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Six Flags Great America Planning Coaster for 2014
Six Flags Great America’s 2014 plans include a 165-foot-tall roller coaster, according to this Gurnee, Illinois Planning and Zoning Board meeting agenda. The park is asking for a height variance to build taller than the current 125-foot limit.
The excerpt reads:
“Six Flags Great America, located between Grand Avenue and Washington Street and Route 21 and the I-94 Tollway, is requesting a variance to allow the establishment and operation of a new roller coaster with a maximum height of 165 feet. The roller coaster is proposed in the County Fair area of the theme park, where the Iron Wolf coaster was previously located. The subject site is zoned C-S1 (A.P.) Outdoor Recreational District as a Special Use for an Amusement Park.”
Update 8/22/13: The Gurnee Village Board unanimously approved plans for the coaster. Click here to read more on the approval and blueprints of the site.
The above diagram displayed at the meeting shows the coaster’s elevation changes. The coaster will stand 165 feet tall and will drop riders 13 feet underground, for a total drop height of 178 feet.
Above, I highlighted the former Iron Wolf site, which has remained mostly untouched since the coaster closed in 2011. Of course, the new coaster doesn’t have to fit within the exact tract of land that Iron Wolf used.
Some rumors point to a Premier launched coaster similar to Full Throttle which opened this year at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Others hint at a possible Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) creation (think Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City). As much as I would like to see a RMC at the park, I’m not sure a 165-foot-tall wooden coaster could fit in that area. However, I never would have guessed a B&M wing coaster would fit in the area formerly home to Splashwater Falls. Anything is possible in regards to space issues.
The park may have something entirely different in the works. We don’t have enough details at this point to tell.
As of June of 2013, the old Iron Wolf station was still standing. The future of the structure remains uncertain, but I think it’s definitely possible that it would be reused for the new coaster, especially if it is a rumored Premier launched coaster which traditionally have shorter trains (i.e. Magic Mountain’s Full Throttle, Discovery Kingdom’s Superman: Ultimate Flight, etc.)
Below, watch the latest teaser video released by the park:
The Guinness World Record bit is quite interesting. What record could this new coaster break?
The park will announce the coaster on Thursday, August 29, 2013.
Share your thoughts about this coaster in the comments section below.
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Its totally going to be tallest fastest floorless coaster
Something to consider, but Great America wouldn’t necessarily be limited to the relatively small area of the Iron Wolf footprint. That part of the park has some options for additional space. The Camp Cartoon kids rides area could be moved elsewhere in the park, the little used Wilderness Theater can be removed, and the picnic grove area could be reduced in size.
You’re exactly right, Mike. The coaster could well extend past the boundaries left by Iron Wolf’s departure. I think the Camp Cartoon area is underutilized. Perhaps that whole area could receive a facelift, including the picnic area and Wilderness Theater.
I heard a rumor that American Eagle may be getting a rocky mountain upgrade,
Six Flags Great America needs more wooden coasters. I love the steel that they provide, but I love the classic wooden coasters as well. I highly doubt they are going to upgrade the American Eagle into a RMC (Rocky Mountain Construction) Coaster because it held records and still hold some today. I can see Viper getting an upgrade. But to me it would be similar to the Iron Rattler. I don’t know that’s my thoughts, I just hope they can surprised me.
I’m predicting something bold here based on everything I’ve read/seen regarding this. I think Six Flags may deviate from the norm of 1 major change/addition per year per park and announce 2 big additions/changes for Great America. 1. I think you are right, John, and a new steel launch coaster similar to Full Throttle will go in the area where Iron Wolf used to be and feature a record-breaking 165-foot loop. 2. I also think they may announce an RMC makeover of 1 side of the American Eagle (specifically the blue side based on rumors and pictures that I’ve seen) that will take more than a year to complete, and will create the world’s first racing half hybrid/half classic wooden coaster, and which could possibly break the current wooden coaster speed record. Can you imagine a blue side hybrid that loops over the classic red side?
its a wooden coaster…. manufacturer can be debated still but it is a wooden tracked coaster and is powered by a chain lift then gravity those are facts. The 165 feet is the top of the lift hill which then has a 178 foot drop that goes 13 feet underground. the current world record for drop on a woodie is El Toro at 176 so that would be a record by 2 feet. This drop combined with its close if not record angle of drop will give it the speed to break the wooden speed record also held by El Toro.of 70 mph. rumors are it will break 3 records so if it breaks the angle of drop of outlaw run that could be the third. From track layout that has been seen so far there is speculation on 2 inversions. one barrel roll and the other either a dive loop or an immerman possibly. If they can somewhere squeeze in more than 3 inversions that would break outlaw runs record there. until the 29th we can still debate anything that isn’t known fact. 1. its wooden tracked. and it will be a record breaker of some kind.
I’ve heard and read rumors of SFGAM (Six Flags Great America) adding another wood coaster, that could possibly eclipse El Toro as fastest wood coaster. El Toro is located at SFGADV (Six Flags Great Adventure). SFGAM already has 3 wood coasters… America Eagle twin racing coaster, Viper (mirror-image clone of Coney Island Cyclone), and Little Dipper kiddie coaster… not sure if SFGAM would become record-holder of more wood coasters than any other theme park.
As for which SFGAM wood coaster I could picture getting Rocky Mountain Construction hybrid transformation (iron horse re-track)… I could picture Viper getting the hybrid transformation, and re-themed as “Iron Viper”. If the transformation process is to take approx. 12-16 months, I could picture Viper closing at the end of 2014, to undergo transformation during 2015, and reopening in 2016 (SFGAM’s 45th anniversary) as a hybrid… especially if Viper keeps the mirror-image Coney Island Cyclone layout. I’d assume SFGAM leave American Eagle as is… American Eagle only getting topper track in areas showing signs of wear and tear.
SFGAM currently doesn’t have a Premier Rides or Gerstlauer manufactured steel coaster in their collection. If SFGAM were to get a Premier Rides launch coaster, I could picture something inspired by Full Throttle at SFMM (Six Flags Magic Mountain) or Superman: Ultimate Flight at SFDK (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)… or if SFGAM were to get a Gerstlauer coaster, I could picture either spinning coaster with the “Pandemonium” name, or a euro-fighter, inspired by Dare Devil Dive at SFOG (Six Flags Over Georgia).
As for new non-coaster ride, I see SFGAM getting a 242ft tall SkyScreamer ride… either 2014 or 2015.
I’ve also heard the rumor of SFGAM possibly removing Rajun’ Cajun coaster at the end of 2013, and relocating it to SFA (Six Flags America). SFA’s Apocalypse is SFGAM’s former Iron Wolf… and it remains to be seen if SFA will be getting another SFGAM hand-me-down.
I can totally see SFGA getting a hybrid, SFGA is my home park so I would also love it if SFGA got a hybrid. Plus, in the future i can see maybe a skyscreamer, but I don’t know where there would be room. I suppose SFGA could get a euro- fighter in the future, but for 2014 I’m positive that SFGA will receive a hybrid.
I wake up at six in the morning August 29 and they haven’t posted yet! I’m so ANGRY!!!:(