Arkansas Twister
Encyclopedia
The Arkansas Twister is a wooden roller coaster
at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
Amusement Park at Hot Springs, Arkansas
. The coaster stands 95 feet tall and has a track length of 3340 feet and top speed of over 50 mph, as it takes riders through the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
. It debuted at the park in 2000 after relocating from Boardwalk and Baseball
near Haines City, Florida
, where it was known as the "Florida Hurricane" and, for a brief period of time, "Michael Jackson
's Thrill Coaster."
Magic Springs
purchased the coaster from Boardwalk and Baseball
for $10,000; however, relocation and reconstruction brought the total investment to just under $900,000.
The Arkansas Twister is actually an out-and-back
coaster, not a "twister
" as the name implies.
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls is an amusement park and water park located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 50 miles from Little Rock. A single price admission includes all day use of the rides and attractions in both parks. The park is open weekends from April through October and daily late-May...
Amusement Park at Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
. The coaster stands 95 feet tall and has a track length of 3340 feet and top speed of over 50 mph, as it takes riders through the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
Ouachita Mountains
The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...
. It debuted at the park in 2000 after relocating from Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball was a theme park built near Haines City, Florida, United States, on the east corner of the intersection of US 27 and Interstate 4. It replaced Circus World at the same location, and was owned by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich...
near Haines City, Florida
Haines City, Florida
Haines City is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. The population was 13,174 at the 2000 census. As of 2010, the population estimated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida is 18,762. Haines City is the third most populous city in Polk County, Florida...
, where it was known as the "Florida Hurricane" and, for a brief period of time, "Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's Thrill Coaster."
Magic Springs
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls is an amusement park and water park located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 50 miles from Little Rock. A single price admission includes all day use of the rides and attractions in both parks. The park is open weekends from April through October and daily late-May...
purchased the coaster from Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball
Boardwalk and Baseball was a theme park built near Haines City, Florida, United States, on the east corner of the intersection of US 27 and Interstate 4. It replaced Circus World at the same location, and was owned by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich...
for $10,000; however, relocation and reconstruction brought the total investment to just under $900,000.
The Arkansas Twister is actually an out-and-back
Out and Back roller coaster
Out and back refers to the layout of a roller coaster. An out and back coaster is one that climbs a lift hill, races out to the far end of the track, performs a 180 degree turn and then races its way back to the station....
coaster, not a "twister
Twister roller coaster
A twister roller coaster is the generic name given to any roller coaster layout which tends to twist or interweave its track within itself several times. It is essentially the opposite of an Out and Back roller coaster, which is often a much more simplistic layout...
" as the name implies.