Medusa42 Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2019/september/kings-island-to-retire-vortex-after-33-seasons Quote KINGS ISLAND TO RETIRE VORTEX AFTER 33 SEASONS September 27, 2019 Don Helbig Area Manager, Digital Marketing - Kings Island Twitter: @DonHelbig Roller coaster fans, it’s time to make plans to visit Kings Island to say goodbye before the Vortex rides into history Oct. 27, the final day of the fall season. The Vortex has been a guest favorite since it debuted April 11, 1987 and it is sad to see it go. I have vivid memories of seeing the ride take shape as it was being built during the fall and winter of 1986 and of my first rides on the coaster – 33 to be exact – on media day. While it remains popular, the ride has simply reached the end of its service life. The Vortex was designed exclusively for Kings Island by Arrow Dynamics and included the following succession of thrills that had never been incorporated into one steel coaster before: a 148-foot high lift and drop of 138 feet at a 55-degree angle two vertical loops one corkscrew one boomerang turn a 360-degree helix turn at the end a top speed of 55 mph The Vortex is notable as the first roller coaster in the world to send riders through six inversions on a continuous circuit. Overall, riders have been flipped upside down more than 275,000,000 times while riding Vortex. Over the past 33 seasons more than 45 million guests have ridden Vortex. Only six attractions have given more rides since Kings Island opened its gates in 1972. Final rides on Vortex will begin tonight when Halloween Haunt opens at 6 p.m. Both 2019 and 2020 Gold and Platinum season passholders may use their pass for early rides on Vortex 30 minutes before Kings Island opens to the public every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the fall season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 It is sad to see these Arrow loopers disappearing one by one. I remember religiously reading my ACE Roller Coaster magazine in the winter 88/87 anxiously awaiting one of these mega machines being added to GA one day. I remember imagining what it would be like for our park to have all those loops in one ride. Unfortunately we had to wait an extra year when Six Flags relocated our coaster for 1988 to SFGAm (Shockwave) delaying ours until the Great American Scream Machine opened in 1989. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 Hopefully that doesn't mean Anaconda will be removed from Kings Dominion in a few years. I thought Vortex, Anaconda and of course Great American Scream Machine were all fun coasters and didn't think they were rough (except Scream Machine in the last few cars). It's good that at least Kings Island gave over a month of notice that the ride is closing. I really don't like when a major ride is removed (if planned) and there isn't a chance for the everyone to get their final rides in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_loots Posted September 27, 2019 Report Share Posted September 27, 2019 It's a shame to see these Arrow loopers closing. It seems like Viper at SFMM is going to be the only mega looper left after this year. This announcement really surprised me, especially since Vortex is such an iconic ride for Kings Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Drama Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 Damn. This hurts - (somewhat) unexpected too! I wasn't liking as much in the recent years, but this still, just hurts... Well at least we know that it probably won't be replaced by a recycled standup... (just joking please dont hit me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericthewanderer Posted October 3, 2019 Report Share Posted October 3, 2019 Is there any chance Vortex could be sold to SFA and built near Batwing(under the name of Riddler's Revenge or Bizarro)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Drama Posted October 5, 2019 Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 Not anymore. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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