Mr. Freeze (roller coaster)

Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast

Mr. Freeze in St. Louis, 2004
Previously known as Mr. Freeze
Six Flags Over Texas
Park section Gotham City
Coordinates 32°45′28″N 97°04′03″W / 32.75778°N 97.06750°W / 32.75778; -97.06750
Status Operating
Opening date 1998 (1998)
Six Flags St. Louis
Park section DC Comics Plaza
Coordinates 38°30′53″N 90°40′39″W / 38.51472°N 90.67750°W / 38.51472; -90.67750
Status Operating
Opening date April 1998 (1998-04)
General statistics
Type Steel – Launched – Shuttle
Manufacturer Premier Rides
Designer Werner Stengel
Model LIM Shuttle Loop Coaster
Lift/launch system Linear induction motors
Height 218 ft (66 m)
Length 1,300 ft (400 m)
Speed 70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions 1 (traversed twice)
Max vertical angle 90°
Acceleration 0 to 70 mph (0 to 113 km/h) in 3.8 seconds
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Trains 2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast at RCDB
Pictures of Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast at RCDB

Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast (previously known as Mr. Freeze) is a steel, launched, shuttle roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas and Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. The two rides, mirror images of each other, were inspired by Mr. Freeze, one of Batman's arch-enemies, and use linear induction motor (LIM) launch systems to accelerate riders from 0–70 mph (0–113 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.[1][2]

History

Mr. Freeze (1997–2011)

Mr. Freeze was planned to open in 1997[1][2] with the release of Batman & Robin. Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Clooney were scheduled to appear at the opening of Gotham City at Six Flags Over Texas and be the first people to ride it, but troubles with the LIM system delayed the opening until 1998. This was the main reason why Schwarzenegger never appeared (since he had another promised project at the time; Clooney decided not to come because Schwarzenegger didn't). The ride itself was fabricated by Intermountain Lift, Inc.[3]

When it first opened, Mr. Freeze used over-the-shoulder restraints (commonly called OTSRs), which were replaced with individual ratcheting lap bars for the 2002 season at both locations.[1][2]

In June 2006, all Premier Rides' LIM roller coasters were closed as they underwent emergency inspection after an accident on the now-defunct Batman & Robin: The Chiller where a wheel fell off on the lowest part of the track. This problem apparently existed on all of Premier Rides' coasters with booster LIMs. New wheels and bearings were ordered and have been replaced.

Both roller coasters were originally painted in light blue. The Texas Mr. Freeze received a new paint job that was completed in 2007. Now, the rest of the track is painted a bright red and the supports are dark blue. For 2009, the St. Louis Mr. Freeze was repainted with dark blue track and supports.

Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast (2012–present)

On March 22, 2012, Six Flags announced that both versions of Mr. Freeze roller coasters at Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags St. Louis would feature backwards facing trains and be renamed Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast.[4] The Over Texas version reopened on May 12, 2012, and also Vanilla Ice helped open the ride up and had a concert.[5][6] The St. Louis version reopened on May 5, 2012,[7] with the help of David Freese (then a St. Louis Cardinals baseball player).[8]

Two-train operation

The station where trains are launched at 0–70 miles per hour (0–113 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.

Unlike most other shuttle roller coasters, Mr. Freeze is able to simultaneously operate two five-car (20 passengers total) trains because of an innovative sliding platform in the station. One train loads and unloads on either the right or left side of the station while the other train is launched out onto the main track. When this train returns to the station, it slides to the unused side of the room and unloads as the other train slides to the middle and launches. These trains are launched by 116 linear induction motors that help them achieve a top speed of 70 mph (110 km/h) in 3.8 seconds.[1][2]

Rider experience

Riders enter an old, abandoned ice cream warehouse that is themed to be the hideout of Batman's enemy, Mr. Freeze. The ride begins when the lights in the launch tunnel turn on and the lights in the station dim. LIMs launch the train through a 190-foot (58 m) tunnel and up into a 150-foot (46 m)-tall inside top hat that flips riders completely upside-down. This element is followed by a 105-foot (32 m) overbanked turn and a vertical spike. As the train climbs this spike and slows, it is gently pushed up almost all the way to the top by another set of LIMs. The LIMs reverse and the train runs the entire course in reverse.

In the new Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast, the ride begins with the cars facing backwards, shooting out of the tunnel in reverse, and, after topping out on the spike, the train will re-run the course back to the station in a forward-facing direction.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Marden, Duane. "Mr. Freeze  (Six Flags Over Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Marden, Duane. "Mr. Freeze  (Six Flags St. Louis)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  3. ↑ "Amusement". Intermountain Lift, Inc. July 30, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Chill Out Backwards at 70 mph as Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags St. Louis launch new ride experience". Market Watch. The Wall Street Journal. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Janda, Greg (22 March 2012). "Six Flags to Reverse Mr. Freeze". NBC Dallas Fort Worth. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Six Flags Over Texas (April 3, 2012). "The ride opening date...". Facebook. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  7. ↑ Patton, Julie Brown (April 9, 2012). "Six Flags St. Louis Opens". Eureka Wildwood Patch. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ Patton, Julie Brown (22 March 2012). "Ultimate Head Freeze Heads to Six Flags". Eureka Wildwood Patch. Retrieved 23 March 2012.

External links

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