Thrillseeker (roller coaster)
Defunct roller coaster at Sea World, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Thrillseeker was a steel roller coaster located at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Designed by S.D.C., the Galaxi model opened to the public in 1982. The ride is now a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria known as Taipan.[1]
| Thrillseeker | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Wild Wave Rollercoaster | |
| Sea World | |
| Location | Sea World |
| Coordinates | 27°57′24.3″S 153°25′29.9″E |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 1982 |
| Closing date | May 2002 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | S.D.C. |
| Model | Galaxi |
| Track layout | Zyklon |
Lift/launch system | Chain Lift Hill |
| Height | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Length | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
| Speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Trains | 3 trains with 2 cars; riders arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train |
| Thrillseeker at RCDB | |
History
In 1982, Sea World opened the park's first roller coaster, the Wild Wave Rollercoaster, along with the Pirate Ship and Carousel.[2] The Wild Wave Rollercoaster was later renamed to the Thrillseeker.[3] In May 2002, the Thrillseeker was closed and removed from Sea World.[1][3] It now operates as a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria, known as Taipan.[1]
Following the ride's removal, proposals were made for the area it once occupied. These included a seal exhibit named Seal Rocks[4] and a hippopotamus attraction was proposed for the site.[5] From 2006 to 2008 the site was home to the temporary Sea World Eye.[6][7] In September 2008, work began on the site for a yet-to-be-named ray exhibit.[8] By October, the name of the exhibit was announced to be Ray Reef.[9] It was originally scheduled that the exhibit would open on Boxing Day 2008 (26 December 2008), however, a number of delays forced it to open on 14 January 2009.[10][11]
Ride
The Thrillseeker had a track length of 1,000 m (3,300 ft), with a ride time of two minutes and a maximum speed of 65 km/h (40 mph). The track is steel, and the trains consist of two four-seat cars per train, for a train capacity of 8 passengers.[3]
The ride began with the right turn out of the station. After ascending the 14 metres (46 ft) chain lift hill riders were sent in a course of quick dips and spiralling helixes.[1]