Mindbender (Galaxyland)

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Mindbender
The Mindbender
Location	Galaxyland
Type	Steel
Status	Operating
Opened	1985
Manufacturer	Anton Schwarzkopf
Designer	Werner Stengel
Track layout	Indoor
Lift/launch system	Tire Drive lift hill
Height	145 ft (44.2 m)
Drop	127 ft (38.7 m)
Length	4198 ft (1279.6 m)
Max speed	60 mph (96.6 km/h)
Inversions	3
Duration	1:13
Capacity	430 riders per hour
Max G force	5.5
Mindbender at RCDB
Pictures of Mindbender at RCDB

The Mindbender is the world's largest, highest and fastest indoor roller coaster. It is located at Galaxyland, inside West Edmonton Mall, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. On June 14th, 1986, the Mindbender partially derailed while riding on a loop, killing three and leaving another man permanently paralyzed.^{[citation needed]} The cause has been deduced as an equipment failure.^{[citation needed]} Because the roller coaster is a German model, the workers at Galaxyland failed to correctly translate the instructions from German to English.^{[citation needed]} After the crash, the trains were reduced from 4 cars to 3. It is now still running. The rides layout features many twisting drops, a double loop, a single loop, and a finishing helix, or horizontal loop. The G-force has caused many black outs during the ride, according to many ride ops. The ride twists underneath, in between and around its supports. It also rides underneath the "UFO Maze" during the helix [horizontal loop.]

Currently, Mindbender is running with an "accordian" style, over-the-shoulder restraint, and the last car on the blue train is reversed, allowing guests to ride backwards. Galaxyland is also home to many other rides, such as the "Space Shot", an S&S double shot tower, which is the tallest indoor tower ride. This ride is a newer more efficient design of the old Intamin drop towers. Space shot keeps riders upright the whole ride. The mall has replaced many rides with newer models in the park.