Dragon Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dragon Mountain |
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The Bowtie element on Dragon Mountain
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| Marineland of Canada | |
| Location | Marineland of Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°03′41″N 79°04′49″W / 43.061265°N 79.080379°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | July 16, 1983 |
| Cost | CA$9 million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Huss |
| Designer | Ron Toomer |
| Model | Custom Looping Coaster |
| Track layout | Terrain |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Length | 5,500 ft (1,700 m) |
| Speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Inversions | 4 |
| Duration | 3:30 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train. |
| Dragon Mountain at RCDB | |
Dragon Mountain is an exciting steel roller coaster located at Marineland of Canada. This popular park is near Niagara Falls, Ontario. Built by a company called Arrow Huss, the ride first opened on July 16, 1983. When it opened, it was known for having a very long ride time of 3 minutes and 30 seconds. It also had one of the longest tracks at 5,500 feet (1,700 m).
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Exploring Dragon Mountain
Dragon Mountain is unique because its track follows the natural shape of the land. It reaches a maximum height of 186 feet (57 m). This height is the total difference in elevation you experience during the ride. The roller coaster's supports are built very close to the ground.
A Big Ride
The ride covers a large area of 30 ares (0.30 ha) of land. Because of this, it was once called the "world's largest" roller coaster. However, another ride called The Beast at Kings Island opened earlier. That coaster covers even more land, about 36 acres. So, Dragon Mountain didn't actually hold that record.
The Bowtie Element
Dragon Mountain is special for another reason. It is the only roller coaster in the world with a unique part called a "bowtie" element. This is a cool inversion where the track twists riders upside down in a special shape.
The Ride Experience
Your adventure on Dragon Mountain begins with a long path leading to the ride. At the end of this path, you'll find the "dragon's cave." This entrance is carved to look like a giant dragon's head.
Inside the Dragon's Cave
The waiting area, or queue, inside the cave is quite dark. It adds to the mysterious feeling of being in a dragon's lair. The station where you board the ride is a bit brighter. This helps the ride operators work safely and easily.
Climbing the Mountain
After you get on the ride, you leave the dark station and head back outside. The coaster then starts climbing up a green hill. For most of the ride, the track stays close to the ground, following the natural curves of the terrain.
Theming and Design
When Dragon Mountain first opened in the early 1980s, some parts of its design were not finished. For example, a proposed volcano shape around a twisting part of the track was missing. Also, miniature waterfalls that were planned after the first tunnel were not built. These areas only had the basic framework.
Completing the Volcano
In 2006, Marineland decided to finish the volcano part of the ride. This was done to make the ride look better. It's not known if the park plans to add more details to make it look even more like a volcano. This has been the only improvement to the ride's look over the years. The other unfinished section, with the missing waterfalls, remains untouched.
