Alpengeist

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Alpengeist

Location	Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Type	Steel - Inverted
Status	Open
Opened	March 22, 1997
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Model	Inverted Coaster
Track layout	Terrain
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	195 feet (59.4 m)
Drop	170 feet (51.8 m)
Length	3,828 feet (1,166.8 m)
Max speed	67 mile per hour (107.8 km/h)
Inversions	6
Duration	3:10
Capacity	1820 riders per hour
Cost	$20,000,000 USD
Max G force	3.7
Alpengeist at RCDB
Pictures of Alpengeist at RCDB

Alpengeist is the tallest and second fastest full circuit inverted roller coaster in the world. However, it is not the tallest inverted roller coaster ever, that title goes to Wicked Twister at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The ride opened in 1997 at Busch Gardens Europe. It was built by Bolliger & Mabillard and features six inversions: an Immelmann loop, vertical loop, cobra roll, zero G roll, and a wing over.

Alpengeist has an Alpine mountain region theme. The "Alpengeist" (German for "Ghost of the Alps" or "Alps Spirit") was the legendary snow beast of the Alps. The ride itself is themed to a runaway ski lift

[edit] Ride Experience

Upon exiting the station, riders ascend the 195 foot tall chain lift. Then, riders are swept to the right and descend 170 feet, hitting 67 miles per hour. Following the drop, passengers go into an enormous Immelmann loop, which is a half loop with a twist at the top. After the Immelman, riders go into a 106 foot vertical loop. The riders then enter a wooden tunnel where there is an on-ride photo. A large cobra roll follows over the Rhine River, which counts as two inversions. The block brake comes after a high speed curve. Immediately after the block, a zero-g roll gives airtime right beside the Le Scoot log flume. After a corkscrew and helix, the train brings the riders into the station.