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Outlaw Run

Coordinates: 36°40′05″N 93°20′24″W / 36.66806°N 93.34000°W / 36.66806; -93.34000
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Outlaw Run
Silver Dollar City
LocationSilver Dollar City
Coordinates36°40′05″N 93°20′24″W / 36.66806°N 93.34000°W / 36.66806; -93.34000
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMarch 13, 2013 (2013-03-13)
Opening dateMarch 15, 2013 (2013-03-15)
CostUS$10 million
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
ModelCustom
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height107 ft (33 m)
Drop162 ft (49 m)
Length2,937 ft (895 m)
Speed68 mph (109 km/h)
Inversions3
Duration1:27
Max vertical angle81°
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains2 trains with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.
Outlaw Run at RCDB

Outlaw Run is a wooden roller coaster located at the Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson, Missouri. It is notable for being the first roller coaster manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, and the only wooden roller coaster with multiple inversions.[1][2][3]

History

In 2009, behind closed doors, Silver Dollar City began planning a new attraction for 2013.[4] After a series of discussions, it was decided a wooden roller coaster would be built. The park contacted several manufacturers to see what they could build given the land and budget. Rocky Mountain Construction was one of the companies who put forward a proposal. In 2011, Rocky Mountain Construction showcased their new steel roller coaster, New Texas Giant, to park executives. This secured the contract.[5]

At the IAAPA 2011 Trade Show, Alan Schilke of Rocky Mountain Construction revealed their company had two projects that they would be working on for 2013 openings – one of which was the complete design and manufacturing of a wooden roller coaster.[6] It was later revealed that this roller coaster would be going to Silver Dollar City.[7][8]

Following the beginning of construction at the park, Silver Dollar City launched a teaser website for a new attraction set to open in 2013.[9] The website featured a public notice indicating the ride's theme would be stagecoaches and the wild west.[10] The teaser website also stated an announcement would be made on August 9, 2012.[11] As part of a teaser campaign leading to the announcement, two clues were released; the first clue was a handwritten letter while the second was a photo overlooking Powder Keg: A Blast into the Wilderness and Table Rock Lake.[12][13]

On August 9, 2012, Silver Dollar City officially announced Outlaw Run.[14] Upon opening in Spring 2013, the $10 million ride would be the only wooden roller coaster to feature inversions and would feature the steepest drop on a wooden roller coaster.[15][4]

On September 26, 2012, the last piece of track was installed on Outlaw Run.[16] The ride soft opened on March 13, 2013, with a public opening two days later.[17] Official opening celebrations were held one month later.[18]

Characteristics

Statistics

Outlaw Run is Rocky Mountain Construction's debut wooden roller coaster.[1] The $10 million ride is the second-fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, reaching speeds of up to 68 miles per hour (109 km/h).[4] Throughout the course of the 2,937-foot-long (895 m) ride, riders go through three inversions including a double heartline roll.[8] The park's existing terrain (situated on the Ozark Mountains) is utilised to allow a 107-foot-tall (33 m) lift hill to be translated into a first drop stretching 162 feet (49 m).[8][19]

Track

The 2,937 feet (895 m) of track is primarily made of layers of laminated wood with a steel plate located in the upper layers of the track.[20] The steel plating is known as Topper Track and is found on many roller coasters that Rocky Mountain Construction have renovated.[21][22] This track style is designed to reduce the maintenance required for a wooden roller coaster and provide a smoother ride experience.[22][23] Rocky Mountain Construction spent four years developing technology to allow them to twist beams of wood.[24]

Trains

The operation of Outlaw Run consists of two trains each featuring twelve pairs of riders.[8] Riders, which must be 48 inches (120 cm) or taller to ride,[8] are restrained in their individual fiberglass seats with a U-shaped lap bar.[20] Unlike most roller coaster trains which utilise polyurathane wheels, Outlaw Run features steel wheels.[6][20]

Theme

After Silver Dollar City decided they would be adding a wooden roller coaster, they started to look into possible themes. A Western stagecoach storyline was developed and the name "Outlaw Run" was selected. The ride's station is themed as a stagecoach depot located in the outskirts of Silver Dollar City. In the storyline, stagecoaches would depart daily heading west, where they would be intercepted by outlaws who would steal the riders' belongings. Riders of Outlaw Run are part of the law enforcement tasked to take control back from the outlaws. To keep their family-friendly image, Silver Dollar City uses a variety of theming to advertise that the "good guys" will always win.[5]

Ride experience

File:Outlaw Run - layout.png
The layout of Outlaw Run with key elements highlighted

The train exits out of the station and ascends the chain lift hill. The track then goes through a small pre-drop, similar to Bolliger & Mabillard steel roller coasters before dropping 162 feet (49 m) at an angle of 81°. The train then ascends into the first element, an outside banked turn, where the track is banked over to 153° before rolling back out of the bank. After going around a low-to-the-ground curve, the train enters a 100-foot-tall (30 m) double down followed by a 70-foot-tall (21 m) double up. More turns follow before the train enters a high-speed low float and its final element, a double barrel roll. The train then enters the brake run before returning to the station.[25][20][26] A single ride cycle is completed in approximately 1 minute and 27 seconds.[8]

Records

Outlaw Run features the steepest drop on any wooden roller coaster in the world at 81°.[20] Although Outlaw Run was originally set to claim the record for the only operating wooden roller coaster to feature inversions,[20] the announcement of Hades 360[27] forced Silver Dollar City to tweak their claim to be the only wooden roller coaster to feature multiple inversions.[28] It is also tied with Colossos at Heide Park as the second fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, with a top speed of 68 miles per hour (109 km/h).[20]

Reception

The announcement of Outlaw Run was met with great excitement. Arthur Levine of About.com stated "the coaster appears to have a great layout and should provide the kind of ride that fans adore".[19] Brady MacDonald of the Los Angeles Times ranked Outlaw Run in his top 13 most antipicated new theme park attractions in the United States for 2013.[29] Robb Alvey of Theme Park Review described the ride layout as "fantastic", stating "whatever those guys at Rocky Mountain are doing, they are doing it right".[30] Silver Dollar City predicted it would attract an additional 65,000 visitors to the park following its opening.[31]

Following the ride's opening in 2013, Outlaw Run received largely positive reviews. Marcus Leshock of WGN-TV was among the first to ride Outlaw Run. Despite his high expectations, he described Outlaw Run as "a great ride; an incredible ride".[24] Brandy McDonnell of the The Oklahoman described Outlaw Run as the highlight of Silver Dollar City. She stated "it's a speedy and spine-tingling ride worth waiting a few hours to take".[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Rocky Mountain Construction)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  2. ^ Marden, Duane. "Son Of Beast  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  3. ^ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Inverting wooden roller coasters)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Silver Dollar City announces new roller coaster". News-Leader. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b Olson, Devon (2013). Outlaw Run: From Dreams To Screams. Branson, Missouri: YouTube. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b Schilke, Alan (16 November 2011). "IAAPA 2011" (Interview). Interviewed by Robb Alvey. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
  7. ^ McLean, Mike (19 January 2012). "North Idaho roller coaster maker expands to accommodate innovations". Journal of Business. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Marden, Duane. "Outlaw Run  (Silver Dollar City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 3 August 2012. Cite error: The named reference "RCDB" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  9. ^ Silver Dollar City (23 June 2012). "Something bold is..." Facebook. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Silver Dollar City 2013". Silver Dollar City. 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Silver Dollar City 2013 - Thank you!". Silver Dollar City. 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Clue 1". Silver Dollar City. 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ "Clue 2". Silver Dollar City. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  14. ^ "Silver Dollar City rolls out new wooden coaster". The Sacramento Bee. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Silver Dollar City Announces World's Most Daring Wood Coaster". Silver Dollar City. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  16. ^ "Milestone Reached–Last Piece of Track Set In Place". Silver Dollar City. September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  17. ^ Wright, Larry (March 13, 2013). "Reporters Take On "Outlaw Run" Today". KTTS-FM. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "Outlaw Run's official grand opening set for this weekend". Branson Tri-Lakes News. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  19. ^ a b Levine, Arthur. "Outlaw Run Coaster Coming to Silver Dollar City in 2013". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g "Fact Sheet". Silver Dollar City. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  21. ^ Rocky Mountain Construction (15 October 2010). "Tremors Coaster Topper Track Installation". Photos. Facebook. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  22. ^ a b "Georgia Cyclone: A Classic "Woodie"". Six Flags. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  23. ^ "Rocky Mountain Construction Company". Coaster-Net. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  24. ^ a b Leshock, Marcus (15 March 2013). "Outlaw Run: Record breaking wooden roller coaster opens at Branson's Silver Dollar City". WGN-TV. Tribune Broadcasting. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  25. ^ "Layout". Silver Dollar City. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  26. ^ "Outlaw Run Official POV". YouTube. March 13, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  27. ^ Levine, Arthur (27 November 2012). "Going off the (Wooden) Rails on a Crazy Train". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  28. ^ "Outlaw Run". Silver Dollar City. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  29. ^ MacDonald, Brady (14 November 2011). "Top 13 for 2013: Most anticipated new rides at U.S. theme parks". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  30. ^ MacDonald, Brady (25 October 2012). "Looping wooden roller coasters are about to become a reality". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  31. ^ Henry, Lindsey (9 August 2012). "Silver Dollar City unveils their newest roller coaster - Outlaw Run". Koam. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  32. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (12 May 2013). "Video: Branson for the whole family – Riding the Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City". The Oklahoman. OPUBCO Communications Group. Retrieved 17 May 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Outlaw_Run&oldid=562393056"