Deep in the heart of Dixie, Six Flags Over Georgia is an amazing theme park that boasts of 11 roller coasters and many other rides and games. It features shops, restaurants, and spectacular shows. We've had the fortune to visit this playground twice. It's a Peach of a Park!
Brochure courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia has the distinction of being the second Six Flags Park to be constructed. Founder Angus Wynne opened the Georgia park in 1963. Situated along the Chattahoochee River, it is located just West of Atlanta. Their first park, Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington is a terrific park and the subject of our July 2004 column entitled "In The Heart of Texas".
On your right as you enter the park, you'll find Georgia Cyclone. This wooden twister began operation in 1990, and was designed by Dinn and Summers. It is a mirror image of the famous Coney Island Cyclone in Brooklyn, New York. This ride features steep drops along its 2,970 feet of track, and reaches speeds up to 50 miles per hour. It packs an astonishing wallop.
Georgia Cyclone - a spectacular view of the first drop (Photo by Joe Schwartz www.joyrides.com)
Shredley & Joni - gyrating on Georgia Cyclone (On-ride photo by Six Flags Over Georgia)
Dahlonega Mine Train is an Arrow steel mine ride that was built in 1967. It is named after Dahlonega, a mountain village in Northern Georgia. The area was the site of a major gold rush in 1928. This coaster has three chain lifts that separate the scenic ride experience. The ride drops into a tunnel and an S-curve.
Dahlonega Mine Train curving into a tunnel (Photo by Joel Rogers www.coastergallery.com)
Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster is a family steel sit down coaster that has been operating since 2004. Built by Chance Rides, it is located in the Spanish Fort section of the park. This blaster has many sharp turns, and is a snappy ride experience.
Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster ends with a flourish (Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia)
Déjà vu is a steel inverted Vekoma Boomerang that has been operating since 2001. Riders are dropped 177 feet straight down into chaos. Three inversions forward and three backward leave guests totally disoriented at the end of the ride. We love Boomerangs because of the sensation of going through loops in reverse.
The two towers of Déjà vu (Photo by Shredley)
Déjà vu in all of its twisted glory (Photo by Joel Rogers www.coastergallery.com)
Ninja is a steel sit down looping coaster designed by Vekoma. It has been operating at SFOG since 1992. It was relocated from Dinosaur Beach in Wildwood, New Jersey. Ninja has speeds up to 52 miles per hour and has five inversions along its 2,742 feet of track.
Ninja - a loopy coaster (Photo by Shredley)
The Great American Scream Machine is one of our all time favorite out-and-back wooden coasters. It's not a kiddie ride, but it is a great introduction to the art of "falling down things". It was designed by Allen, Cobb and Rosser and has been operating since 1973. This coaster has an 89 foot drop and reaches speeds up to 57 miles per hour. It's a real honey!
The Great American Scream Machine - where flags and thrills reign supreme! (Photo by Shredley)
GASC - delightful airtime over the water (Photo by Shredley)
And now for something completely different. Next to the Great American Scream Machine is the sky coaster called Fearless Freeps Dare Devil Dive. Even though there is an extra charge, we couldn't resist pushing the envelope. Flyers are raised up to over 100 feet, and then dropped to swing freely. The sensation of flying is unbelievable!
Joni & Shredley fly into the wild blue yonder on Fearless Freeps Dare Devil Dive (Photo by Linda Guy)
Superman-Ultimate Flight is one of the new breed of Bolliger and Mabillard Flying Coaster. Built in 2002 with 2 inversions and speeds up to 51 miles per hour, this Superman features the world's first pretzel loop. Riders glide through 2,759 feet of track, with nothing beneath them but the ground below. It's delightful.
Superman welcomes you to his Ultimate Flight (Photo by Joel Rogers www.coastergallery.com)
Riders soar face down on Superman Ultimate Flight (Photo by Joel Rogers www.coastergallery.com)
The Gotham City section of Six Flags Over Georgia has two great scream machines, Batman The Ride and Mindbender. Batman The Ride is one of the eight great Bolliger and Mabillard creations of the same name that appear in Six Flags parks all over the world. Riders sit in ski lift style seats on this inverted roller coaster, and are turned upside down five times. The Batman rides are favorites of many coaster enthusiasts.
Batman The Ride turns guests head over heels (Photo by Shredley)
Joni - batty lady, batty glasses, batty car (Photo by Shredley)
Mindbender is a Schwarzkopf design and has been operating since 1978. This unique steel looper has one of the most unusual track layouts we've seen. The coaster straddles a mountain ridge and features a giant 92 foot drop in the middle of the ride. Mindbender turns guests upside down two times without the use of over the shoulder restraints (OTSR's). Instead, it uses individual racheting lap bars. We rode this coaster over and over again. We couldn't get enough of it.
Mindbender - what is it? (Photo by Shredley)
Mindbender's first inversion zooms through the trees (Photo by Shredley)
Mindbender doing what it does best, bending the mind (Photo by Joel Rogers www.coastergallery.com)
Georgia Scorcher is a terrific example of a Bolliger and Mabillard stand up roller coaster. It has been operating since 1999, features two inversions, and is very smooth and re-ridable. Georgia Scorcher reaches speeds of up to 54 miles per hour along its 3000 feet of track.
Joni & Shredley get ready for a scorching adventure (Photo by Linda Guy)
Georgia Scorcher - riders standing as they ascend the lift hill (Photo by Shredley)
Shredley & Joni looking Hot on the Georgia Scorcher (On-ride photo by Six Flags Over Georgia)
New for 2006 is Goliath. This whopping mega-coaster cost $20 million to build, and is one of the largest coasters in the Southern United States. Goliath was designed by Bolliger and Mabillard. It features speeds up to 70 miles per hour and many drops. The highest drop is 175 feet, and the airtime is staggering!
Goliath - the gigantic first and second drops (Photo by Shredley)
Goliath graces the Fall 2006 cover of Rollercoaster! magazine (Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia and American Coaster Enthusiasts)
Next month, our column will be about rumbling in Kentucky. Join us in Bowling Green as we visit Beech Bend Park.
Much Aloha!
-Joni and Shredley
Next Installment: Chapter XXXXIII: The Parks; Beech Bend Park, Bowling Green, KY
Related Links:
www.sixflags.com
www.coastergallery.com
www.joyrides.com
www.rcdb.com
www.aceonline.org
