Bocaraca

Roller coaster in Costa Rica
Watch the on-ride POV
Bocaraca
The roller coaster in 2012
Parque Diversiones
Location La Uruca, San José, Costa Rica
Coordinates 9°57′38″N 84°07′37″W / 9.960684°N 84.126934°W / 9.960684; -84.126934
Status Operating since 2005
Rider height 120 cm minimum
Knoebels Amusement Park
Name Whirlwind
Location Elysburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates 40°52′43″N 76°30′19″W / 40.878510°N 76.505233°W / 40.878510; -76.505233
Operated 1993 to 2004
Replaced by Flying Turns
Playland Park
Name Whirlwind
Location Rye, New York, USA
Coordinates 40°57′59″N 73°40′21″W / 40.966408°N 73.672363°W / 40.966408; -73.672363
Operated 1984 to 1992
Replaced by Log Flume
Statistics
Manufacturer Vekoma
Product MK-1200 Whirlwind
Type Steel
Track layout Figure-8
Hourly capacity 1350
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 19.5 metres
Top speed 60 km/h
Length 350 metres
Inversions 2
Rolling stock
Manufacturer Arrow Dynamics
Riders per train 28
HELP

Bocaraca is a steel roller coaster located at Parque Diversiones in La Uruca, San José, Costa Rica.

History

The roller coaster first opened in 1984 at Playland Park in New York as Whirlwind, alongside the Wild Cat.[1] It operated until 1992 when it was dismantled. The roller coaster opened at Knoebels Amusement Park in 1993, replacing Jet Star which closed the previous year.[2] It closed in 2004 and was sold to Parque Diversiones in Costa Rica.[3] The space where Whirlwind stood is now occupied by Flying Turns. The attraction reopened as Bocaraca in 2005.

Design

Elements

This is a relatively short roller coaster with a curved first drop and two separate corkscrew inversions. This roller coaster has a compact footprint, with a bend in the middle of the station.

Color scheme

Yellow track and blue supports. The ride used to feature white track and green supports when in the USA.

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. The train was built by Arrow Dynamics and has over-the-shoulder harnesses.

Images

References

  1. "High hopes for Playland". The Daily News.
  2. "Whirlwind twists above Knoebels".
  3. "Knoebels sells Whirlwind to Costa Rican park". The Daily Item.

External links

  • Bocaraca on the Roller Coaster DataBase.


Articles on Knoebels Amusement Park