Woodstock Express (Kings Dominion) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woodstock Express |
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| Previously known as Scooby-Doo (1974 - 1996) Scooby-Doo's Ghoster Coaster (1997 - 2009) Ghoster Coaster (2010 - 2012) |
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The exterior queue and marquee to the attraction when it was known as Scooby-Doo's Ghoster Coaster
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| Kings Dominion | |
| Location | Kings Dominion |
| Park section | Planet Snoopy |
| Coordinates | 37°50′25.9″N 77°26′31.9″W / 37.840528°N 77.442194°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1974 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | John C. Allen |
| Height | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Drop | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Length | 1,385 ft (422 m) |
| Speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:40 |
| Capacity | 1200 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 40 in (102 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train. |
| Woodstock Express at RCDB | |
Woodstock Express is a fun wooden roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. It first opened in 1974. Back then, it was called Scooby-Doo, named after the famous Hanna-Barbera cartoon character. Even though it's a family-friendly ride in the park's kids' area, it's still pretty exciting! It has a ride rating of 4 out of 5.
Contents
History of the Coaster
How Woodstock Express Started
The roller coaster, originally named Scooby-Doo, opened in 1974. It was one of the first two rides available before Kings Dominion officially opened in May 1975. The other ride was Lion Country Safari.
The coaster was in a part of the park called "The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera." This area had many rides based on Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters.
Name Changes Over Time
In 1997, a new section called Kidzville was built around the ride. Its name changed to "Scooby-Doo's Ghoster Coaster."
Later, in 2006, a company called Cedar Fair bought Paramount Parks. This meant that the Scooby-Doo theme and other Hanna-Barbera themes were removed. In 2010, the coaster's name became simply "Ghoster Coaster."
Finally, in 2013, the park expanded its Planet Snoopy area. The coaster was renamed again to "Woodstock Express." This is the name it still has today.
ACE Coaster Classic Award
What is the ACE Award?
The American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) is a group for people who love roller coasters. They give special awards to classic rides. Woodstock Express once received an ACE Coaster Classic award. This means it was recognized as a special wooden coaster.
Why the Award Was Removed
To get an ACE Coaster Classic award, a roller coaster must meet strict rules.
- It must be made of wood, not steel.
- It needs to have specific safety features, like lap bars that don't click tighter as you ride.
- Riders should be able to choose their seats freely.
- There should be no seat dividers or headrests.
Woodstock Express was later removed from the ACE list. This happened because some parts of its design were changed. These changes meant it no longer met all the rules for the award.
