Montezooma's Revenge

History

Montezooma's Revenge was named after the bluegrass group, Montezuma's Revenge, a musical act that performed regularly in the wagon camp at Knott's Berry Farm. Based on the launch mechanism for aircraft carriers, the flywheel-launched shuttle loop is a successor of the drop-tower launch shuttle, and predates modern LIM and hydraulic launch systems by over 15 years. The drop tower models had a large silo with a weight inside connected to a similar launch system. The weight would drop, thus pulling the cable and bob, launching the train. Drawbacks included no adjustments for inclement weather. Also, the drop-tower launch was nowhere as intense as the flywheel launch, taking almost two seconds longer to reach the same speed.

The nearby Jaguar! roller coaster passes directly through the center of Montezooma's loop. Jaguar! was opened in 1995. In 2002, Montezooma's Revenge was repainted with teal and yellow color scheme. In 2008, Knott's opened Pony Express, a small "out and back" steel roller coaster with a flywheel launch system much like Montezooma's Revenge.

Sometime around 2016, it was rumored that Knott's would have plans to demolish the coaster, however these rumors were confirmed false since the ride received a new paint job in 2017.

Launch mechanism and safety features

The ride uses a flywheel mechanism to accelerate the train to 55 miles per hour (89 km/h) in 4.5 seconds. The train goes through a loop, then ascends a tower and reverses direction. It passes through the station in reverse and ascends another tower behind the station.

The 7.6 tonnes (7.5 long tons; 8.4 short tons) flywheel, located outside the station and adjacent to the loop, is attached to a clutch and cable system, which in turn connects to a small four-wheeled catch car known as a "bob". On the front of the bob is a launch pin that seats in a socket in the back of the train. Once the bob is seated, the operators receive the ready light.

Two operators are required to launch the train. After verifying that all passengers have secured their restraints and checking the exit stairs, one operator ascends a podium at the right front of the train. The other operator stands on a platform at the left rear. After verifying that the launch area is clear of personnel, the front operator gives a thumbs-up signal and says, "Clear; dispatch." Both operators must then press a button on their respective consoles simultaneously to launch.

At launch, the clutch system engages the cable to the spinning flywheel, pulling the bob and train rapidly forwards. During the launch sequence, enough kinetic energy is removed from the flywheel to reduce its speed from approximately 1044 rpm to 872 rpm. The train negotiates a 76-foot (23 m) diameter vertical loop before ascending the 148-foot (45 m) front tower, then descends backwards, going through the loop a second time, running at full speed backwards through the station, and ascending the 112-foot (34 m) rear tower. It is at this point where the best "airtime" on the ride is experienced. The train then returns to its starting position after being slowed by 66 sets of brakes, 33 in the station and 33 to the rear of the station.

During night time operation, the station lights dim at the instant of launch.

Incidents

Justine Dedele Bolia, a 20-year-old female tourist from the Republic of Congo, died on September 1, 2001, one day after riding Montezooma's Revenge. Bolia suffered a ruptured middle cerebral artery, and an autopsy revealed a pre-existing condition. The ride was closed for several days while an investigation was conducted. Though state investigators concluded that the ride did not contribute to her death, a wrongful death lawsuit was later filed by her family in 2002. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006.