Flyer Comet (Whalom Park)
Flyer Comet | |
---|---|
Entry to the coaster | |
Whalom Park | |
Coordinates | 42°34′34″N 71°44′46″W / 42.576193°N 71.745996°WCoordinates: 42°34′34″N 71°44′46″W / 42.576193°N 71.745996°W |
Status | Closed |
Opening date | 1940 |
Closing date | 2000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Wood |
Manufacturer | National Amusement Devices |
Designer | Vernon Keenan |
Model | Wooden thrill big coaster |
Height | 70 ft (21 m) |
Length | 2,600 ft (790 m) |
Speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
Duration | 1:50 |
Capacity | 1200 riders per hour |
Flyer Comet at RCDB Pictures of Flyer Comet at RCDB |
Flyer Comet was a wooden roller coaster located at Whalom Park in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1940, closed in 2000, torn down in 2006.
History
When the 1923 Shooting Star roller coaster was destroyed in 1938 by a hurricane, Whalom staff hired the National Amusement Device Company and designer Vernon Keenan to create a new coaster for the park. Many parts from the Shooting Star were used to construct the ride, which was then called the Comet. The ride was Whalom Park’s third roller coaster since the park opened in 1893, and no new coasters ever replaced it or were added to the park.
Whalom Park was bought by Global Developments in 2001. They started clearing the land on October 10, 2006; the roller coaster was dismantled on Oct. 18. The area is currently being redeveloped into Emerald Estates.
Themes
The entrance to the ride was decorated with shooting stars/comets. The Black Hole tunnel was added over a hilly portion of the track in 1990, and was meant to add to the space theme of the ride.
External links
- New Whalom Park Ownership Program Official site
- Drawbridge Puppet’s Whalom Park Website
- Angelfire’s Whalom Park Page
- On-Ride Flyer Comet Video