Revolution (roller coaster)
Encyclopedia
The Revolution, formerly known as Great American Revolution and La Revolución, is a steel roller coaster
manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf
of Germany and designed by Werner Stengel
. The coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain
in Valencia
, California
. It opened on May 8, 1976 and was the world's first modern roller coaster to feature a vertical loop. It is an ACE
Coaster Landmark.
The coaster was named after the American Revolution
, which began in 1776, 200 years before the ride opened. Unlike almost all of the previous attempts to create looping roller coasters in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Revolution's loop was clothoid loop-shaped instead of a completely circular. Eight days later, Corkscrew
opened at Cedar Point
on May 15, 1976 with a vertical loop and two corkscrews for a total of three inversions
.
at the Coney Island
amusements.
Before the ride opened, it took a week of testing to just get the train to complete one circuit because of wheels being too tight. When the ride opened, the ride staff were outfitted with Continental Army
style uniforms to match the American Revolutionary War
of 1776 theme. The ride was later changed to a Mexican Revolution
theme and called La Revolución when Six Flags purchased Magic Mountain in 1979. Later, in 1988, the ride's name was changed to Revolution.
In June 2002, a plaque was erected in front of the ride, marking it as one of the American Coaster Enthusiasts "Coaster Landmarks", for being the first steel looping roller coaster.
During the construction of Six Flags Magic Mountain's roller coaster Tatsu
in 2005, parts of Revolution had to be dismantled to make way for the new ride; it reopened along with Tatsu on Tatsu Media Day on May 11, 2006.
. Dubbed the “Whipper Snapper,” the Griswold family and kidnapped security guard Russ Lasky (John Candy
) rode this coaster in the final scenes of the film. It was also featured in the episode "Phantom of the Roller Coaster" in season three of Wonder Woman.
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...
manufactured 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....
of Germany and designed by Werner Stengel
Werner Stengel
Werner Stengel is a German roller coaster designer and engineer. Stengel is the founder of Stengel Engineering, also known as Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH ....
. The coaster is located in the Baja Ridge 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...
. It opened on May 8, 1976 and was the world's first modern roller coaster to feature a vertical loop. It is an ACE
American Coaster Enthusiasts
The American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Landmark.
The coaster was named after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, which began in 1776, 200 years before the ride opened. Unlike almost all of the previous attempts to create looping roller coasters in the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, Revolution's loop was clothoid loop-shaped instead of a completely circular. Eight days later, Corkscrew
Corkscrew (Cedar Point)
Corkscrew is a roller coaster at the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. When built in 1976, it was the first roller coaster in the world with 3 inversions....
opened at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
on May 15, 1976 with a vertical loop and two corkscrews for a total of three inversions
Roller coaster inversions
A roller coaster inversion is an element of a roller coaster track that turns riders upside-down and then rights them. The degree to which it must invert riders is nebulous and a point of contention when it comes to elements like overbanked turns, which turn riders such that their heads are below...
.
History
Magic Mountain developed the loop coaster with amusement ride manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf to be the first true loop coaster since the Loop the LoopLoop the loop
Loop the loop may refer to:*Aerobatic maneuver, Aircraft special maneuvers*Slitherlink, game to connect links...
at the Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
amusements.
Before the ride opened, it took a week of testing to just get the train to complete one circuit because of wheels being too tight. When the ride opened, the ride staff were outfitted with Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
style uniforms to match the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
of 1776 theme. The ride was later changed to a Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
theme and called La Revolución when Six Flags purchased Magic Mountain in 1979. Later, in 1988, the ride's name was changed to Revolution.
In June 2002, a plaque was erected in front of the ride, marking it as one of the American Coaster Enthusiasts "Coaster Landmarks", for being the first steel looping roller coaster.
During the construction of Six Flags Magic Mountain's roller coaster Tatsu
Tatsu
Tatsu, meaning "dragon" in Japanese is a steel flying roller coaster operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It opened May 13, 2006. The ride was promoted with a Japanese mythology theme. Tatsu is the only flying coaster to have a Zero-G Roll...
in 2005, parts of Revolution had to be dismantled to make way for the new ride; it reopened along with Tatsu on Tatsu Media Day on May 11, 2006.
Pop culture
Revolution was prominently featured in the climax of the 1977 suspense thriller Rollercoaster. It was also featured in the film National Lampoon's VacationNational Lampoon's Vacation
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
. Dubbed the “Whipper Snapper,” the Griswold family and kidnapped security guard Russ Lasky (John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
) rode this coaster in the final scenes of the film. It was also featured in the episode "Phantom of the Roller Coaster" in season three of Wonder Woman.