Goliath (Six Flags Over Georgia)

Goliath is a steel roller coaster located at the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park in Cobb County, Georgia. The Hyper Coaster model manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard climbs to a height of 200 feet (61 m) and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h). Prior to its construction, the Great Gasp and Looping Starship attractions were removed to make room for Goliath, which opened to the public on April 1, 2006. It ranked as the fourth-best new ride of 2006 in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today and the ninth-best steel roller coaster overall, with its peak ranking of fourth occurring in 2009 and 2011.

This article is about Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia. For other uses, see Goliath (disambiguation).
Goliath
Goliath's 170-foot (52 m) first drop
Six Flags Over Georgia
LocationSix Flags Over Georgia
Park sectionUSA Section
Coordinates33°46′09″N 84°33′00″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 1, 2006
Cost$20,000,000
ReplacedGreat Gasp
Looping Starship
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelHyper Coaster
Track layoutOut and Back
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height200 ft (61 m)
Drop175 ft (53 m)
Length4,480 ft (1,370 m)
Speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration3:30
Max vertical angle59°
Capacity1,220 riders per hour
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 9 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 36 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Goliath at RCDB

History

Plans for Goliath were announced in September 2005, revealing the ride as a steel hypercoaster from Bolliger & Mabillard that will cost $20 million to construct.[1][2] By the end of the 2005 season, the rides Great Gasp and Looping Starship were closed and removed from the park to make room for the new roller coaster.[2][3][4][5] Foundations for Goliath's supports began to be poured in September 2005.[6] In early October, track began to arrive at the park; erection of the supports and track began soon after.[6][7] In November and December, construction on the lift hill was complete.[8] In March 2006, Goliath's trains were delivered to the park.[9] After construction on the track and testing was complete, the roller coaster opened to the public on April 1, 2006.[10]

Ride experience
Goliath's 540-degree helix

After being dispatched from the station, the train makes a left hand turn towards the 200 feet (61 m) chain lift hill. Once at the top, the train drops back down 170 feet (52 m) reaching a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour (113 km/h). Following the drop, the train goes over the first of its camelback hills, crossing over the Georgia Scorcher and providing the ride's tallest drop at 175 feet (53 m). As the train exits the park boundaries, it enters a banked left turn then its second camelback hill with a 129-foot (39 m) drop. Next, the train rises back up and enters a 540-degree downward helix before passing through a set of trim brakes and going over the third camelback hill, this time with a 118-foot (36 m) drop. The train then enters a horseshoe leading back into the park, followed by the final three camelback hills with a drop height of 79-foot (24 m), 56-foot (17 m), and 48-foot (15 m), each lower than the previous one, the second of which crosses over the Georgia Scorcher's brake run. Following a banked left turn, the train makes a quick drop before entering the final brake run leading back to the station.[11] One cycle of the ride lasts about three and a half minutes.[12]

Characteristics

Track

The steel track of Goliath is approximately 4,480 feet (1,370 m) long and covers an area of about 8.5 acres (3.4 ha; 0.0133 sq mi). The height of the lift is 200 feet (61 m).[1] The roller coaster has no inversions, though it does feature six camelback hills and a 540 degree helix.[10] The track is painted orange while the supports are painted teal. Goliath was manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators located in Batavia, Ohio.[13][14][15]

Trains

Goliath operates with two steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has nine cars which can seat four riders in a single row, for a total of 36 riders per train; each seat has its own individual lap-bar restraint. This configuration allows the ride to achieve a theoretical hourly capacity of 1,220 riders per hour. The structure of the trains are painted orange and teal, with matching colored restraints and seats.[1][10][15]

Reception

Joel Bullock from The Coaster Critic and Mike from NewsPlusNotes both praised the g-forces experienced while going through the helix, and the amount of airtime Goliath has. Bullock described Goliath as, "not only the park’s best roller coaster, but arguably the best coaster in the South East (south of Virginia)."[16][17] Mike Collins from Coaster Radio particularly enjoyed the section of the roller coaster that takes riders outside of the park boundaries. He also said that, "[Goliath is] a fun and fast coaster. It’s all about the airtime... and you get a lot of it."[18]

In Goliath's opening year, it was voted the fourth best new ride for 2006 and the ninth best steel roller coaster in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. The roller coaster peaked at position four in 2009 and 2011.

Golden Ticket Awards: Best New Ride for 2006
Ranking
4[19]
Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920212022
Ranking 9[19]8[20]6[21]4[22]5[23]4[24]9[25]7[26]9[27]12[28]20[29]14 (tie)[30]26[31]30 (tie)[32]28 (tie)[33]41[34]

Incidents
Main article: Incidents at Six Flags parks

On July 27, 2006, a 45-year-old man was found unresponsive and not breathing on Goliath after losing consciousness during the ride. Park employees began to treat the man before he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. After an inspection of the ride showed that the roller coaster was operating properly, it reopened to the public.[35][36]

References
  1. Marden, Duane. "Six Flags Over Georgia prepares to unleash a GIANT". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  2. "Goliath coming to Six Flags Over Georgia". Atlanta Business Chronicle. September 1, 2005. Archived from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  3. Waterhouse, Jon (August 11, 2005). "Six Flags celebrates last Gasp". Access Atlanta. Archived from the original on August 14, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  4. "Six Flags Over Georgia 2005 Park Map" (PDF). Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  5. "Six Flags Over Georgia 2006 Park Map" (PDF). Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  6. "Goliath: A Giant in the Making (August - October 2005)". Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  7. "Goliath: A Giant in the Making (October 2005)". Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  8. "Goliath: A Giant in the Making (November 2005)". Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  9. "Goliath: A Giant in the Making (December 2005 - March 2006)". Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Goliath  (Six Flags Over Georgia)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  11. "Goliath Roller Coaster Front Seat POV Six Flags Over Georgia". Themparkreviewtpr/YouTube. March 23, 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  12. "Goliath Fact Sheet" (PDF). Six Flags Over Georgia. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
  13. Guido, Anna (November 7, 2005). "Steel plant's business on fast track". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2006. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  14. "Scott & Carol Present: Getting On Track With B&M". NewsPlusNotes. December 11, 2008. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Goliath (Photo Gallery)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  16. Bullock, Joel (December 5, 2008). "Goliath @ Six Flags Over Georgia". The Coaster Critic. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  17. "Six Flags Over Georgia On My Mind - Part 2". NewsPlusNotes. September 16, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  18. Collins, Mike (August 27, 2006). "Goliath Ride Review". Coaster Radio. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  19. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  20. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  21. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  22. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  23. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  24. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  25. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012.
  26. "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  27. "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014.
  28. "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015.
  29. "2016 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016.
  30. "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017.
  31. "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018.
  32. "2019 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019.
  33. "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021.
  34. "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022.
  35. "Man Dies After Riding Goliath Roller Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia". Fox News. July 28, 2006. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  36. "Man dies after ride in Georgia theme park". Tampa Bay Times. July 29, 2006. Archived from the original on August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
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