The Gravity Group, LLC

(Redirected from The Gravity Group)
The Gravity Group, LLC
Status Active
Headquarters
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Founded July 2002
Website www.thegravitygroup.com
Coasters built 10

The Gravity Group, LLC is a roller coaster design firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The group specialises in wooden roller coasters. It is made up of a core group of five people, who all have backgrounds in civil, structural and mechanical engineering.

History

Gravity Group was founded in July 2002 by employees of the famed, but now defunct Custom Coasters International.[1] Because of this, its employees have had experience with over 40 roller coasters. The first roller coaster designed under the Gravity Group name is Hades (now Hades 360) at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, which opened in 2005.

Gravity Group then went on to design one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world, Voyage at Holiday World, currently ranked at #4 by Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll.[2]

The company also designed Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. It opened in 2008, and is currently ranked at #6. Another notable roller coaster designed by the firm is Wooden Warrior at Quassy Amusement Park, which gives a great ride, despite being only 35 feet tall.

Gravity Group were also involved in the rebuilding of Libertyland's Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA.

In 2008, Gravitykraft Corporation was created. Gravitykraft handles much of the manufacturing, including building the Timberliner trains, whereas Gravity Group continues to design the roller coasters.

Timberliner trains

A Timberliner car on display at Gravity Group's booth at IAAPA 2019

In 2008, members of The Gravity Group announced the development of their own wooden roller coaster trains, called Timberliners. They are manufactured by Gravitykraft Corporation,, a sister company of Gravity Group. The Gravity Group promotes their trains as the only wooden coaster trains capable of steering through curves, resulting in a more comfortable and maintenance friendly ride. Timberliners were planned to debut on Voyage at Holiday World for the 2010 season, but the trains faced delays. In 2011, Timberliners were installed on Wooden Warrior at Quassy Amusement Park and Twister at Gröna Lund in Sweden.

Timberliners were also installed on Hades at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park for the 2013 season, when it was remodelled into Hades 360.

Roller coasters

All Gravity Group installations are wooden. As well as those included in the table below, there are three new Gravity Group roller coasters being installed in various Fantawild Adventure locations.

Name Park Country Builder Height Speed Length Opened
Boardwalk Bullet Kemah Boardwalk
USA
Martin & Vleminckx 96 feet 51 mph 3,236 feet 2007
The Cú Chulainn Coaster Tayto Park
Ireland
Gravity Group/Gravitykraft 105 feet 56 mph 3,590 feet 2015
Dauling Dragon Happy Valley
China
Martin & Vleminckx 105 feet 54.1 mph 3,651.6 feet 2012
Fjord Flying Dragon Happy Valley
China
Martin & Vleminckx 111.6 feet 54.1 mph 3,989.5 feet 2013
Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
USA
136 feet 60 mph 4,746 feet 2005
Ravine Flyer II Waldameer
USA
80 feet 57 mph 2,900 feet 2008
Roar-O-Saurus Story Land
USA
Gravity Group/Gravitykraft 40 feet 33 mph 1,240 feet 2014
Switchback ZDT's Amusement Park
USA
Gravity Group/Gravitykraft 64 feet 41 mph 1,196 feet October 17, 2015
Twister Gröna Lund
Sweden
Gravity Group/Gravitykraft 51 feet 38 mph 1,544 feet 2011
The Voyage Holiday World
USA
159 feet 67 mph 6,442 feet 2006
Wooden Coaster - Fireball Happy Valley
China
Martin & Vleminckx 108.3 feet 55.9 mph 3,818.9 feet 2009
Wooden Warrior Quassy Amusement Park
USA
Built in-house 32 feet 35 mph 1,239 feet 2011
Zippin Pippin Bay Beach Amusement Park
USA
Martin & Vleminckx 70 feet 42 mph 2,347 feet 2011
Time Travel Hot Go Park-Happy Jungle World
China
Martin & Vleminckx 103.3 feet 58.4 mph 3,681.1 feet September 2014
Timber Walibi Rhône-Alpes
France
Gravitykraft Corporation 55.8 feet 40 mph 1,464 feet April 9, 2016
Mine Blower Fun Spot America
USA
Gravity Group/Gravitykraft 82 feet 48.5 mph 2,256 feet 2017
Oscar's Wacky Taxi Sesame Place
USA
Gravitykraft Corporation 43 feet 34 mph 1,205 feet May 26, 2018
Wood Express Parc Saint Paul
France
Gravitykraft Corporation 50 feet 38.2 mph 1,588 feet 2018

References