Wildfire (Kolmården Wildlife Park)

Wildfire is a wooden roller coaster at Kolmården Wildlife Park located in Kolmården, Sweden. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, the roller coaster is both the fastest wooden coaster in Europe, and second tallest wooden coaster in the world.[1][2][3] Throughout the 2-minute ride, trains travel through three inversions and twelve airtime hills, whilst reaching speeds of up to 115 kilometres per hour (71 mph).

Wildfire
Kolmården Wildlife Park
LocationKolmården Wildlife Park
Coordinates58°39′55″N 16°27′59″E
StatusOperating
Opening date28 June 2016 (2016-06-28)
Cost110 million SEK ($11,990,000 USD as of August 2018)
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
DesignerAlan Schilke
ModelTopper Track - Custom
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height56 m (184 ft)
Drop49 m (161 ft)
Length1,265 m (4,150 ft)
Speed115 km/h (71 mph)
Inversions3
Duration2:00
Max vertical angle83°
Capacity960 riders per hour
G-force4 g
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
WebsiteOfficial website
Wildfire at RCDB
Pictures of Wildfire at RCDB

History

In April 2014, Wildfire was revealed in a press release on Kolmården's official website. The roller coaster was Rocky Mountain Construction's first in Europe, and Vekoma manufactured the power and control systems of the ride.[3] On 28 October 2016, the coaster ceased operations after only one season when its permit was revoked by the government citing environmental concerns. Speculation ensued that the ride may be torn down as a result. On 28 January 2017, a report surfaced that Wildfire would be allowed to remain standing while a license to continue operation was being discussed. The zoning for the roller coaster was officially approved by the county's council in March 2017, and Wildfire reopened in June 2017.[4]

Ride experience

After the train is checked and dispatched, it will make a sharp right hand turn into the 187-foot (57 m) chain lift hill. Once at the crest, it will enter a very large dip (or gigantic dip) into the fastest, right hand banked turn before passing over another crest and into the first drop. The train will here drop 160-foot (49 m), reaching an 83-degree angle and its maximum speed of 71 miles per hour (114 km/h); before banking up into its first element, an inverted Zero-G stall. From here the train twists through two airtime hills and two high banked turns before encountering its next inversion, a heartline roll. Following this, the track descends to ground level as it passes through sixteen more strong airtime hills, prior to a second heartline roll. The ride finishes with a ski-slalom style right to left section before hitting the brakes and returning to the station.[5]

Awards
Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2016201720182019
Ranking 28[6]29[7]17[8]16[9]

References
  1. Marden, Duane. "Wildfire  (Kolmården Wildlife Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  2. "Wildfire Kolmården minisite". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  3. "Kolmården bygger världens bästa träberg- och dalbana". Kolmården. Kolmården. April 8, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. "Wildfire opening". 19 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. "Wildfire POV Kolmarden Wooden Roller Coaster 2016". Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  6. "2016 top 50 wooden roller coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  7. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  8. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  9. "2019 Top Wood". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
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