Texas Tornado (Wonderland Amusement Park)

Roller coaster in the United States
Watch the on-ride POV
Texas Tornado
Wonderland Amusement Park
Location Amarillo, Texas, USA
Coordinates 35°14′33″N 101°49′56″W / 35.2425714°N 101.8320893°W / 35.2425714; -101.8320893
Status Operating since 1985
Rider height 50 inch minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Hopkins
Type Steel
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 80 feet
Drop 80 feet
Top speed 50 mph
Length 2050 feet
Inversions 2
Rolling stock
Manufacturer Hopkins (1985-unknown)
Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (unknown-present)
Riders per train 20
HELP

Texas Tornado is a steel roller coaster located at Wonderland Amusement Park in Amarillo, Texas, USA. It was built by Hopkins and opened in 1985.

History

Texas Tornado opened in 1985.[1]

During initial testing, the train was unable to complete the double-up element after the first vertical loop. To fix this, the exit from the first loop was raised. The train was then unable to make it through the second loop, so its radius was lowered. This is why the loops look so odd today.[2]

For the 2010 season, the color scheme of the ride was changed from all-white to red, blue and white.

Design

Elements

Texas Tornado features two vertical loops that appear back-to-back, but are not consecutive in the design. It has a height of 80 feet, a drop of 80 feet and a max speed of 50 mph.[3]

Trains

5 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 20 riders per train. The ride originally had trains built by Hopkins. These were later replaced with trains from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, Inc. Texas Tornado is the only steel roller coaster with PTC trains. One car from the original trains still sits near the station.

In popular culture

In Microsoft Windows 7, a picture of the Texas Tornado, before its repaint, can be selected and used as a user icon.

References

  1. The Amusing Ads Archive - Hopkins 1993 - NewsPlusNotes
  2. Texas Tornado at Wonderland Amusement Park - Theme Park Review
  3. "Texas Tornado - Wonderland Park - Roller Coasters".

External links

The category Texas Tornado (Wonderland Amusement Park) contains additional media.