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Desperado (roller coaster)
Encyclopedia
Desperado is a hypercoaster
located in Primm
, Nevada
at the Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino
a part of the Primm Valley Resorts complex.
According to the roller coaster database, Desperado was one of the tallest roller coaster
s in the world at the time of being built. It features a 60-degree, 225 feet (68.6 m) drop; a 209 feet (63.7 m) lift hill; and top speeds around 80 mph. On the 2 minute, 43 second ride, riders will experience almost 4 Gs. A portion of the ride runs through the interior of the casino. The coaster was listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest roller coaster in 1996.
which had a top speed of 82 mph. There was much discussion when the ride opened that questioned if it's 209' lift height was higher than The Pepsi Max Big One
at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England
. The Big One opened in May 1994, with a top speed of 75 mph and an advertised height of 235', but many claimed that number was above sea level
which was 34' lower than The Big One's base. Later measurements showed The Big One as being 213' high.
For his Top Secret special that first aired on February 24, 1999, magician Lance Burton
staged a death-defying escape in a stunt where he was tied to the roller coaster's track and had to break out of handcuffs in order to escape.
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
located in Primm
Primm, Nevada
Primm is a tiny community in Clark County, Nevada, United States, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15 where it crosses the border between California and Nevada...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
at the Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino
Buffalo Bill's
Buffalo Bill's is a hotel and casino located in Primm, Nevada, USA, at the California stateline. It has 1,242 guest rooms and suites. The hotel is home to the Desperado roller coaster, one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world, as well as a pool in the shape of a buffalo...
a part of the Primm Valley Resorts complex.
According to the roller coaster database, Desperado was one of the tallest roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
s in the world at the time of being built. It features a 60-degree, 225 feet (68.6 m) drop; a 209 feet (63.7 m) lift hill; and top speeds around 80 mph. On the 2 minute, 43 second ride, riders will experience almost 4 Gs. A portion of the ride runs through the interior of the casino. The coaster was listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's tallest roller coaster in 1996.
History
At its opening, the coaster tied the record for longest drop and steepest roller coaster. However, the top speed of 80 mph was slightly slower than the Steel Phantom at KennywoodKennywood
Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway. The park was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood...
which had a top speed of 82 mph. There was much discussion when the ride opened that questioned if it's 209' lift height was higher than The Pepsi Max Big One
Pepsi Max Big One
The Big One is a steel roller coaster located at Pleasure Beach Blackpool in the United Kingdom. The ride was originally manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, a now defunct steel coaster manufacturer, and was sponsored by the soft drinks firm Pepsi, under their brand of Pepsi Max until 2011...
at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Big One opened in May 1994, with a top speed of 75 mph and an advertised height of 235', but many claimed that number was above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
which was 34' lower than The Big One's base. Later measurements showed The Big One as being 213' high.
For his Top Secret special that first aired on February 24, 1999, magician Lance Burton
Lance Burton
Lance Burton is a stage illusionist. He has appeared on numerous television programs, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth and President Ronald Reagan...
staged a death-defying escape in a stunt where he was tied to the roller coaster's track and had to break out of handcuffs in order to escape.