Zoomerang
Specific Type: Boomerang
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In the latter half of the 20th century, Lake Compounce went through a turbulent period. The park changed hands numerous times and experienced financial turmoil. Finally in 1996, the nightmare was over when Kennywood Entertainment acquired the park. They immediately began the task of fixing it up and turning it into the park visitors know today. For the next season, it was decided to add the park's first new coaster in sixteen years. Its previous coaster had been Roll in the Dark, an enclosed kiddie coaster, that was installed in 1979 and served the park for three seasons. Vekoma was asked to construct one of their Boomerang models, which packed an intense looping coaster in a small footprint. Striking yellow supports rose into the skyline with green track connected to them, and the coaster was given the name Zoomerang. Its single seven car train would make it the first Boomerang to have a train designed by Vekoma themselves. The ride's official opening took place on June 27, and marked an important point in Lake Compounce's history. Not only did the new Zoomerang thrill visitors, it paved the way for the park's paramount addition three years later, Boulder Dash.
Zoomerang is located in the northern portion of the park, with the venerable Wildcat just south. Upon its opening, Zoomerang was given its aforementioned green and yellow color scheme, with its station done in the same yellow as the supports. Fresh paint was added for the 2008 season, changing the scheme to the current purple track and light blue supports. This change was carried over to the ride's train as well. The train was previously orange and yellow with black restraints, and was transformed into purple and blue with black restraints. The train itself is made up of seven cars with two rows. Each row consists of two seats, giving the train a capacity of 28 riders. The train passes through the station twice during the ride, and sends riders up two parallel lift sections. Both lift sections stand one hundred and sixteen feet, making Zoomerang easy to spot from the surrounding area. Zoomerang begins by immediately sending riders backwards up the first lift section. Anticipation slowly builds as the train climbs, only to suddenly be released. Riders hurtle forward through the station and into a cobra roll. A quick loop follows, and the train engages the second lift section. A brief pause is followed by another sudden release as the train now dashes in reverse. Riders encounter the loop, and then shoot through the cobra roll a final time. The train is braked as it reenters the station, but is allowed to go up the first lift section slightly before rolling forward again and slowing to a stop. The one minute and forty eight second ride is concluded as riders lift their restraints and disembark the train, having experienced zooming through loops forward as well as in reverse on quite a notable coaster. Zoomerang helped to put an end to Lake Compounce's period of uncertainty, a period that resembled a roller coaster itself. |
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