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Coordinates: 42°22′16″N 87°56′03″W / 42.3712°N 87.9343°W / 42.3712; -87.9343
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Shockwave
Six Flags Great America
LocationSix Flags Great America
Park sectionOrleans Place
Coordinates42°22′16″N 87°56′03″W / 42.3712°N 87.9343°W / 42.3712; -87.9343
StatusRemoved
Opening dateJune 3, 1988 (1988-06-03)
Closing date2002 (2002)
Cost$6,000,000
Replaced bySuperman: Ultimate Flight
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerArrow Dynamics
ModelCustom Looping Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height170 ft (52 m)
Drop155 ft (47 m)
Length3,900 ft (1,200 m)
Speed65 mph (105 km/h)
Inversions7
Duration2:20
Capacity2000 riders per hour
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Shockwave at RCDB

Shockwave was a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, located in the Orleans Place section of the park. The roller coaster was manufactured by Arrow Dynamics and opened in 1988 as the world's tallest roller coaster and the world's fastest steel coaster, standing 170 feet (52 m) tall and reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). It featured the most inversions of any roller coaster at the time at seven, including three vertical loops, a batwing, and a double corkscrew. Shockwave was the first of three coasters built at Six Flags parks with nearly identical layouts, being followed by Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure and Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Shockwave's ride experience was later regarded as rough; multiple guests reported minor injuries obtained by riding the coaster. In 2002, the coaster was dismantled to make way for Superman: Ultimate Flight, which opened the following year. The park originally planned to remove Whizzer to make space for the new coaster, but in response to public feedback, Shockwave was selected for removal instead. Shockwave's pieces sat in storage just outside of the park until being scrapped in 2004; the ride's trains were sent to Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Magic Mountain for use on their similar coasters.

History

[edit]

In late 1987, Six Flags Great America announced the construction of Shockwave for the 1988 season.[1] Upon opening, Shockwave would be the tallest roller coaster in the world, as well as the fastest steel coaster. Shockwave would reach a height of 170 feet (52 m) and a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) using a 155-foot-tall (47 m) drop, the tallest drop on a roller coaster.[2][3] Additionally, Shockwave would debut with the most inversions on a roller coaster at seven inversions,[4] surpassing Vortex at Kings Island, the previous record holder, which opened the year prior with six.[5][6]

Shockwave was built for a price of $6 million ($16 million in 2024).[7][8] The ride was designed by Ron Toomer, and was manufactured by Arrow Dynamics;[8][9] Camosy Inc. built the ride's foundations, while McHenry Construction erected the coaster's steel. The ride was located in a plot of land which was previously part of the park's parking lot.[10] Shockwave opened to the public on June 3, 1988.[8]

In 1989, Six Flags Great Adventure opened Great American Scream Machine, which featured a layout identical to Shockwave’s, but with a slightly taller height of 173 feet (53 m) and a slightly faster top speed of 68 miles per hour (109 km/h).[11] It became the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster until the debut of Magnum XL-200 later that year.[12] In 1990, Six Flags Magic Mountain opened Viper, which stood 188 feet (57 m) tall and reached a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour (110 km/h).[13] Shockwave, Great American Scream Machine, and Viper were all created by Arrow Dynamics and featured the same elements in the same order.[8][14][15]

Pieces of Shockwave in storage in 2004

In 2002, Six Flags Great America announced that the Whizzer family coaster would be removed to make way for the park's 2003 addition, with its final day of operation set for August 11.[16] The Chicago Sun-Times reported that following the announcement, the park received hundreds of calls and letters asking that the ride not be removed. This included from families from across the Midwest and members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, according to the Daily Herald.[17][18][19] As a result of this feedback, the park decided to keep Whizzer, instead opting to remove Shockwave.[20][21] Prior to its closure, Shockwave reportedly faced low ridership and rising maintenance costs, and riders repeatedly the ride experience as uncomfortable;[5][22][23] the coaster was also associated with multiple reports of minor injuries.[24] Shockwave's closure was confirmed on September 24, 2002, and the ride had begun to be dismantled by the following day.[25]

After Shockwave closed, Six Flags Great America spokesperson Susan Storey initially stated that the coaster would be relocated, mentioning that it would likely be moved to another Six Flags park, though this never occurred.[26][8] The coaster's pieces sat in storage just outside of the park until 2004, when they were scrapped. Following this, Shockwave's red train was sent to Six Flags Magic Mountain for use on Viper, while the blue and yellow trains were sent to Six Flags Great Adventure for use on Great American Scream Machine.[8][5] Bolts from the coaster were given away in a raffle to members of American Coaster Enthusiasts.[19] Shockwave's plot of land would be reused for Superman: Ultimate Flight, which opened on May 3, 2003;[8][27] Shockwave's gift shop was reused to be the gift shop for Superman.[10]

Characteristics

[edit]

Station, track, and trains

[edit]

Shockwave was located in the Orleans Place area of Six Flags Great America. Its 3,900 feet (1,200 m) of steel track were painted blue, with white supports. The ride operated with three trains, each painted red, yellow, or blue. Each train featured seven two-row cars, seating two riders per row, for a total capacity of 28 riders per train. This configuration gave Shockwave a maximum theoretical capacity of 2,000 riders per hour. Each seat was equipped with an individual over-the-shoulder restraint.

Layout

[edit]

After being dispatched from the station, trains made a left-hand U-turn towards the chain lift hill. After climbing to a height of 188 feet (57 m), trains drop 155 feet (47 m) while turning to the left.

On Shockwave, riders were seated and pulled down their over-the-shoulder restraints. They exited the station, rolling over the transfer track, and entered a short drop before making a tight un-banked U-turn toward the lift. Once at the top of the lift, the riders entered the roughly 150-degrees-to-the-left twisting drop, speeding down to the ground. They then climbed up to the first vertical loop, which was 130 feet (40 m) high above the queue line.[3] A roughly 90-degree left turn followed, and then the two 116-foot (35 m) consecutive vertical loops.[3] Next, the train rose up and negotiated a very tight left turn into the mid-course/block brake. After a braking, riders went through a zig-zag turn and drop and entered the boomerang, getting their pictures taken between the two inversions. Upon exiting the element, the train made a roughly 180-degree turn to the right and entered the two back-to-back "right-hand" or "clockwise" corkscrews. Finally, riders went over a small bunny hill and made a roughly 210-degree turn to the left, entering the long brake run leading to the station.[8]

Reception

[edit]

In 1993, The Post-Crescent reported that Shockwave was the park's most popular attraction by riders;[28] Milwaukee Journal Sentinel documented that in 1994, Shockwave had dropped to second place at 1.71 million riders, only behind American Eagle.[29] In Shockwave's final year, Jeffery Westhoff from Northwest Herald called the loops "a blast"; Joeseph Lopez of the same newspaper described the ride as "intense" but "almost guaranteed to cause headaches and nausea".[22] Other news sources deemed the ride "rough" and "bumpy";[23][20] after its removal, Jeff Pizek of Daily Herald called the ride "infamously jarring".[30] Multiple riders reported experiencing their heads repeatedly striking ride's over-the-shoulder restraints,[31][24] with some specifically citing the left turn into the mid-course brake run. Some also criticized the coaster for its lack of landscaping, being constructed over a section of land which was previously part of the park's parking lot.[32] Despite mixed reception, some roller coaster enthusiasts continued to express interest in the ride years after its removal.[33]

TEMPORARY SECTION: SOURCES

[edit]

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/231256590 removal

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/182402515 removal, low ridership, park president's favorite

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-superman-the-newest-ride-at-gr/109392474/ removal

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/544353603 removal

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/290375807 most popular ride in 1993

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/271200738 removal

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/855825505 designed by Arrow

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/537391994 headbanging

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/989213775 records

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/831283998 records

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/768476136 ShockWave styling

https://www.proquest.com/docview/209419663 Parking lot coaster, gift shop reused

https://www.proquest.com/docview/312662044 Whizzer swap, Shockwave to be relocated, speculation

https://www.proquest.com/docview/312693605 Whizzer swap, parking lot coaster

https://www.proquest.com/docview/209451438 Whizzer swap with dates

https://www.proquest.com/docview/209429103 dismantled in fall

https://www.proquest.com/docview/312913638 "infamously jarring"

https://www.proquest.com/docview/419897571 bumpy

https://www.proquest.com/docview/260305641 3rd most popular ride in 1995 with 1.71 million riders

https://www.proquest.com/docview/312695968 being removed

https://www.proquest.com/docview/312535896 "kind of rough". Three trains

https://www.proquest.com/docview/312768074 ACE helped in saving Whizzer, bolts from Shockwave auctioned

https://www.proquest.com/docview/437286853 Six Flags' 3 7-loopers in 3 years

https://www.proquest.com/docview/258928985 people called and wrote letters to save Whizzer

https://www.proquest.com/docview/1867064333 enthusiasts want it to come back

https://www.proquest.com/docview/890312040

https://www.proquest.com/docview/2329236978 Whizzer swap

https://dailyherald.newspaperarchive.com/arlington-heights-daily-herald-suburban-chicago/2002-08-09/page-272/ Whizzer planned to be possibly sold, families called

[34]

[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New roller coaster to be tallest, fastest". Kenosha News. December 21, 1987. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Roller-coaster thrills roll from coast to coast". Richmond Times-Dispatch. 27 March 1988. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d Jim, Pollock (June 19, 1988). "Midwest rides can stand hair on end". The Times Herald. Gannett News Service. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Roller Coaster Thrills! Chills!". Evansville Courier. May 15, 1988. p. 49. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c CoasterCritic (29 September 2017). "Remembering ShockWave at Six Flags Great America". Coaster Critic. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  6. ^ Marden, Duane. "Vortex (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  7. ^ Stoffel, Jennifer (3 July 1988). "What's New in Amusement Parks; Breaking New Ground In Thrills and Chills". The New York Times. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Marden, Duane. "Shockwave (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  9. ^ Seifert, Jeffrey (2006). "Arrow". RollerCoaster! Magazine. 27 (4): 12–13. ISSN 0896-7261.
  10. ^ a b O'Brien, Tim (April 21, 2003). "New Superman ride helps promo plans at Six Flags". Amusement Business. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  11. ^ "Great Adventure adds 'great' scream machine". The Daily Register. November 11, 1988. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Meskil, Paul (August 6, 1989). "A Rolling Revival: The monster roller coasters of today's amusement parks are battling it out to be the best. Just for the thrill of it". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved April 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Ponder, Jim (June 7, 1990). "Viper may frighten riders silly, but engineering keeps it safe". Thousand Oaks Star. Retrieved April 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Marden, Duane. "Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  15. ^ Marden, Duane. "Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  16. ^ O'Brien, Tim (August 12, 2002). "Fans help revive The Whizzer". Amusement Business. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  17. ^ "New Great America roller coaster is Super; Not faster than a speeding bullet, but still a powerful thrill". Chicago Sun-Times. January 23, 2003. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Susnjara, Bob (August 9, 2002). "How fans won reprieve for Whizzer". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via NewspaperArchive.
  19. ^ a b Susnjara, Bob (July 4, 2003). "Coaster club ready to roll at theme park". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Elder, Robert K. (May 2, 2003). "Just for thrills; How far can coaster technology go? Superman flips riders' perspectives, while others push our physical limits". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ O'Brien, Tim (February 10, 2003). "Superman to soar at Six Flags". Amusement Business. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  22. ^ a b Lopez, Joseph; Westhoff, Jeffery (June 14, 2002). "Thrills-N-Spills: Herald writers ride their way through Great America to rate the coasters". Northwest Herald. p. 82. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  23. ^ a b Kenyon, Virginia (August 3, 2001). "And what about all those other rides?". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  24. ^ a b "Saferparks legacy accident data set – Excel (2.4 MB)" (XLSX). Saferparks. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  25. ^ King, Jason J. (September 25, 2002). "Shockwave the odd coaster out at Six Flags". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  26. ^ "Six Flags Great America dismantling Shockwave". Amusement Today. September 25, 2002. Archived from the original on October 13, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  27. ^ Romsos, Andrea (May 1, 2003). "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... Superman". The Reporter. p. 1. Retrieved April 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Thompson, Andy (August 28, 1993). "Midwest mecca of thrills". The Post-Crescent. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Sones, Bill; McGervey, John D. (October 29, 1995). "Oh, to be popular". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  30. ^ Pizek, Jeff (June 4, 2004). "The Big Queasy The rides can make your head spin, but Great America's new Mardi Gras is much tamer than the real thing". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  31. ^ Mazurski, Lauren (January 16, 2000). "My trip to Six Flags Great America". Southtown Star. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ Filas, Lee (February 5, 2003). "Wanna fly? Check out new coaster". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  33. ^ Moran, Dan (February 11, 2017). "Dan Moran column". Lake County News-Sun. Retrieved April 18, 2025 – via ProQuest.
  34. ^ "New roller coaster to be tallest, fastest". Kenosha News. December 21, 1987. Retrieved April 17, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
Preceded by World's Tallest Complete-Circuit Roller Coaster
June 1988–April 1989 		Succeeded by
Preceded by First Roller Coaster With 7 Inversions
June 1988–May 1995 		Succeeded by
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