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The Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Great Adventure)
Encyclopedia
The Great American Scream Machine was a steel roller coaster
located at Six Flags Great Adventure
. The 173-foot (53 m) tall ride was built in 1989 as the fastest looping roller coaster in the world, reaching speeds up to 68 mph (109 km/h). It was designed by Ron Toomer and built by Arrow Dynamics, which built its sister coasters Shockwave (dismantled in 2002) at Six Flags Great America
in Gurnee, Illinois
and Viper
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
in Valencia, California
. All three coasters have three loops after the lift hill, a batwing (also known as a boomerang), and a double corkscrew. Scream Machine succeeded its sister coaster Shockwave as the tallest and fastest looping coaster in the world, but relinquished the claim to its other sister coaster Viper. Both Shockwave and Scream Machine only held the claim for one year. Although a roller coaster of the same name
exists at Six Flags Over Georgia
, that ride is an out and back wooden roller coaster
.
The coaster track was painted red and the supports were white. The trains were named Freedom (red), Liberty (white), and Spirit (blue). The ground underneath the ride featured a red and white design resembling the stripes on a waving American flag. The maximum capacity of the ride was 1,680 guests per hour.
The over-the-shoulder restraint handles were made of foam instead of metal. The Scream Machine's on-ride camera
was located at the curve before entering the double corkscrew, unlike those of its sister coasters; the cameras on both rides were located at the bottom of the Batwing.
Over the years, the Great American Scream Machine became known as a rough ride, causing pain to riders mostly seated in the rear of the train, and often riders just meeting the minimum height limit of the ride or taller than the average rider. Many believe that the ride's bumpiness and waning popularity led to its closing on July 18, 2010, to make room for the Green Lantern roller coaster.
at Six Flags Great America
. The top of the original first loop can be found in the monkeys' enclosure in the Wild Safari at Six Flags Great Adventure. Along with the new loop tops, a trim brake was installed after the first loop. The trim brake is not set up to stop a train; it is used to slightly adjust the speed of the train when temperatures reach around 90 degrees.
In 2009, the Liberty (white) train was ad-wrapped as an advertisement for one of the ride's sponsors, got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue, a hair gel
. Assorted signs were also placed on the station platform advertising. It was the first train in the park to feature advertisements, but as this idea spread throughout the Six Flags chain, it was joined by Kingda Ka and El Toro, whose trains feature The Karate Kid
and Stride Gum
ads, respectively.
In the 2010 operating season, guests noticed that the Liberty (white) train was adwrapped as an advertisement for another ride sponsor, Axe
, a grooming product for young males. Signs for the product can be found around the rides entrance.
from the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
. The rumors initially were neither confirmed nor denied. One staffer stated that "The Great American Scream Machine is staying until we are told otherwise". It was stated that the coaster certainly was not being removed July 1.
Then on July 5, 2010, Six Flags Great Adventure informally announced on their official Facebook
page that the Great American Scream Machine would be closed on July 18, 2010 permanently and then removed to "make room for a major new attraction in 2011." Rumors continued to circulate that the replacement would be Chang. On July 9, the official Six Flags Great Adventure website also announced that Great American Scream Machine would close July 18. The coaster was closed on July 18, 2010 at the end of the operating day. Immediately after the final run as the last riders had made their way out the exit on July 18, 2010, the power was cut to the ride area and deconstruction began immediately on the trains and ride area fences, where the park began to place "under funstruction" fencing and signs.
Guests noticed during the next week that much of the ride had been demolished. It soon became evident that demolition was proceeding very quickly by early August, as the bulk of the coaster's body was taken down, and demolition of the lift hill had begun. The small building in which riders could purchase their on-ride photo had been demolished as well. It has also been confirmed that the ride was being scrapped, not relocated.
A first look at the outline of the new ride replacing the Scream Machine was revealed on August 6, 2010. The new ride is noticeably larger than the Scream Machine, and the outlined lift hill would face in the opposite direction of the Scream Machine's. Six Flags has requested permission from the town of Jackson, NJ to remove parking spaces from the area behind Superman: Ultimate Flight
to accommodate the ride's construction. It was unknown whether the new attraction would follow the Viper
to El Toro
footprints and utilize the Scream Machine's former station, or if a new station will be built for the new ride. Rumors that the replacement would be Chang seemed to fit the evidence.
On September 15, 2010, Six Flags confirmed plans to add Green Lantern, a stand-up roller coaster relocated from Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
, where it originally operated as Chang. It would be re-themed to the DC Comics
Green Lantern
superhero.
Demolition officially ended over the weekend of September 18, 2010, which left Viper
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
as the only one of the three original 7-inversion Arrow Dynamics coasters still in operation. Another example of this type of coaster, Shockwave
at Six Flags Great America
, was already demolished in 2002. The Great American Scream Machine was demolished to make room for Green Lantern.
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...
located at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
. The 173-foot (53 m) tall ride was built in 1989 as the fastest looping roller coaster in the world, reaching speeds up to 68 mph (109 km/h). It was designed by Ron Toomer and built by Arrow Dynamics, which built its sister coasters Shockwave (dismantled in 2002) 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...
in Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee, Illinois
Gurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
and Viper
Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Viper is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of the United States. The roller coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California....
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...
in Valencia, California
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...
. All three coasters have three loops after the lift hill, a batwing (also known as a boomerang), and a double corkscrew. Scream Machine succeeded its sister coaster Shockwave as the tallest and fastest looping coaster in the world, but relinquished the claim to its other sister coaster Viper. Both Shockwave and Scream Machine only held the claim for one year. Although a roller coaster of the same name
The Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Over Georgia)
Great American Scream Machine is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia. The -tall ride reaches a top speed of . GASM, as it is known to park workers, was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1973 with Marvin M. Black & Sons as the contractor...
exists at 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....
, that ride is an out and back wooden roller coaster
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...
.
The coaster track was painted red and the supports were white. The trains were named Freedom (red), Liberty (white), and Spirit (blue). The ground underneath the ride featured a red and white design resembling the stripes on a waving American flag. The maximum capacity of the ride was 1,680 guests per hour.
The over-the-shoulder restraint handles were made of foam instead of metal. The Scream Machine's 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...
was located at the curve before entering the double corkscrew, unlike those of its sister coasters; the cameras on both rides were located at the bottom of the Batwing.
Over the years, the Great American Scream Machine became known as a rough ride, causing pain to riders mostly seated in the rear of the train, and often riders just meeting the minimum height limit of the ride or taller than the average rider. Many believe that the ride's bumpiness and waning popularity led to its closing on July 18, 2010, to make room for the Green Lantern roller coaster.
Elements
- Loop (after first drop)
- Double Loop (before brake run)
- Brake
- Batwing (Known as a "Boomerang" on Arrow Dynamics rides) (after brake run)
- Double Corkscrew (after batwing)
- S-Bend.
Modifications
After its first season, the top of the vertical loops were removed and replaced by track with additional strength bracing. This was due to issues with other Arrow coasters, including ShockwaveShockwave (Six Flags Great America)
Shockwave was a large roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois...
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...
. The top of the original first loop can be found in the monkeys' enclosure in the Wild Safari at Six Flags Great Adventure. Along with the new loop tops, a trim brake was installed after the first loop. The trim brake is not set up to stop a train; it is used to slightly adjust the speed of the train when temperatures reach around 90 degrees.
In 2009, the Liberty (white) train was ad-wrapped as an advertisement for one of the ride's sponsors, got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue, a hair gel
Hair gel
Hair gel is a hairstyling product that is used to stiffen hair into a particular hairstyle. The results it produces are usually similar to, but stronger than, those of hair spray and hair wax, and weaker than those of hair glue.-Types:...
. Assorted signs were also placed on the station platform advertising. It was the first train in the park to feature advertisements, but as this idea spread throughout the Six Flags chain, it was joined by Kingda Ka and El Toro, whose trains feature The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid (2010 film)
The Karate Kid is a 2010 American martial arts film and remake of the 1984 film of the same name. Directed by Harald Zwart, produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, the film stars Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan...
and Stride Gum
Stride (gum)
Stride is a brand of chewing gum created by Cadbury Adams . Its packs usually consist of 14 pieces of gum.-Current Flavors:There are 17 flavors in total.* Always Mandarin* Eternal Melon* Forever Fruit 2.0...
ads, respectively.
In the 2010 operating season, guests noticed that the Liberty (white) train was adwrapped as an advertisement for another ride sponsor, Axe
Axe (grooming product)
Lynx is a brand of male grooming products, owned by the British/Dutch company Unilever and marketed towards young males.-History:Axe was launched in France in 1983 by Unilever...
, a grooming product for young males. Signs for the product can be found around the rides entrance.
Ride Experience
After departing the station, the train crossed a transfer track and traveled down a small dip, then completed a 180-degree turn to the left onto the lift hill. After a 173 feet (52.7 m) climb, the train dropped 155 feet (47.2 m) to the left, reaching a top speed of 68 mi/h. The train then traveled through its first inversion, a single vertical loop. After exiting the loop, the train turned to the left, and traveled through a double-loop. The train then traveled upward with a left turn onto the mid-course brake run. The train came to a complete stop for 2 seconds. The train then dropped down into a batwing element. After the batwing, the train made a right turn, where riders' pictures are taken. The train then proceeded to enter the double corkscrew, then completed a 180-degree turn to the left onto the final brake run back into the station.Removal
Early in the 2010 season, rumors began to circulate that the Great American Scream Machine was being removed at the end of the season. By mid-June rumors circulated on message boards that the coaster was to close June 30, 2010 and removal would begin July 1, 2010. Rumors also stated that its replacement would be ChangChang (roller coaster)
Green Lantern is a steel Bolliger & Mabillard stand-up roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure. It was originally constructed at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky in 1997, where it was known as Chang. Upon opening in 1997, it set the world records for this type of coaster in...
from the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The park is located on of land which includes a collection of 27 amusement rides and a water park named Splashwater Kingdom...
. The rumors initially were neither confirmed nor denied. One staffer stated that "The Great American Scream Machine is staying until we are told otherwise". It was stated that the coaster certainly was not being removed July 1.
Then on July 5, 2010, Six Flags Great Adventure informally announced on their official Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page that the Great American Scream Machine would be closed on July 18, 2010 permanently and then removed to "make room for a major new attraction in 2011." Rumors continued to circulate that the replacement would be Chang. On July 9, the official Six Flags Great Adventure website also announced that Great American Scream Machine would close July 18. The coaster was closed on July 18, 2010 at the end of the operating day. Immediately after the final run as the last riders had made their way out the exit on July 18, 2010, the power was cut to the ride area and deconstruction began immediately on the trains and ride area fences, where the park began to place "under funstruction" fencing and signs.
Guests noticed during the next week that much of the ride had been demolished. It soon became evident that demolition was proceeding very quickly by early August, as the bulk of the coaster's body was taken down, and demolition of the lift hill had begun. The small building in which riders could purchase their on-ride photo had been demolished as well. It has also been confirmed that the ride was being scrapped, not relocated.
A first look at the outline of the new ride replacing the Scream Machine was revealed on August 6, 2010. The new ride is noticeably larger than the Scream Machine, and the outlined lift hill would face in the opposite direction of the Scream Machine's. Six Flags has requested permission from the town of Jackson, NJ to remove parking spaces from the area behind Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight is a steel flying roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. Themed to the popular comic book character, Superman: Ultimate Flight has been installed at three Six Flags theme parks around the United States. Superman: Ultimate Flight simulates flying like the...
to accommodate the ride's construction. It was unknown whether the new attraction would follow the Viper
Viper (Six Flags Great Adventure)
Viper was a TOGO mega heartline roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure. Viper was closed at the end of 2004 and was demolished in June 2005 for several reasons and was replaced with El Toro....
to El Toro
El Toro (roller coaster)
El Toro, meaning The Bull in Spanish, is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure. It opened to the public on June 11, 2006. It was designed by Intamin of Switzerland. It had the steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world, at 76 degrees, until this record was broken by T...
footprints and utilize the Scream Machine's former station, or if a new station will be built for the new ride. Rumors that the replacement would be Chang seemed to fit the evidence.
On September 15, 2010, Six Flags confirmed plans to add Green Lantern, a stand-up roller coaster relocated from Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is an amusement park located in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The park is located on of land which includes a collection of 27 amusement rides and a water park named Splashwater Kingdom...
, where it originally operated as Chang. It would be re-themed to the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
Green Lantern
Green Lantern
The Green Lantern is the shared primary alias of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first Green Lantern was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 .Each Green Lantern possesses a power ring and...
superhero.
Demolition officially ended over the weekend of September 18, 2010, which left Viper
Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Viper is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of the United States. The roller coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California....
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...
as the only one of the three original 7-inversion Arrow Dynamics coasters still in operation. Another example of this type of coaster, Shockwave
Shockwave (Six Flags Great America)
Shockwave was a large roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois...
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...
, was already demolished in 2002. The Great American Scream Machine was demolished to make room for Green Lantern.
See also
- Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)Viper is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of the United States. The roller coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California....
, Great American Scream Machine's sister coaster