Bat (Lagoon)
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| Bat | |
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| Location | Lagoon Amusement Park |
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| Type | Steel - Inverted |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | April 16, 2005 |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | Suspended Family Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Max speed | 26 mph (42 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:30 |
| Capacity | 650 riders per hour |
| Cost | $3,000,000 USD |
| Max g-force | 2.2 |
| Bat at RCDB Pictures of Bat at RCDB |
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The Bat is a steel inverted roller coaster at the Lagoon amusement park in Farmington, Utah.
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[edit] History
The Bat debuted at Lagoon on April 16th, 2005.[1] Lagoon had hoped to open the Bat on the opening day of the 2005 season on April 9th, 2005, but the opening was delayed a week.[2]
In 2004 Lagoon opened the first of its new family friendly rides, rides where adults and smaller children can ride together, the Kontiki and the Dragon Fly. The bat joined these rides in 2005 as another family friendly ride. The minium height is 42 inches to ride with a responible person and 50 inches to ride by yourself. With the other coasters in the park requiring that the rider be at least 46 to 50 inches tall, this coaster allows younger children the opportunity of riding a "big" coaster. In 2006 Lagoon opened 2 more family rides, Dinosaur Drop and Ladybug Bop. OdySea another family friendly ride opened in 2008 and is located near the Bat.
The Bat was constructed where the Lake Park Terrace was located. Originally Lagoon was located on the shores of the Great Salt Lake then known as Lake Park. In 1896 Lagoon moved to its new location. The Lake Park pavilion was brought from the old location and remodeled into a picnic terrace. The park determined that it was no longer feasable to maintain the terrace due to cracks and deteriation.[3] It was torn down around October 12, 2004 to make room for the Bat.
[edit] Theme
The theming of this ride is based on bats and where they live. At the beginning of the ride queue is a bat cave with bats hanging upside down with glowing eyes. Throughout the queue area stalagmites can be seen. In the loading and unloading area the light coverings are themed with images of bats.
The color scheme of the tracks and support columns is green and purple. The coaster train is purple and black with orange over the head restraints.
[edit] Ride Description
The ride has one coaster train that has 10 rows with 2 seats on each row with a total capacity each trip of 20 people. The safety system consists of over-the-shoulder restraints that lock into place and then a belt type of connector that attaches the seat base to the over-the-shoulder restraints.
Two employees are required to operate the ride. One is designated as the ride operator and is responsible for checking the restraints on the first 6 rows and operates the ride and safety mechanisms. The other employee is designated as a ride attendant and is responsible for letting guests into the loading platform, ensuring the guests are of the proper height, making seat assignments, and checking the restraints on the last 6 rows of the coaster. In order to launch the coaster both the ride operator and attendant must verify that the coaster is ready to launch.
[edit] Interesting Facts
• The Bat is the first and only roller coaster in Lagoon to have over-the-shoulder restraints.
• Many riders choose to ride the Bat without their shoes, leaving them in the station.
• The Bat is the third coaster of four to be added to the park within a 10 year span.
• Lagoon requires two riders in the front and back seats on all of its coaster trains that have more than 2 rows of seats.
• The Bat is the first coaster at Lagoon to feature a magnetic braking system.[3]
• The first of this type of ride from Vekoma was built in 2001 at Paramount Parks Kings Island in Ohio named Rugrats Runaway Reptar.[3] •it is too short
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.farmingtonstar.com/thebat.html
- ^ Arave, Lynn: "Lagoon to open its gates, unleash new 'Bat' coaster ", Deseret Morning News, April 8, 2005.
- ^ a b c Arave, Lynn: "'The Bat' a different kind of fun", Deseret Morning News, January 14, 2005.
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