Montezooma's Revenge

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Montezooma's Revenge
Entrance to Montezooma's Revenge
Knott's Berry Farm
Location Buena Park, California, USA
Coordinates 33°50′45″N 117°59′56″W / 33.8458831°N 117.9990250°W / 33.8458831; -117.9990250
Status Under refurbishment
Operated May 26, 1978 to February 8, 2022
Rider height 48 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Schwarzkopf
Product Shuttle Loop
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Shuttle
Track layout Shuttle loop
Riders per train 28
Hourly capacity 1344
Propulsion Flywheel launch from 0 mph - 55 mph in 4.5 s
Height 148 feet
Top speed 55 mph
Length 800 feet
Track inversions 1
Rider inversions 2
Duration 0:36
HELP

Montezooma's Revenge is a steel launched shuttle roller coaster located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, USA. The ride was built by Schwarzkopf and is the last operating Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop in the United States. It is also the oldest operating roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm.

History

Montezooma's Revenge opened on May 26, 1978.[1][2]

Contrary to popular belief, the coaster is not named after the disease sometimes called Montezuma's Revenge, but rather a band under the same name that performed at the park.

The ride was repainted for the 2017 season.[3]

The ride was designed an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts in 2019.[4]

On January 7, 2022, it was announced that the ride would close on January 10 for a major refurbishment. However, the next day, the park stated that it would stay open for some time longer due to popular demand.[5][6]

The flywheel launch system and some sections of track have now been removed.[7] The original train was donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum.[8] The park later donated the last car with the clutch plate for the flywheel, part of the loop track, and the entry sign from the front of the queue line to the museum.[9]

The work was originally expected to be completed by 2023.[10] However, the park has since announced the ride would not reopen in 2023 with no expected opening date given.[11] On March 1, 2024, it was announced that the ride would reopen in 2025.[12]

Design

Elements

Montezooma's Revenge has a single vertical loop which the train passes through twice: once forwards and once backwards. The nearby roller coaster Jaguar! passes through Montezooma's Revenge's vertical loop.

Trains

Single train with 7 cars. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 28 riders per train.

Incident

On the evening of August 31, 2001, a woman was taken to hospital after reportedly suffering a seizure while riding Montezooma's Revenge. She died the following morning.[13] An investigation found the roller coaster to be mechanically safe, and the cause of death was a brain aneurysm aggravated by a pre-existing condition. Montezooma's Revenge reopened on September 6.[14]

Images

References

  1. "Montezooma's Revenge". The Los Angeles Times. 1978-05-23. p. 102. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  2. "Clipped From The Los Angeles Times". The Los Angeles Times. 1978-05-24. p. 90. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  3. "Montezooma's Revenge Repaint UPDATE - February 12th 2017 - The Coaster Kings".
  4. "Knott's donates Schwarzkopf car to Roller Coaster Museum". Amusement Today. February 2024.
  5. "Back by popular demand". Knott's Berry Farm. Jan 11, 2022. Retrieved Jan 11, 2022.
  6. Macdonald, Brady (2022-01-11). "Knott's Berry Farm pauses Montezooma's Revenge renovation plans so fans can get one last ride". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  7. "Knott's Berry Farm". Screamscape. Archived from the original on 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  8. Davis-Friedman, Samantha (2022-09-14). "Montezooma's Revenge joins the National Roller Coaster Museum". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  9. "Knott's donates Schwarzkopf car to Roller Coaster Museum". Amusement Today. February 2024.
  10. Niles, Robert (2022-01-07). "Knott's Will Renovate Its Montezooma's Revenge Coaster". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  11. "Montezooma's Revenge | Speed Coaster | Knott's Berry Farm". Knott's Berry Farm (in English). Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  12. "MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress Opening in 2025 at Knott's Berry Farm".
  13. Knott's Roller Coaster Closed After Female Dies - Ultimate Rollercoaster
  14. Knott's Coaster Reopens After State Declares Safe - Ultimate Rollercoaster

External links

Tallest roller coaster
May 1978 - June 1983
Preceded by
King Kobra
White Lightnin'
Tidal Wave
Tallest roller coaster
May 1978 - June 1983
Succeeded by
Moonsault Scramble


Articles on Knott's Berry Farm