Tickler
Specific Type: Wild Mouse
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The Tickler might not sound like typical roller coaster name, but it is actually an extremely typical roller coaster, a wild mouse model by Zamperla. This familiar layout is given a new twist with spinning cars. Beginning in the 1950’s wild mouse style roller coasters were first constructed as wooden coasters. The last remaining wooden and oldest wild mouse is the example at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England. Then starting in the 1960’s steel wild mouse roller coasters started being installed at parks worldwide by nearly every manufacturer of amusement park rides. The wild mouse became very popular with parks and guests alike. Parks liked them for their compact footprint, and guests enjoyed the strong lateral forces, and fun ride experience that could be shared by the whole family. The Tickler has what the park describes as half moon cars that allow four guests to sit next to each other in the same row. The Tickler was one of the rides that was installed the first season the park was operated as Luna Park, for almost 50 years it was know as Astroland. The switch to Luna Park brought in new operators partnering with Zamperla, and a nod to the classic Coney Island. It once operated as Luna Park back from 1903 until it was destroyed by fire and forced to close in 1946.
As riders approach The Tickler they are greeted with a whimsical light up Tickler sign above the ride’s highest level. The coaster also has the slightly creepy Tillie face, a smiling logo that can be found all over the park. Once the riders are locked into their half moon cars the riders are dispatched and head towards the midway, a sharp 90 degree turn to the left lines the car up with the lift hill. The car slowly climbs the hill passing under lighted arches giving this ride a classic and stylized feel. At the top of the hill the car makes a sudden 90 degree left hand turn as it gathers momentum heading towards a series of fast 180 degree serpentine turns. After the fifth careening turn the track drops out and the car races down a dip and then back up to a flat turnaround at the far end of the ride and then another sudden dip. As the track levels out the car is heading towards another set of serpentine turns, but the car is unlocked and allowed to spin freely however momentum takes it. After this set of turns the track goes over a series of small bunny hills, and finally returns to the brake run. The real question is with you be tickled and left laughing or queasy. |
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