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Voodoo (roller coaster)
Encyclopedia
Possessed is a launched
steel
Inverted
roller coaster
designed by Intamin and located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
.
s. After the initial launch, the train heads up the twisted vertical spike that twists the train 180 degrees. The train then falls and is launched backwards up the vertical spike. It shuttles back and forth three times. On the final full speed launch in reverse the holding brake at the top of the vertical rear spike engages, locking the train in place for a very brief moment.
The maximum G-force
of the ride is 3.7 Gs, expectantly low for a twisted impulse coaster.
in 2000 where it opened at what had been known as Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio and was known as Superman: Ultimate Escape. When Six Flags sold Worlds Of Adventure to Cedar Fair, the park reverted to its original name, Geauga Lake. Due to the fact that Six Flags had exclusive rights to the name Superman, the coaster had to be renamed and it became known as 'Steel Venom
'. Steel Venom, while receiving new signage featuring a black background with a silver and purple snake, retained its original blue, red, and yellow track.
The coaster was disassembled at the end of the 2006 season. At that point, rumors began to surface that Geauga Lake was going to cut back their offerings and maybe even close. At the end of the 2007 season, it was decided that Geauga Lake would close the ride side of the park and keep only the waterpark side open beginning in 2008.
This coaster had already been sent to Dorney Park and construction began in the fall of 2007. Construction was completed in April 2008. According to the staff and management of the park, the coaster was expected to open on opening day of the 2008 season which was May 3, 2008 but did not. On April 30, Screamscape stated that the date of opening will be in mid-to-late-May. Park representatives confirmed this on May 1.
On Friday, May 16, 2008, Voodoo was given the authorization to open. The coaster had a soft opening on Saturday May 17, 2008 in the late afternoon. It continued to run when the park was closed for a private event on May 18. Media day was on Wednesday May 21, 2008. The coaster finally had its grand opening on Friday, May 23, 2008.
In 2009, the name was changed to Possessed in light of the fact that fellow theme park operator Six Flags
claimed a trademark on the name "Voodoo." Rather than incur a legal dispute, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, the owners of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, had the name changed as part of a marketing gimmick claiming that the ride was now super-saturated with evil spirits. All memorabilia with the "Voodoo" name were sold at tremendous discounts via the park's website.
In light of this change, the ride has endured four name changes in seven years, operating as Superman: Ultimate Escape (2000–2003) Steel Venom (2004–2006), Voodoo (2007–2008), and Possessed (2009 -). While it's certainly typical for attractions to change names, the number of changes to the roller coaster's name is above average. It's also notable that Six Flags, the original owner of the ride, is responsible for the latest name change, nearly six years after they owned the attraction.
Launched roller coaster
The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has increased in use in the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors ,...
steel
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...
Inverted
Inverted roller coaster
An 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...
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...
designed by Intamin and located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom....
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
.
Layout & Ride Experience
The ride's layout consists of two vertical spikes, one twisted and the other straight vertical with a holding brake, connected by a launch and station tract to form a basic "U" layout. The ride begins with riders being launched forward by the use of linear induction motorLinear induction motor
A linear induction motor is an AC asynchronous linear motor that works by the same general principles as other induction motors but which has been designed to directly produce motion in a straight line....
s. After the initial launch, the train heads up the twisted vertical spike that twists the train 180 degrees. The train then falls and is launched backwards up the vertical spike. It shuttles back and forth three times. On the final full speed launch in reverse the holding brake at the top of the vertical rear spike engages, locking the train in place for a very brief moment.
The maximum G-force
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
of the ride is 3.7 Gs, expectantly low for a twisted impulse coaster.
History
The ride was originally built 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 2000 where it opened at what had been known as Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio and was known as Superman: Ultimate Escape. When Six Flags sold Worlds Of Adventure to Cedar Fair, the park reverted to its original name, Geauga Lake. Due to the fact that Six Flags had exclusive rights to the name Superman, the coaster had to be renamed and it became known as 'Steel Venom
Steel Venom (Geauga Lake)
Steel Venom was a launched inverted shuttle roller coaster designed by Intamin located at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio. The ride opened on May 5, 2000 as a part of the Six Flags conversion of the park from Geauga Lake to Six Flags Ohio/Worlds of Adventure...
'. Steel Venom, while receiving new signage featuring a black background with a silver and purple snake, retained its original blue, red, and yellow track.
The coaster was disassembled at the end of the 2006 season. At that point, rumors began to surface that Geauga Lake was going to cut back their offerings and maybe even close. At the end of the 2007 season, it was decided that Geauga Lake would close the ride side of the park and keep only the waterpark side open beginning in 2008.
This coaster had already been sent to Dorney Park and construction began in the fall of 2007. Construction was completed in April 2008. According to the staff and management of the park, the coaster was expected to open on opening day of the 2008 season which was May 3, 2008 but did not. On April 30, Screamscape stated that the date of opening will be in mid-to-late-May. Park representatives confirmed this on May 1.
On Friday, May 16, 2008, Voodoo was given the authorization to open. The coaster had a soft opening on Saturday May 17, 2008 in the late afternoon. It continued to run when the park was closed for a private event on May 18. Media day was on Wednesday May 21, 2008. The coaster finally had its grand opening on Friday, May 23, 2008.
In 2009, the name was changed to Possessed in light of the fact that fellow theme park operator Six Flags
Six 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...
claimed a trademark on the name "Voodoo." Rather than incur a legal dispute, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, the owners of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, had the name changed as part of a marketing gimmick claiming that the ride was now super-saturated with evil spirits. All memorabilia with the "Voodoo" name were sold at tremendous discounts via the park's website.
In light of this change, the ride has endured four name changes in seven years, operating as Superman: Ultimate Escape (2000–2003) Steel Venom (2004–2006), Voodoo (2007–2008), and Possessed (2009 -). While it's certainly typical for attractions to change names, the number of changes to the roller coaster's name is above average. It's also notable that Six Flags, the original owner of the ride, is responsible for the latest name change, nearly six years after they owned the attraction.