capacity to 50 passengers, extended the pendulum arm to 62 feet (19 m), and increased the maximum arc to 120 degrees. Riders could now be lifted to a height of 137 feet (42 m) off the ground reaching speeds up to 76 miles per hour (122 km/h) and experiencing a positive g-force of up to 4.5 g.

Ride experience

There are fifty seats on the ride. The seats sit facing outwards in a circle. The ride tower is only 85 feet tall but because of the 240 degree arc, the ride goes up 137 feet. Once in line, the ride attendants give you a seat number 1-50. You sit down and pull down your over-the-shoulder restraints and buckle the seat belt. After they've checked your seat, the ride starts. The floor drops out and the ride starts spinning. The swinging starts and by the time of the full swing, you end up going to 76 miles per hour. After the ride is over, the floor lifts back up and you exit out when new riders are loaded on.

Problems

The ride has had issues. In June-July 2010, Delirium was closed due to a broken motor. Even so, the ride remains one of the most popular rides in the park hosting over 6 million riders since it opened.