Great Coasters International
Encyclopedia
Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI or GCII) is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania
-based roller coaster
manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in Europe and Asia. Güenter-Engelhardt GmbH handles the company's marketing rights in Europe. In addition to designing and building new roller coasters, GCI also refurbishes and re-tracks existing roller coasters, regardless of manufacturer.
GCI designed roller coasters are known for their often curved drops, twisted layouts, and perception of high speed. Exciting elements such as the station fly-by and station fly-through have been incorporated in many of their layouts.
Many GCI designed roller coasters also contain an on-ride camera
midway through or towards the end of the ride.
, which runs with Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)-designed trains. Gwazi
at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and GCI's first roller coaster, Wildcat
at Hersheypark
, also operated with PTC trains when they first opened, but both coasters have since been modified to run with the Millennium Flyer trains.
These trains are known for their cushioned seats, allowing riders to be comfortable during rides. These trains also contain individual lap bars which automatically lower and lock into a position to accommodate the rider, allowing quicker dispatch times. Millennium Flyer trains are known for their classic look with flared seat sides and individual lap bars. They are easily identified by their open, gate-like fronts, usually customized with the logo for the respective ride they are running on.
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Sunbury is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, just downstream of the confluence of its main and West branches. The population was 9,905 at the 2010 census...
-based 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...
manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in Europe and Asia. Güenter-Engelhardt GmbH handles the company's marketing rights in Europe. In addition to designing and building new roller coasters, GCI also refurbishes and re-tracks existing roller coasters, regardless of manufacturer.
GCI designed roller coasters are known for their often curved drops, twisted layouts, and perception of high speed. Exciting elements such as the station fly-by and station fly-through have been incorporated in many of their layouts.
Many GCI designed roller coasters also contain an on-ride camera
On-ride camera
An on-ride camera is a camera mounted alongside the track of a roller coaster, log flume or other thrill ride that automatically photographs all of the riders on each passing vehicle. They are often mounted at the most intense or fastest part of the ride, resulting in humorously distorted...
midway through or towards the end of the ride.
Millennium Flyer trains
Most GCI designed roller coasters run with in-house-designed articulated Millennium Flyer trains. The only exception is Roar at Six Flags AmericaSix Flags America
Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations...
, which runs with Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)-designed trains. Gwazi
Gwazi (roller coaster)
Gwazi is a dueling wooden roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida. The name Gwazi originates from a fabled creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a lion. Accordingly, the two sides are named "Lion" and "Tiger". Often, the two tracks are called "yellow" and "blue",...
at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and GCI's first roller coaster, Wildcat
Wildcat (Hersheypark)
Wildcat is a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The ride was named after a 1920s wooden roller coaster of the same name. The original Wild Cat was Hersheypark's first roller coaster, which operated from 1923 to 1945...
at Hersheypark
Hersheypark
Hersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
, also operated with PTC trains when they first opened, but both coasters have since been modified to run with the Millennium Flyer trains.
These trains are known for their cushioned seats, allowing riders to be comfortable during rides. These trains also contain individual lap bars which automatically lower and lock into a position to accommodate the rider, allowing quicker dispatch times. Millennium Flyer trains are known for their classic look with flared seat sides and individual lap bars. They are easily identified by their open, gate-like fronts, usually customized with the logo for the respective ride they are running on.
Existing Roller Coasters
This list was last completed and checked as of June 19, 2011.Name | Model | Park/Country | Year Opened |
---|---|---|---|
El Toro | Wooden Coaster | Freizeitpark Plohn, Germany | 2009 |
American Thunder (formerly Evel Knievel) | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags St. Louis Six Flags St. Louis Six Flags St. Louis , is an amusement park owned by Six Flags, Inc. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, USA . Opened in 1971 as the third theme park of the Six Flags chain, this was the last park that was built under the Six Flags name... , United States |
2008 |
Gwazi | Dueling Wooden Coaster | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, United States | 1999 |
Joris en de Draak | Racing Wooden Coaster | Efteling Efteling Efteling is the largest theme park in the Netherlands, and as it opened in 1952, it is one of the oldest theme parks in the world. Efteling is located in the town of Kaatsheuvel, in the municipality of Loon op Zand, and has received over 100 million visitors.... , Netherlands |
2010 |
Kentucky Rumbler Kentucky Rumbler Kentucky Rumbler is a wooden roller coaster at Beech Bend Park in Warren County, Kentucky. It has a drop of 96 feet and a height of 80 feet.-Awards:... |
Wooden Coaster | Beech Bend Park Beech Bend Park Beech Bend Park is an amusement park, campground and automobile race track located in Warren County, Kentucky, USA, just outside the limits of the city of Bowling Green.-History:... , United States |
2006 |
Lightning Racer Lightning Racer Lighting Racer is a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Built by Great Coasters International in 2000, it was the first wooden racing and dueling roller coaster. The ride makes use of GCI's Millennium Flyer articulated trains for a smooth and comfortable ride... |
Racing Wooden Coaster | Hersheypark Hersheypark Hersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the... , United States |
2000 |
Prowler PROWLER PROWLER was a mid-1980s experimental robot mobile sentry gun device.The name was an acronym standing for "Programmable Robot Observer With Logical Enemy Response" ;... |
Wooden Coaster | Worlds of Fun Worlds of Fun Worlds of Fun is an amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The park opened in 1973 and was originally built by Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman . In 1995 Hunt-Midwest sold Worlds of Fun to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which currently owns the park... , United States |
2009 |
Renegade Renegade - Games :*Command & Conquer: Renegade, a 2002 first-person shooter video game*Renegade , a 1986 video game*Renegade Legion, a 1990 board game series including the video game Renegade: the Battle for Jacob's Star... |
Wooden Coaster | Valleyfair! Valleyfair! Valleyfair, sometimes stylized Valleyfair! is a 125 acre amusement park located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA and is currently the largest amusement park in the Upper Midwest United States. The park has over 50 rides and water attractions and currently operates 8 roller coasters, one of the most... , United States |
2007 |
Roar | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags America Six Flags America Six Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations... , United States |
1998 |
Roar | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, formerly Six Flags Marine World, Marine World, The New Marine World Theme Park, and Marine World Africa USA, is an animal theme park located in Vallejo, California. The park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, along with a collection of... , United States |
1999 |
Apocalypse Apocalypse An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament... (formerly Terminator Salvation: The Ride) |
Wooden Coaster | 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... , United States |
2009 |
Thunderbird | Wooden Coaster | PowerLand, Finland | 2006 |
Thunderhead Thunderhead Thunderhead can refer to:*a cumulonimbus cloud seen during a thunderstormOther meanings:*Thunderhead , a Marvel comic character in the comic Monstergirl... |
Wooden Coaster | Dollywood Dollywood Dollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community.... , United States |
2004 |
Troy | Wooden Coaster | Toverland, Netherlands | 2007 |
Wildcat Wildcat Wildcat is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa.-Animals:Wildcat may also refer to members of the genus Lynx:... |
Wooden Coaster | Hersheypark, United States | 1996 |
Wooden Coaster (Mountain Flyer) | Wooden Coaster | Knight Valley, China | 2011 |
Mythos | Wooden Coaster | Europa-Park Europa-Park Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany and third most popular theme park resort in Europe. Having over 4.2 million visitors in 2009, it is the second most popular seasonal theme park in the world and is only behind the Tivoli Gardens and Disneyland Paris. Europa-Park is located in Rust,... , Germany |
2012 (Under Construction) |
Defunct Roller Coasters
This list was last completed and checked as of December 28, 2010.Name | Model | Park/Country | Year Opened | Year Closed |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ozark Wildcat Ozark Wildcat The Ozark Wildcat was a wooden roller coaster at Celebration City in Branson, Missouri. As of May, 2011, Ozark Wildcat still stands. Ozark Wildcat's coaster train was sold to Dollywood.-Rider Experience:... |
Wooden Coaster | Celebration City Celebration City Celebration City was a "night-time theme park" located in Branson, Missouri, USA. Celebration City was themed after America in the 20th century, with areas based on Route 66, Small-town America in the 1900s, and a beachside boardwalk in the 1920s... , United States |
2003 | 2008 |