Ultra Twister (Six Flags AstroWorld)

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Ultra Twister

Ultra Twister in 2004

Six Flags AstroWorld
Location	Houston, Texas, USA
Coordinates	29°40′27″N 95°24′34″W / 29.674244°N 95.409529°W / 29.674244; -95.409529
Section	European Village
Status	Defunct
Operated	1990 to October 30, 2005
Rider height	48 inch minimum

Six Flags Great Adventure
Name	Ultra Twister
Location	Jackson, New Jersey, USA
Operated	June 6, 1986 to 1988
Cost	$3,000,000
Replaced by	Viper

Statistics

Manufacturer

TOGO

Product

Ultratwister

Type

Steel - Pipeline

Track layout

Out and Back

Riders per train

6

Propulsion

Chain lift hill

Height

96.8 feet

Drop

92 feet

Top speed

44 mph

Length

1421 feet

Inversions

3

Drop angle

85°

Duration

1:40

Ultra Twister was a steel pipeline roller coaster which operated at Six Flags AstroWorld in Houston, Texas, USA. The ride previously operated at Six Flags Great Adventure. It was built by Japanese company TOGO. This was also the only Ultratwister to open in North America.

History

Ultra Twister started construction at Six Flags Great Adventure in November 1985. The ride opened on June 6, 1986.^[1] It was located next to Rolling Thunder and featured a chicken exit. The steel rings had a tendency to develop stress fractures that required welding, and the vertical lift made evacuating guests difficult. The ride lasted less than three years and closed in 1988 because of Six Flags' ride rotation program, which saved money. The plot where Ultra Twister stood would be left empty until the construction of Viper, a similar roller coaster had begun in 1994. The ride then opened in 1995.^[2] Due to technical issues and maintenance costs, like Shockwave, Ultra Twister was moved to Six Flags AstroWorld. It was repainted and subsequent changes to the ride were made. It reopened in 1990.^[3]

Six Flags AstroWorld closed permanently on October 30, 2005.^[4] Six Flags relocated many of the park's rides to other Six Flags properties, while others were put up for auction or demolished for scrap. Ultra Twister was sent to Six Flags America.^[5] The ride was reportedly damaged when it was disassembled during AstroWorld's demolition, making it difficult to reinstall and rebuild.^[6] In November 2009, the ride was put up for sale by Six Flags on ITAL International, but it failed to receive any buyers.^[7] It was put in storage from April 2006 to June 2010 before being scrapped.^[8]^[9]