- "Let the spirit move you."
- ―Slogan[src]
Poltergeist is a steel roller coaster located in Rockville at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. It opened on May 28, 1999, and was designed and partially manufactured by Premier Rides, although the track itself was fabricated by Dynamic Structures and Intermountain Lift, Inc..
It is only one of four "LIM Catapult" coasters that currently exist in the United States, the others being The Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America, which also opened in 1999, and two identical coasters named Flight of Fear at Kings Island and Kings Dominion (both opened in 1996). All of these rides were built by Premier Rides.
History
Poltergeist opened to public on May 28, 1999.
The attraction closed temporarily in 2021 for refurbishment, which included a new color scheme, upgraded queue line, and repainted station. The track was repainted a light green, while the supports were repainted a darker green-gray. New elements were added to the queue, such as an archway, refreshed railings, garage scenery, a hedge maze, an expanded indoor queue area, planters and other themed structures. Moreover, a ghostly statue was added on top of the station. The trains were also repainted. Poltergeist reopened on September 3, 2021.
Experience
Queue
A view of Poltergeist's queue
Guests first enter the Poltergeist entrance sign and stay on the right-handed lane. The queue line begins as guests pass underneath the Batholomey Manor entrance archway. The path on the left is the Flash Pass lane and the standard path is straight ahead. On the left side are a set of switchbacks in a shaded area. To the right of the standard lane is a graveyard and the coaster's viewing area. Guests continue into the queue, passing by statues and coffins. Numerous sound effects can be heard in this area. There is also a garage with a car and some working tools. This is followed by a curved path through a garden. At the end, the Flash Pass and standard lanes meet each other and guests go right, passing by a pair of gargoyle statues and climbing up the staircase that leads to the front porch of the mansion. Next to the staircase to the mansion and the left gargoyle statue is a chicken exit that guests can take if they decide not to ride. Once guests reach the front porch of the mansion, they pass through the curved pathways before making a left turn. A right turn leads to the entrance of the mansion. After a left turn, guests walk through the mansion's interior with a fireplace directly ahead of them and a staircase on the left side of the wall. Eventually, guests make a final left turn and head into the station.
Layout
After boarding Poltergeist, riders are launched through a narrow launch tunnel into a "spaghetti bowl" of track which contains a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and many twists and turns. This coaster doesn't have a mid-course brake run like Flight of Fear has at Kings Island and Kings Dominion, or rings like Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America. After that riders spiral downward and to the left, and after more twists and turns they pass through a corkscrew before arriving at the ride's final brake run.
Characteristics
Poltergeist uses a LIM launching system instead of a traditional lift hill to propel riders into its first inversions. Initially, the ride had over-the-shoulder restraints, but due to numerous reports of pain and discomfort, these were replaced in 2002 with more traditional individual ratcheting lap bars.
In other media
Poltergeist was featured in Barnes & Noble's Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines.
Incidents
- Main article: Incidents at Six Flags parks
- May 29, 2021: At approximately 11:54 AM CST, one of Poltergeist's trains stopped in the middle of a ride cycle with 20 riders on board. Fiesta Texas cooperated with the San Antonio Fire Department to safely export all 20 guests from the ride by 3:15 PM. Fiesta Texas said the ride would remain closed while the park completed a full inspection.[1]
Gallery
Videos
Original version
Refurbished version
References
- ↑ KENS 5 Staff (May 29, 2021). 20 Six Flags Fiesta Texas customers rescued from stalled rollercoaster. Kens 5.
External links
- Poltergeist - Six Flags Fiesta Texas official webpage at Six Flags
Poltergeist at the Roller Coaster DataBase
Poltergeist at the Roller Coaster Wiki
Poltergeist (roller coaster) at Wikipedia
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