White Lightning (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Lightning |
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White Lightning's Station
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| Fun Spot America | |
| Location | Fun Spot America |
| Coordinates | 28°27′58″N 81°27′23″W / 28.466155°N 81.456393°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | May 20, 2013 |
| Opening date | June 7, 2013 |
| Cost | $3.5 million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Great Coasters International |
| Model | Custom |
| Track layout | Out and back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 69.7 ft (21.2 m) |
| Drop | 67.2 ft (20.5 m) |
| Length | 2,032 ft (619 m) |
| Speed | 44.3 mph (71.3 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:15 |
| Max vertical angle | 58° |
| Height restriction | 46 in (117 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 12 riders per train. |
| White Lightning at RCDB | |
White Lightning is a super fun wooden roller coaster. You can find it at Fun Spot America amusement park in Orlando, Florida. It was built by a company called Great Coasters International (GCI). White Lightning opened on June 8, 2013. It was the very first wooden roller coaster ever built in Orlando!
This coaster is special because its main support structure is made of steel, not wood. This helps save money on keeping it in good shape. It was also the first time GCI used this steel design for one of their wooden coasters. People really like White Lightning. It often ranks among the top wooden roller coasters each year.
How White Lightning Was Built
On December 31, 2010, Fun Spot Action Park shared some big news. They bought an extra 10 acres of land next to the park. Their plan was to make the park three times bigger! They wanted to add many new rides.
In April 2011, Fun Spot Action Park asked its visitors what rides they wanted. Most people said they wanted water rides and roller coasters. In August 2011, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper reported something exciting. The park had talked to at least three roller coaster builders.
By November 2011, it was confirmed! The park would get two new roller coasters. One would be made of wood, and the other would be made of steel. The wooden roller coaster was later confirmed to be a family-friendly ride. It would be built by Great Coasters International (GCI).
In May 2012, Fun Spot Action Park announced the name of the wooden coaster: White Lightning. It would open in 2013 as part of their park expansion. They found extra money, so they could make the ride even more exciting!
After about a year of building, White Lightning had a "soft opening" on May 20, 2013. This means it opened quietly for a few days. The park's big opening party was on June 8, 2013. This amazing ride cost $3.5 million to build. It was a huge deal as Orlando's first wooden roller coaster.
In August 2020, a small part of White Lightning's track was updated. It got a new type of steel track called Titan Track. This was a test by Great Coasters International.
What Makes White Lightning Special?
White Lightning is a wooden roller coaster. It was designed by Great Coasters International (GCI) from Pennsylvania. The ride is 2,032 feet long. It takes riders up to a height of 69.7 feet. A chain lift hill pulls the train to the top.
Riders zoom down at a top speed of 44.3 miles per hour. The whole ride lasts about 75 seconds. The coaster uses two special trains called Millennium Flyer trains. Each train has six cars. Two riders sit side-by-side in each car. These trains are shorter than most GCI trains. This helps make the ride feel faster!
To ride, you must be taller than 46 inches. You are held safely in your padded seat by a lap bar.
This wooden coaster has a cool secret: its supports are made of steel. This was a first for GCI! Wooden roller coasters feel different from steel ones. So, GCI had to design the wooden track about 3 feet above the steel supports. Usually, the track connects right to the supports. The park wanted steel supports because they need less care than wooden ones. Plus, they could be painted a bright color to stand out!
Your Ride on White Lightning
Your adventure on White Lightning starts with a small dip. You leave the station and head straight for the chain lift hill. Once you reach the very top of the 69.7-foot hill, get ready! The train drops 67.2 feet to the left. It plunges down at a steep angle of 58 degrees.
Next, the train zips over a small, fast hill. Then, you go through a "double up" and a "double down." This means you go up, then down, then up again, then down again! After that, the train climbs into a huge turn. It's a 90-degree banked curve that dives back towards the ground. This sends you flying back in the direction you came from!
Several more small hills follow. These give you a few more exciting bumps. Finally, the ride slows down on the brake run. Then, you arrive safely back at the station.
