Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCI or GCII) is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in Europe and Asia. Güenter-Engelhardt GmbH handles the company's marketing rights in Europe. In addition to designing and building new roller coasters, GCI also refurbishes and re-tracks existing roller coasters, regardless of manufacturer.
GCI designed roller coasters are known for their often curved drops, twisted layouts, and perception of high speed. Exciting elements such as the station fly-by and station fly-through have been incorporated in many of their layouts.
Many GCI designed roller coasters also contain an on-ride camera midway through or towards the end of the ride.
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Most GCI designed roller coasters run with in-house-designed articulated Millennium Flyer trains. The only exception is Roar at Six Flags America, which runs with Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)-designed trains. Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and GCI's first roller coaster, Wildcat at Hersheypark, also operated with PTC trains when they first opened, but both coasters have since been modified to run with the Millennium Flyer trains.
These trains are known for their cushioned seats, allowing riders to be comfortable during rides. These trains also contain individual lap bars which automatically lower and lock into a position to accommodate the rider, allowing quicker dispatch times. Millennium Flyer trains are known for their classic look with flared seat sides and individual lap bars. They are easily identified by their open, gate-like fronts, usually customized with the logo for the respective ride they are running on.
This list was last completed and checked as of December 6, 2011.
| Name | Model | Park | Year Opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Toro | Wooden Coaster | Freizeitpark Plohn | 2009 |
| American Thunder (formerly Evel Knievel) | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags St. Louis | 2008 |
| Gwazi | Dueling Wooden Coaster | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | 1999 |
| Joris en de Draak | Racing Wooden Coaster | Efteling | 2010 |
| Kentucky Rumbler | Wooden Coaster | Beech Bend Park | 2006 |
| Lightning Racer | Racing Wooden Coaster | Hersheypark | 2000 |
| Prowler | Wooden Coaster | Worlds of Fun | 2009 |
| Renegade | Wooden Coaster | Valleyfair! | 2007 |
| Roar | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags America | 1998 |
| Roar | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | 1999 |
| Apocalypse (formerly Terminator Salvation: The Ride) | Wooden Coaster | Six Flags Magic Mountain | 2009 |
| Thunderbird | Wooden Coaster | PowerLand | 2006 |
| Thunderhead | Wooden Coaster | Dollywood | 2004 |
| Troy | Wooden Coaster | Toverlands | 2007 |
| Wildcat | Wooden Coaster | Hersheypark | 1996 |
| Wooden Coaster (Mountain Flyer) | Wooden Coaster | Knight Valley | 2011 |
| Wodan Timbur Coaster | Wooden Coaster | Europa-Park | 2012 (Under Construction)[1] |
This list was last completed and checked as of December 28, 2010.
| Name | Model | Park/Country | Year Opened | Year Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Wildcat | Wooden Coaster | Celebration City, United States | 2003 | 2008 |