Alpengeist facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alpengeist
Alpengeist's Immelmann
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Location	Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Park section	Rhinefeld
Coordinates	37°13′58″N 76°38′51″W / 37.2328°N 76.6476°W / 37.2328; -76.6476
Status	Operating
Opening date	March 22, 1997
Cost	$20,000,000 USD
General statistics
Type	Steel – Inverted
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Inverted Coaster
Track layout	Terrain
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	195 ft (59 m)
Drop	170 ft (52 m)
Length	3,828 ft (1,167 m)
Speed	67 mph (108 km/h)
Inversions	6
Duration	3:10
Max vertical angle	79°
Capacity	1820 riders per hour
G-force	3.7
Height restriction	54 in (137 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
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Alpengeist at RCDB

Alpengeist is an exciting inverted steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It was built by a company called Bolliger & Mabillard. This ride has a cool theme inspired by the Alps mountains.

The name "Alpengeist" comes from the German words for "Ghost of the Alps" or "Alps Spirit". The whole ride feels like a runaway ski lift speeding down a snowy mountain! When it opened in 1997, Alpengeist was the tallest inverted coaster in the world.

History of Alpengeist

On August 30, 1996, Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced a brand new roller coaster. This new ride would be Alpengeist. It was set to break records for inverted coasters. It would be the tallest and fastest of its kind. It would also have the tallest vertical loop on an inverted coaster.

Alpengeist officially opened its doors on March 22, 1997. It was one of three inverted roller coasters made by Bolliger & Mabillard that opened in the United States that year. The other two were The Great White at SeaWorld San Antonio and Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Alpengeist's Trains

Alpengeist uses two trains for its riders. Each train has 8 cars. In each car, four riders sit side-by-side in a single row. This means a total of 32 people can ride on one train.

The trains have a special "zero car" at the very front. This car adds extra weight to help the train complete its big loops and twists. The trains also have skis on the side of each seat. This cool detail adds to the mountain theme of the ride.

Your Ride on Alpengeist

Your adventure begins as the floor drops away beneath your feet. The train then starts its climb up a tall chain lift hill. You'll hear a message saying, "Thank you and enjoy your avalanche of adventure on Alpengeist!"

The lift takes you up to 195 feet above the river below. Then, the track turns right and you plunge down a 170-foot spiral drop. You'll zoom past an area called The Land of The Dragons. The train reaches a top speed of 67 miles per hour!

After the big drop, you'll go through a 120-foot Immelmann loop. This loop flips you over and then sends you in the opposite direction. Next, you'll experience a huge 106-foot vertical loop.

The track then races through a wooden tunnel. After the tunnel, you'll pass through a cobra roll right over the Rhine River. This element looks like a cobra's head. You'll be near the Loch Ness Monster ride.

Coming out of the cobra roll, the track crosses over itself. You'll then pass by the Griffon roller coaster. The train then rises into a mid-course brake run. After a brief pause, the track drops again. You'll then enter a zero-g roll, which makes you feel weightless. This part is next to the Le Scoot log flume.

After a short straight section close to the ground, you'll go through a corkscrew. This twisty element is followed by an upward spiral. Finally, the train makes a left turn into the final brake run. Your thrilling ride on Alpengeist is complete!

Awards and Recognition

Alpengeist has been recognized as one of the top steel roller coasters. It has appeared on many lists of the best rides.

For example, in 1998, it was ranked as the 2nd best steel roller coaster. It continued to be ranked among the top coasters for many years.

Images for kids

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  Alpengeist's loop

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  Alpengeist's cobra roll

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  Alpengeist's Heartline Spin (zero-g roll)

• Alpengeist at the Roller Coaster DataBase