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. Since the Arlington, Texas location was the very first Six Flags park ever, the company wanted to reward them with something extra special in one of the first ever LIM launched coasters. 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 broke a number of records, smashing records for shuttle looping height, speed, track length, duration, and capacity. Another unique feature of this ride was its transfer track style, dual loading station. Using two parallel sets of rails, one train could be launched while the other loaded. 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 Gotham City and encounter Snowy’s Ice Cream Factory. There, riders opt to take the "factory tour" and begin traversing through the twisted queue meandering around 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 zooms out of the station at speeds over seventy miles per hour in a mere three and a half seconds. Rushing out through a 190-foot-long tunnel with the aid of the ride's LIM motors, riders go up into the Top Hat inversion. The Top Hat is a rare element, only found on this ride, the other Mr. Freeze at Six Flags St. Louis, and the sadly departer Batman side of Batman and Robin: the Chiller at Six Flags Great Adventure. The Top Hat twists riders up to the right and inverts them rolling over into a downwards direction. 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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