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Time Traveler (roller coaster)

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Time Traveler
File:SDC Time Traveler Entrance.jpeg
Ride entrance
Silver Dollar City
LocationSilver Dollar City
Park sectionValley Road
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMarch 13, 2018
Opening dateMarch 14, 2018
Cost$26,000,000
General statistics
TypeSteel – Spinning
ManufacturerMack Rides
ModelX-treme Spinning Coaster
Track layoutTerrain[1]
Lift/launch systemTwo LSM launches
Height100 ft (30 m)
Drop90 ft (27 m)
Length3,020 ft (920 m)
Speed50.3 mph (81.0 km/h)
Inversions3
Duration1:57
Max vertical angle90°
Height restriction51[1] in (130 cm)
Trains3 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 16 riders per train.
ThemeTime travel
WebsiteOfficial website
Time Traveler at RCDB

Time Traveler is a steel spinning roller coaster located at the Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Missouri, United States. Manufactured by Mack Rides, the roller coaster, which was done in collaboration with the park, became the first new roller coaster added since Outlaw Run opened in 2013. Time Traveler features the fictional story of clockmaker Charles Henry and his daughter spotlighting human achievements through time travel. The roller coaster reaches a height of 100 feet (30 m) with a maximum speed of 50.3 miles per hour (81.0 km/h) and a total track length of 3,020 feet (920 m).

Upon opening, the roller coaster became the fastest and tallest complete circuit spinning roller coaster, the first to feature three inversions, and the first model of "X-treme Spinning Coaster's" produced by Mack Rides. In 2018, the roller coaster was listed by Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards as the year's second-best new steel roller coaster and was the year's 18th best-steel roller coaster.

History

The original idea and planning for a new attraction—which would become Time Traveler— lasted over four years. In January 2016, while a prototype for a new spinning roller coaster concept were being made by Mack Rides, Jane Cooper, chief operating officer and president of Herschend Family Entertainment, and Brad Thomas, president of attractions for Silver Dollar City, went to test it at Europa-Park where it was featured on the roller coaster Blue Fire. During their first trip, Thomas described the first experience on the prototype they "had was really like a teacup",[2] but showed promise for the project and design. Thereafter, both Cooper and Thomas made various trips to the park to discuss and plan the ride's concept with Mack Rides before acquiring the model for the parks new attraction.[2]

From February 2016 onward, Herschend Family Entertainment (owner of Silver Dollar City) filed trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for multiple names including "Barke", "Time Traveler", and "Top Dog".[3][4] During one of the several trips in June 2016, the name of the attraction was thought from Cooper and Thomas' observation of the roller coaster's train design frame.[2] Construction for the roller coaster began in October 2016.[5] On February 15, 2017, photos were taken by the Springfield News-Leader of construction taking place within the park, with a park official acknowledging that footers were in place for a new attraction, but not certifying what it would be.[3][4]

Silver Dollar City announced "Time Traveler" on August 16, 2017,[6][7] which upon completion would be the tallest, fastest, and longest spinning roller coaster in the world.[8][9] The ride was manufactured by Mack Rides at the cost of $26 million to design and build.[10] Among its records, the roller coaster would be the only spinning roller coaster with a double launch, vertical loop, and three inversions.[11] On September 19, 2017, the final piece of track was placed for the attraction, with a park spokesman saying that the ride was about 50 percent complete.[5][12]

The trains for the ride were officially revealed on November 14, 2017 during the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Attraction Exposition 2017.[13][14] The roller coaster's first test runs began on December 14, 2017.[15][16] In February 2018, Silver Dollar City announced that the roller coaster would open with the park coinciding with its seasonal operations.[17][18][19][20] A media day was held on March 13, 2018 for the ride which included 150 guests,[21][22] with the ride officially opening on March 14, 2018.[23] Originally the ride was to be sponsored by White River Valley Electric, a supplier for the park's electricity.[24] However, the five-year deal was cancelled soon after its announcement following concerns from the company's members and board of directors.[25][26]

Ride experience

Theme

The roller coaster is themed to the narrative of the fictional character, Charles Henry, and his recent acquisition of the clockmaker family business.[27] Henry, inspired by science fiction works of Jules Verne, set out tinkering with the idea of making the world better through the invention of time travel. In accordance with the phrase "dream big, do good" created for the ride, Henry, along with his daughter Emmaline, went on to create the time traveling device that would highlight human abilities and provide the best decisions for humanity through the alteration of time.[28][27][29] The motto for the attraction was used for marketing by the park to highlight individual accomplishments in the community connected to the park's surrounding location, similar to their previous attraction, Outlaw Run, which honored law enforcement through its story.[28][30]

File:TimeTraveler SDC Track.jpeg
Time Traveler's track, as seen from the queue building

Queue area

Located in the Valley Road section of the park, the main street was reconfigured to construct new buildings for the area, which included restaurants.[28] The station of the roller coaster consists of a three-story building that displays the narrative of Charles Henry and his clock factory. The first story of the queue building consists of the factory's storage area, with information asking guests to become volunteer employees of the business. The second story exhibits the company's offices and shows the experimentation of the factory's clock components. The third story progresses the narrative of Henry, leading to the revelation of his time traveling device, to which riders would experience his invention.[2][28][31] The rides theming throughout the queue area was constructed by the Weber Group,[28] while the musical score was created by John Presley.[2]

Layout

After the front gates open, the trains leave the station and heads into its maximum vertical angle drop of 90-degrees. Descending the 90 foot (27 m) drop at its maximum speed of 50.3 miles per hour (81.0 km/h), the trains enter a dive loop, head upwards into a left banked turn and then a right banked U-turn. Next, the trains enter the first linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch section where they stop momentarily before accelerating to 47 miles per hour (76 km/h) in three seconds. The trains then enter a banked left curve before continuing down left into the 95 foot (29 m) vertical loop. Immediately after, the trains follow upwards into a left banked turn and subsequently head downward into a right banked curve where it transitions into a zero-gravity roll. The trains after traverse into another left banked turn upwards before dipping down into the second LSM launch going from 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). Following the launch, the trains head up into a overbanked turn to the right before heading towards a left banked turn and into the final brake run where the train makes a right U-turn back into the station.[32][33] One cycle of the ride takes about two minutes.[32]

Characteristics

Track

The car for Time Traveler at the Mack Rides booth at IAAPA IAE 2017

The steel tubular track is 3,020 feet (920 m) long and reaches maximum height of 100 feet (30 m).[32] Unlike conventional roller coasters, Time Traveler does not have a lift hill because it enters the courses layout after the initial drop out of the station because of the mountainous terrain.[6][27] The layout was manufactured, developed, and designed by Mack Rides.[23][34] The track for the ride is colored olive with the supports colored mocha to coincide with the steampunk color palette.[2] Throughout the layout, the ride crosses over itself fourteen times.[32][35]

Trains

Time Traveler operates with three trains, each with four cars that are arranged two across in two rows seating back-to-back, allowing for sixteen riders per train.[32][36] Each car of the a train are brass-colored,[2] themed with various cogs, gears, and "industrial components".[14][37] Riders are required to be 51 inches (130 cm) to ride.[14] The ride is the first "X-treme Spinning Coaster" model that was produced by Mack Rides,[32] which introduced a free spinning car that is controlled by magnetic brakes.[37][38]

Ride mechanics

A diagram of how the disc eddy current brake functions

The train model produced by Mack Rides features unique mechanics different from that of traditional spinning roller coasters. Each of the trains have a eddy current brake situated under the coaster's car. When the coaster's metallic disc, located on the upper part of the car, passes through the locked brake, it acts as a conductive surface assisting in rotating the car frame as well as slowing the rotation. The eddy brake can be tightened or loosened to adjust the rotation of the coaster's car. The trains feature a power rail system to align the coaster's cars as they're stationary in the brake run returning to the station, which in addition works as a charger for the on-ride decorated lights on the hand railings located in front of the riders. A busbar located under the rides train conveys data from the cars to the operator's control systems. The lap bar restraints automatically lower on each train and are locked into place by hydraulic cylinders, which are checked by ride attendant's and operator's. Steel bristles are additionally located near each of the car's wheels to release electric charges a train may produce and hinder electronics on them.[2]

Records

When the roller coaster opened in 2018, it became the fastest and tallest full circuit spinning roller coaster. Although not a full circuit spinning roller coaster, Big Air located at E-DA Theme Park would be the fastest and tallest spinning roller coaster. In addition, the coaster became the first spinning roller coaster in the world to have three inversions, surpassing Gekion Live Coaster located at Tokyo Joypolis, which only has one inversion.[32]

Reception

Time Traveler was well received among its critics and guests. Arthur Levine of USA Today praised the ride for its use of magnetic brakes to control the spinning of the ride, stating that the ride was "thrilling, but it’s not in the same league as some of the more extreme non-spinning coasters out there".[38] He also expressed that it did distinguish itself from other roller coasters because of its "mild spinning", launches, and smoothness.[38] Bailey Sthole of KTTS said, "Each ride is unlike the last, with each car offering a 360-degree controlled spin that delivers high dimension", stating it bore a new ride every time.[22] Matt Meltzer of Thrillist described the ride as comfortable and non-nauseating, saying that guests would be "screaming through a giant grin that’s impossible to wipe off until the ride stops."[36] He further remarked that a back-seat ride would be more worth than a front-seat ride because of the clear views of the landscape.[36]

James Rao of Theme Park Insider commented that the roller coaster provided a smooth and comfortable ride from start to finish being "another coaster addition that complements Silver Dollar City’s hilly terrain and provides a unique adventure in an already amazing park."[27] He also commented that the ride, although shorter in length and time from other roller coasters, made up through its pacing and elements.[27] Guests from the American Coaster Enthusiast (ACE) conference hosted at the park remarked positively of its spinning mechanics, theming, ride vehicle design.[39]

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride for 2018
Ranking
2[40]
Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year 2018
Ranking 18[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Buelt, Melissa (November 16, 2017). "The Most Amazing New Roller Coaster in the World Will Be in Missouri". Riverfront Times. Euclid Media Group. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Fais, Scott (June 2018). "Spin Cycle". Funworld Magazine. International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Retrieved September 21, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ a b Holman, Gregory J. (March 3, 2017). "Silver Dollar City confirms 'single biggest thing ever done' is under construction". Springfield News-Leader. USA Today. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ a b Butcher, Katrina (March 9, 2017). "Silver Dollar City working on 'single biggest thing ever done' at park". KFOR. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ a b Holman, Gregory J. (September 20, 2017). "Silver Dollar City lays final track for new 'Time Traveler' coaster". Springfield News-Leader. USA Today. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (August 16, 2017). "The triple-inversion spinning coaster Time Traveler turns a traditional family ride upside down". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (August 17, 2017). "Silver Dollar City announces Time Traveler - 'World's fastest, steepest, tallest spinning coaster'". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ Levine, Arthur (August 16, 2017). "Silver Dollar City adds a Time Traveler for 2018". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ Gish, Sarah (August 16, 2017). "Hold tight: Silver Dollar City unveils record-breaking spinning roller coaster". The Kansas City Star. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. ^ Holman, Gregory J. (August 16, 2017). "A first look at the Time Traveler: Silver Dollar City's new roller coaster". Springfield News-Leader. USA Today. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. ^ Simpson, Nancy (August 16, 2017). "Silver Dollar City Unveils Time Traveler Roller Coaster". KTTS. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  12. ^ "Construction workers add final piece of track for 'Time Traveler' at Silver Dollar City". KY3. September 20, 2017. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ Faulkner, Intisar (November 14, 2017). ""Time Traveler" Roller Coaster Breaks World Records". KTTS. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  14. ^ a b c "Silver Dollar City reveals innovative car for new "Time Traveler" ride". KY3. November 14, 2017. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  15. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (December 14, 2017). "Silver Dollar City begins testing 'Time Traveler' spinning coaster". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  16. ^ "Time Traveler at Silver Dollar City goes on its first test run". KY3. December 14, 2017. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "Time Traveler roller coaster to debut March 14 with the season opening of Silver Dollar City". Attractions Magazine. February 23, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  18. ^ "Anticipation builds for Silver Dollar City's 'Time Traveler'". KRBK. February 23, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  19. ^ Peery, Wes (March 8, 2018). "Time Traveler Roller Coaster Open Date Set". Ozarks First. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  20. ^ Strohl, Bailey (March 8, 2018). "Silver Dollar City Sets Opening Date For New Time Traveler Rollercoaster". KTTS. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  21. ^ Holman, Gregory J. (March 13, 2018). "Gregslist: First look at Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler coaster in action". Springfield News-Leader. USA Today. Archived from the original on June 9, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  22. ^ a b Strohl, Bailey (March 13, 2018). "Silver Dollar City Debuts Time Traveler Roller Coaster". KTTS. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Time Traveler Opens — World's Fastest, Steepest & Tallest Spinning Coaster Debuts in Branson, Missouri". Amusement Today. March 14, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  24. ^ Clark, Joshua (February 23, 2018). "White River Electric, SDC, announce partnership". Branson Tri-Lakes News. Lancaster Management Inc. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  25. ^ Sain, Cliff (March 2, 2018). "White River Valley Electric terminates Silver Dollar City coaster sponsorship". Branson Tri-Lakes News. Lancaster Management Inc. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  26. ^ Oler, Bobby (March 2, 2018). "White River Co-Op pulls out of Silver Dollar City deal after member backlash". KY3. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d e Rao, James (March 13, 2018). "Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler spins an amazing ride". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved September 15, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  28. ^ a b c d e "Branson's Silver Dollar City dreams big with new Time Traveler" (PDF). Amusement Today. 22 (1): 1, 6. April 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  29. ^ Miller, Keith (November 2017). "Launch – First Look November 2017". Funworld Magazine. International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Retrieved October 24, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  30. ^ Foster, Felicia (September 19, 2018). "Silver Dollar City awards $10,000 to teachers for inspiring kids to 'Dream Big, Do Good'". KODE-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
  31. ^ Graddy, Megan (July 12, 2018). "Adventure Arkansas: Silver Dollar City, Part 2 – Time Traveler". KFSM. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Marden, Duane. "Time Traveler - Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 15, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  33. ^ "Time Traveler front seat on-ride HD POV Silver Dollar City". CoasterForce. March 13, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018 – via YouTube. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  34. ^ Schwers, Kaitlyn (February 28, 2018). "World's 'fastest, steepest' spinning roller coaster to debut at Silver Dollar City". The Kansas City Star. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  35. ^ "Record-breaking new coaster at Silver Dollar City opens this March". Columbia Daily Tribune. GateHouse Media. March 3, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  36. ^ a b c Meltzer, Matt (March 29, 2018). "The Tallest, Fastest, and Craziest Spinning Roller Coaster Just Opened". Thrillist. Group Nine Media. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  37. ^ a b John (November 14, 2017). "Silver Dollar City Time Traveler Spinning Car Unveiled". Coaster101. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  38. ^ a b c Levine, Arthur (April 1, 2018). "Silver Dollar City's Time Traveler coaster review". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  39. ^ Sain, Cliff (May 9, 2018). "Coaster enthusiasts celebrate at Silver Dollar City with Time Traveler". Branson Tri-Lakes News. Lancaster Management Inc. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  40. ^ "Amusement Today – Golden Ticket Awards 2018" (PDF). Amusement Today. 22 (6.2): 10. September 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  41. ^ "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.

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