Wildebeest (ride) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wildebeest
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari Area Splashin' Safari Coordinates 38°07′27″N 86°54′49″W / 38.1243°N 86.9136°W / 38.1243; -86.9136 Status {{{status}}} Cost US$5,500,000 Opening date May 7, 2010 (2010-05-07)
General statistics
Type	Water coaster
Manufacturer	ProSlide Technology
Model	HydroMagnetic Rocket
Course	Custom
Lift system	Conveyor belt lift hill and 8 uphill launches powered by linear induction motors
Height	64 ft (20 m)
Drop	38 ft (12 m)
Length	1,710 ft (520 m)
Speed	24.5 mph (39.4 km/h)
Max vertical angle	45°
Capacity	720 riders per hour
Duration	2:30
Boats	14 boats. Riders are arranged 1 across in 4 rows for a total of 4 riders per boat.
Height restriction	42 in (107 cm)
Single rider line available
Must transfer from wheelchair

Wildebeest is a super fun water coaster located at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was built by ProSlide Technology and first opened on May 7, 2010. The ride is named after the African animal, fitting the water park's safari theme.

When it first opened, Wildebeest was the longest water coaster in the world! It stretched an amazing 1,710 feet (520 m) long. This record was later broken in 2012 by another ride at Holiday World, called Mammoth. Wildebeest has won several awards, including "Best New Waterpark Ride" in 2010. It was also named "Best Waterpark Ride" in both 2010 and 2011 by Amusement Today magazine.

History of Wildebeest

How Wildebeest Was Built

On August 13, 2009, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari announced they would build Wildebeest. It was designed by ProSlide Technology. This new water coaster was special because it used a conveyor belt to carry riders uphill. This meant that people who couldn't climb stairs could still enjoy the ride!

Wildebeest was also known for its incredible length. At 1,710 feet (520 m) long, it was the longest water coaster in the world when it was finished. During its construction, a TV show called World's Toughest Fixes from the National Geographic Channel even came to film the progress.

Wildebeest officially opened on May 7, 2010. When it first started, the ride had fourteen boats, each holding four people. Riders sit one behind the other, like on a toboggan, which is different from many other water slides.

Wildebeest Features

The Ride Station

Wildebeest has two main areas for riders: one where you get on and one where you get off. To start your adventure, you walk through the ride entrance and up a ramp. Then, you'll go through a winding line, called a queue, until you reach the loading area.

The loading area is split by the conveyor belt that takes the boats uphill. There's a spot where groups and single riders come together to make sure every seat is filled. At the end of the ride, boats go into the unloading area. Once riders get off, the empty boats move along rollers back to the loading station, ready for the next group!

Wildebeest Boats

Wildebeest uses fourteen dark-green boats, and each boat can hold four riders. You sit one behind the other, like you're riding a toboggan. Each rider has two handles to hold onto, one on each side of their seat.

Underneath each boat, there's a special magnetic metal plate. This plate helps the linear induction motors (LIMs) push the boats uphill during the ride.

The Track Design

The track for Wildebeest is made from many pieces of red and yellow fiberglass. These pieces are held up by strong concrete pillars. The entire track is 1,710 feet (520 m) long.

Along the way, you'll experience seven drops! The biggest drop is 38 feet (12 m) tall. The track also features two exciting underground tunnels. To get you up the hills, the ride uses a conveyor belt at the start and eight special linear induction motors throughout the course.

How LIM Technology Works

HydroMagnetic Rockets, like Wildebeest, use something called linear induction motors (LIMs) to push the boats uphill. Imagine a strong magnetic field under the slide. This field interacts with the metal plate on the bottom of each boat, smoothly and quickly pushing it forward and up the hills!

If there's a power outage, the magnetic field turns off. This means the boats can't make it uphill and will roll back down to the bottom of the nearest hill. LIM technology is also often used on launched roller coasters to give them a fast start.

Your Ride Experience

An overview of Wildebeest

The whole ride on Wildebeest lasts about two minutes and thirty seconds. Get ready for a thrilling journey!

Starting Your Adventure

Your ride begins with the boat facing away from the Bahari Wave Pool. After you're sent off, the boat moves up a small slope. It waits here until there's enough space between your boat and the one in front. Once the system says it's clear, your boat moves onto the conveyor belt lift hill.

As you go up the lift hill, you'll pass under one of the ride's uphill sections and over two of its drops. At the very top of the lift hill, your boat moves from the conveyor belt onto the fiberglass track. Then, the boat makes a left turn before plunging down the first big drop, which is 38 feet (12 m) tall at a 45° angle!

During this exciting drop, your boat goes under the lift hill. Right after, you're launched back uphill by the first of eight linear induction motors! Your boat goes over the top of this hill, then makes a small drop before being launched uphill a second time. At the top of this hill, the boat turns right and slides downhill into the first of two underground tunnels.

Through Tunnels to the End

At the bottom of the drop inside the tunnel, your boat passes under the ride's lift hill again. Then, it's immediately sent back uphill and out of the tunnel! As you reach the top of this hill, you exit the tunnel and make a small drop before being propelled uphill by the fourth LIM.

The boat then makes a right turn while going slightly downhill. At the end of the turn, you're sent uphill once more. At the top of this hill, the boat turns left before being sent uphill again, where it passes over the lift hill. At the top of this hill, the boat immediately drops back down into the second underground tunnel.

At the bottom of this drop, your boat is launched uphill again and out of the tunnel. At the top of this hill, the boat completes a left-turning helix (a spiral shape) before making a slight turn to the right. This lines you up perfectly with the unloading station. Once the boat makes the final turn, it has a small drop and is launched onto the end-of-the-ride conveyor belt with a little help from a small LIM. This last conveyor belt brings your boat to the exit, where you can get off.

Riding Wildebeest Safely

Wildebeest operates with water and is in a heavily-wooded area. Because of this, the ride will close if there is lightning or very strong winds in the Holiday World area.

There are also some rules for riders. While there's no age limit, riders must be at least 42 inches (110 cm) tall to ride if they are with an adult (18 years or older). To ride by yourself, you need to be at least 48 inches (120 cm) tall.

Each boat has a weight limit of 800 pounds (360 kg). Sometimes, groups might need to split up if their combined weight is too high. All riders must follow Splashin' Safari's dress code, which means wearing appropriate swimwear. Also, you must leave all loose items, like hats or phones, in the station before you ride.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari works with the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center to create a guide for guests with disabilities each year. It's suggested that guests with certain health conditions, like back or neck injuries, heart trouble, high blood pressure, or if they are pregnant or recently had surgery, should not ride Wildebeest.

Awards and Records

Wildebeest has won several awards! It was voted the world's "Best New Waterpark Ride" at the 2010 Golden Ticket Awards.