Two Face: The Flip Side
Encyclopedia
Two Face: The Flip Side was a steel roller coaster
at Six Flags America
in Prince George's County
, Mitchellville, Maryland
. It was a standard Vekoma
Boomerang Invertigo modeled roller coaster, themed after D.C. Comics' Batman
rival, Harvey Dent A.K.A. Two Face. The ride was located in the Southwest Territory themed area of the park, and was situated next to The Wild One
. After eight years of operation, an incident in 2007 caused the ride's ultimate downfall and closure by 2009. Currently, the land in which the coaster once stood remains unoccupied.
in 1998), it was two of the three rides to be built by Six Flags (Roar being the first and Joker's Jinx being the other) for their new acquired park. The ride was built and manufactured by Vekoma
as an Boomerang Invertigo model, with the theming of Batman
's rival, Harvey Dent's Two Face. Unlike other Six Flags park that featured regular models of the Boomerang design, called Boomerang: Coast to Coaster
, this ride featured an orange colored track and teal beam supports. The ride was located in the park's Southwest territory and was implemented in the former space of Python
, which had operated until the renaming of the park in 1998. For eight years, the ride remained popular and featured few malfunctions. Besides a major stall
in 2003 and August, the ride had not featured any type of major malfunction as that of October 2007.
However, in October 2007, the ride unexpectedly stopped on one of the vertical lift hills. When one of the ride attendants attempted to rescue the riders, the train unintentionally moved back into the station and ripped a pipeline that carried hydraulic fluid. This hot fluid sprayed onto the faces of the riders, causing them minor injuries that required at least ten people to go to a local hospital, in addition to victims treated at the scene for back and neck injuries. Before the fluid sprayed, one of the riders (about 40 minutes into the situation) used their cell phone to dial 9-1-1
in request of assistance from Prince George's County rescue teams. Six Flags America officials stated that the ride had been inspected that same day and was clear of any problems; however, Maryland investigators said that the newer technology of roller coasters of the 2003-era feature technology that is more difficult to comprehend than older models, thus making it almost impossible to find the cause of the incident.
Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation ordered the closure of the ride including retaining the certificate of operation for the ride, until the ride could be proven safe, which never occurred. Eventually it was noted that a safety sensor had malfunctioned and caused the coaster to stall and unexpectedly jolt back to the station. For the 2008 season, the ride sat not in operation while the investigation continued, although due to the many breakdowns of the ride, it was put up for sale and eventually bought by an unknown client. By 2009, the ride had been dismantled (its current whereabouts are unknown), and the site remains vacant as of 2010 with the Six Flags trademarked "Under Funstruction" sign.
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...
at 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...
in Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, Mitchellville, Maryland
Mitchellville, Maryland
Mitchellville is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,611 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Six Flags America theme park, Country Club at Woodmore, and Freeway Airport. The Capital Centre was located in...
. It was a standard Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
Boomerang Invertigo modeled roller coaster, themed after D.C. Comics' Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
rival, Harvey Dent A.K.A. Two Face. The ride was located in the Southwest Territory themed area of the park, and was situated next to The Wild One
The Wild One (roller coaster)
The Wild One is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is a classic style woodie with a series of bunny hills for a large amount of air time and a 450° spiral helix....
. After eight years of operation, an incident in 2007 caused the ride's ultimate downfall and closure by 2009. Currently, the land in which the coaster once stood remains unoccupied.
Design and operation
Featuring fourteen rows of two, the ride had a total capacity of 28 riders. Built in 1999 (after "Adventure World" was bought by Six FlagsSix Flags
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. The company maintains 14 properties located throughout North America, including theme parks, thrill parks, water parks and family...
in 1998), it was two of the three rides to be built by Six Flags (Roar being the first and Joker's Jinx being the other) for their new acquired park. The ride was built and manufactured by Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
as an Boomerang Invertigo model, with the theming of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
's rival, Harvey Dent's Two Face. Unlike other Six Flags park that featured regular models of the Boomerang design, called Boomerang: Coast to Coaster
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster
Boomerang: Coast to Coaster is a steel roller coaster of shuttle design currently in use at five different Six Flags & PARC theme parks. The ride was designed and manufactured by Vekoma, and is considered as one of its boomerang models. Each coaster has one train with a capacity of 28, two across...
, this ride featured an orange colored track and teal beam supports. The ride was located in the park's Southwest territory and was implemented in the former space of Python
Lightnin' Loops
The Lightnin' Loops were two interlocking track Arrow Dynamics Shuttle Loop roller coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.-History:Lightnin' Loops was built in 1977 and opened in 1978 at Six Flags Great Adventure. Six Flags had acquired the park in 1977 and Lightnin' Loops was planned by the prior...
, which had operated until the renaming of the park in 1998. For eight years, the ride remained popular and featured few malfunctions. Besides a major stall
Stall (roller coaster)
A roller coaster is said to have stalled, a roll back, saddle, or valleyed if it is unable to complete the course because of energy loss. This can be caused by friction between the track and wheels, or in the wheel bearings. Weather can also cause a coaster to valley...
in 2003 and August, the ride had not featured any type of major malfunction as that of October 2007.
Incidents and closure
In 2003, Two Face stalled on one of the vertical lift hills, and had riders stuck on the ride for a lengthy period of time until they were rescued; the ride was shutdown for inspection but later reopened after it was cleared for operation. The ride would undergo five years without incident until August 2007, when the ride had stalled once again while carrying riders; after being stuck for a period of time, the ride was shutdown for inspection after riders were rescued. When the ride was cleared for operation later that month, the ride functioned properly without any incident.However, in October 2007, the ride unexpectedly stopped on one of the vertical lift hills. When one of the ride attendants attempted to rescue the riders, the train unintentionally moved back into the station and ripped a pipeline that carried hydraulic fluid. This hot fluid sprayed onto the faces of the riders, causing them minor injuries that required at least ten people to go to a local hospital, in addition to victims treated at the scene for back and neck injuries. Before the fluid sprayed, one of the riders (about 40 minutes into the situation) used their cell phone to dial 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
in request of assistance from Prince George's County rescue teams. Six Flags America officials stated that the ride had been inspected that same day and was clear of any problems; however, Maryland investigators said that the newer technology of roller coasters of the 2003-era feature technology that is more difficult to comprehend than older models, thus making it almost impossible to find the cause of the incident.
Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation ordered the closure of the ride including retaining the certificate of operation for the ride, until the ride could be proven safe, which never occurred. Eventually it was noted that a safety sensor had malfunctioned and caused the coaster to stall and unexpectedly jolt back to the station. For the 2008 season, the ride sat not in operation while the investigation continued, although due to the many breakdowns of the ride, it was put up for sale and eventually bought by an unknown client. By 2009, the ride had been dismantled (its current whereabouts are unknown), and the site remains vacant as of 2010 with the Six Flags trademarked "Under Funstruction" sign.