Specific Type: Compressed Air Launch
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Nestled deep in the Ozark Mountains, an explosion is about to take place that will change the landscape of Silver Dollar City forever. Powder Keg is the newest attraction to explode onto the scene and the first of its type from S&S. Don’t be fooled by the shinny new track of this ride, because within it’s course lies an old ride that was another first for Silver Dollar City, Buzzsaw Falls.
In 1999 a new type of ride from Premier was rising from the ground at Silver Dollar City.Buzzsaw Falls was the first liquid coaster to be built. It was a first, because the track ran on the ground and in the water, much like Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland. Buzzsaw Falls was a totally new experience from the word go. The ride started out as a rapid type ride and then entered a sawmill, hence the name. Inside the sawmill, the track changed from a water trough and into steel track. Then the ride navigated a helix before attaching to a lift hill. The boats were carried to the top and plummeted down into a pool of water, much like a chute-the-chute. The ride only remained open for four years and then exited quietly and demolition started. Speculation started soon after construction started as to what would replace the unique ride. As demolition wrapped up, many people wondered just why the helix and lift hill forBuzzsaw Falls had been left untouched. Then track started to arrive for the new coaster and take its place within the site. A month or so passed and then everyone was shocked by the new color scheme the lift hill and helix had received. The two best elements of Buzzsaw Falls were going to be worked into the layout of the new coaster. A teaser banner went up around the site and they simply read “a blast in the wilderness.” From the photos, enthusiasts identified the track as an S&S product. The clues started to point towards a launched coaster. On November 7, 2004, the announcement everyone was waiting for was finally made. The new ride would be called Powder Keg, which was already the name given to the coaster by enthusiasts. The new coaster would follow the story of the Marvel Mine of the Ozark Mountains. Powder Keg launches riders at 53-mph in three seconds. The trains continue to accelerate and reaches a top speed of 63-mph within the 3,506-feet of white track. The ride contains three large floater hills to give riders maximum airtime, some wide banked turns, and a smattering of helixes. Silver Dollar City’s guests find themselves in Powder Keg Pass and start into the queue line of the coaster. After navigating through a mock mine facility, they then board one of the three 16-passenger trains. Sitting two-abreast, they secure the restrains and the clear signal is given. Wait, there is no track ahead of them. Puzzled riders then feel the track underneath them start to move to the right and they find themselves in the black powder storage facility for the mine. Without warning, an explosion launches the train up to 53-mph and over the top of the first floater hill. The train rockets downward and into a wide banked 90-degree turn. Riders scream over the second floater hill and feel themselves lift out of their seats. The train plunges down of the second hill and around a highly banked 180-degree turn. Ahead lies another maze of twists and turn, starting with a straight stretch into a 360-degree turn. The track flies through the second floater hill and under the overbanked turn. Ahead, the train rockets upward in a 360-degree turn and then plunges downward, into the final 360-degree turn, which happens to be the helix from Buzzsaw Falls. The train rolls around the helix and then coasts downhill into the brakes. Riders catch their breath as the train rolls around a 180-degree turn leading back into the station. The restraints are released and riders end their experience on Powder Keg. |
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