Here Come the Coasters!

Many people look forward to a return to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic. Some have their sights set on hitting the road this year for amusement park thrills. Many parks delayed the opening of new rides until 2021. Because of safety risks, many theme parks were closed for long periods of time. 

But the minds behind each of these new and exciting rides have not taken a break! The roller coaster engineers at Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) in Idaho have been working nonstop. The design company has three coasters opening this year in parks around the United States. 

Many people are excited for life to be normal again after the Covid-19 pandemic. Some plan to travel to amusement parks this year. Several parks delayed the opening of new rides until 2021. Most theme parks were closed for long periods of time because of safety risks.

But the people who design new and exciting rides have not taken a break! The roller coaster engineers at Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) have been working nonstop. RMC is a design company in Idaho. The company plans to open three coasters this year. The new rides will be located in parks around the United States.

“We’re always looking to push the envelope with new ideas,” says Jake Kilcup, one of RMC’s designers. But the most fun part of creating coasters? “Our team always gets to test ride them first!” he says.

“We’re always looking to push the envelope with new ideas,” says Jake Kilcup. Kilcup is one of the designers at RMC. What’s the most fun part of creating coasters? “Our team always gets to test ride them first!” he says.

As of press time, the Jersey Devil is expected to be open at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey this year. It’s named after a legendary creature that supposedly roams the pine forests of southern New Jersey.

The coaster is on track to be the tallest single-rail coaster in the world. The Jersey Devil drops riders from a 13-story height into a nearly 60 mph fall.

Most roller coasters have two-rail tracks, explains Garcia. The Jersey Devil has only one. This makes the coaster easier to manufacture and install in a park. The coaster will also have two inversions, meaning riders go upside down twice!

The Jersey Devil is expected to open this year. It is located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. It’s named after a legendary creature named the Jersey Devil. The Jersey Devil is said to live in the pine forests of southern New Jersey.

The Jersey Devil roller coaster will be the tallest single-rail coaster in the world. It drops riders from a 13-story height. Riders fall at nearly 60 mph.

RMC engineer Amy Garcia explains that most roller coasters have two-rail tracks. The Jersey Devil has only one. This makes the coaster easier to manufacture and install in a park. The coaster will also have two inversions. That means riders will go upside down twice!

“People are really going to enjoy Iron Gwazi,” says Kilcup. “It’s tall, fast, and has a few elements you won’t see coming.” The brand-new, crocodile-themed ride at the Busch Gardens park in Tampa Bay, Florida, is 206 feet high. It sports steep drops and hits a max speed of 76 miles per hour. 

Iron Gwazi is a hybrid roller coaster, meaning its construction is a combination of steel and wood. The designers at RMC chose to reuse the structure of the original wooden Gwazi coaster they had been asked to replace.

“People are really going to enjoy Iron Gwazi,” says Kilcup. “It’s tall, fast, and has a few elements you won’t see coming.” Iron Gwazi is a new ride with a crocodile theme. It is located at the Busch Gardens park in Tampa Bay, Florida. Iron Gwazi is 206 feet high. It has steep drops. The ride’s highest speed is 76 miles per hour.

Iron Gwazi is a hybrid roller coaster. That means it’s made from a combination of steel and wood. RMC designers built Iron Gwazi to replace the original Gwazi coaster. The original Gwazi was made only of wood. The designers at RMC chose to reuse the structure of the original coaster as part of the new Iron Gwazi.