Double Loop (Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom)

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Double Loop
The two consecutive loops
Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom
Location Aurora, Ohio, USA
Coordinates 41°21′12″N 81°22′37″W / 41.353461°N 81.376809°W / 41.353461; -81.376809
Status Defunct
Operated 1977 to September 16, 2007
Rider height 48 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Arrow Dynamics
Product Custom Looping Coaster
Designer / calculations Ron Toomer
Type Steel
Riders per train 24
Hourly capacity 525
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 95 feet
Drop 76 feet
Top speed 36 mph
Length 1800 feet
Inversions 2
Drop angle 45°
Duration 1:30
HELP

Double Loop was a steel roller coaster located at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, USA. Built by Arrow Dynamics, it was the first roller coaster with two consecutive vertical loops when it opened in 1977. It closed with the rest of the amusement side of Geauga Lake in 2007 and was later demolished.

History

Double Loop was introduced in 1977, and was painted entirely white. It had two trains, one yellow and one red. In the 1980s, the ride was repainted black. Throughout the years, various cars and trains were swapped between the Double Loop and the Corkscrew (now called Roller Coaster at MGM Dizzee World), as both were constructed by Arrow Dynamics. However, the red and yellow trains remained the norm.

In 1993, the control system was modified. The older outdated relay and photo eye controls were replaced with newer PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and proximity switches, proving to be a more reliable system, and reduce downtime for the guests.

In 2000, as part of the makeover when Six Flags purchased Geauga Lake, the ride was painted with yellow track and purple supports, the same color scheme as Dominator (now located at Kings Dominion), but with a lighter purple. The yellow train was repainted a darker shade of yellow, and the red train was repainted purple.

On September 21, 2007, the park (now owned by Cedar Fair) announced on their website that Geauga Lake would open in 2008 exclusively as a water park and the amusement ride section would cease operations.[1]

The lead car on show at the auction

On June 17, 2008, the Double Loop was sold at auction with a majority of other rides at the former Geauga Lake amusement park. It was bought for $25,000 by Cleveland Scrap and was later demolished.[citation needed]

After the auction, Cedar Fair bought back the trains, and stored them within the structure of Mean Streak at Cedar Point, most likely to use as parts for Corkscrew.[2]

Design

Elements

Layout

After leaving the station, the train made a 180-degree turn to the left and climbed the lift hill. Upon reaching the top, the train went down the first drop at a 45-degree angle, and coasted up an incline. It then turned another 180-degrees to the left, before travelling down and into the consecutive vertical loops. It then went up and into a 360-degree helix to the left, and into the brake run.

Trains

2 trains with 5 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 20 riders per train.

References

  1. Harvey, Brent (2007-09-30). "Geauga Lake silences rides; water park remains". MyTownNEO. Archived from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  2. Double Loop trains spotted - Geauga Lake: Today & Forever

External links


Articles on Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom