Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum
Previously known as Road Runner Express at Kentucky Kingdom (2000-2009)
Six Flags New England
Park sectionDC Universe
Coordinates42°02′26″N 72°36′53″W / 42.0406°N 72.6146°W / 42.0406; -72.6146
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 16, 2011 (2011-04-16)
Kentucky Kingdom
Coordinates38°11′47″N 85°44′39″W / 38.196385°N 85.744267°W / 38.196385; -85.744267
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 2000 (2000-05)
Closing date2009 (2009)
ReplacedThe Squid
Replaced byProfessor John's Flying Machines, and Cyclos
General statistics
TypeSteel – Wild Mouse – Family
ManufacturerMaurer AG
DesignerIngenieur Buro Stengel GmbH
ModelWilde Maus Classic
Height49.25 ft (15.01 m)
Length1,213.9 ft (370.0 m)
Speed28 mph (45 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:32
Max vertical angle46°
Capacity900 riders per hour
Height restriction46 in (117 cm)
Flash Pass Available
Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum at RCDB

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum, formerly known as Road Runner Express, is a steel wild mouse roller coaster at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts.[1]

History

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape from Arkham Asylum when it was Road Runner Express at Kentucky Kingdom.

In May 2000, Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky opened a new wild mouse roller coaster. It opened on the former site of The Vampire, (which was also relocated to Six Flags New England as Flashback). The ride operated as the Road Runner Express until the end of the 2009 season when Six Flags rejected the park's lease after a dispute with the Kentucky State Fair Board and closed the park.[2][3] As part of Six Flags' settlement with the Kentucky State Fair Board, Road Runner Express was removed from the Kentucky Kingdom site and relocated to Six Flags New England.[1][4][5] In 2011, the ride reopened as Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape From Arkham Asylum.[6]

The coaster opened on a site that formerly housed the Batman Stunt Show arena and was previously prepared for the canceled The Dark Knight Coaster. The Gauntlet's track is generally a mirror image of the layout of the canceled ride.

Ride

Gotham City Gauntlet: Escape From Arkham Asylum follows the same layout as many other wild mouse roller coasters, with four people per individual car. The highest point is 49 feet (15 m) and the coaster includes 17 turns and numerous drops. The ride is primarily intended for younger children and families, but it is not specifically a junior roller coaster as the minimum height requirement is 46 inches (1.2 m).

Theme

There are eight different Batman villain themed cars. The story of the ride is that passengers are going along with their car's villain to escape from Arkham Asylum. The ride was previously themed to The Looney Tunes when it was at Kentucky Kingdom.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Gotham City Gauntlet Escape from Arkham Asylum  (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  2. ^ "Kentucky Kingdom Rejects Lease Park to Close". Roller Coaster Database. February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on September 8, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  3. ^ Marden, Duane. "Road Runner Express  (Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  4. ^ "Six Flags New England: New Coaster in 2011". Six Flags. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  5. ^ "Fair board strikes deal for Kentucky Kingdom". Business First. July 23, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Investor Meeting Presentation". Six Flags. November 4, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]