Wild Mouse (Idlewild & SoakZone)

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Wild Mouse
the coaster in 2019
Idlewild & SoakZone
Location Ligonier, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates 40°15′35″N 79°16′49″W / 40.259594°N 79.280313°W / 40.259594; -79.280313
Park section Olde Idlewild
Status Operating since 15 May 1993
Rider height 48 inch minimum
Alton Towers
Name Alton Mouse
Location Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK
Park section Talbot Street
Operated 1988 to 1991
Prater
Name Speeedy Gonzales
Location Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Park section 69
Operated 1985 to 1987
Statistics
Manufacturer Vekoma
Product Wild Mouse
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Wild Mouse
Riders per train 4
Hourly capacity 480
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 56.1 feet
Top speed 30 mph
Length 1640.42 feet
Inversions 0
HELP

Wild Mouse is a steel wild mouse roller coaster located at Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, USA. It was the only wild mouse roller coaster to ever be manufactured by Vekoma.

History

The ride at Alton Towers

The ride was originally located at Prater where it operated under the name Speedy Gonzales. It featured a spinning tunnel around the lift hill here. The track of the lift itself was also banked to strengthen the effect of the tunnel.

In 1988, the roller coaster opened at Alton Towers in the United Kingdom. Named Alton Mouse, it was located in the Talbot Street area of the park, adjacent to Alton Beast. The placement of the two roller coasters led to complaints from local residents that they could be seen and heard from outside the park. In 1989, the local planning committee ordered the park to remove both roller coasters by the end of the year. However following noise complaints from residents and negotiations with the owners of the park, the roller coasters were allowed to remain until the end of 1991 and planning permission was granted in advance for a new roller coaster to replace them, opening in 1992.[1] Alton Mouse was duly removed after the 1991 season.

The roller coaster opened once again at Idlewild & SoakZone as Wild Mouse on May 15, 1993.[2]

Wild Mouse did not operate at all during the 2012 season. It eventually reopened in 2013.

Design

Elements

Color scheme

Brown track and supports

Trains

6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 4 riders per car.

References

  1. "Ups and downs of beauty and the Beast". The Guardian.
  2. "Idlewild Coaster Promises Thrills". Latrobe Bulletin.

External links


Articles on Alton Towers
Articles on Prater