Banshee Howls at King's Island - 8/22/2014

Banshee opened at King's Island in Mason, Ohio on
Friday, April 18, 2014.

Mason, Ohio - “Banshee gave me flashbacks to 1992, when I rode the brand new Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great America,” says Bill Linkenheimer III of Pittsburgh Pa. and former president of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). [Bollinger & Mabillard’s] first inverted coaster provided a real WOW factor with its sensationally smooth and exciting acrobatics that have never been experienced before while riding a roller coaster. Exiting my first ride ofBanshee, I found myself saying those same things all over again, some 22 years later.”

Banshee opened to the public at King’s Island on Friday, April 18, 2014 to screams of approval by the general public and roller coaster enthusiasts alike. The roller coaster stands 167 feet above the park’s midway and reaches a top speed of 68 mph through seven inversions along its 4,124-ft. course. With the trains hanging below the steel track, leaving riders’ feet dangling freely, it currently holds the record for the longest inverted roller coaster in the world.

“First time seeing it, I thought it would be a really nice coaster,” says Ricky Drop of Morgantown, W.Va. who traveled to King’s Island for ACE’s annual Spring Conference. “After riding it; all I could say was ‘wow!’ The speed, the drops and the inversions are awesome!”

Designed by Swiss ride manufacturers Bollinger & Mabillard (B&M), Banshee is the first roller coaster of it’s type to be built in the United States since thePatriot roller coaster opened in 2006 at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Mo.. In addition to its massive size, Banshee marks new innovation for inverted roller coasters beginning with a new restraint system never before seen on such rides. The over-the-shoulder restraint lies flat across the rider’s chest with no visual obstruction in any direction. This restraint system had previously only been used on B&M’s wing coasters. While these restraints have received some criticism in the past for locking uncomfortably at the rider’s shoulders, Banshee’s trains offer new flexibility to reduce this issue.

“I thought Banshee's restraints were comfortable and comparable to similar systems like it,” says Rev. Cliff Herring of Whitehall, Pa. “The trains were smooth and did not seem very different than other [inverted] coasters.”

As the train crests the lift hill, it immediately dives down Banshee’s alarmingly steep first drop of 150 feet and then proceeds to soar into the first two elements of the ride. A diving loop flips riders high over the midway before sending them plummeting back to the earth only to send them directly into a vertical loop which encircles the lift hill. This is the only inverted coaster in the world to perform such a stunt and one of only three coasters from B&M to execute it at all; the other two being Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa in Tampa Bay, Fl. and Riddler’s Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Ca.

Banshee currently holds the world record as the longest
inverted roller coaster at 4,124-ft.

“Banshee is much like Riddler’s Revenge in that the inversions are so big, the ride, while powerful, is also very graceful and does not wear you down as some other extreme rides can,” says David Lipnicky of Grand Prairie, Tx. and current Vice President of ACE. “I think anyone who is mentally and physically ready and able to ride should give it a try.”

Following the loop, riders are treated to five more upside-down elements including a zero-g-roll, a pretzel loop which flips them twice, a second vertical loop and an in-line twist before rolling back into the station. The lack of trim brakes anywhere on the ride allows for a flowing movement without having the ride be split up into sections.

“Banshee is a superb record breaking coaster that provides a long and what seems like never ending array of elements,” says Dawayne Kimery of Kansas City, Mo. “The thrill of the fast paced transitions from one inversion to another is not hindered by the use of brake systems like on other inverted coasters.”

King’s Island managed to get the word out about Banshee through a massive marketing campaign. It began in 2013 when special halloween-themed teaser ads began popping up around the park and online via the park’s website and social media. After the park officially announced the ride on Aug. 8. 2013, construction videos began to emerge on websites like Facebook and YouTube. It was a marketing strategy that Cedar Fair has utilized to great extent on other such groundbreaking projects such as GateKeeper at the neighboring park; Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

Riders are flipped upside-down a total of seven times
throughout Banshee's layout.

“Banshee's announcement was not only an affirmation that the people at Cedar Fair knew exactly what Kings Island needed, but an affirmation of the remarkable continued relevancy of the inverted coaster,” says Alexander Dicky of Murfreesboro, Tenn. “Kings Island was on top of the social media outlets. They gave us updates pretty much every day because they knew that's what we wanted!”

Banshee may be set back in a corner of the park, but park guests should have little difficulty finding their way to it. Quite aside from the magenta track with royal blue support structures, Banshee is appropriately named thanks to the other-worldly howling that the trains produce as they speed through the course. Irish folklore says that the howling of a banshee allegedly foretold death and/or misfortune to those who heard it. Keeping in this lore in the theming of the coaster. The queing line is decorated as a cemetery with statues and tombstones peppered throughout while the station is designed like an old-fashioned church.

“I like the Gaelic-themed tombstones throughout the area as well as the overall look of the loading station building,” says David Hahner Jr. of Pittsburgh, Pa. and ACE Historian. “ The memorial to Son of Beast with the ‘eternal light’ torch a fitting tribute to the once record breaking wooden coaster that once sat on that same spot.  

Son of Beast opened in 2000 as the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, as well as the only wooden coaster to feature a vertical loop. Accidents and maintenance issues began to be reported in 2006 resulting in a decline in the ride’s popularity. The final incident in which a woman suffered a head injury on the ride  occurred in 2009 resulting in the ride being shut down indefinitely pending investigations and legal matters. The coaster was demolished in 2013 to make way for Banshee

According to Irish lore, the howling of a banshee is said to
foretell misfortune and/or death to those who hear it.

“Son of Beast will be missed a lot, as it set the bar really high for what more could you do on a wooden coaster,” says Alan Hewston of Parma Heights, Ohio. “Yes, a bit bumpy and jolty, but heck, that sucker was moving and what did you expect from a woodie going that fast and that extreme a ride.”

Banshee is currently open to the public at King’s Island and has a height requirement of 52 inches in order to ride.

Gatekeeper spreads its guardian wings - 5/20/2013

Cedar Point's new GateKeeper roller coaster opened to the
public on Saturday, May 11, 2013 in Sandusky, Ohio.

Sandusky, Ohio - “This is definitely a top-10 coaster and, let’s face it, this ride sure as heck beats Disaster Transport,” said Pamela Kanai of Pittsburgh, Pa. to a cacophony of cheers, as well as a few catcalls, as she exited GateKeeper’s station platform.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio has always held a reputation for turning out record-breaking roller coasters and the spring of 2013 was no exception. The amusement resort’s newest coaster, GateKeeper, took flight in May to fanatical acclaim with its immense height, speed and thrills.

“It has caused a great influx of new members because of the media day and I’m sure for CoasterMania,” said Cathy Schwab of Massillon, Ohio and president of the Great Ohio Coaster Club (GOCC). “A lot of people have joined because of this ride.”

Designed by Swiss ride manufacturers Bollinger & Mabillard (B&M), plans for GateKeeper began to emerge to the public in August 2012. Announcements had already been made about the plans to remove the park’s Disaster Transport indoor roller coaster as well as the Space Spiral observation tower to accommodate the new ride and the public was growing antsy to know what would be replacing the two rides. On August 13, Cedar Point officially announced their $30 million project that would include the tallest, fastest and longest winged roller coaster in the world as well as a complete overhaul to the park’s front entrance.

“To work with Cedar Point is always a great pleasure,” said Kim Gent, a representative of B&M, during a press conference. “Cedar Point came up with the idea to build the ride along the beach and above the main entrance of the park... It took a year to design, to do all the drawings and calculations inch-by-inch to make it a safe fun ride."

Construction of GateKeeper took about eight months and began in mid-September. Cedar Point’s Marketing Programs Manager, Bryan Edwards, says hiring local workers was a quintessential element for construction of a project this size.

GateKeeper was designed by Bollinger & Mabaillard and was part of a

$30 million project for Cedar Point

“From the coaster, to pouring the cement for the footers, to landscaping, to actually just building this structure, it really helped put a lot of money back into the Ohio economy by hiring local Ohio workers to put it together,” said Edwards. 

Cedar Point managed to keep the public up-to-date on the construction progress via extensive blogging and social media posts which many roller coaster enthusiasts followed with fanatical zeal.

“We let each other know if there was some new updates,” said Alan Hewston of Parma Heights, Ohio and member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE). “It was great to see them do that because it helps to get the enthusiasts even more excited about the event and about riding the coaster.”

The changes to the resort become apparent as soon as visitors arrive at the park entrance. GateKeeper towers over the main gates with a massive zero-g roll spinning through double keyholes that rise straight up in front of the park like 100-foot knives. The outside entrance plaza has been redone with new turnstiles, ticket booths and a new guest services building.

“The newly redesigned Main Entrance, the now unblocked views of Lake Erie and the beach and, of course, GateKeeper itself are all visually stunning,” said Jason Ballard of Weirton, W.Va. and member of GOCC.

As park guests enter the park and progress up the midway, GateKeeper can be accessed to the far right side of the park near the entrance to Wicked Twister. The new coaster’s trademark blue-waves logo stands boldly on a pedestal beckoning for people to come and sit on it for photos. A massive plaza spreads out across the area with plenty of shaded tables and countless views of the coaster. Queuing lines stretch the length of the ride as it runs along the shores of Lake Erie and offers an unobstructed view of the beaches and the ride’s first elements. However, once the considerable wait is over, it’s time to choose which side to ride and to take flight.

“It was a good ride with good pacing,” said Dave Altman of Plum Boro, Pa. and president of ACE. “The inversions weren’t too disconcerting so I’d say it was a pretty good.”

“It’s got a nice amount of intensity without it being too over-the-top,” said Aaron Lesko of Dravosburg, Pa. and member of ACE. “It’s very re-ridable and I think it will be a very popular ride for the park."

Cedar Point's new GateKeeper sets the world record for the tallest, fastest 
and longest winged coaster on the planet.

As guests board the trains, careful eyes may notice the decorative details that have been put into the cars. The aerodynamic body of a golden griffin-like creature with red eyes, which light up once the sun sets, scowls from the center chassis of the cars. The seats, perched far off to the side of the chassis and track, act as decorative wings for the creature. Running lights come to life along the side of each seat once nighttime comes as well. The modern shoulder-restraints from B&M lay flat across the chest with a pair of handlebars off to the side, offering a clear view in all directions once the train pulls out of the station.

“The harnesses are very comfortable and the seats are very comfortable,” said Carsten Anderson of Avon Lake, Ohio, and member of CP Rundown. “I honestly could sit on the ride all day and not have to worry about anything.”

Depending on the rider’s choice to ride in the left or right set of seats; the ride will present a different experience based on the chosen side. This becomes apparent as soon as the train crests the 170-lift hill and immediately flips upside-down into the opening dive drop. The left side of the train creates a tipping stimulation, rather like the feeling of being tipped from a bucket. The right side, moreover, presents more of a dropping sensation, as if a trap door has opened and the seats have begun to fall.

“Whenever you’re going off the lift hill through the inversion, you just hang upside-down for what seems like an eternity,” said Ron Mazur of Bethel Park, Pa and member of ACE. “That truly sets the pace for the rest of the ride.”

“The ride was awesome. I was on the first row on the right side and it was so, so cool,” said Mary White of Clarkston, MI and member of PointBuzz. “When you’re first going up and you take a loop right after, it’s awesome.”

Additional difference can be felt and viewed as the trains approach the massive double keyhole element that towers over the park’s main entrance. Different sensations of head-chopping moments are experienced, depending on the side of choice, as the train twists through the zero-g roll and slips through the vertical slots in the twin spires.

“The front seat is awesome going into the keyholes,” said Geoffrey Ford of Auburn, N.Y. and member of the Western New York Coaster Club. “It’s just spectacular. It looks like you’re just going to fly into that thing and then the head-choppers are really good in the front seat too.”

GateKeeper's trains spin through double keyholes over the park's newly

designed front entrance.

Upon disembarkment from the ride, a special gift shop is presented to the riders with a large collection of GateKeeper merchandise including shirts, glasses, toys and a large variety of other unique paraphernalia. On-ride photos can also be purchased. The question that remains however: Should I ride it again?

“I’ve rode it five times this morning and on the left, outside is going to be your best ride,” said Andree Shrider of Elkhart, IN and member of Club TPR (Theme Park Review). It’s a very smooth ride, its quiet, it’s a good time.”

GateKeeper is officially open to the public at Cedar Point and has a height requirement of 52 inches. 

GateKeeper opening day, Cedar Point - 5/9/2013 from Joel Brewton on Vimeo.