California’s Great America, near Silicon Valley, is about to introduce a new thrill ride for those with strong stomachs: a roller coaster that not only turns you completely upside down, but also lets you stare at the rails below you, because it has no floor under your feet.
It seems that Vortex, the oldest stand-up roller-coaster in the country, with 91-foot drops, 45 mph screaming turns and 360-degree loops and all the rest, is no longer scary enough for the audience. If it’s scary enough for you, or you’re nostalgic about it, you have until September 5 for that one.
Once it closes for the year, it will be rebuilt into Patriot, with the same layout, but different trains and no floors. Riders’ feet will dangle directly over the track when the ride opens for next year’s park season, joining similar coasters in other parks.
No thanks…I’ll just watch. Or maybe not even…
This is becoming more common with some older coasters, and most fans enjoy it. I’m not crazy about it, but at least it’s different.