Colossus the Fire Dragon
Encyclopedia
Colossus the Fire Dragon is the name of a double looping roller coaster
by Anton Schwarzkopf
that opened at Lagoon Amusement Park
in Utah
in 1983.
roller coaster for two reasons. There were two double looping Anton Schwarzkopf
roller coaster
s in the USA until Laser at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
closed at the end of 2008. Colossus the Fire Dragon is also unique because it has an extra curve in the helix. The coaster is located in front of Lagoon's 2007 ride, Wicked
.
Colossus the Fire Dragon's trains are glittering silver & white with headlights and a decal of a green dragon on the front car; on the sides of the train there are two stripes of either green, blue, or red, depending on what train it is.
While going up the lift hill, riders can also see flags from different countries, ending with the U.S. as the train reaches the top.
's name was actually just "Colossus" at first, but the "Fire Dragon" surname was added, so there would be no confusion between Colossus
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
and Colossus at Lagoon. It is still regularly referred to as simply "the Colossus," as well as "the Colossal Fire Dragon," and "the Fire Dragon."
, except (as explained above) the Laser did not have the extra curve in the helix and its colors were purple with green supports and black top rails. Laser was also slightly taller.
Colossus made an international tour in the 1980s, going to São Paulo, Brazil, where it was the most popular ride at Playcenter amusement park.
It has 12,000+ Lights.
It has 3 trains and runs on busy days 2 trains. The coaster can accommodate 3 trains but hasn't since 1999 as it has not been needed. Lagoon uses all three trains depending on which ones need run time to keep them all with about the same run time according to what park maintenance sets for how long a train can run before needing to be taken off for a rebuild. That being said all trains get maintenance work every morning so they are all safe.
This ride is used as an "assignment" as students come to Lagoon many times to not only learn about the park and rides, but to measure the G-Forces with special tools on their hands as they ride it.
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
by Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
that opened at Lagoon Amusement Park
Lagoon Amusement Park
Lagoon is an amusement park in Farmington, Utah, United States located about seventeen miles north of Salt Lake City. It is privately owned...
in Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
in 1983.
Description
The coaster sends riders 85 feet (25.9 m) high up the lift hill alongside Wicked roller coaster, then into a smooth 1/3 right turn. Riders get a glimpse of the Wild Mouse and the Spider roller coasters before heading into a fast, twisting plummet to the ground, then through two 65 feet (19.8 m) High-G inversions and two helix turns. The first helix turn is very large, arcing over the "bridge" or elevated part of the queue, then up and through the second loop. After that the train passes just over the station's roof, then down and around, turning diagonally between the two loops into the G-inducing helix back to the station. This helix is what some people call the 'slanted spiral' or the 'upward-downward helix,' because it turns downward, upward, then downward again at equal angles into a large turn that leads back to the station, giving the entire element a 'slanted' look.Unique Aspects
It is a one-of-a kind double looping Anton SchwarzkopfAnton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
roller coaster for two reasons. There were two double looping Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
s in the USA until Laser at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom....
closed at the end of 2008. Colossus the Fire Dragon is also unique because it has an extra curve in the helix. The coaster is located in front of Lagoon's 2007 ride, Wicked
Wicked (Lagoon)
Wicked is a launched steel roller coaster located at Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah. It opened on June 1, 2007. It is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster at Lagoon....
.
Safety Aspects
The trains have no over-the-shoulder restraints, offering more freedom for riders. To date, there have been no incidents involving the ride.Appearance
Its track is blue with black top rails, white supports, and a yellow color scheme on the inversions. Its inversions are 2 vertical loops which are lit up with orange and yellow lights at night. The lift is also lit up with orange and yellow lights.Colossus the Fire Dragon's trains are glittering silver & white with headlights and a decal of a green dragon on the front car; on the sides of the train there are two stripes of either green, blue, or red, depending on what train it is.
While going up the lift hill, riders can also see flags from different countries, ending with the U.S. as the train reaches the top.
Naming History
The roller coasterRoller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
's name was actually just "Colossus" at first, but the "Fire Dragon" surname was added, so there would be no confusion between Colossus
Colossus (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Colossus is a wooden roller coaster located in the Colossus County Fair area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. When it opened on June 29, 1978, it was one of the tallest and fastest wooden roller coasters in the world, and the first roller coaster in the world with two drops in...
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
and Colossus at Lagoon. It is still regularly referred to as simply "the Colossus," as well as "the Colossal Fire Dragon," and "the Fire Dragon."
Relocation
Colossus the Fire Dragon is a portable roller coaster, so it was fairly inexpensive (2.5 million US dollars when built) and it can be dismantled & rebuilt within a day or two, even though it is quite large. It is almost identical to the former Laser at Dorney Park & Wildwater KingdomDorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom....
, except (as explained above) the Laser did not have the extra curve in the helix and its colors were purple with green supports and black top rails. Laser was also slightly taller.
Colossus made an international tour in the 1980s, going to São Paulo, Brazil, where it was the most popular ride at Playcenter amusement park.
Other notes
Colossus the Fire Dragon is 2850 feet (868.7 m) long and has a max speed of 53-56 MPH. Its max G-force is almost 5 g's. It is currently one of the most popular roller coasters at Lagoon.It has 12,000+ Lights.
It has 3 trains and runs on busy days 2 trains. The coaster can accommodate 3 trains but hasn't since 1999 as it has not been needed. Lagoon uses all three trains depending on which ones need run time to keep them all with about the same run time according to what park maintenance sets for how long a train can run before needing to be taken off for a rebuild. That being said all trains get maintenance work every morning so they are all safe.
This ride is used as an "assignment" as students come to Lagoon many times to not only learn about the park and rides, but to measure the G-Forces with special tools on their hands as they ride it.