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Chupacabra (roller coaster)

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Chupacabra
Previously known as
Gambit at Thrill Valley (1995–2002)
Batman: The Ride at Six Flags New Orleans (2003–2005)
Goliath at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (2008–2024)
Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Park sectionLos Festivales
Coordinates29°35′56″N 98°36′28″W / 29.59889°N 98.60778°W / 29.59889; -98.60778
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 18, 2008 (2008-04-18)
Six Flags New Orleans
Park sectionDC Comics Super Hero Adventures
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 12, 2003 (2003-04-12)
Closing dateAugust 21, 2005 (2005-08-21)
Thrill Valley
StatusRemoved
Opening date1995 (1995)
Closing dateMay 6, 2002 (2002-05-06)
General statistics
TypeSteel – Inverted
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelInverted Coaster - Batman
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height105 ft (32 m)
Drop80 ft (24 m)
Length2,693 ft (821 m)
Speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Inversions5
Duration2:00
Capacity1400 riders per hour
G-force4
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Chupacabra at RCDB

Chupacabra is an inverted roller coaster located at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas, United States. Designed by Werner Stengel and Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, Chupacabra initially opened in 1995 at an amusement park in Japan, it then operated at Six Flags New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina caused the parks abandonment in 2005 and removal of Chupacabra and was relocated to Six Flags Fiesta Texas where it has operated since 2008. It stands at a height of 105 feet (32 m), reaches a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), and features multiple inversions.

History

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Chupacabra (known as Batman: The Ride at that time) (bottom left) in a still flooded Six Flags New Orleans two weeks after Hurricane Katrina.

Chupacabra originally opened in 1995 as Gambit at Odakyu Gotemba Family Land, a former amusement park in Japan that was later known as Thrill Valley.[1][2] When Thrill Valley closed on May 6, 2002,[1] Six Flags purchased several of its rides, including Gambit, and transported them to various Six Flags parks.[3] Gambit went to one of their newly acquired theme parks, Six Flags New Orleans.[3] It was repainted and renamed Batman: The Ride in accordance with the park chain's use of DC Comics theming and reopened on April 12, 2003.[4]

After Hurricane Katrina made landfall over New Orleans in 2005, the park's drainage system failed, leading to substantial flooding that submerged many of the park's rides in water and damaging them beyond repair.[5] Batman: The Ride survived relatively unscathed primarily due to its high elevation above sea level and corrosion-resistant support structure. When flooding retreated, Six Flags New Orleans was permanently closed, and any rides that could be salvaged were moved to other parts of the country.[6] Batman: The Ride was moved to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio and would be refurbished and repainted.[7] The coaster reopened on April 18, 2008.[8] It was named Goliath until December 13, 2024, when it was renamed Chupacabra.[9]

Ride experience

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Chupacabra when it was known as Batman: The Ride at Six Flags New Orleans.

After departing from the station, the train immediately climbs the 105-foot (32 m) chain lift hill.[8] At the top, the train makes a sharp 80-foot (24 m)[8] downward right turn into the roller coaster's first element, a vertical loop, reaching a top speed of approximately 50 mph (80 km/h). After exiting the loop, the train enters a zero-g roll inversion before entering a second vertical loop. This is followed by an upward right-handed helix and a downward left turn into a series of corkscrews separate by a sharp left turn. The train then veers right into a brake run and returns to the station. One cycle of the ride lasts approximately 2 minutes.[8]

Track

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Chupacabra has a track length of 2,693 feet (821 m) and climbs to a height of 105 feet (32 m).[8] As Gambit at Thrill Valley, the ride featured a painted black spine and black crossties, unpainted rails and grey supports.[10] When it was known as Batman: The Ride in New Orleans, the track was painted black and orange with grey supports. At Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the ride's color scheme a blue track with yellow supports from 2008 to Fall 2024; the track was then repainted orange while the supports remained yellow.[11] Friction brakes are used to control the speed of the train. The track was manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators located in Batavia, Ohio.[12]

Chupacabra is a clone of Bolliger & Mabillard's Batman model. The original was introduced in 1992 and became a huge success after multiple parks introduced it to their lineup. Today, the Batman model can be found all over the world. Chupacabra differs from other models as it is a mirror image.[13] It is not the only Batman model to be found in San Antonio; SeaWorld introduced The Great White first in 1997.[14]

Trains

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Chupacabra operates two steel and fiberglass trains with seven cars each. Each car seats four riders in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.[8] The supports for the seats are orange, the seats themselves are black with yellow over-the-shoulder restraints connected to each one, and the coverings for the wheels are orange, blue, and yellow.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Thrill Valley". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  2. ^ Marden, Duane. "Gambit  (Thrill Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  3. ^ a b "Six Flags to Fly Over The Crescent City in 2003" (Press release). Roller Coaster Database. November 14, 2002. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  4. ^ Marden, Duane. "Batman: The Ride  (Six Flags New Orleans)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  5. ^ "Six Flags, silenced by Katrina, creates uproar in New Orleans". USA Today. May 31, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  6. ^ "New Orleans: Six Flags New Orleans". Six Flags. Archived from the original on 27 March 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Goliath Soars into Six Flags Fiesta Texas Bringing Major Park Coaster Count to Eight" (Press release). Roller Coaster Database. September 27, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Marden, Duane. "Chupacabra  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  9. ^ Iszler, Madison (December 13, 2024). "Six Flags Fiesta Texas' Goliath roller coaster has a new name and theme". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Thrill Valley – ParkVault". parkvault.net. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  11. ^ @jeffrey_siebert (September 12, 2024). "The transformation has begun..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Batman (Model)". Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  14. ^ Marden, Duane. "Great White  (SeaWorld San Antonio)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  15. ^ Marden, Duane. "Goliath Train  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goliath (Six Flags Fiesta Texas).
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