Possessed (roller coaster)

Possessed
Previously known as Superman: Ultimate Escape (2000–2003) Steel Venom (2004–2006) Voodoo (2008)
Full layout as seen from the parking lot
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Coordinates	40.579868°N 75.533559°W / 40.579868; -75.533559
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 17, 2008 (2008-05-17)
Replaced	Skyscraper
Geauga Lake
Coordinates	41.349567°N 81.379445°W / 41.349567; -81.379445
Status	Removed
Opening date	May 5, 2000 (2000-05-05)
Closing date	2006 (2006)
General statistics
Type	Steel – Inverted – Launched
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Twisted Impulse Coaster
Track layout	Shuttle roller coaster
Lift/launch system	LIM launch
Height	180 ft (55 m)
Drop	170 ft (52 m)
Length	704 ft (215 m)
Speed	70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions	0
Max vertical angle	90°
Capacity	950 riders per hour
G-force	3.7
Height restriction	52–78 in (132–198 cm)
Trains	Single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Possessed at RCDB

Possessed is an inverted launch roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster originally debuted at Geauga Lake amusement park as Superman: Ultimate Escape on May 5, 2000. After Cedar Fair purchased Geauga Lake in early 2004, the coaster was immediately renamed Steel Venom. The ride closed in 2006 and was moved to Dorney Park. It reopened in 2008 briefly under the name Voodoo, and was renamed Possessed for the 2009 season. The Impulse roller coaster model is identical to five other installations at other amusement parks, and a larger version called Wicked Twister is located at Cedar Point.

History

Geauga Lake era (2000 to 2006)

Possessed when it was known as Superman: Ultimate Escape at Geagua Lake (then named Six Flags Ohio and Six Flags Worlds of Adventure).

The ride was built by Six Flags in 2000 where it opened at what had been known as Six Flags Ohio in Aurora, Ohio and was known as Superman: Ultimate Escape.

In March 2004, Six Flags sold Worlds of Adventure (which Six Flags Ohio had been renamed to in 2001) to Cedar Fair for $145 million. Following the sale, the park reverted to its original name, Geauga Lake. All references to Looney Tunes and DC Comics characters had to be removed prior to opening day the same year, since Cedar Fair did not have licensing rights. As a result, they renamed the coaster Steel Venom. It, while receiving new signage featuring a black background with a silver and purple snake, retained its original blue, red, and yellow Superman track.

The coaster was dismantled at the end of the 2006 season. At that point, rumors began to surface that Geauga Lake was going to cut back their offerings and maybe even close. At the end of the 2007 season, it was decided that they would close the ride side of the park and keep only Wildwater Kingdom for expansion.

Dorney Park era (2007–present)

The coaster was relocated to Dorney Park and construction began in fall 2007 and was completed in April 2008. According to the staff and management, the coaster was expected to open on opening day of the 2008 season which was May 3, 2008 but it did not. On April 30, Screamscape stated that the opening day will be in mid-to-late-May. Park representatives confirmed this on May 1.

On Friday, May 16, 2008, the coaster was given the authorization to open. It had a soft opening on Saturday May 17, 2008 in the late afternoon. It continued to run when the park was closed for a private event on May 18. Media day was on Wednesday May 21, 2008. The coaster had its grand opening on Friday, May 23, 2008.

In 2009, the name was changed to Possessed in light of the fact that fellow theme park operator Six Flags claimed a trademark on the name "Voodoo." Rather than incur a legal dispute, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, the owners of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, had the name changed as part of a marketing gimmick claiming that it was now super-saturated with evil spirits. All memorabilia with the "Voodoo" name was sold at tremendous discounts via the park's website.

The coaster

The coaster's layout consists of two vertical spikes, one twisted and the other straight vertical with a holding brake, connected by a launch and station tract to form a basic "U" layout. The original ride began with riders being launched forward by the use of linear induction motors. After the initial launch, the train heads up the twisted vertical spike that twists the train 180 degrees. The train then falls and is launched backwards up the vertical spike. It shuttles back and forth three times. On the final full speed launch in reverse the holding brake at the top of the vertical rear spike used to engage, locking the train in place for a very brief moment. The holding brake is no longer operational. Valleyfair's Steel Venom is currently the only Intamin Impulse roller coaster in the United States operating with the holding brake still functional.

The maximum G-force of the ride is 3.7 Gs, expectantly low for a twisted impulse coaster.

Gallery

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  Twisted spike
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  Twisted spike
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  Straight spike
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  Straight spike
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  Train exiting the straight spike
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  Station and queue line

External links

• Possessed official page
• Video of Possessed