The Howler
Encyclopedia
The Howler is a family steel roller coaster
at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
in Santa Claus
, Indiana
, USA. It was built in 1999 by Zamperla
as part of a larger expansion project to build Holidog's FunTown; it opened on May 8, 1999. The Howler is themed after Holiday World's mascot, Holidog, and features a 12-passenger train with the front car resembling the dog's head and the back car resembling the dog's hind feet and tail. The Howler is located within the Fourth of July section of Holiday World in a sub-section known as Holidog's FunTown, which is a children's play area located in the southeasternmost corner of the park.
The Howler opened on May 8, 1999. When the roller coaster opened, it operated with a single 12-passenger train
custom made by Zamperla so that the lead car resembled Holidog's head while the back car resembled Holidog's hind feet and tail.
switchback which stretches close to the length of the train. At the end of the queue there is a single swinging entrance gate. To the left of the entrance gate at the end of the station is a single swinging exit gate. The ride operator's controls are located in the area between the entrance and exit gates. To exit, guests may either walk down the small set of stairs or use the ramp. The ramp is also used by guests in wheelchairs to enter the station.
that is custom made by Zamperla
to resemble Holidog. Each train is made up of six cars that hold 2 riders each. Each car has one row holding two riders. The Howlers safety restraints include a lap bar that is shared by the two riders in each row.
. The track features a chain lift hill
and two block sections, which only allows one train to operate at a time. The Howler uses fin brakes to allow the train to be stopped in the station at the conclusion of the ride.
chain which takes riders 13 feet (4 m) in the air. Once the train has reached the top of the lift hill it is released from the chain, at which point the train goes down the ride's initial drop, which curves slightly to the right. At the bottom of the drop the train goes back uphill. The train then makes a right, downhill turn to complete the ride's helix
. After crossing under the ride's own track at the end of the helix, the train travels straight before making a banked right turn. At the conclusion of the turn, the train enters the station and stops. After stopping, the ride operators at Holiday World generally ask riders if they would like to go around for another cycle. If any rider objects to going around a second time, the ride operator lets that person off before resuming the second lap. At the conclusion of the second lap, the ride comes to an end at which point all riders unload. The total elapsed time for one lap is approximately twenty-five seconds.
In addition to weather conditions, some riders may be prohibited from boarding. Although there is no age limit, riders must be at least 36 inches (91.4 cm) tall to ride The Howler when accompanied by an adult who is 18 years of age or older. To ride unaccompanied, riders must be at least 42 inches (106.7 cm) tall. Riders must also be able to latch the lap bar to ride; due to this restriction, larger riders may not be permitted to ride. All riders must abide by Holiday World's dress code, which includes wearing a shirt, shorts, and shoes, in order to ride.
Each year, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, in coordination with the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center of Southwestern Indiana, publishes an accessibility guide for guests with disabilities. It is recommended, though not necessarily required, that all guests with the following conditions refrain from riding The Howler:
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...
at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a family owned and operated combination theme park and water park, located near Interstate 64 and U.S. 231 in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. The theme park is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July with...
in Santa Claus
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA. It was built in 1999 by Zamperla
Zamperla
Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls....
as part of a larger expansion project to build Holidog's FunTown; it opened on May 8, 1999. The Howler is themed after Holiday World's mascot, Holidog, and features a 12-passenger train with the front car resembling the dog's head and the back car resembling the dog's hind feet and tail. The Howler is located within the Fourth of July section of Holiday World in a sub-section known as Holidog's FunTown, which is a children's play area located in the southeasternmost corner of the park.
History
In 1998, Holiday World began making preparations for a new addition to the park by removing the Firecracker roller coaster from the area encircled by The Freedom Train. In its place, the park planned on building Holidog's FunTown, a children's play area featuring a three-story play structure. As part of Holidog's FunTown, Holiday World made plans to purchase a small roller coaster that all members of the family, including children, could enjoy. The park called the new roller coaster The Howler, deriving the name from the sound the area's mascot, a dog named Holidog, makes.The Howler opened on May 8, 1999. When the roller coaster opened, it operated with a single 12-passenger train
Train (roller coaster)
A roller coaster train or car describes the vehicle which transports passengers around a roller coaster's circuit. More specifically, a roller coaster train is made up of two or more "cars" which are connected by some sort of specialized joint. It is called a "train" because the cars follow one...
custom made by Zamperla so that the lead car resembled Holidog's head while the back car resembled Holidog's hind feet and tail.
Station
The Howlers station is fairly basic in comparison to the stations on Holiday World's other three roller coasters. The station is a covered platform with no walls. To enter, guests walk up a small set of stairs and enter a single queueQueue area
Queue areas are places in which people queue for goods or services. Examples include checking out groceries or other goods that have been collected in a self service shop, in a shop without self service, at an ATM, at a ticket desk, a city bus, or in a taxi stand.Queueing is a phenomenon in a...
switchback which stretches close to the length of the train. At the end of the queue there is a single swinging entrance gate. To the left of the entrance gate at the end of the station is a single swinging exit gate. The ride operator's controls are located in the area between the entrance and exit gates. To exit, guests may either walk down the small set of stairs or use the ramp. The ramp is also used by guests in wheelchairs to enter the station.
Train
The Howler uses a single light brown, 12-passenger trainTrain (roller coaster)
A roller coaster train or car describes the vehicle which transports passengers around a roller coaster's circuit. More specifically, a roller coaster train is made up of two or more "cars" which are connected by some sort of specialized joint. It is called a "train" because the cars follow one...
that is custom made by Zamperla
Zamperla
Zamperla is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The company also makes smaller coin operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls....
to resemble Holidog. Each train is made up of six cars that hold 2 riders each. Each car has one row holding two riders. The Howlers safety restraints include a lap bar that is shared by the two riders in each row.
Track
The track on The Howler is made out of yellow tubular steel. The supports for the track itself are steel as well. The total length of the track is 262.5 feet (80 m) and includes a helixHelix
A helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
. The track features a chain lift hill
Lift hill
A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
and two block sections, which only allows one train to operate at a time. The Howler uses fin brakes to allow the train to be stopped in the station at the conclusion of the ride.
Experience
The ride begins with riders in the station facing away from the Just for Pups play area. Immediately after dispatch the train latches onto the lift hillLift hill
A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
chain which takes riders 13 feet (4 m) in the air. Once the train has reached the top of the lift hill it is released from the chain, at which point the train goes down the ride's initial drop, which curves slightly to the right. At the bottom of the drop the train goes back uphill. The train then makes a right, downhill turn to complete the ride's helix
Helix
A helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
. After crossing under the ride's own track at the end of the helix, the train travels straight before making a banked right turn. At the conclusion of the turn, the train enters the station and stops. After stopping, the ride operators at Holiday World generally ask riders if they would like to go around for another cycle. If any rider objects to going around a second time, the ride operator lets that person off before resuming the second lap. At the conclusion of the second lap, the ride comes to an end at which point all riders unload. The total elapsed time for one lap is approximately twenty-five seconds.
Operation
Like all rides at Holiday World, The Howler closes when there is lightning or high winds in the park's immediate area.In addition to weather conditions, some riders may be prohibited from boarding. Although there is no age limit, riders must be at least 36 inches (91.4 cm) tall to ride The Howler when accompanied by an adult who is 18 years of age or older. To ride unaccompanied, riders must be at least 42 inches (106.7 cm) tall. Riders must also be able to latch the lap bar to ride; due to this restriction, larger riders may not be permitted to ride. All riders must abide by Holiday World's dress code, which includes wearing a shirt, shorts, and shoes, in order to ride.
Each year, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, in coordination with the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center of Southwestern Indiana, publishes an accessibility guide for guests with disabilities. It is recommended, though not necessarily required, that all guests with the following conditions refrain from riding The Howler:
- Back, Neck, or Bone Injury
- Heart Trouble
- High Blood Pressure
- Pregnancy
- Recent Surgery or Illness