Specific Type: Inverted Coaster
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Up until 1998, the Buena Park, California-based Knott's Berry Farm was a decent theme park with a below-average collection of thrillrides, but since the Cedar Fair chain took the reins of the Berry Farm, things have been a little different. First came the record-heights of Supreme Scream, then the twisted timbers and number one ratings of GhostRider, followed by the record splashdown of Perilous Plunge, and the revolutionary blast-off of Xcelerator. That list is about to get one major thrillride longer when Silver Bullet becomes the newest multi-million dollar, custom-designed, world-class coaster to blast onto the scene at the Berry Farm as a Christmas present to all thrillseekers, making its grand debut on December 24th, 2004 as the largest, fastest, most loopy full-circuit inverted thing in the Western United States. With 3,125 feet of Bolliger and Mabillard track, Silver Bullet weaves through Knott's Indian Trails and takes over the park's Reflection Lake with a six-inversion layout composed of a first loop, two flat spins, a double helix and carousel curve, zero-g roll, photogenic cobra roll over the main entry plaza, and an element never seen before on a B&M inverted coaster: an overbanked curve. The 16-million dollar thrillride is the third one of its kind, and largest ride of its kind within the Cedar Fair chain, coming ten years after Cedar Point's Raptor and three years after Dorney Park's Talon.
Knott's guests of fifty-four inches or taller can enter the line for Silver Bullet in the Indian Trails section before ascending into the station building and loading onto one of two four-abreast chrome-colored trains and latching lap belts to over-the-shoulder restraints. As soon as the train gets rolling, the guide wheels pull riders around a first right-hand L-turn leading to the start of the chain lift. The track angles upwards as the train clicks up towards the top of the 146-foot hill, climbing over the waters of Reflection Lake below and leveling out a minute later high above Indian Trails. Just beyond the dip at the top, the ride is sent down a swooping, banked dive traveling down 109 feet and curving around just shy of 180-degrees. With water underfoot, the trainload is navigated swiftly around the exterior of a 105-foot tall initial loop and sent plunging back towards the lake. The track overhead climbs and twists through Silver Bullet's most unique element, the overbanked curve, whisking thrillseekers towards the sky and then diving to the ground to prepare for the dual-inversion mayhem of the cobra roll. Over five dozen feet fly above the entrance toKnott's Berry Farm as they're sent through the first half of the cobra roll inversion composed of a half-loop, two half-corkscrews to the left, and another half-loop. A zero-g roll serves as the fourth inversion, twisting 360 degrees to the left and throwing in a little airtime while it's at it, then passengers curve around a 270-degree left carousel fan curve over the midway. Silver Bullet gets back into the inversion business with a left-handed flat spin and final flight over the water around a banked curve and second corkscrew flip. The ride is finished off with an upwards 405-degree helix onto the first run of brakes, then a right-hander back to the station. |
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