Diamondback (roller coaster) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Diamondback is a Bolliger & Mabillard

Bolliger & Mabillard

Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger acting as president and Mabillard as vice-president...

steel

Steel roller coaster

A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...

hypercoaster

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 at Kings Island

Kings Island

Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...

in Mason

Mason, Ohio

Mason is an affluent city in southwestern Warren County, Ohio, United States, 22 miles away from Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census, Mason's population was 30,712. Mason has experienced fast growth, with its historic Main Street remaining at the center of the community...

, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

.

The ride is 5282 feet (1,610 m) long and spans from just behind International Street and the Eiffel Tower and over the Rivertown area, and into a wooded area. The roller coaster contains a splashdown element near the end of the ride in the former Swan Lake area in Rivertown, near The Beast. Construction of this ride restored The Beast's entrance to its original 1979 location.

Diamondback is the biggest investment in Kings Island’s 38-year history at $22 million (ahead of The Crypt

The Crypt (Kings Island)

The Crypt is a Giant Top Spin thrill ride located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio. Originally constructed in 2002 by then-owners Paramount Parks, the ride opened as TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, featuring numerous special effects, pre-shows, and voice-overs establishing its relation to the Paramount...

and Son of Beast, each of which cost $20 million). The coaster has a 230 ft (70.1 m) lift hill with a 215 ft-drop, featuring 10 total drops and a top speed of about 80 mi/h. This ride is similar to Behemoth

Behemoth (roller coaster)

Behemoth is a steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is a Hyper Coaster designed and developed by Swiss manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard. Behemoth is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada...

at Canada's Wonderland in dimensions and statistics, and like Behemoth has staggered seating. It opened on April 18, 2009. It is also the park's first ever Bolliger and Mabillard roller coaster. It is also the first new coaster to be installed after Kings Island was bought by Cedar Fair.

Awards

Diamondback was ranked 7th best steel roller coaster in its opening year by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards. It was also rated the best new attraction for 2009 by NAPHA.

Golden Ticket Awards: Top Steel Roller Coasters
Year	2009	2010	2011
Ranking	7	7	11

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster
Year	2009	2010
Ranking	4	19

Layout and Ride Experience

The coaster starts straight out of the station and up the 230' lift. Once reaching the top of the hill, the coaster descends the 215' drop at 74° over the Rivertown midway and curves to the right up the second hill and down the drop into the ravine, curving again to the left. The ride then ascends another camelback hill and drops straight into the hammerhead turn. After dropping out of the hammerhead, the train speeds up the fourth hill (which has a trim brake

Brake run

A brake run on a roller coaster is any section of track meant to slow or stop a roller coaster train. Brake runs may be located anywhere along the circuit of a coaster and may be designed to bring the train to a complete halt or to simply adjust the train's speed...

) and down into a 287° counter-clockwise helix and into the mid course brake run

Brake run

. After the short brake run the train drops down into the ravine, raising into a bunny hop hill, then into another bunny hop and into the final clockwise helix of 323°. After the final helix, the train passes over the Rivertown midway a second time and drops into the splashdown finale, slowing the train down and leading it into the final brake run. After braking, the train takes a left U-turn and heads back into the station.

Splashdown

Diamondback is one of only five roller coasters around the world to feature a splashdown. Scoops positioned at the sides of the last car on each train send water soaring at heights of 50 ft (15.2 m) as the train passes. Diamondback is the first sitdown hypercoaster to perform this element. (Dive machines SheiKra

SheiKra

SheiKra is a Bolliger and Mabillard diving machine roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. It is situated in the Stanleyville section of the park. SheiKra was the first dive machine roller coaster in North America. It is tied with Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia as the second tallest roller...

and Griffon

Griffon (roller coaster)

Griffon is a Bolliger & Mabillard diving machine roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. On opening, it was the tallest of its kind in the world at . Griffon originally had two other potential names — "IronEagle" and "Voltare" — before Busch Gardens decided on the name "Griffon". Griffon has...

at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Williamsburg also feature a splashdown.)

Trains

The trains on this coaster are the same prototype trains that feature staggered, unobstructed view seating seen on Behemoth

Behemoth (roller coaster)

at Canada's Wonderland and Intimidator

Intimidator (roller coaster)

Intimidator is a steel roller coaster at the Carowinds amusement park. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, Intimidator is the thirteenth roller coaster installed at Carowinds and is located at the entrance of the theme park. The Intimidator is the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the...

at Carowinds. The front car of each train features a yellow snake head with long fangs, while the inside of the trains are black, red, and orange. There are three trains total, each train featuring a different fin color: green, red, or brown. Under the sides of the last car on each train are the scoops for the splashdown at the end.

Advertising

A CoasterDynamix model at Kings Island shows the Diamondback's whole ride in the form of an electric model. There is also a virtual simulation video.
An official press conference was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 6, 2008. A countdown was displayed on the park's official site with an eye of a creature and a message that said, "OUR MEANEST RIDE HITS THE PARK IN: XX:XX". Also, teaser signs had been posted around the construction site with phrases saying:

"Warning"

Steep Incline Ahead.

Slippery when wet...

Move slowly, Do not disturb!!

Run for the hills!!!

Ride, Sally, ride!!!

Easily angered, Do not disturb!!

Avoid sudden moves, Do not disturb!!

Keep your hands and feet away!!

Beware of snakes!

Infrared detectors are in use, Do not disturb!!

Extreme danger, Do not disturb!!

The park strikes back in 2009

The countdown clock also featured an Easter egg in the form of a glitch that would cause the timer to incorrectly display the hours at midnight. At midnight the day of the media event, the entire clock began to shake violently, then screaming faces flashed by, followed by a menacing, monster-like eye. The Easter egg was only visible for a brief amount of time.

An official webpage for Diamondback was created at kidiamondback.com with web cams, a blog, pictures, and video of the ride.

First Riders

On February 4, 2009, Kings Island announced they would hold an auction for the first riders on Diamondback. The winners of the auction would be given a commemorative first rider ticket, a special gift from the park, and an admission ticket. All proceeds from the auction would go to A Kid Again non-profit organization, formerly known as Adventures for Wish Kids. On opening day the first 10,000 riders received a shirt with the ride's logo on it.

Construction

Construction of Diamondback began on October 11, 2007, with the removal of a tree. Adena Corporation was Diamondback's general contractor during construction.

Timeline

October 11, 2007 Construction of Diamondback began with the removal of a tree.
April 20, 2008 Kings Island fan sites have been keeping a close eye on the project and have many pictures of the construction.

July 9, 2008 A local newspaper
Dayton Daily News
The Dayton Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. In the 2010 Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition that takes place every year, DaytonDailyNews.com was named "the best large-newspaper web site in Ohio".-History:On August 15,...

posted images taken from the official filed blueprints of the new 2009 coaster.
July 22, 2008 - The three sections of track are sitting in the former Swan Lake area. One is near the idle Back Porch Stage, while the other two are sitting near the closed Paradise Island food stand. Also near Paradise Island is a new stack of red steel material, which appears to be either wiring conduit or railings. In addition, The Crypt's
The Crypt (Kings Island)
The Crypt is a Giant Top Spin thrill ride located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio. Originally constructed in 2002 by then-owners Paramount Parks, the ride opened as TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, featuring numerous special effects, pre-shows, and voice-overs establishing its relation to the Paramount...

entrance and exit have now been rerouted, and even more concrete footers are being drilled in close proximity to the railroad tracks.
July 23, 2008 Kings Island delivered to the media large metal bolts attached to invitations for the announcement of the new ride currently under construction. A second invite was sent out with a bottle of Tremor Tonic inviting press to the August 6 press release.
July 30, 2008 Vertical construction has begun in the former Swan Lake area of Rivertown.
August 6, 2008 Diamondback is officially announced to the media and the public.
August 18, 2008 The first piece of track has been laid. The track is a piece of transfer track that will be used to place the trains into the storage/maintenance shed. Also a piece of catwalk was added to the track.
October 3, 2008 The workmen start on the 230 feet (70.1 m) lift hill.
October 20, 2008 The construction continues with a 88 feet (26.8 m) piece is added with some support beams
October 30, 2008 Diamondback's lift hill was topped off.
November 11, 2008 Diamondback's first drop was finished.
December 15, 2008 Construction on the second 193 feet (58.8 m) drop.
December 18, 2008 The 131 feet (39.9 m) hill is complete.
January 9, 2009 Workers work on the first helix.
January 20, 2009 Press releases that the world's best new roller coaster nears completion.
January 26, 2009 Final track piece was put in place at approximately 2:42 p.m.
February 4, 2009 Bidding for the first ride on Diamondback began.
February 16, 2009 Diamondback's trains arrived and were set into place.
February 26, 2009 The first test run is conducted at 4:41 p.m.
March 6, 2009 Splashdown area is filled and is tested.
March 7, 2009 3-train testing begins after each train has gone through the certain number of test runs.
March 17, 2009 Diamondback's entrance begins being built.
March 20, 2009 The splashdown area is drained to finish landscape in and around it.
March 25, 2009 The splashdown is filled as the landscape is completed.
April 7, 2009 Diamondback's sign for the entrance is installed.
April 18, 2009 Diamondback opens with an estimated 12,000 riders.
May 17, 2009 Your on-ride photos could be e-mailed to your computer.
July 20, 2009 Diamondback reaches its one millionth rider.
September 10, 2009 Golden Ticket Awards names Diamondback the 2nd best new ride of 2009, the best new steel coaster of 2009, and the 7th best steel coaster of 2009.

External links

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