Status Under construction Name Vortex Opened 9 March 1991 Height restriction 1.37 m | Opening date 1 April 2017 Status Closed Height 28 m | |
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Opening date March 9, 1991 (1991-03-09) Closing date September 5, 2016 (2016-09-05) Address Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA Park California's Great America Similar Flight Deck, Grizzly, Firefall, Gold Striker, Tiki Twirl | ||
Patriot is an upcoming floorless roller coaster that originally opened as Vortex and was a stand-up roller coaster.
Contents
Vortex 1991–2016
Vortex was a stand-up roller coaster at California's Great America. It had a different layout but is generally the same size as Vortex at Carowinds. It was Bolliger & Mabillard's second coaster after Iron Wolf at Six Flags Great America and officially opened on March 9, 1991. At the time of closing, the coaster had a paint scheme of purple track with yellow rails and gray supports.
Patriot 2017–present
On August 18, 2016, the park announced Vortex would be converted to Patriot for the 2017 season, which will include new Bolliger & Mabillard floorless trains and a new color scheme consisting of (repainted) blue track and white supports. This is also the first floorless coaster in the park’s 41-year history.
Ride elements
The coaster makes a left hand first drop into its first loop then executes a left turnaround. The train next travels in another left turnaround through its loop. The train then travels to the other end of its layout into another turnaround after which it enters the corkscrew element and lastly into the final brake run. The course used to cross over the park train's railroad tracks by the corkscrew. The coaster's lift hill stands parallel to the footers of the former Tidal Wave looping shuttle coaster.