Son of Beast (roller coaster)

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Son of Beast

Son of Beast operating in June, 2005; the ride had a loop at the time.
Location Kings Island
Park section Action Zone
Type Wood
Status Operating
Opened May 26, 2000
Manufacturer Roller Coaster Corporation of America
Designer Werner Stengel
Track layout Terrain
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 218 ft (66 m)
Drop 214 ft (65 m)
Length 7,032 ft (2,143 m)
Max speed 78.382 mph (126.144 km/h)
Inversions 0
Duration 2:20
Max vertical angle 55.7°
Capacity 1000 riders per hour
Cost $20,000,000 USD (estimated)
Max g-force 4.5
Height restriction 4 ft 0 in (120 cm)
Son of Beast at RCDB
Pictures of Son of Beast at RCDB

Son of Beast is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. Son of Beast is billed as the sequel to The Beast. Son of Beast has been considered by many roller coaster buffs as one of the biggest "busts" of all-time, due to its massive bumpiness and jerkiness throughout the ride.

At the time of its introduction in 2000, Son of Beast was the only wooden roller coaster in the top 10 categories (worldwide) that are dominated by steel-based coasters for track length, height, speed, and drop. It was also the only wooden roller coaster to feature a loop, which was removed in 2006 after an incident in which 27 people were injured.

The sign located at the entrance of the ride features a large wooden box covered with chains, rope, and metal straps. The front of the box is ripped open, suggesting a large creature of some sort tore its way out. The words, "Son of Beast" are located in the center of the hole. As part of a marketing campaign for the ride before its debut, the same box was placed next to a footpath in the park. Beastly growling and snarling noises came from inside the box and it shook violently, as if something inside was trying to escape.

Contents

[edit] Facts

[edit] Design team

  • Designer: Werner Stengel
  • Construction: Roller Coaster Corporation of America
  • Current Trains: Gerstlauer
  • Original Train Design & Manufacturer: Premier Rides

[edit] Statistics

  • Official debut: April 27th, 2000
  • Height: 218 ft
  • 1st drop: 214 ft at a 55.7 degree angle
  • 2nd drop: 164 ft (50 m) at a 43.4 degree angle
  • 3rd drop: 150 ft (45.7 m) at a 37.3 degree angle
  • Top speed: 78 mph (126 km/h)
  • Acceleration: 4.5 g (44 m/s²)
  • Inversions: 1 x 118 ft (36 m) vertical loop (removed December, 2006)
  • Helixes: 2 x 540 degree Helixes (one left, one right; hills/valleys incorporated in both)
  • Max banking of helixes: 68.9 degrees
  • Track length: 7,032 ft (2143 m)
  • Duration: 2 minutes, 40 seconds
  • Current Number of trains: 2 (24 passengers each)
  • Original Number of trains: 3 (36 passengers each)
  • Passenger's restraints (cars): Wide lap bar
  • Hourly capacity: 1000 guests
  • Land area: 12 acres (49,000 m²)
  • Timber used: 1.65 million board feet (3,900 m³)
  • Cost: $20,000,000 USD (estimated cost, park officials won't confirm actual cost)

[edit] Materials used

  • Main Structure: Southern Yellow Pine
  • Track Piles: Douglas Fir
  • Loop Structure: Steel
  • Loop Track: Wood

[edit] World records set

  • Fastest wooden roller coaster
  • Only looping wooden roller coaster (The loop was removed after the 2006 season.)
  • Tallest wooden roller coaster
  • Tallest wooden roller coaster drop (1st and 2nd drops beat the previous record)
  • Longest looping roller coaster (Steel or wooden)
  • Most wooden coaster track at one park (17,847ft.)

[edit] 2006 Incident

Main article: Incidents at Cedar Fair parks

On July 9, 2006 at 4:45 PM, a structural failure that created a bump in the track caused 27 injuries and required rescue units to enter the scene. Most of the injuries were of the chest or neck. 17 people were released from hospitals within five hours of the accident and 2 were admitted. None of the injuries were life-threatening. The ride was shut down until the State of Ohio completed its investigation. After an inspection done the following day, the park stated that the accident was caused by a crack or split in the wood.[1] The park completed repairs of the ride but the state asked for extensive testing to be done to ensure it would not happen again. The park indicated that the ride may not reopen until the 2007 season. [2]

Beginning in December 2006, the park removed the loop portion of the ride to enable the use of lighter trains; the park anticipated the ride would be open for the 2007 season. [3] The two Gerstlauer trains from the now demolished Hurricane: Category 5 coaster from the former Myrtle Beach Pavilion were long rumored as the lighter replacement trains for the ride.[4][5]

In late June, reports circulated that the ride had once again begun testing. Eyewitnesses reported seeing both a red and a blue train running on the track with test dummies in the seats. On July 4th, 2007, Son of Beast re-opened for the first time since the accident[6] with the previously rumored Gerstlauer trains in place. King's Island still claims that the coaster is indeed the fastest wooden coaster in the world. The next fastest wooden coaster is Colossos in Heide Park located in Germany. [7]

[edit] External links

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Roller coasters at Kings Island


Coordinates: 39°20′46″N 84°15′53″W / 39.34611, -84.26472

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