- "Awe West of the Pecos"
- ―Tagline[src]
Judge Roy Scream is an "out and back" wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas. It opened on March 1, 1980, and was designed by Don Rosser and Bill Cobb and manufactured by William Cobb & Associates.
The coaster is named after Judge Roy Bean, the 19th century Justice of the Peace. It sits adjacent to the park's entry lake and is accessed using a tunnel that travels under the park's parking lot entrance road. As of 2023, the ride is temporarily closed for renovation.
History
Conception
For the 1980 season, Six Flags invested heavily into a bobsled-style coaster from Arrow Development for their major 1980 attraction, however they could not get it to work properly. On a whim, Six Flags called on roller coaster designers Don Rosser and Bill Cobb with help from the Roller Coaster Corporation of America to quickly design a high-profile attraction in its place with the remaining $2 million budget.[1][2]
Errol McKoy, the general manager of Six Flags Over Texas at the time, had a fondness for Lake Winnepesaukah’s Cannonball. The size and scope of the new ride was intended to have similarities to Lake Winnie’s woodie. Having spent a short span of his time in New York, McKoy liked the allure of Coney Island’s icons. He had a vision of eventually developing the waterfront area of Six Flags Over Texas into a boardwalk section, and Judge Roy Scream was to be his first step. The new wooden coaster would actually be built outside of the park’s boundaries along the edge of the lake. Future expansion in the area, which never materialized, was to continue adding on to the lakeside ambiance.[2]
Construction
Footers being installed during construction of Judge Roy Scream in 1979.
Soon after the coaster was designed, construction began. The construction process took place right at the park's front entrance ticket plaza. This covered area was boarded up and wooden bents were assembled not far from the ride site. In the interest of time, a vat pool of white paint was built in the parking lot and the wooden structure pieces where physically dipped into the white paint and then stacked to dry before moving to the ride site.[2][3]
Opening day
On March 1, 1980, Judge Roy Scream opened to the public. It was a very cold day, but despite the temperature, the opening ceremonies still proceeded as planned, with the Kilgore College Rangarettes and the media attending the ceremony and sending out the new trains.[1][2]
1994 backwards conversion
In spring 1994, Judge Roy Scream's were temporarily turned backwards as a special promotion, however it was popular, and so the Judge Roy's "about face" lasted the entire season. During this promotion, the iconic "Appeal Denied!" sign was flipped around so riders would see it as they headed down the drop facing the opposite direction.[1]
In 1997, one of the PTC trains from Texas Cyclone at Six Flags AstroWorld was stripped down and made into a third train for Judge Roy Scream, and its trains received individual lapbars.[3]
Six Flags Over Texas 45th anniversary
For Six Flags Over Texas' 45th anniversary in 2006, Judge Roy Scream received a new white track with white supports color scheme, and the white train was completely rebuilt.[3]
35th anniversary refurbishment
For Judge Roy Scream's 35th anniversary on March 1, 2014, extensive work was done on the ride, including rebuilding large sections of the wood and reworking over 600 feet of its steel rails. The refurbishment cost exceeded over 40 percent of the coaster's annual maintenance budget at the time.[1]
2017 re-track
In the 2017 off-season, a large portion of Judge Roy Scream, especially the first drop, was re-tracked.[3]
Experience
Queue
To enter the attraction, guests will cross underneath the entrance sign and stay to the right. The queue line begins as guest walk through the tunnel. On the other side, guests will go through numerous pathways. At the end is a staircase that leads to the station.
Layout
After leaving the station, the train goes up a 71-foot chain lift hill and then down a large drop, followed by a hill with trim brakes and two smaller hills, which leads up into a turnaround. Then, the train goes over three hills, followed by a hill that goes underneath the structure, and then the train goes upwards into the station, and it brakes.
Gallery
Videos
Images
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 8 Surprising Facts About Judge Roy Scream. Six Flags Over Texas. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Judge Roy Scream Celebrates A 35th Anniversary at Six Flags Over Texas. Roller Coaster Museum (March 8, 2015). Archived from the original on February 17, 2020.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Judge Roy Scream. SFOT Source.
External links
- Judge Roy Scream - Six Flags Over Texas at Six Flags
- Judge Roy Scream at SFOT Source
Judge Roy Scream at Coasterpedia
Judge Roy Scream at the Roller Coaster DataBase
Judge Roy Scream at Wikipedia
