Scream (roller coaster)

Scream

Scream's lift hill and vertical loop, as seen from the ride's entrance plaza
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park section Screampunk District
Coordinates 34°25′43″N 118°35′54″W / 34.42861°N 118.59833°W / 34.42861; -118.59833Coordinates: 34°25′43″N 118°35′54″W / 34.42861°N 118.59833°W / 34.42861; -118.59833
Status Operating
Opening date April 12, 2003 (2003-04-12)
General statistics
Type Steel – Floorless Coaster
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Floorless Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 150 ft (46 m)
Drop 141 ft (43 m)
Length 3,985 ft (1,215 m)
Speed 63 mph (101 km/h)
Inversions 7
Duration 3:00
Capacity 1,440 riders per hour
G-force 4[1]
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Trains 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Flash Pass available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Scream at RCDB
Pictures of Scream at RCDB

Scream (originally stylised as Scream!) is a floorless roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, Scream was the park's sixteenth roller coaster and is located in Screampunk District area of the park. The 150-foot-tall (46 m) ride consists of a series of roller coaster elements including seven inversions ranging from a zero-g roll to interlocking corkscrews. The ride is a mirror image of Bizarro at Six Flags Great Adventure. Unlike its counterpart, Scream has been criticized for its lack of theming. Scream is one of the less popular rides at the park with a wait time that is often 5 minutes or shorter.

History

In 1999, Six Flags Great Adventure spent $42 million on new attractions including a prototype Floorless Coaster, Medusa (later renamed Bizarro), developed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard.[2] The immediate popularity of the ride led to several parks installing Floorless Coasters in the early 2000s.[3][4]

In November 2002, parts for Scream began arriving at Six Flags Magic Mountain.[5] On November 14, 2002, the park officially announced that they would be adding Scream for the 2003 season, making it the park's sixteenth roller coaster.[6][7] According to the park, the ride was added to fill the "missing link to our coaster collection".[5] After five months construction, Scream officially opened to the public on April 12, 2003.[8]

On April 9, 2004, a park employee was killed when they were hit by one of Scream's trains during an after-hours test run. According to a statement issued by the park, the employee "deviated from safety training procedures and walked underneath the ride". The ride was closed immediately pending clearance by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The administration cleared the ride for operation within two weeks.[9]

Characteristics

One of Scream's trains navigating the cobra roll

Statistics

The 3,985-foot-long (1,215 m) Scream stands 150 feet (46 m) tall. With a top speed of 63 miles per hour (101 km/h), the ride features seven inversions including a 128-foot-tall (39 m) vertical loop, a 96-foot-tall (29 m) dive loop, a zero-g roll, a 78-foot-tall (24 m) cobra roll, and two interlocking corkscrews.[8] Although the ride is a mirrored clone of the first Floorless Coaster (Medusa/Bizarro at Six Flags Great Adventure), they feature a slight difference in height of about 8 feet (2.4 m), and a difference in speed of 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h).[8][10]

Trains

Scream operates with three floorless trains. Each train seats 32 riders in eight rows of four. This gives the ride a theoretical capacity of 1,440 riders per hour.[8] The open-air trains feature seats which leave riders' legs dangling above the track.[6] Riders are restrainted with over-the-shoulder restraints.[11] As the trains are floorless, the station has a retractable floor for safe boarding.[11]

Ride experience

Once the train is loaded and secured, the floor is retracted and the train departs the station. A U-turn to the right leads to the 150-foot-tall (46 m) chain lift hill. Once riders reach the top, they go through a small pre-drop before dropping 141 feet (43 m) to the right. The train then reaches a top speed of 63 miles per hour (101 km/h) and enters the 128-foot-tall (39 m) vertical loop followed by a turn to the left into the 96-foot-tall (29 m) dive loop. After the diving loop, the train passes the station and goes through a zero-g roll, where riders experience a feeling of weightlessness. The train then goes through the 78-foot-tall (24 m) cobra roll, a roller coaster element which inverts riders twice. Riders then enter the mid-course brake run which is located next to the lift hill. The train drops out of the brake run to the right and enters a 270-degree helix followed by the two interlocking corkscrews. Riders to through a small dip then enter the final brake run before returning to the station.[6][8][12]

Reception

Scream's lift hill and interlocking corkscrews, with a former parking lot below

The reception of Scream has been mixed. Arthur Levine of About.com gives the ride 4 out of 5 stars. He states "it's remarkably smooth, loaded with airtime, and has plenty of surprises to warrant its name". Levine did criticise the lack of theming and landscaping around the ride noting the immediate area surrounding the ride "includes a bone yard of coaster seats and parts".[11] Robert Niles of the Los Angeles Times shared a similar sentiment, stating "Scream creates an effective illusion that you are alone, flying above the track" but questions the ride's location on a former parking lot. He highlights "a good story can elicit extreme thoughts and emotions. [...] Why ignore those opportunities when building a thrill ride?". Niles concluded by stating "I feel a little neglected as I shuffle off the otherwise exciting ride", referring to the lack of theming or storyline.[1] Lynn Arave of the Deseret News praised the ride, rating it alongside the Riddler's Revenge for the best rides in the park.[13]

Scream has never featured in Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards top 50 steel roller coasters. The mirrored clone at Six Flags Great Adventure peaked at position 16 in its debut year before ranking a further six times in the list.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

In Mitch Hawker's worldwide Best Roller Coaster Poll, Scream entered at position 52 in 2003, before dropping to a low of 159 in the 2012 poll. The ride's ranking in the poll is summarised in the table below.[21]

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best steel-tracked roller coaster[21]
Year2003200420052006200720082009201020112012
Ranking
52
90
100
102
92
98
111
112
–[nb 1]
159

Notes

  1. ↑ No steel roller coaster poll was held in 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 Niles, Robert (April 17, 2003). "It has its ups and downs". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  2. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (February 1, 1999). "Six Flags Great Adventure to turn into 'superpark'". Amusement Business. 111 (5): 3.
  3. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (June 7, 1999). "Park attendance off to a great start for 1999". Amusement Business. 111 (23): 1.
  4. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Category = Floorless)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Niles, Robert (November 14, 2002). "Scream leaves you dangling". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Six Flags 'S c r e a m s' Xtreme With Announcement of 16th World-Class Mega Coaster" (Press release). Six Flags Magic Mountain. November 14, 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ O'Brien, Tim (November 25, 2002). "Magic Mountain to 'Scream'". Amusement Business. 114 (47): 10.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Marden, Duane. "Scream  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ Zoltak, James (April 19, 2004). "Scream Coaster Back In Service After Accident". Amusement Business. 116 (16): 6.
  10. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Bizarro  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 Levine, Arthur (2004). "Scream- Ride out Loud". About.com. New York Times Company. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Scream (HD POV Front) Six Flags Magic Mountain California". Sharp Productions. YouTube. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  13. ↑ Arave, Lynn (May 18, 2003). "It's almost magic: New roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain is a Scream!". Deseret News. Deseret News Publishing Company. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 1999.
  15. ↑ "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2000.
  16. ↑ "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2001.
  17. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2005.
  19. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2006.
  20. ↑ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2007.
  21. 1 2 Hawker, Mitch. "Steel Roller Coaster Poll 12 Year Results Table (1999 – 2012)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
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