Vortex (Kings Island)

Vortex was a steel roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Designed and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics at a cost of $4 million, the ride officially opened to the public on April 11, 1987. Vortex debuted as the tallest, full-circuit roller coaster in the world with a height of 148 feet (45 m). It was also the first coaster to feature six inversions.

Vortex
Kings Island
LocationKings Island
Park sectionConey Mall
Coordinates39.340724°N 84.264219°W / 39.340724; -84.264219
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 11, 1987 (1987-04-11)
Closing dateOctober 27, 2019 (2019-10-27)
Cost$4,000,000 USD
ReplacedThe Bat
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerArrow Dynamics
ModelCustom Looping Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height148 ft (45 m)
Drop138 ft (42 m)
Length3,800 ft (1,200 m)
Speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Inversions6
Duration2:30
Max vertical angle55°
Capacity1,600 riders per hour
G-force3.9
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.
Fast Lane was available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Vortex at RCDB
Pictures of Vortex at RCDB

Vortex occupied the same location in the park once held by The Bat, the world's first suspended roller coaster. Tied to the coaster's debut, attendance at Kings Island exceeded 3 million in 1987 for the first time. It accommodated more than 46 million guests throughout its lifespan, making Vortex one of the most frequently-ridden attractions in park history. It closed permanently on October 27, 2019.

History

On May 30, 1986, Kings Island announced that they would be adding a new roller coaster for the 1987 season. For the design and construction of the attraction, Kings Island turned to Arrow Dynamics, an industry-leading manufacturer at the time.[1] It would sit in the former location of The Bat, the world's first suspended roller coaster, which was removed after the 1984 season.[2] The defunct coaster's line queue and train station were retained and reused for the new ride.[3][4]

Construction began in early June 1986 when The Bat's area was cleared.[5] The following month, Kings Island announced that they would be naming the new coaster Vortex.[6] The park invested over $4 million in the ride, which required 750 tons of steel to construct.[7] It opened to the public on April 11, 1987,[8] and helped the park exceed 3 million visitors for the first time in its history.[7][9] At its inauguration, Vortex briefly set two world records among full-circuit roller coasters. It was the tallest at 148 feet (45 m) and featured the most inversions with six.[8] Both were surpassed the following year with the debut of Shockwave at Six Flags Great America.[8][10]

On September 27, 2019, the park announced plans to close Vortex permanently on October 27, 2019.[11][12] Area Manager Don Helbig stated that the coaster had reached the end of its service life.[11][12] During its lifespan, Vortex accommodated over 46 million riders, ranking it seventh in Kings Island's history as of 2019.[11]

While Vortex was demolished, the trains were taken to Carowinds so that Carolina Cyclone could use them as replacement parts.[13]

On September 29, 2020, Kings Island announced that they would be selling pieces of Vortex for $198.70. The pieces would be sold in 1.5-inch slices, capped with metal plates and mounted in a display stand.[14]

Ride experience

Inversions
Inversion
1Vertical Loop
2Vertical Loop
3Corkscrew
4Corkscrew
5Part 1 of Batwing element
6Part 2 of Batwing element

Layout
Aerial view of Vortex

As the train left the station, it dipped slightly, taking a hard right into the beginning of the lift hill. After ascending slowly and reaching the top, the train dipped several feet into tester hill, immediately making a right hand turn into a 138-foot (42 m), 55-degree drop. The train then ascended into a left-hand turn that was slightly banked, as the track leveled out. After turning roughly 180 degrees, the track straightened briefly before descending into a sharp left turn that took riders through two vertical loops. Following the vertical loops, the train ascended and made a 180-degree turn to the right into a mid-course brake run, slowing the train nearly to a complete stop. The train then dropped into a pair of corkscrews, the second of which threaded through the gap directly between the previously-encountered vertical loops. The train then went through a right hand turn and a boomerang, that inverted riders two additional times. There was an on-ride camera in the dip of the boomerang at its midpoint. The train then entered its final maneuver – a 450-degree ascending clockwise helix – that generated positive g forces before the train hit the final brake run. The train made a final right-hand turn before returning the station.

Incidents

On July 2, 2011, a computer detected damage to Vortex's chain lift as a train was pulling out of the station. The ride was stopped and all passengers were able to safely exit. The ride remained closed for several weeks while a replacement part was on order.[15]

References
  1. Neus, Elizabeth (May 31, 1986). "New coaster for Kings Island". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  2. "Kings Island saying 'bye bye' to 'The Bat'". Telegraph-Forum. November 7, 1984. Retrieved October 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Random Facts". KingsIslandCentral.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  4. "KIExtreme.com". @2003-2012 KIExtreme. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  5. "Kings Island begins work on new coaster". The Times-Mail. June 6, 1986. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  6. "Park has name for newest baby". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 20, 1986. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  7. Richardson, Rachel (April 17, 2014). "Kings Island's biggest and baddest". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  8. "Vortex at Kings Island". COASTER-net.com.
  9. "Kings Island tops 3 million". Mansfield News Journal. Associated Press. October 6, 1987. p. 4-B. Retrieved October 7, 2018 – via newspapers.com .
  10. "Vortex at visitkingsisland.com". Cedar Fair Parks. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  11. Helbig, Don (September 27, 2019). "Kings Island to Retire Vortex After 33 Seasons". Kings Island. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  12. "Vortex roller coaster closing at Kings Island after 33 seasons". WCPO. September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  13. "Carolina Re-Cyclone: Creating new trains from an old classic". Carowinds.
  14. "Kings Island's Vortex coaster gave its last ride nearly a year ago. Now, you can own part of it".
  15. Goldsmith, Ethan (July 13, 2011). "Kings Island Closes Vortex to replace part". Fox 19. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
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