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Flashback (roller coaster)
Encyclopedia
Flashback was a steel roller coaster
made by Intamin of Switzerland
. The coaster was located in the Six Flags Plaza area of Six Flags Magic Mountain
in Valencia
, California
.
Flashback first opened in 1985 at Six Flags Great America
as Z-Force and was the only "Space Dive" coaster (Six Flags called it a "Z-Coaster"). The site the ride occupied while in Illinois is now occupied by Iron Wolf, a Bolliger and Mabillard stand-up roller coaster
. The ride was sent to Six Flags Over Georgia
in 1987 and opened in 1988. The ride finally came to Six Flags Magic Mountain
with its new name in 1992.
The ride, especially since opening in California, had suffered from neglect. The track was in poor condition, and riders had complained that the ride was now much rougher. In 2003, the ride closed down due to the noise it made. The noises were so loud that they distracted lifeguards at the nearby Hurricane Harbor waterpark. The entrance was boarded up, and power cut from the ride.
On January 19, 2007, Flashback's page on the park's website disappeared, increasing the possibility of its removal. A few days later, on January 23, 2007, it was announced by the park that Flashback would be removed along with Psyclone. Originally, the park stated that Flashback may be re-built within the park for 2008, however it was dismantled and scrapped in early 2008.
Flashback was the world's only hairpin-drop roller coaster, with 6 head-over-heels dives and a 540-degree upward spiral. It was all packed into a relatively small area with 1900 feet (579.1 m) of track stacked above each other. The drops were severe, producing a free-fall experience on the plunges; fast steel switchbacks connected the turns just before trains flew into the gravity-defying upward spiral. Trains reached a max of 35 mi/h, with a 3-g force on the one and a half minute ride.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
made by Intamin of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The coaster was located in the Six Flags Plaza area of 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...
in Valencia
Valencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Flashback first opened in 1985 at Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
as Z-Force and was the only "Space Dive" coaster (Six Flags called it a "Z-Coaster"). The site the ride occupied while in Illinois is now occupied by Iron Wolf, a Bolliger and Mabillard stand-up roller coaster
Stand-up roller coaster
A stand-up roller coaster is a roller coaster designed to have the passengers stand through the course of the ride. These roller coasters are very intense, and generally carry taller height restrictions than other rides.-History:...
. The ride was sent to Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
in 1987 and opened in 1988. The ride finally came to 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...
with its new name in 1992.
The ride, especially since opening in California, had suffered from neglect. The track was in poor condition, and riders had complained that the ride was now much rougher. In 2003, the ride closed down due to the noise it made. The noises were so loud that they distracted lifeguards at the nearby Hurricane Harbor waterpark. The entrance was boarded up, and power cut from the ride.
On January 19, 2007, Flashback's page on the park's website disappeared, increasing the possibility of its removal. A few days later, on January 23, 2007, it was announced by the park that Flashback would be removed along with Psyclone. Originally, the park stated that Flashback may be re-built within the park for 2008, however it was dismantled and scrapped in early 2008.
Flashback was the world's only hairpin-drop roller coaster, with 6 head-over-heels dives and a 540-degree upward spiral. It was all packed into a relatively small area with 1900 feet (579.1 m) of track stacked above each other. The drops were severe, producing a free-fall experience on the plunges; fast steel switchbacks connected the turns just before trains flew into the gravity-defying upward spiral. Trains reached a max of 35 mi/h, with a 3-g force on the one and a half minute ride.