Alpine Bobsled

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Alpine Bobsled
Six Flags Great Escape
Location Queensbury, New York, USA
Coordinates 43°21′03″N 73°41′17″W / 43.350968°N 73.687918°W / 43.350968; -73.687918
Status Defunct
Operated 1998 to September 4, 2023
Replaced by Bobcat
Six Flags Great America
Location Gurnee, Illinois, USA
Operated 1989 to 1995
Six Flags Great Adventure
Location Jackson, New Jersey, USA
Operated May 9, 1984 to 1988
Replaced by Great American Scream Machine
Statistics
Manufacturer Intamin
Product Swiss Bob
Type Steel - Bobsled
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 64 feet
Top speed 35 mph
Length 1490 feet
Inversions 0
Duration 1:40
Rolling stock
Manufacturer Giovanola
Riders per train 8
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Alpine Bobsled is a steel bobsled roller coaster currently located at Six Flags Great Escape in Queensbury, New York, USA. It was designed by Intamin.

History

This roller coaster was first constructed at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, where it opened on May 9, 1984. It was named Sarajevo Bobsled, a nod to the Winter Olympics held in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and the Summer Olympics which would be held in Los Angeles, California. The roller coaster was not officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee. That same year, a very similar roller coaster also called Sarajevo Bobsled opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Sarajevo Bobsled was dismantled in 1988 and replaced by the Great American Scream Machine the year after.[1]

In 1989, the roller coaster reopened at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois and was called Rolling Thunder. It closed in 1995 and was stored in a parking lot until being sent to Great Escape, where it opened in 1998 as Alpine Bobsled.[2]

On August 4, 2023, Six Flags Great Escape announced that Alpine Bobsled would close on September 4 2023.[3]

Design

Trains

6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows, for a total of 8 riders per car.

When the ride first opened at Six Flags Great Adventure, riders sat inline with a maximum of six riders per car. Prior to its assembly at Six Flags Great America, the cars were modified to increase their capacity to eight riders.[1]

Incidents

On July 22, 1987, a 33-year old man broke two bones in his leg while boarding the Sarajevo Bobsled at Six Flags Great Adventure. A ride operator had mistakenly started the ride while he was still boarding.[4]

Images

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Sarajevo Bobsled". GreatAdventureHistory.
  2. "More Additions With Investment At Great Escape". Rutland Daily Herald.
  3. "After 25 years, Alpine Bobsled's last scheduled run will be September 4, 2023 🤞".
  4. Werstein, Leslie (August 11, 1987). "Mishaps, violence take a toll". The Courier-News. p. 1. Retrieved May 5, 2021.

External links


Articles on Six Flags Great Escape
Articles on Six Flags Great America
Articles on Six Flags Great Adventure