The Legend (roller coaster) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Legend
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Location	Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Park section	Halloween
Coordinates	38°07′13″N 86°54′50″W / 38.1202°N 86.9140°W / 38.1202; -86.9140
Status	Open
Opening date	May 6, 2000 (2000-05-06)
Cost	US$3,000,000
General statistics
Type	Wood
Manufacturer	Custom Coasters International
Designer	Dennis McNulty, Larry Bill
Track layout	Terrain
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift Hill
Height	99 ft (30 m)
Drop	113 ft (34 m)
Length	4,042 ft (1,232 m)
Speed	59 mph (95 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	2:00
Capacity	800 riders per hour
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Must transfer from wheelchair
The Legend at RCDB

The Legend is an exciting wooden roller coaster located at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built by Custom Coasters International and opened on May 6, 2000.

This roller coaster is inspired by Washington Irving's famous story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The ride is meant to feel like the scary chase Ichabod Crane had with the Headless Horseman through the woods. The Legend is often named one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world. It regularly appears on lists from the Golden Ticket Awards, given out every year by Amusement Today magazine.

History of The Legend

How The Legend Was Created

After their first wooden roller coaster, The Raven, became a big hit, the park's president, Will Koch, wanted to build another one. He worked with Custom Coasters International to start planning.

Instead of just building it, Koch did something unique. He put the early plans online and asked roller coaster fans from all over the world for their ideas. People sent in many emails with suggestions for the design, theme, and name. The most popular idea for the theme was "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Construction of The Legend began in April 1999. The final design and the name, The Legend, were announced on June 15, 1999. The ride officially opened on May 6, 2000, exactly five years after The Raven. When it first opened, The Legend had one train that could hold 24 riders. Many roller coaster fans came to ride it and loved it!

Changes in 2002

On October 12, 2001, Holiday World announced some big updates for The Legend for the 2002 season. The park replaced the original train with two brand-new ones made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Having two trains helped a lot! The ride could now carry 800 riders per hour, up from 550.

To make two trains work safely, some changes were needed. A transfer track was added near the station. This allows one train to be stored while the other is running, and it also helps with maintenance. The station itself was made longer to safely fit two trains. This new space created a safe distance between a train waiting to load and an incoming train. The ride operator's controls and the gates were also moved to fit the new, longer station.

Updates in 2016

During the break between the 2015 and 2016 seasons, The Legend got some cool new features. A new "double down" element was added to the track. This means the track drops twice in a row. Also, a new themed tunnel was built where the roller coaster crosses under the Frightful Falls ride.

What The Legend Is Like

The Station Area

The Legend's lift hill and first drop

The Legend's station looks like a schoolhouse, just like the one Ichabod Crane taught at in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". To get to the station, you walk down stairs and under part of the roller coaster track. Then, you go through a winding line, called a queue, before walking up another set of stairs into the station.

Inside the station, there are gates for each row of the train. On the other side, there are shelves and lockers where riders can store their belongings safely during the ride. This is also where the ride operator controls everything.

The Trains

The Legend uses two purple trains, each holding 24 riders. These trains are made by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Each train has six cars, and each car holds four riders. In each car, there are two rows, with two riders per row. A divider separates the two riders in each row.

For safety, each rider has a ratcheting lap bar that locks over their lap. They also have a two-point lap belt for extra security.

The Track

The track of The Legend is made mostly of many layers of Southern Yellow Pine wood. On top of the wood, there's a layer of steel where the train's wheels roll. The supports that hold up the track are also made of wood.

The total length of the track is 4,042 feet (1,232 m). The ride features three big drops: 113 feet (34 m), 77 feet (23 m), and 64 feet (20 m). It also has four tunnels, some above ground and some underground. The ride uses a chain lift hill to pull the train to the top. There are three block sections on the track, which means up to two trains can run safely at the same time. The Legend uses special fin brakes to stop the train in the station and other areas.

The Ride Experience

The Legend's first drop

A ride on The Legend lasts about two minutes.

Your adventure begins in the station, facing the Frightful Falls ride. Once the school bell rings, signaling dispatch, your train moves forward. It passes the transfer track on the right and dips down into a right turn before connecting to the lift hill chain. As you go up the lift hill, you'll pass over the drop of Frightful Falls.

At the top of the lift hill, the train dips slightly and turns right. You might hear the sound of a wolf howling! Then, the train plunges down a thrilling 113 feet (34 m) drop to the left, reaching speeds of almost 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) as it enters a covered tunnel.

After the tunnel, the track rises and turns left, crossing over the Watubee ride. It then goes under ZOOMbabwe and the return track. The train climbs another hill, getting ready for the spiral drop. At the top of this hill, the train enters a 77 feet (23 m) spiral drop to the right. During this drop, you'll pass under Zinga before crossing over another part of the track on an air-time hill.

After another uphill climb, the train enters a 64 feet (20 m) drop through the second underground tunnel. Exiting the tunnel, the train turns right, then left, dips down again, and rises into the exciting double helix. In the double helix, the train turns right, completing two full circles. You'll go through two above-ground tunnels and experience several small hills and drops.

After the double helix, the train goes downhill and crosses over the entrance to the helix. Then, it makes a left turn through the new double down drop and goes under the lift hill. Next, you enter what many fans call the "four corners of death." The first corner is a sharp 90-degree right turn. This is followed by a drop under the Frightful Falls lift hill and a banked 90-degree left turn, which is the second corner. The train then travels next to the outdoor waiting line before making a 180-degree right turn, forming the last two corners. Once the train exits the final corner, it immediately enters the final brake run. If both trains are running, your train will wait here until the other train has left the station. Otherwise, it will go straight into the station, where riders will unload.

Awards and Rankings

The Legend has received many awards and high rankings over the years.