Vekoma
Encyclopedia
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" (Veld Koning machine factory) and had first manufactured agricultural machinery
and mining
equipment. In 1967 Vekoma started manufacture of amusement rides with a Ferris wheel
and has, since mid-1970s, specialized in manufacturing rides ranging from massive steel roller coasters to water rides to family-friendly attractions. The only Wild Mouse roller coaster
Vekoma has ever built is now at Idlewild Park.
Many Vekoma coasters run with Arrow Dynamics
trains, which are known for causing rough and painful rides. However, Vekoma coasters that run with specially designed Vekoma trains are generally less rough.
Vekoma invented the Madhouse
attraction, the first of which (Villa Volta
) was installed at the Efteling
theme park.
Some other coaster models by Vekoma include Enigma, Hurricane, Illusion
, LSM Coaster
, and powered coaster
s.
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...
and thrill ride
Thrill ride
Thrill ride or Thrill Ride may refer to*Amusement ride*3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrill Ride*Thrill Ride, the 4th book in The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series....
designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" (Veld Koning machine factory) and had first manufactured agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery is machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.-Hand tools:The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones. Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden...
and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
equipment. In 1967 Vekoma started manufacture of amusement rides with a Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
and has, since mid-1970s, specialized in manufacturing rides ranging from massive steel roller coasters to water rides to family-friendly attractions. The only Wild Mouse roller coaster
Wild Mouse roller coaster
A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
Vekoma has ever built is now at Idlewild Park.
Many Vekoma coasters run with Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
trains, which are known for causing rough and painful rides. However, Vekoma coasters that run with specially designed Vekoma trains are generally less rough.
Vekoma invented the Madhouse
Vekoma Madhouse
A Vekoma Madhouse is a flat ride manufactured by Vekoma. The ride is designed to be an optical and physical illusion, consisting of several rows of seats attached to a swaying gondola within a rotating drum...
attraction, the first of which (Villa Volta
Villa Volta
Villa Volta is an attraction in the amusement park Efteling in the Netherlands. It is a rare type of ride known as a Madhouse, which is a sort of haunted house, where the visitors get the illusion that either the building, the visitors themselves or both are turned upside down. It has been...
) was installed at the 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....
theme park.
Roller coaster types made by Vekoma
- Hammerhead Stall - Also known as the Big Air, this shuttle type ride is designed to replicate the feeling of flying in a plane. This ride has been installed in EDA park in Taiwan.
- BoomerangBoomerang (roller coaster)Boomerang is a model of roller coaster built by Vekoma, and named after the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians...
- A three inversion shuttle coaster. Designed over 20 years ago, it continues to be a successful product. In 1996, Vekoma introduced an inverted upgrade to this ride called an Invertigo. Five years later, in 2001, Vekoma introduced the Giant Inverted Boomerang, which has completely vertical spikes and provides a taller and faster ride. There are 45 operating Boomerangs around the world, including Sea Serpent at Morey's PiersMorey's PiersMorey’s Piers is a seaside amusement park located in Wildwood, New Jersey. It started when Morey brothers, Will and Bill bought two boardwalk lots in North Wildwood at 25th and 26th streets. They called it Surfside Pier and opened in the summer of 1969 with a giant fiberglass slide called the Wipe...
in Wildwood New Jersey, this is also the first boomerang coaster in the United States. In 2011 Vekoma is debuting a non-inverting Junior boomerang prototype at Drayton Manor in the United Kingdom.- Junior Boomerang is a junior family version of the Boomerang roller coaster which does not contain any inversions. The Junior Boomerang features trains similar to the Vekoma Junior Coaster which are first taken backwards up a tire-driven lift hill. The train is then released through a series of hills, dips and turns before rolling back to the station in reverse.
- Family Custom Coaster - A classical roller coaster, designed to families with 6 year-old children and custom to a park's layout and needs. The Grover's Vapor Trail at Sesame Place and Muntanya RussaMuntanya RussaMuntanya Russa is the name of an amusement ride of Tibidabo Amusement Park, located at level 1 of the park.-History:...
,at TibidaboTibidaboTibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512 meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline....
, BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
are examples of these coasters. - Flying Dutchman - A flying roller coasterFlying roller coasterA flying roller coaster is a variation of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track...
. Riders are reclined back into a lay-down position and turn around on the first drop of the ride into a prone 'flying' position. There are two models of the Flying Dutchman, the 843m Prototype, and the 1018m. There are three operating Flying Dutchmans around the world, including Nighthawk at Carowinds, FirehawkFirehawk (roller coaster)For information on this roller coaster when it ran at Geauga Lake, see X-Flight.Firehawk is a steel Vekoma flying roller coaster operating at Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally built at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure as X-Flight in 2001, the ride was manufactured by Vekoma...
at Kings IslandKings IslandKings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
, and BatwingBatwing (roller coaster)Batwing is a Vekoma flying steel roller coaster at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland. The ride has three trains with six cars per train. A total of twenty four guests can ride in each train arranged four across in each car....
at Six Flags AmericaSix Flags AmericaSix 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...
. - Junior Coaster (also known as a Roller Skater) - A small family sized roller coaster. Most installations are clones with several turns and helixes.
- Looping coaster - Vekoma provides several models of looping coasters, including custom layouts.
- Mine Train - A mine train roller coaster. Four Mine Trains exist around the world, including Flight of the Phoenix at Happy Valley.
- Motorbike Coaster - A coaster that uses motorbike trains. There are two models of Motorbike Coasters, the 600m and the Custom. three Motorbike Coasters operate around the world, including the Motorbike Coaster at Chimelong Paradise.
- Suspended Family Coaster There are nine Suspended Family Coasters operating in the world. Cedar Fair owns several models of the same layout themed to Snoopy the Red Baron pilot. Frontier City in Oklahoma has a smaller model named Steel Lasso.
- Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) - An inverted roller coasterInverted roller coasterAn inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the...
. The standard model has a roll over immediately after the initial drop, followed by a sidewinder, and finally a double inline twist before returning to its station. There are a few variations, including a longer model with an extra helix at the end of the ride. Vekoma also offers custom SLC models. There are five models of SLCs, the 662m Prototype, the 689m Standard, the 787m Extended, the 765m Extended w/ Helix, and the Custom. There are 37 operating SLCs around the world. The SLC coaster model has earned a reputation among critics for being uncomfortable while most recent installations have begun to address the issue with updated wheel assemblies and train designs. - Swinging Turns - roller coaster with vehicles below the track and allowed to swing freely. Vekoma also provided replacement trains for the Arrow DynamicsArrow DynamicsArrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
designed Vampire at Chessington World of AdventuresChessington World of AdventuresChessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
. There are three operating Swinging Turns around the world, including the Hanging Coaster at Dream WorldDream WorldDream World is a amusement park in Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani province, Thailand. During the weekend, it opens at 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, weekdays and public holidays is 10:00 am - 7:00 pm...
. - Tilt Coaster - A standard coaster with a vertical drop at the start. Trains enter the vertical drop via an unusual tilt section. After leaving the chain lift, instead of going down a first drop, the rider is held on a horizontal section of track, which then tilts forwards, to become a vertical section. This leads into the drop, then into the rest of the coaster layout. There is one operating Tilt Coaster in the world, the Gravity Max at Discovery WorldDiscovery World (Taiwan)Discovery World is a theme park located in Nantou City, Taiwan.It currently has two roller coasters, including Gravity Max, the world's first coaster to feature a true 90-degree drop and the world's only tilt coaster...
in TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. - Wooden CoasterWooden roller coasterA 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...
- A coaster that is made of wood. There are three operating Vekoma wooden coasters around the world, including the Thundercoaster at TusenFrydTusenfrydTusenfryd is an amusement park at Vinterbro, Norway. The park is located 20 kilometers south of Oslo. Two of the longest motorway corridors in Norway, E6 and E18, meet nearby Tusenfryd and the park is located on the west side near where they meet. SpeedMonster, SuperSplash, ThunderCoaster and...
and Robin Hood. - Stingray - A compact flying coaster model designed within a tight support system. The first model debuted at a park in China.
Some other coaster models by Vekoma include Enigma, Hurricane, Illusion
Vekoma Illusion
The Illusion is a fully enclosed tubular steel roller coaster, manufactured by Vekoma. It runs on Vekoma's narrow MK-700 track system. Two were built, both in 1989, Chaos in Opryland USA , and Revolution in Bobbejaanland...
, LSM Coaster
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is an enclosed steel roller coaster ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort and at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris...
, and powered coaster
Powered coaster
A powered roller coaster is a roller coaster which relies on a motor in the train to complete the course, often replacing a traditional chain lift hill. This allows for both compact layouts that start out with curving hills, or long, extended layouts that would need too many lifts to be feasible....
s.
External links
- Vekoma website (official)
- Vekoma at RCDB