Hydra the Revenge | |
Hydra's first drop | |
Location | Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom |
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Status | Operating |
Opened | May 7, 2005 |
Cost | $13,000,000 USD |
Type | Steel - Floorless |
Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
Designer | Werner Stengel |
Model | Floorless Coaster |
Track layout | Terrain Coaster |
Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
Height | 95 ft (29 m) |
Drop | 105 ft (32 m) |
Length | 3,198 ft (975 m) |
Max speed | 53 mph (85 km/h) |
Inversions | 6 or 7 (disputed) |
Duration | 2:35 |
Max vertical angle | 68° |
Capacity | 1245 riders per hour |
Acceleration | No launch |
Height restriction | 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) |
Hydra the Revenge at RCDB | |
Pictures of Hydra the Revenge at RCDB | |
Amusement Parks Portal |
Hydra the Revenge (also known as Hydra) is a steel floorless roller coaster at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania (USA). It was built where the wooden roller coaster Hercules stood, which was closed for demolition at the end of the park's 2003 season. Its name is actually in honor of the coaster that stood in Hydra's spot: Hercules battled the Hydra in Greek Mythology
Hydra is the second roller coaster in the United States with an inversion before the lift hill, after Red Devil at Ghost Town in the Sky. This inversion is a heartline roll, and is popularly known as the "Jojo roll".
Hydra is also noted as being one of the first Bolliger & Mabillard coasters (along with Nitro) to not feature a pre-drop after the lift hill, a small drop before the main hill to help relieve tension on the chain in the lift hill. Rather, the train goes immediately into the main drop.
Hydra is also the first roller coaster to take an on-ride photo while its passengers are upside down. Riders are photographed while upside down in an inversion during the jojo roll. Riders are photographed a second time (not upside down) immediately before entering the cobra roll. Both pictures are available for purchase for one price.
Like Talon, Hydra the Revenge's track and supports were filled with sand, making the ride very quiet; for other coasters, earlier B&M coasters often make a very loud roaring sound.
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The ride starts out by going through a "JoJo" roll providing a lot of hangtime. While in the "JoJo" roll, riders' pictures are taken via the world's first and only on-ride camera placed to photograph riders while upside down. The train makes a right turn and then begin ascending the 95-foot (29 m) lift hill. It then rapidly speeds down the 105-foot (32 m) drop and into the inclined dive loop. Then, it speeds into the zero-g roll providing a weightless feeling. After that is an oversized corkscrew leading into the second on-ride camera then into an oddly shaped cobra roll. Then there is an "S" shaped airtime hill followed by another airtime hill and into the final corkscrew. The train then enters a helix then a turn into the brakes and goes slowly and cautiously back into the station.
Many enthusiasts argue over Hydra's track section. It is disputed whether the inclined dive loop actually inverts riders during the ride. Many riders claim they are only banked to a high degree, while others claim they are turned upside down during this element. This argument has yet to be settled professionally, leaving some to believe the ride contains six inversions while others believe the ride contains seven.
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