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Colossus the Fire Dragon

Coordinates: 40°59′01″N 111°53′42″W / 40.9836°N 111.8951°W / 40.9836; -111.8951
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(Redirected from Colossus (Lagoon))
Colossus the Fire Dragon
Colossus in April 2007
Lagoon Amusement Park
LocationLagoon Amusement Park
Park sectionSouth Midway
Coordinates40°59′01″N 111°53′42″W / 40.9836°N 111.8951°W / 40.9836; -111.8951
StatusOperating
Opening date1983[1]
Cost$2,500,000 USD
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerAnton Schwarzkopf
DesignerIngenieur Büro Stengel GmbH
ModelDouble Looping (with additional trackway curve)
Track layoutFigure 8
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height85 ft (26 m)
Drop81 ft (25 m)
Length2,850 ft (870 m)
Speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Inversions2
Duration1:45
Max vertical angle60°
G-force4.9 (Back Seat)
4.0 (Front Seat)
Restraint styleLap Bar
Height restriction46 in (117 cm)
Trains3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.
Colossus the Fire Dragon at RCDB

Colossus the Fire Dragon, also known as Colossus, or simply Fire Dragon, is a Schwarzkopf double-looping roller coaster that opened at Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah in 1983.

Description

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An external view of Colossus, watching an empty train begin the helix segment, April 2007

The coaster sends riders 85 feet (26 m) up the lift hill, then into a smooth 1/3 right turn. Riders then fall into a fast, twisting plummet to the ground, then through two 65-foot (20 m) high-G vertical loops and two helix turns. The first helix turn is very large, arcing over the elevated portion of the ride's queue, then up and through the second loop. After that, the train passes just over the station's roof, then down and around, turning diagonally between the two loops into the G-inducing helix back to the station. This helix is sometimes referred to as a 'slanted spiral' or the 'upward-downward helix,' because it turns downward, upward, then downward again at equal angles into a large turn that leads back to the station, giving the entire element a 'slanted' look.

Unique aspects

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Colossus is one of two double looping Anton Schwarzkopf roller coasters in the United States, the other being Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas, which opened in 1977. There were three of the coaster type until Laser at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom closed at the end of 2008. Colossus is also unique because it has an extra curve in its helix. The coaster is located in front of Wicked, another coaster at Lagoon.

Appearance

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Colossus' track is blue with white supports and a yellow color scheme on the two vertical loops. The ride features orange and yellow lights which are turned on at night.

Colossus' trains are silver and white, with headlights and a decal of a green dragon on the front car. On the sides of the train there are two stripes of either green, blue, or red. The trains have no over-the-shoulder restraints, offering more freedom for riders.

The lift hill is decorated with flags from various countries.

Naming history

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The roller coaster's name was intended to be simply "Colossus", but the "Fire Dragon" surname was added so there would be no confusion between Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Colossus at Lagoon.

Relocation

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Colossus is a portable roller coaster, so it was fairly inexpensive, costing around $2.5 million USD. It can be dismantled and rebuilt within a day. It traveled on a European fair circuit for approximately two years, before Lagoon purchased the attraction. The ride was later installed at Lagoon in 1983, where it has operated since.

Other notes

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Colossus is 2,850 feet (870 m) long and has top speeds of 55 mph. Its G-force is 4.8 gs. Colossus can accommodate three trains running simultaneously, but has not done so since 1999. Currently, Colossus runs a maximum of two trains when the park is busy. However, all 3 trains are used in a rotation according to maintenance schedules. The train that has accumulated the most runtime is removed to be refurbished while the other two are running.

Incidents

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On June 10, 1983, a teenage employee lost her arm while working near the roller coaster.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Colossus". www.lagoonpark.com. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Lagoon Roller Coaster Victim Serious After Arm Amputation". The Deseret News. Salt Lake City. 13 Jun 1983. Retrieved 24 Oct 2014 – via Google News.
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Media related to Colossus the Fire Dragon at Wikimedia Commons