Specific Type: El Loco
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Amongst the miles and miles of corn and grain of Indiana, you can also find one of the most unique parks in the United States, Indiana Beach. Indiana Beach is known for its appeal to locals and the small park atmosphere that makes the breadbasket of America what it is today. Indiana Beach is known for some of their coasters like Cornball Express and the recently added Steel Hawg coaster. Steel Hawg is unique in that it is one of only two coasters of its kind in the world and gives riders elements that they may never see on any other coaster. So join us now as we take a virtual ride on the king of Indiana Beach…STEEL HAWG!
Steel Hawg is an El Loco style coaster and the first to be built by S&S Worldwide. The coaster was built at Indiana Beach in 2008 and opened to the pubic in July of that year. One of the key elements on the coaster is the 111 degree drop. What makes this interesting is that the coaster was supposed to have a 120 degree drop, but the company decided to simplify the idea in the final stages. The media never found this out and the marketing had already begun. All of the promotional material said 120 degree drop which ended up being completely false. Steel Hawg was the steepest coaster in the world for a year until its brother was built in the United Kingdom in 2009. Steel Hawg is also the tallest coaster in the park at 96 feet. The coaster reaches a top speed of 41mph and includes 2 inversions. After you enter the queue, you look up to see a massive structure that fits in such a tiny area. The orange and black paint pops as you anticipate your first ride on Steel Hawg. You get to the platform and you board one of the 4 seated trains. You take your seat, pull down the shoulder pads and then pull down the lap bar that holds you in. As the train leaves the station, you make a small right turn and head for the lift hill. The chain lifts you up 96 feet. At the top, the track flattens out and you go around a sharp left turn and get ready for the drop. The car drops down a 111 degree drop as you come out of your seat. Coming up the other side you make sharp left turn. After the turn you hit a small break run that sets you up for the signature element. The car turns to the left but you bank and lean to the right. As you circle, the car turns and banks to the left and eventually into a barrel roll. When you leave the barrel roll, you go down a steep hill and back up into the next element which is another barrel roll. The coaster makes a hard right turn towards the finish. You now sit on the break run after a very short and intense ride. Are you ready to do it again? |
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