Ozark Wildcat
Ozark Wildcat was a wooden roller coaster at the now-defunct Celebration City amusement park in Branson, Missouri. Manufactured by Great Coasters International, it opened to the public on May 1, 2003. After only six seasons, it permanently closed on October 25, 2008, along with the rest of the park. In October 2015, Herschend Family Entertainment announced that it would be removed. It was demolished on December 15, 2015,[1] and its trains were sent to Dollywood for the Thunderhead GCI roller coaster.
Ozark Wildcat | |
---|---|
Celebration City | |
Location | Celebration City |
Coordinates | 36.650879°N 93.293839°W |
Status | Removed |
Opening date | May 1, 2003 |
Closing date | October 25, 2008 |
Cost | US$4,000,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Wood |
Manufacturer | Great Coasters International |
Designer | Mike Boodley |
Height | 80 ft (24 m) |
Drop | 73 ft (22 m) |
Length | 2,613 ft (796 m) |
Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
Inversions | 0 |
Duration | 1:30 |
Trains | 2 trains with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train. |
Ozark Wildcat at RCDB |
Rider Experience
Once riders were carried out of the station, they entered a slow helix turn and the train went up into the chain lift. After the lift, a short dip was followed by a steep helix turn-drop. Many bunny-hops provided plenty of "air-time" while the padded seats of the coaster still provided a smooth ride. A large, fast, helix and a sudden drop proclaimed the final act before the train rolled into the train shack, turned 90 degrees to the right, and entered the loading station. The safety restraints automatically released, and after detaching precautionary seat belts, riders were free to exit the ride.
Awards
Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ranking | 26[2] | 21[3] | 16[4] | 20[5] | 18[6] | 20[7] | 36[8] |
References
- "Watch the destruction of Celebration City's Ozark Wildcat roller coaster". 15 December 2015.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2017.