TMNT Shellraiser facts for kids

Quick facts for kids TMNT Shellraiser
TMNT Shellraiser track
Nickelodeon Universe
Location	Nickelodeon Universe
Coordinates	40°48′24″N 74°04′16″W / 40.806591°N 74.071201°W / 40.806591; -74.071201
Status	Operating
Opening date	October 25, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-10-25)
General statistics
Type	Steel – Launched – Euro-Fighter
Manufacturer	Gerstlauer
Model	1000
Lift/launch system	Linear motor launch, chain lift hill
Height	141 ft (43 m)
Drop	138 ft (42 m)
Length	3,280.8 ft (1,000.0 m)
Speed	62.1 mph (99.9 km/h)
Inversions	7
Max vertical angle	121.5°
Acceleration	0 to 62.1 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 2 seconds
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	6 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
TMNT Shellraiser at RCDB

TMNT Shellraiser is an exciting steel indoor roller coaster located inside the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park. This park is part of the American Dream Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. The ride is a special type of roller coaster called a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter, made by the company Gerstlauer.

The coaster is designed to look like the world of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT). It holds a world record for being the steepest roller coaster, with a drop that goes beyond vertical at 121.5 degrees! It shares its exact track design with another famous coaster, Takabisha, which is in Japan. Takabisha used to hold the record for the steepest drop before TMNT Shellraiser.

How TMNT Shellraiser Was Built

In September 2016, plans were announced for the Nickelodeon Universe theme park to be built inside the huge American Dream Meadowlands shopping mall. More details about the park's rides, including this record-breaking Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter coaster, were shared in December 2017.

Jeff Davis, who manages attractions at the mall, explained that they chose this Euro-Fighter design because it would "break a world record" for the steepest coaster. He hoped that many people from the New York metropolitan area would want to ride it. The names for TMNT Shellraiser and other coasters were first revealed in February 2019. At that time, the coaster was already being built. Testing of the ride began in April 2019 to make sure it was safe and ready.

TMNT Shellraiser officially opened on October 25, 2019. It was part of the first group of attractions to open at Nickelodeon Universe. However, the ride had to close temporarily after its opening because it needed a special permit to operate.

What It's Like to Ride TMNT Shellraiser

The TMNT Shellraiser roller coaster is completely inside the American Dream Meadowlands building. Your adventure begins right after leaving the station.

The Launch and First Inversions

First, the ride slowly enters a heartline roll, which is an inversion that spins you upside down. After that, powerful linear motors launch the train from a stop to 62.1 miles per hour in just two seconds! The coaster then zooms up into a 125-foot tall corkscrew inversion. Right after, you go through a "banana roll" inversion, followed by another corkscrew, and then an airtime hill that makes you feel weightless.

The Record-Breaking Drop

Next, the train slows down on some block brakes before making a U-turn to the right. It then starts climbing a 141-foot tall vertical chain lift hill. Once you reach the very top, the car pauses for about 14 seconds. This gives riders an amazing view of the New York City skyline in the distance. Then, you are released into the world's steepest drop! This 138-foot drop is beyond vertical, angled at 121.5 degrees.

More Twists and Turns

After the thrilling drop, the ride continues with a dive loop, an inline loop, and an Immelmann loop. Finally, the train reaches the last brake section and returns safely to the station.

Fun Facts About TMNT Shellraiser

TMNT Shellraiser (green track) with other coasters, including Shredder (purple track, teal supports)

TMNT Shellraiser has bright green tracks with purple and light-blue supports. It features a total of seven inversions, which are parts of the track that turn you upside down.

The building's ceiling was specially designed to be a bit higher in one section to fit the tall lift hill. This also allowed for windows that face New York City, giving riders that incredible view from the top. The 138-foot drop, at 121.5 degrees, is the steepest in the world. It beats the previous record held by Takabisha by half a degree.

There are six trains on the ride. Each train has one car, and each car has two rows of seats, with four seats in each row. The trains have a special paint design created by a local artist. The whole ride is themed around the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles battling their enemy, Shredder, on the streets of New York City.

What People Think of TMNT Shellraiser

Writers for USA Today described the Shellraiser as "a tad rough, but a load of fun." Travel + Leisure magazine said that "thrill seekers will love the scream-inducing Shellraiser."