The Gauntlet (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Gauntlet |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Magic Springs and Crystal Falls | |
| Location | Magic Springs and Crystal Falls |
| Coordinates | 38°11′39″N 85°44′49″W / 38.194136°N 85.747009°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | April 10, 2004 |
| Cost | $7,000,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | SLC (689m Standard) |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 109.0 ft (33.2 m) |
| Length | 2,260.0 ft (688.8 m) |
| Speed | 49.7 mph (80.0 km/h) |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | 1:36 |
| Capacity | 1,040 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 52–79 in (132–201 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train. |
| The Gauntlet at RCDB | |
The Gauntlet is a super exciting inverted roller coaster found at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls amusement park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. An inverted roller coaster means your feet dangle freely as you zoom along the track! This thrilling ride was made by a company called Vekoma and first opened in 2004. It is a special type of roller coaster known as a Suspended Looping Coaster, or SLC.
Contents
Ride History
How The Gauntlet Got Its Name
The Gauntlet roller coaster was first planned for a different park called Jazzland in New Orleans. But the plans changed, and the ride was never built there. In late 2003, a company called Themeparks LLC decided to buy the roller coaster for their park, Magic Springs.
Magic Springs had reopened in 2000, but not many new visitors were coming. To get people excited, Themeparks LLC held a big radio contest in late 2003. People could suggest names for the new roller coaster. A person named Becky Branch from Jacksonville, Florida, won the contest. She chose the name "The Gauntlet."
Opening Day and Popularity
The Gauntlet officially opened on April 10, 2004. People loved the new ride right away! Its opening helped bring many more visitors to Magic Springs. In 2004, over 400,000 people visited the park, which was a new record for them.
Years later, in 2015, a survey by The Weather Channel asked people to vote for their favorite thrill rides. The Gauntlet was chosen as the most popular thrill ride in all of Arkansas!
Ride Experience
What to Expect on The Gauntlet
The Gauntlet is a steel inverted roller coaster. This means the track is above you, and your feet hang in the air. The ride is 109 feet tall and has a track length of 2,260 feet. You'll reach speeds of almost 50 miles per hour!
The ride lasts about one minute and 36 seconds. During that time, you will go through five inversions. An inversion is when the track turns you upside down! These include loops and corkscrews that twist you around.
Ride Details
The Gauntlet has two trains, and each train can hold 20 riders. There are 10 cars per train, with two riders in each car. To ride The Gauntlet, you need to be between 52 and 79 inches tall.
