Poltergeist

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Poltergeist
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Location San Antonio, Texas, USA
Coordinates 29°35′50″N 98°36′31″W / 29.5973211°N 98.608651°W / 29.5973211; -98.608651
Status Operating since May 28, 1999
Statistics
Manufacturer Premier Rides
Product Catapult Coaster
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Launched
Riders per train 24
Propulsion LIM launch
Serial number 9814[1]
Height 78.8 feet
Top speed 60 mph
Length 2705 feet
Inversions 4
Duration 1:15
G-Force 4.5
HELP

Poltergeist is a steel launched roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Built by Premier Rides, Poltergeist uses an LIM launch system instead of a traditional lift hill to propel the train. It opened on May 28, 1999.

History

On October 8, 1998, Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced that they would be adding Poltergeist, Boomerang, Scream and twelve other attractions. This would be a part of the park's $30 million expansion.[2]

Poltergeist and Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America opened in 1999, three years after the world's first LIM-launched coasters, Outer Limits: Flight of Fear at Kings Island and its namesake at Kings Dominion. It replaced the Seaside Golf mini golf course which had operated from the opening of Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 1992 to 1998.[3]

Initially, the ride had over-the-shoulder restraints, but due to numerous reports of pain and discomfort, these were replaced in 2002 with individual ratcheting lap bars.

On July 4, 2021, Poltergeist closed for a refurbishment which included new theme elements, an indoor air-conditioned queue line, and a full repaint to fit in with the theme of Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger, a new roller coaster which opened in 2022. The ride reopened on September 3.[4]

Design

Elements

Riders are launched from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.[2]

Color scheme

Originally painted yellow with turquoise supports. In 2021, the track was painted light green and the supports were painted dark green.[3]

Trains

2 trains with 6 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 24 riders per train.

Images

References

  1. "Amusement ride stickers". Texas Department of Insurance. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Six Flags Festa Texas Announces $30 Million Expansion". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Poltergeist". SFFT Source. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  4. "Six Flags Fiesta Texas". Screamscape. Retrieved 2021-06-15.

External links


Articles on Six Flags Fiesta Texas