Specific Type: LIM Shuttle Coaster
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The year was 1997, and two phenomenon’s were underway. The first of these was a 1997 movie that was wildly promoted called Batman and Robin, and the second was a new technology that revolutionized roller coasters. This new technology was Linear Induction Motors introduced in Paramount Parks' rides Flight of Fear in 1996 made by Premier Rides, changing the definition of launched rides and making Schwarzkopf and Arrow Dynamics' launch systems obsolete.
In the movie Batman and Robin, Mr. Freeze was one of the two villains. Six Flags thought it would be unique to theme a coaster after the villain at two of its parks for the 1997 season. One would go to Six Flags over Texas, the other to Six Flags St. Louis. The St. Louis park lacked newer thrills and considered by enthusiasts to be one of the ‘neglected’ Six Flags parks. The blue structure rose on an island in the middle of the park's Thunder River rapids ride and a new themed section, DC Comics Plaza, came along as well. Everything seemed to be going smooth until one major snag delayed the ride by one year. As with any new technology, it was prone to breakdowns and glitches; the LIM motors had glitches which pushed the rides opening to April, 1998. When it finally did open, Mr. Freezecertainly became ‘The Coolest Coaster on the Planet’ since the ride breaks a number of records, smashing records for shuttle looping height, speed, track length, duration, and capacity. Another unique charm for this cool coaster would be the sliding station. Two tracks would be side by side; one side would be used for boarding while the other side would be used for the launch section. The tracks slide when a train is ready to launch and another needs to be loaded or emptied. This unique charm would be helpful as it cut waiting times for the ride. Then, in 2002, Mr. Freeze got more chilling with the replacement of the rides’ shoulder restraints with simply lap and leg restraints. Soon-to-be-frozen-riders go through the park to DC Comics Plaza and encounter Snowy’s Ice Cream Factory for factory tours. There, they go through the twisted queue entering under a head and encountering warehouses and various other theming before it gets colder inside a blue-lit station. Then visitors encounter the two-across, ten-rowed trains, board them, and pull down their lap bars to brace the sudden launch of Mr. Freeze. The train then zooms out of the station at speeds rushing over seventy miles per hour in a mere three and a half seconds. Rushing out through a 190-foot-long tunnel after LIM motors blasted them out of the station, riders go up the Top Hat inversion. The Top Hat is a rare element, only found on this ride, theBatman side of Batman and Robin: the Chiller at Six Flags Great Adventure and the other Mr. Freeze at Six Flags over Texas. The Top Hat twists riders up to the right and inverts them upsidedown. After flipping, passengers then go down vertically and twist to the left. Following the Top Hat is an overbanked turnaround. Rising and turning around, passengers then encounter the reversing spike of the ride. The spike takes them up vertically 225 feet toward the sky before gravity takes control again and sends the train through the entire course again, this time backwards. After going through the course backwards, the tour at Snowy’s Ice Cream Factory is completed and guests have survived the wrath of Mr. Freeze. Feeling warm? Need to chill out? Take a tour of Snowy’s Ice Cream Factory and take a ride on ‘The Coolest Coaster on the Planet,’ Mr. Freeze! |
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