Loch Ness Monster

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Loch Ness Monster

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Location Williamsburg, Virginia, USA Coordinates 37.234662°N 76.646695°W / 37.234662; -76.646695 Park section Scotland Status Operating since June 6, 1978 Cost $5,000,000 USD Rider height 48 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Product	Custom Looping Coaster
Designer / calculations	Ron Toomer
Type	Steel - Terrain
Propulsion	Two chain lift hills
Height	130 feet
Drop	114.2 feet
Top speed	60 mph
Length	3240 feet
Inversions	2
Drop angle	55°
Duration	2:10
G-Force	3.5
Rolling stock
Manufacturer	S&S-Sansei Technologies (2018-present) Arrow Dynamics (1978-2017)
Riders per train	28
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A view of the interlocking loops

Loch Ness Monster is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The ride was built by Arrow Dynamics and opened on June 6, 1978. It is the first of two full-circuit roller coasters featuring interlocking loops, with the other being the now defunct Orient Express at Worlds of Fun in Missouri.

History

On July 27, 1977, Loch Ness Monster was announced. Construction began shortly afterwards. During the construction process, a bending track was found between the second vertical loop and final brake run.

In order to build the interlocking loops, one loop must be built above the track while the other must be built below it and the track must go in the center. Afterwards, the track must be installed above one of the loops and the other loop needs to be closed with a piece of track.

Loch Ness Monster opened to the public on June 6, 1978. At that time, it was one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters. The ride costed $5 million to build.

When the coaster first opened, it had four trains with six cars. These trains would go through the interlocking loops at the same time. As the years went on, Loch Ness Monster would go through several changes. The trains would be downsized from four to three with seven cars.

After the closure of Busch Gardens Tampa's Python in 2006, the trains were sent to Busch Gardens Williamsburg to be reused as spare parts for Loch Ness Monster.

In 2018, Loch Ness Monster celebrated its 40th anniversary with new effects and trains.

Design

Elements
Chain lift hill Hill 82 foot tall vertical loop Block brake Helix Tunnel Chain lift hill 57 foot tall vertical loop

Ride experience

The coaster starts with two turns before the lift hill. The train makes a right turn and drops at 60 mph. After the left turn, riders go straight into the first vertical loop, which is 82 feet high. The train hits the brakes and enters the tunnel with a helix. After exiting the tunnel, the train climbs the second lift hill. It turns right and drops, reaching speeds of 40 mph entering the second vertical loop, which is 57 feet high. The train then returns to the loading station.

Color scheme

Loch Ness Monster has yellow track and gray supports.

Trains

7 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 28 riders per train. Before 2018, the ride had trains from Arrow Dynamics. For the ride's 40th anniversary, they were replaced with new trains from S&S Worldwide.

Images

• 

  The ride's entrance sign

• 

  The ACE Coaster Landmark Plaque

• 

  The station

• 

  The tunnel

• 

  The second lift hill

• 

  The maintenance area

Facts

• Loch Ness Monster has given over 58 million rides since opening.

External links

• 
  Loch Ness Monster on the Roller Coaster DataBase.

Tallest complete-circuit roller coaster tied with Giant Coaster June 1978 - April 1987
Preceded by Montaña Rusa	Tallest complete-circuit roller coaster tied with Giant Coaster June 1978 - April 1987	Succeeded by Vortex

Articles on Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Coasters	Present Alpengeist Apollo's Chariot DarKoaster Griffon Grover's Alpine Express InvadR Loch Ness Monster Pantheon Tempesto Verbolten Former Big Bad Wolf Das Kätzchen Die Wildkatze Drachen Fire Glissade Wild Maus
Other attractions	Present Aeronaut Sky Ride Battering Ram Battle for Eire Busch Gardens Railway Der Wirbelwind Escape from Pompeii Finnegan's Flyer Flying Machine Le Catapult Le Scoot Oscar's Whirly Worms Prince Elmo's Spire Rhine River Cruise Roman Rapids Trade Wind Turkish Delight Former Curse of DarKastle Da Vinci's Cradle Gladiator's Gauntlet Le Mans Raceway Mäch Tower