Back in the day at Six Flags Great Adventure Lightnin Loops was my first looping coaster. Front or back seat… those were my favorites. I’d literally go on over and over and over. Yes things advanced but when Six Flags shut it down I wasn’t happy. Lol. Finding out it is still in existence is awesome. I might plan myself a trip. Thanks for the post. Just for the record… my highest number of times in one visit to the park on Lightnin Loops was 33… and that included 13 in a row. Yeah… I was totally addicted to this ride and all these years later would LOVE to go back on. Thanks for the video. Was great to hear all the details.
Omg I might fly out from New York to get on it again it's hands down a truly great ride. I miss it. I used to ride lightening loops and one of my friends was a ride operator when the girl got run over by the train in 1987. She sat on top of the shoulder harness. I was told she was apprehensive about getting on the decided after they checked the lap bars. They did the Initial count and nobody was in that seat .. they launched the ride. Then on the way out they saw somebody in the seat but couldn't stop the ride. Devastating doesn't even come close. I was told she fell out at the loop and was run over by the train.
That backwards ejector airtime is truly what makes these coasters so special. I found Sidewinder at EG to be slightly smoother than Diamond Back, but DB's ramp, placement on a hill, and lower elevation makes the climb up to the station more merciful than Sidewinder's.
When I visited Elitch, I had just flown in that morning from 700 ft in elevation. My friend that I met up with flew in from California, 100 ft in elevation. So now at 5000 ft in elevation, and having to climb so many stairs to get to Sidewinder (far more than with Diamond Back), a recipe for altitude sickness. Best ride in the park, but we only rode it once because of those stairs.
@@OklahomaCoasterFan That sounds about right! I live at this elevation, and even I'm out of breath by the time I reach Sidewinder's platform. Thank goodness there aren't any of these in Mexico City.
I worked at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ - and Lightnin' Loops was the very first ride I worked. Diamond Back is the lower loop (originally named Loop I in all the technical manuals) and the upper loop (Loop II) became Python at what is now, Six Flags America. Loop II has since been demolished and sadly, scrapped. Loop II was my first ride as an employee, and it held many amazing memories for me. When Lightnin' Loops was originally conceived, elevators were planned for each station. Due to budget cuts however, wide staircases with multiple landings on the station side, and a narrow staircase on the far-side were installed instead. We weren't allowed to let guests ride again without exiting (no re-rides at the time) and they would complain about having to go all the way down the stairs, and having to climb all the way back up for a 2nd ride. I would simply tell them... "You think that's tough? Try coming to work and starting your day by climbing (Loop II) 98 steps to the platform to start your 8 hour shift. We work anywhere between 1-3 hours loading/unloading/operating, and then have to go to "far side" where we go back down the same 98 steps, walk underneath the ride, all the way to the far-end stairs and then climb 87 steps to the catwalk to relieve the far-end operator. At the time I worked there, you had nothing but a small section of railing (sort of a seat) to rest on, and only a single piece of plywood over your head. All sides were open to the elements and if it was raining, well... you got wet. Years later, they actually put a 3-sided booth up there - but us original workers had to endure the elements... (I did have a really good farmer's tan though!) Anyway, after an hour of far-side operating, you would be relieved and proceed to head back down the 87 steps, walk under the ride back and climb the 98 steps back up to the station. You might work a little more, or be sent on break where you had 45 minutes to go back down the 98 steps, travel half-way across the park to get to the employee canteen, get something to eat, and then walk back to the ride and ... yep... climb the 98 steps again up to the station. You would work for another 1-3 hours, and then guess what? You'd go over to far-side once again... Back down the 98 steps, walk under the ride, and back up the 87 steps to relieve the operator... Work for another hour, then it's back down the 87 steps, walk back under the ride and climb the 98 steps to the station. You would finish your shift and then at the end, walk down the 98 steps... That pretty much shut up anyone who complained. :P There were some fun times as well... If the person at "far-side" wanted something to drink (we had a 5-gallon Igloo cooler with water or kool aid on the station side) we would take a large cup over to them - usually by riding the train to the other side, holding the half-filled drink cup in your hand, and holding it in such a manner so that it didn't spill - or only spilled a little. You learned how to do that after many runs.... One day however, one of our staff was really hung over from a party the night before his shift, and he kept calling the station to ask for more fruit punch to be sent over. After at least 5-6 trips, I finally had it with him, and grabbed the entire 5-gallon cooler and sat it on the floor, in the very last seat of the train. I then climbed in and straddled the cooler between my feet and lowered my harness. My coworkers on the station side were hesitant to launch the train, but they did anyway... and we took off. Once we started the descent down the hill, the red lid popped off and I managed to catch it with both hands as we hit the bottom of the drop and headed into the loop. Instantly sheer panic set in as we began to go into the loop and I watched the very cold mixture of ice cubes and red fruit punch sloshing in the cooler as we went upside -down - navigating through the loop and up the hill on the far side. Thank GOD the cooler was only half-filled because only about a cup of the liquid spilled out onto the seat and was soaked up by my dark blue uniform pants. The operator on the far side, who was expecting another cup of punch, was shocked when I told him to "grab the cooler" ... We weren't allowed to release harnesses on the far side unless there was an emergency evacuation, so trying to get the cooler out of the ride was challenging to say the least - but we did it anyway! I left the cooler with him on far-side, and returned to the station... He later told me he drank damn near all of it but had to pee badly and almost had an "accident" before he was relieved... I said, "Uhm, why didn't you just pee while you were up there like the rest of us do? Apparently he never thought to do so... lol... Ahhh good times. While these Arrow shuttle coasters aren't as thrilling as newer rides, they still had a lot of bang for your buck and I have ridden them numerous times (including hundreds of test rides) and I have many fond memories credited to these two classic rides... I'm glad to have been a part of their history... Speaking of which, you can read more about the original Lightnin' Loops here: www.greatadventurehistory.com/LightninLoops.htm
I miss lightening loops. What years did you work there? I worked in wardrobe 1988 or 1989 the went to parking lot for a few years. My brother and sister in law worked there around 1979-1983 ish. My sister used to work batman in the early 90s.. later my neice worked there. Gre up 20 minutes away from GA I wonder if we know each other 😂
It took us a while to find the entrance. Very interesting ride. Such unique feeling being launched and then the immediate drop. Waiting in line is crazy when it launches and the whole platform shakes
I rode it in NJ in the 80's. It was awsome. What I remeber most is the sound of the launch. and the feeling of it dropping out from under you. I remeber trying to look out to the side while going over the loop. It's too bad someone had to try and jump on it after it started the launch.
I've ridden Revolution (along with hundreds of other coasters) and honestly feel it's the most intense coaster I've done The abrupt airtime and intensity of the loop backwards are pretty incredible.
They were state of the art at the time for sure, but Arrow is no longer in business. The real magic of these shuttle coasters, was the fact that you were being launched down the hill, faster than gravity would normally pull the train, which forced everyone against the restraints, giving an amazing period of air time - forward and backward! Since Vekoma has the ability to manufacture track identical to Arrow's design, they have been providing replacement track for many of Arrow's coasters throughout the world. I think they could easily replicate the original shuttle coasters from arrow, but outfit them with LSMs instead of a cable drawn winch and a shuttle car.
When I was a kid they had one at Riverside Park called Black Widow. It was awesome - we rode that thing over and over. The only crappy part was you had to climb the stairs to get to it. They tore it out when it became SFNE and replaced it with - wait for it - a Boomerang. 😞 Thanks for the great reviews and great content. (And of course the great accent!). I’ll be heading to MA to visit family this summer and planning to visit Canobie Lake for the first time in 20 years.
@@timk987 Hello Tim! We are doing pretty well now. Enjoying the time with my family as I am fortunately able to take ample time off of work to stay home with them. I do still get a chance to watch coaster stuff every now and then 😎 eventually I will be back with new videos as well but as you might imagine I am extremely busy right now lol
I looked forward to this review. There's a chance I'll be going to Elitch Gardens this summer, and the whole trip will definitely be ruined if Sidewinder is closed
@@CanobieCoaster yeah true. I only said that because it would probably get better ridership at great adventure, although I think it found it's home park for now.
They have closed this ride due to maintenance for 3 weeks recently and they just opened it up. It is a LOT less bumpier so that is something new but… The silver bullet is now under maintenance and probably won’t be open for another 2-3weeks.
My cousin and I rode the top loop when it was Lightning Loops at Six Flags Great Adventure and it was terrifying. I’ll never forget the high whine of the catch car and that initial push down the first drop. The entire experience was amazing considering the technology at the time. I’ve rode a LOT of coasters since then and this one still stands out in my top 5 rides.
When my mom was like 14, she beat the world record by riding it 11 times in a row. She said it was the most fun she had on a roller coaster. Oppositely, my uncle dislocated his shoulder on this ride when he was little. But personally I love the ride! It’s the ride I go on every time I enter the park and exit the park! It’s so fun!
One of my favorites. I rode lightening loops at great adventure before it was six flags. Or maybe early on in six flags life. I grew up 15 or 20 miles from great adventure and many in my immediate family self Included worked there. I really miss lightening loops and I miss that sound! I might fly out to this park just to get on it again.
Rode this August 7, 2019, and it was awesome! It’s extremely underrated, and I agree with you, it’s the best ride there. (It has Crazy airtime in the front and back!) Also it’s a pretty lame achievement, but I rode it before the station roof was put in lol
MAN this is Memories!!! I use dot ride Lightening Loops at Great Adventure. I grew up there only 20 minutes away and my entire family and I worked there. My friend was working the ride when that fatal accident happened (We were in high school). this ride is special I gotta say. especially going backward! I gotta fly out there just for this wow.
This makes me wish Six Flags America never removed Python (upper track) SOO BAD!! It terrified me as a kid hearing that launch sound/banging but omg, was it exhilarating
I love seeing reviews for rides at my home park, and yours was excellent! It's my favorite at the park as well, always has been. It was my 2nd looping coaster ever back in 2002, a couple hours after my first, Silver Bullet. In all my visits to the park, which is actually only about 15, I have only seen Diamond Back closed once, and that was on reopening day, June 5 2020, and only because they were building the covering at the time. I guess I'm the good luck charm for it.
You've always said in your vlogs you've had good luck with this ride, but most reports I see find this ride closed. I find it funny it was open for HITP of all times for me.
Not only does this park have a rare ejector machine, this park has rare credits with silver bullet a Schwarzkopf and wildcat a NAD (national amusement devices) Woodie.
When it was lightning loops. It had no station awning. I remember climbing those stairs to ride this. Of course in the late 70's that was nothing. Today I doubt anyone would be happy to climb those stairs for THIS quick ride.
@@newclothes8165 yes, they were building that covering when I visited on its reopening day after the lockdowns on June 5, 2020. My previous visit had been around New Years a few months earlier, and it still didn't have a cover.
this is my home park! this ride is such a surprise compared to the rest of frontier city. and i personally love that the entrance is hidden in the gift shop since that means it’s usually a walk on haha
Great review. I rode Kings Island's Screamin' Demon back in the early/mid 80's. I'd love to see this modernized. Maybe some type of vertical lift, automated launch sleds, and a drop track finale. Oops, I think I just made what was intended to be an affordable, cloneable coaster for smaller parks quite a bit more expensive.
That's insane to hear this is way more intense than Revolution because it's one of the most intense and underrated coasters I've ridden. Hopefully I can get out here and ride this beast one day 😁➰
This rollercoaster is a very important part of the park. If it wasn’t for this rollercoaster I wouldn’t even think about coming to this park given how weak the ride lineup is.
Home park is Elitches, and Sidewinder is the star of that park too. I would 100% say it's a front row ride for all the reasons you listed above, that backwards drop is truly unlike anything else I've experienced. It's too bad they barely staff it at Elitches, I'm not sure about mechanical downtime but the park certainly doesn't like to operate Sidewinder unless it's a super busy day
That's understandable since it requires a larger crew, but still disappointing. I'll make a note to try to visit Elitch on the busiest possible day like a Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
@@CanobieCoaster Probably a good idea. Last I remember, their unlimited fast pass wasn't too bad (like $45), Sidewinder won't be on it though due to the stair configuration. Fortunately it's lines don't get longer than 30min usually even on Saturdays. You just may want the fast pass so you don't wait an hour+ for everything else, because none of the other coasters are worth that.
@@CanobieCoaster Mind Eraser is definitely the most popular coaster, and also the roughest by far. I haven't been on any other SLCs to compare but I wouldn't doubt those who say EG's is one of the most painful. I've always liked the layout/forces but it sure does jackhammer. As for the dark ride, I haven't been on it yet, but I love Meow Wolf so I'm sure it's great. It's a retheme of the boo blasters ride as far as I remember, and that poor thing always struggled with low capacity/high popularity, so I'd recommend the fast pass for that too!
It destroyed me as a coaster preservationist that Afterburner at Fun Spot Indiana was destroyed. I wish that it survived but unfortunately it didn’t make it.
hey what does it feel like getting slammed with positive gs the most I have experienced is 4.6 on a batman clone and got a headahce how do I not get scared to ride high positive rides?
Batman clones are among the most forceful rides out there since they repeatedly hit you with Gs with no time to recover. This gives you a reprieve in between.
There is an abandoned amusement park in lndina that had one of these coaster and a Byron curve just sitting there you can Google the park and see arial footage they also had a clalipso
@@OklahomaCoasterFan I’ve met you multiple times. At Frontier City in line for Silver Bullet, at Holiwood Nights near Voyage, and multiple times at Silver Dollar City including over by Wildfire and during that tornado warning at the end of the night
Is this or silver bullet a good first inverting ride if so which one becajuse i really want to get on my first inversion but 70 feet is the limit i will go in height.
Would you feel more comfortable with an over-the-shoulder restraint? If so, I'd recommend this one. If that doesn't bother you, I think Silver Bullet is a better one to start with since it's smoother and doesn't go backwards.
I feel like because i loved tig'gr coaster at indiana beach and that is 10 feet shorter i feel like id be fine but the headbanging we all get on arrow coasters except me becasue ive never been on one so maybe this but i dont know
Silver Bullet was my first inverting ride back in 2002, followed by Diamond Back later in the day. I think Silver Bullet is a better one to start with, since Diamond Back goes backwards. That part intimidated me on my first ride. The over-the-shoulder restraints on Arrow coasters aren't bad. If you lean your head forward, you won't get any headbanging.
I rode the exact model when it was the lower Blue track of Lightning Loops at Six Flags Great Adventure in August 1981; the last time I was there, and then on late October '19 I rode the same ride with shorter trains "Revolution" at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. When I 1st rode this in 1981 I was nervous since I'd never been on an inversion before; made worse by some smartypants who replied "married!" after I was calling "Single" with my yet unchanged 11 year old voice. Well that 1st ride I must've been towards the back of the train because I found the airtime more scary for me than "Coaster at Playland" but perhaps that's because the latter's latter half might have been slower back then. Rolling Thunder was also there then, it was the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster I'd been on but my dad an I noticed how inferior it was to Coaster at Playland and felt as thought the speed was controlled. No shit: they have trims on the turn arounds! It'd remain the tallest, longest and fastest coaster I'd be on until May 2018 when I visited Cedar Point.
@@CanobieCoaster What's funny is that the most famous coaster enthusiast around that time thought R.T. was one of his favourited coasters, his very favourite being Cyclone at Coney Island at Luna Bach Brooklyn New York N.Y. I've never ridden Cyclone, but I can see how it's possible some people preferring Cyclone to Coaster in Vancouver, but NOT Rolling Thunder. (I'm pretty sure that guy NEVER rode Coaster!) Also, as of this writing I've still not seen this review so I may write another comment.
@@Paolo8772 The Coney Island Cyclone is one of my favorites, so I can understand why someone would have that ride rated so highly. The only good ride I got on Rolling Thunder was near the end on a very rainy day.
@@CanobieCoaster HOW? does it speed up? I know that in the mid summer, it's still hot there when it rains (and humid, like in 1977; the only other time I visited in July or August of 1977 there was a rainstorm; we rode the log flume many times because 1: we were wet already; 2: my mom doesn't like coasters but liked the log flume and she rode the flume and Runaway Mine Train and 3: that time of year at that part of the world that a rainstorm is never cold.) I only ask how that improved R.T. because usually rain doesn't help unless the rider loves riding in the rain.
Canobie Coaster I didn’t notice the way you were pronouncing it until Green Bean pointed it out. 😆. Yes, in America it’s universally pronounced frun-teer. I’ve never heard anyone say fron-teer. 😊
Back in the day at Six Flags Great Adventure Lightnin Loops was my first looping coaster. Front or back seat… those were my favorites. I’d literally go on over and over and over. Yes things advanced but when Six Flags shut it down I wasn’t happy. Lol. Finding out it is still in existence is awesome. I might plan myself a trip. Thanks for the post. Just for the record… my highest number of times in one visit to the park on Lightnin Loops was 33… and that included 13 in a row. Yeah… I was totally addicted to this ride and all these years later would LOVE to go back on. Thanks for the video. Was great to hear all the details.
Hopefully you can get on it again one day!
Yeah this is in my top 15! Awesome ride at a very overlooked and underappreciated park. Good video!
Thanks!
imagine pulling up thousands of miles to ride this for the history just to find out its closed
I had that happen back in June (hundreds of miles, not thousands).
Omg I might fly out from New York to get on it again it's hands down a truly great ride. I miss it. I used to ride lightening loops and one of my friends was a ride operator when the girl got run over by the train in 1987. She sat on top of the shoulder harness. I was told she was apprehensive about getting on the decided after they checked the lap bars. They did the Initial count and nobody was in that seat .. they launched the ride. Then on the way out they saw somebody in the seat but couldn't stop the ride. Devastating doesn't even come close. I was told she fell out at the loop and was run over by the train.
@@BrownPassport I’m in NY too how funny lol but I would too
Omg I wonder if we could get a small crew together and go.. 🤔
That backwards ejector airtime is truly what makes these coasters so special. I found Sidewinder at EG to be slightly smoother than Diamond Back, but DB's ramp, placement on a hill, and lower elevation makes the climb up to the station more merciful than Sidewinder's.
That's a good point. I haven't been on Sidewinder, but the climb atop Revolution at Blackpool was worse since that was on flat ground.
When I visited Elitch, I had just flown in that morning from 700 ft in elevation. My friend that I met up with flew in from California, 100 ft in elevation. So now at 5000 ft in elevation, and having to climb so many stairs to get to Sidewinder (far more than with Diamond Back), a recipe for altitude sickness. Best ride in the park, but we only rode it once because of those stairs.
@@OklahomaCoasterFan That sounds about right! I live at this elevation, and even I'm out of breath by the time I reach Sidewinder's platform. Thank goodness there aren't any of these in Mexico City.
I worked at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ - and Lightnin' Loops was the very first ride I worked. Diamond Back is the lower loop (originally named Loop I in all the technical manuals) and the upper loop (Loop II) became Python at what is now, Six Flags America. Loop II has since been demolished and sadly, scrapped. Loop II was my first ride as an employee, and it held many amazing memories for me.
When Lightnin' Loops was originally conceived, elevators were planned for each station. Due to budget cuts however, wide staircases with multiple landings on the station side, and a narrow staircase on the far-side were installed instead. We weren't allowed to let guests ride again without exiting (no re-rides at the time) and they would complain about having to go all the way down the stairs, and having to climb all the way back up for a 2nd ride. I would simply tell them... "You think that's tough? Try coming to work and starting your day by climbing (Loop II) 98 steps to the platform to start your 8 hour shift. We work anywhere between 1-3 hours loading/unloading/operating, and then have to go to "far side" where we go back down the same 98 steps, walk underneath the ride, all the way to the far-end stairs and then climb 87 steps to the catwalk to relieve the far-end operator. At the time I worked there, you had nothing but a small section of railing (sort of a seat) to rest on, and only a single piece of plywood over your head. All sides were open to the elements and if it was raining, well... you got wet. Years later, they actually put a 3-sided booth up there - but us original workers had to endure the elements... (I did have a really good farmer's tan though!) Anyway, after an hour of far-side operating, you would be relieved and proceed to head back down the 87 steps, walk under the ride back and climb the 98 steps back up to the station. You might work a little more, or be sent on break where you had 45 minutes to go back down the 98 steps, travel half-way across the park to get to the employee canteen, get something to eat, and then walk back to the ride and ... yep... climb the 98 steps again up to the station. You would work for another 1-3 hours, and then guess what? You'd go over to far-side once again... Back down the 98 steps, walk under the ride, and back up the 87 steps to relieve the operator... Work for another hour, then it's back down the 87 steps, walk back under the ride and climb the 98 steps to the station. You would finish your shift and then at the end, walk down the 98 steps... That pretty much shut up anyone who complained. :P
There were some fun times as well... If the person at "far-side" wanted something to drink (we had a 5-gallon Igloo cooler with water or kool aid on the station side) we would take a large cup over to them - usually by riding the train to the other side, holding the half-filled drink cup in your hand, and holding it in such a manner so that it didn't spill - or only spilled a little. You learned how to do that after many runs.... One day however, one of our staff was really hung over from a party the night before his shift, and he kept calling the station to ask for more fruit punch to be sent over. After at least 5-6 trips, I finally had it with him, and grabbed the entire 5-gallon cooler and sat it on the floor, in the very last seat of the train. I then climbed in and straddled the cooler between my feet and lowered my harness. My coworkers on the station side were hesitant to launch the train, but they did anyway... and we took off. Once we started the descent down the hill, the red lid popped off and I managed to catch it with both hands as we hit the bottom of the drop and headed into the loop. Instantly sheer panic set in as we began to go into the loop and I watched the very cold mixture of ice cubes and red fruit punch sloshing in the cooler as we went upside -down - navigating through the loop and up the hill on the far side. Thank GOD the cooler was only half-filled because only about a cup of the liquid spilled out onto the seat and was soaked up by my dark blue uniform pants. The operator on the far side, who was expecting another cup of punch, was shocked when I told him to "grab the cooler" ... We weren't allowed to release harnesses on the far side unless there was an emergency evacuation, so trying to get the cooler out of the ride was challenging to say the least - but we did it anyway! I left the cooler with him on far-side, and returned to the station... He later told me he drank damn near all of it but had to pee badly and almost had an "accident" before he was relieved... I said, "Uhm, why didn't you just pee while you were up there like the rest of us do? Apparently he never thought to do so... lol... Ahhh good times.
While these Arrow shuttle coasters aren't as thrilling as newer rides, they still had a lot of bang for your buck and I have ridden them numerous times (including hundreds of test rides) and I have many fond memories credited to these two classic rides... I'm glad to have been a part of their history... Speaking of which, you can read more about the original Lightnin' Loops here: www.greatadventurehistory.com/LightninLoops.htm
That must have been quite the leg workout. Thankfully Frontier City allowed rerides. That's funny about the punch.
Just wanted to say, this was an incredible story. Thanks for a little look into some Great Adventure history!
I miss lightening loops. What years did you work there? I worked in wardrobe 1988 or 1989 the went to parking lot for a few years. My brother and sister in law worked there around 1979-1983 ish. My sister used to work batman in the early 90s.. later my neice worked there. Gre up 20 minutes away from GA I wonder if we know each other 😂
@@CanobieCoaster Looking back, we did some really crazy things in Ride Ops. back in the day... The cooler was just the tip of the iceberg! ;-)
@@thomasxl200 my pleasure. Thank you for taking time to read it!
It took us a while to find the entrance. Very interesting ride. Such unique feeling being launched and then the immediate drop. Waiting in line is crazy when it launches and the whole platform shakes
If you don't know the entrance is in the gift shop, you could be circling for quite some time.
@@CanobieCoaster it worked, I bought twenty dollars with of candy and souvenir hat 🤣🤣🤣
I rode it in NJ in the 80's. It was awsome. What I remeber most is the sound of the launch. and the feeling of it dropping out from under you. I remeber trying to look out to the side while going over the loop. It's too bad someone had to try and jump on it after it started the launch.
The sound is quite neat.
@@CanobieCoaster i still hear it and feell the platform shaking and the last time I was on that was in the 80s or early 90s maybe
I've ridden Revolution (along with hundreds of other coasters) and honestly feel it's the most intense coaster I've done The abrupt airtime and intensity of the loop backwards are pretty incredible.
Entirely fair!
These arrow shuttle coasters look criminally underrated, wish there were more for sure
Same!
They were state of the art at the time for sure, but Arrow is no longer in business. The real magic of these shuttle coasters, was the fact that you were being launched down the hill, faster than gravity would normally pull the train, which forced everyone against the restraints, giving an amazing period of air time - forward and backward!
Since Vekoma has the ability to manufacture track identical to Arrow's design, they have been providing replacement track for many of Arrow's coasters throughout the world.
I think they could easily replicate the original shuttle coasters from arrow, but outfit them with LSMs instead of a cable drawn winch and a shuttle car.
I finally saw this video and it's fantastic. Thanks for posting!
Glad you enjoyed it!
When I was a kid they had one at Riverside Park called Black Widow. It was awesome - we rode that thing over and over. The only crappy part was you had to climb the stairs to get to it. They tore it out when it became SFNE and replaced it with - wait for it - a Boomerang. 😞
Thanks for the great reviews and great content. (And of course the great accent!). I’ll be heading to MA to visit family this summer and planning to visit Canobie Lake for the first time in 20 years.
I wish Black Widow stayed when the park was rebranded as Six Flags New England.
It gives me hope now that I know they built that new station. Hadn't realized that!
That gave me hope this ride isn't on the chopping block.
What's up Dale? How's Coaster Family? I see you got to have a minute to check in on the hobby. Hope all is well with the Fam!
@@timk987 Hello Tim! We are doing pretty well now. Enjoying the time with my family as I am fortunately able to take ample time off of work to stay home with them. I do still get a chance to watch coaster stuff every now and then 😎 eventually I will be back with new videos as well but as you might imagine I am extremely busy right now lol
I looked forward to this review. There's a chance I'll be going to Elitch Gardens this summer, and the whole trip will definitely be ruined if Sidewinder is closed
I've heard that one is just as unreliable unfortunately.
This thing looks so underrated!!!
I think it would get more love at a bigger park.
I would love if this was relocated back to great adventure, as It would probably get a lot more attention there.
@@FynnFolf I think it can shine as the signature ride at Frontier City. It would be cool for nostalgia at Great Adventure though.
@@CanobieCoaster yeah true. I only said that because it would probably get better ridership at great adventure, although I think it found it's home park for now.
They have closed this ride due to maintenance for 3 weeks recently and they just opened it up.
It is a LOT less bumpier so that is something new but…
The silver bullet is now under maintenance and probably won’t be open for another 2-3weeks.
My cousin and I rode the top loop when it was Lightning Loops at Six Flags Great Adventure and it was terrifying. I’ll never forget the high whine of the catch car and that initial push down the first drop. The entire experience was amazing considering the technology at the time. I’ve rode a LOT of coasters since then and this one still stands out in my top 5 rides.
It sounds so distinctive.
My first ride on this last year shocked me on my trip! I was not expecting it to be that good, and I have an Arrow at my home park!
Nice!
When my mom was like 14, she beat the world record by riding it 11 times in a row. She said it was the most fun she had on a roller coaster. Oppositely, my uncle dislocated his shoulder on this ride when he was little. But personally I love the ride! It’s the ride I go on every time I enter the park and exit the park! It’s so fun!
It is their best ride.
This looks incredible. The park looks great too.
It's more charming than most Six Flags parks.
One of my favorites. I rode lightening loops at great adventure before it was six flags. Or maybe early on in six flags life. I grew up 15 or 20 miles from great adventure and many in my immediate family self Included worked there. I really miss lightening loops and I miss that sound! I might fly out to this park just to get on it again.
I wish this ride was still there.
Rode this August 7, 2019, and it was awesome! It’s extremely underrated, and I agree with you, it’s the best ride there. (It has Crazy airtime in the front and back!)
Also it’s a pretty lame achievement, but I rode it before the station roof was put in lol
That must have been hot!
MAN this is Memories!!! I use dot ride Lightening Loops at Great Adventure. I grew up there only 20 minutes away and my entire family and I worked there. My friend was working the ride when that fatal accident happened (We were in high school). this ride is special I gotta say. especially going backward! I gotta fly out there just for this wow.
The accident was definitely tragic.
I’ve riden revolution. It is shocking how intense it is
This one is a step wilder.
Ye defo with the longer trains
You the best coaster channel. Also what do you think about Kentucky kingdom possibly getting bought by Herschend?
Thank you! I like what Ed Hart has been doing with Kentucky Kingdom.
This makes me wish Six Flags America never removed Python (upper track) SOO BAD!! It terrified me as a kid hearing that launch sound/banging but omg, was it exhilarating
I wish it were still there.
I love seeing reviews for rides at my home park, and yours was excellent! It's my favorite at the park as well, always has been. It was my 2nd looping coaster ever back in 2002, a couple hours after my first, Silver Bullet. In all my visits to the park, which is actually only about 15, I have only seen Diamond Back closed once, and that was on reopening day, June 5 2020, and only because they were building the covering at the time. I guess I'm the good luck charm for it.
You've always said in your vlogs you've had good luck with this ride, but most reports I see find this ride closed. I find it funny it was open for HITP of all times for me.
@@CanobieCoaster I’ve been to this amazing place 20+ Times since I was little. I’ve seen it down twice, and I hope it goes nowhere for 20+ more years.
Not only does this park have a rare ejector machine, this park has rare credits with silver bullet a Schwarzkopf and wildcat a NAD (national amusement devices) Woodie.
True!
I think the only other 2 NADs are at Camden park.
@@zachcoastercrazy4032Yep
When it was lightning loops. It had no station awning.
I remember climbing those stairs to ride this. Of course in the late 70's that was nothing. Today I doubt anyone would be happy to climb those stairs for THIS quick ride.
I'm surprised this ride didn't have a station covering until recently.
@@CanobieCoaster Oh so this cover is fairly new? Didnt know that.
I think it was added in 2019/2020.
@@newclothes8165 yes, they were building that covering when I visited on its reopening day after the lockdowns on June 5, 2020. My previous visit had been around New Years a few months earlier, and it still didn't have a cover.
I am going to frontier city this summer so I am excited to ride this
Hopefully it's open!
The backwards airtime was absolutely wild. I take the airtime over any moment on Lrod.
I wouldn't go that far, but the airtime is fantastic.
I really wish more parks had these
Same.
this is my home park! this ride is such a surprise compared to the rest of frontier city. and i personally love that the entrance is hidden in the gift shop since that means it’s usually a walk on haha
It was back in December for me.
I usually like forward rides more than backward, but Fury taught me that there are exceptions, so I’ll keep an open mind for this model!
Most of my backwards experience is with boomerangs and those rides can be nauseating with how forceful and shaky they are.
This is the only normal one left, sidewinder has different loop supports and revolution had supports to take up less space
I knew Revolution had the weird cantilevered supports. I didn't realize Sidewinder had different supports too.
was closed when i went
Unfortunately, you aren't the first to have that happen.
“Yo dudes, Diamond Back is pretty chill, maybe you could like, ride it or something.”
I was on at least half the trains that went out, possibly more.
@@CanobieCoaster ?
@@CoasterKey Are you talking about how not a lot of people were riding it?
@@CanobieCoaster I’m making a reference to an internet meme
@@CoasterKey Oh I'm out of touch on a lot of memes.
Great review. I rode Kings Island's Screamin' Demon back in the early/mid 80's. I'd love to see this modernized. Maybe some type of vertical lift, automated launch sleds, and a drop track finale. Oops, I think I just made what was intended to be an affordable, cloneable coaster for smaller parks quite a bit more expensive.
I'd love to see the Schwarzkopf shuttle loop style ride with an airtime hill leading up to the loop.
Nice video. thanks for posting this. :)
You're welcome!
That's insane to hear this is way more intense than Revolution because it's one of the most intense and underrated coasters I've ridden. Hopefully I can get out here and ride this beast one day 😁➰
I hope you can and find it open.
This rollercoaster is a very important part of the park. If it wasn’t for this rollercoaster I wouldn’t even think about coming to this park given how weak the ride lineup is.
It's the standout ride for me too.
Home park is Elitches, and Sidewinder is the star of that park too. I would 100% say it's a front row ride for all the reasons you listed above, that backwards drop is truly unlike anything else I've experienced. It's too bad they barely staff it at Elitches, I'm not sure about mechanical downtime but the park certainly doesn't like to operate Sidewinder unless it's a super busy day
That's understandable since it requires a larger crew, but still disappointing. I'll make a note to try to visit Elitch on the busiest possible day like a Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
@@CanobieCoaster Probably a good idea. Last I remember, their unlimited fast pass wasn't too bad (like $45), Sidewinder won't be on it though due to the stair configuration. Fortunately it's lines don't get longer than 30min usually even on Saturdays. You just may want the fast pass so you don't wait an hour+ for everything else, because none of the other coasters are worth that.
@@michaelbianco32 I've heard Mind Eraser is the busiest ride there, but I would want it for that cool looking dark ride.
@@CanobieCoaster Mind Eraser is definitely the most popular coaster, and also the roughest by far. I haven't been on any other SLCs to compare but I wouldn't doubt those who say EG's is one of the most painful. I've always liked the layout/forces but it sure does jackhammer.
As for the dark ride, I haven't been on it yet, but I love Meow Wolf so I'm sure it's great. It's a retheme of the boo blasters ride as far as I remember, and that poor thing always struggled with low capacity/high popularity, so I'd recommend the fast pass for that too!
its not often you get backwards ejector airtime
We need more of it.
Every time I see the launched loop train with the zero car on both the front and back, I want to rip my eyes out
The train has to maintain its arrowdynamics when traveling backwards...
Sorry! Couldn't resist.
I agree it looks bizarre.
honestly looks better than all of the arrow loopers
It's close if I prefer this or Tennessee Tornado, but I think I like this one a pinch more.
@@CanobieCoaster Tennessee tornado had some pretty good pacing and insane positives, but it just doesnt have the airtime like the shuttle loops
Diamond Back Frontier City and Revolution Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Sidewinder Elitch Gardens is On My Bucket List
The two US ones are superior.
When I make it to Frontier City some day, I’ll be really bummed if this is closed.
The one at Blackpool seems to be the most reliable, but it's tamer.
Canobie Coaster I may get on the Blackpool one before this one!
The benefit with Blackpool is that it's not the star ride there. If you miss it at the US parks, you miss the best ride at lackluster parks.
Canobie Coaster Exactly. When I head to Blackpool, it won’t be with Revolution as my target. 😂
I’ve been on Revolution. They’re truly insane!
And this one is even more intense than Revolution.
@@CanobieCoaster damn
It destroyed me as a coaster preservationist that Afterburner at Fun Spot Indiana was destroyed. I wish that it survived but unfortunately it didn’t make it.
I wish more of these survived.
@@CanobieCoaster I hope I can experience one soon as I love Arrow coasters.
How did i get here? Havent been on a roller coaster since i was 13 and probably never will ride one again. Im binge watching these ha ha
Enjoy!
Holy cow, I never knew the drop had that strong of airtime, ok lol
It absolutely does.
ONE OF 3 REMIAINING ARROW-LAUNCHED LOOPS?!?
Yes!
As much as I love coasters I hate that stomach feeling on drops. It's so uncomfortable..
I enjoy it!
Me too I feel the exact same waym I did suck it up for lightening loops though sooooo.. I think I might fly out for this.
hey what does it feel like getting slammed with positive gs the most I have experienced is 4.6 on a batman clone and got a headahce how do I not get scared to ride high positive rides?
Batman clones are among the most forceful rides out there since they repeatedly hit you with Gs with no time to recover. This gives you a reprieve in between.
@@CanobieCoaster makes more sense
@@CanobieCoaster Over Texas is the perfect place to go if you like positive g's.
There is an abandoned amusement park in lndina that had one of these coaster and a Byron curve just sitting there you can Google the park and see arial footage they also had a clalipso
There were actually 2 abandoned Arrow shuttle loops at one point in Indiana.
I love this ride
Me too.
imagine if it was made by intamin with their LSM or even hydraulic launch and taller 😳😳😳
Yes please!
@@CanobieCoaster 5 seconds of sustained ejector lol
Why did this have to be closed during my FC 2020 trip?
Were you there early in the season?
@@CanobieCoaster on its opening day after the shutdown
@@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239It was closed for me in late June as well. I don't think it opened until sometime in early July.
I was there on that day also. We probably met, since there was hardly anybody there. Hopefully, you'll have better luck next time.
@@OklahomaCoasterFan I’ve met you multiple times. At Frontier City in line for Silver Bullet, at Holiwood Nights near Voyage, and multiple times at Silver Dollar City including over by Wildfire and during that tornado warning at the end of the night
Is this or silver bullet a good first inverting ride if so which one becajuse i really want to get on my first inversion but 70 feet is the limit i will go in height.
Would you feel more comfortable with an over-the-shoulder restraint? If so, I'd recommend this one. If that doesn't bother you, I think Silver Bullet is a better one to start with since it's smoother and doesn't go backwards.
I feel like because i loved tig'gr coaster at indiana beach and that is 10 feet shorter i feel like id be fine but the headbanging we all get on arrow coasters except me becasue ive never been on one so maybe this but i dont know
Silver Bullet was my first inverting ride back in 2002, followed by Diamond Back later in the day. I think Silver Bullet is a better one to start with, since Diamond Back goes backwards. That part intimidated me on my first ride. The over-the-shoulder restraints on Arrow coasters aren't bad. If you lean your head forward, you won't get any headbanging.
@@OklahomaCoasterFan I have been on los coaster at indiana beach backwards and i drove 3 hours there
@@OklahomaCoasterFan Also lol your an oklahoma coaster fan and its iron rattler as your picture lol
"please stand behind the yellow line"
I have season passes here and I ride this all the times
How often is it open for you?
Almost every time
1:16
Six flags we have the first
Fans for how long
Six flags 2 hours 32 minutes 17 seconds and 50 milliseconds.
Lol
Honestly, they could've added the other loop coaster and interlock them.
That would have been a cool visual, but the capacity isn't needed here.
This roller coaster gave me a headache for a week, it was my first ever looping roller coaster, and it gave me a terrible headache
Sorry to hear that!
That’s the old lightning loops
One half of it.
Here’s a footage of that ride from 1995, ruclips.net/video/SpWyZe8W2Lg/видео.html
Very cool. psyclonesteve has a lot of great footage.
not the hyper.
Nope
i’d take diamond back over diamondback
N.O.
I would still take the one at Kings Island, but this one is no joke.
@@CanobieCoaster im just trolling hahaha this ride looks awesome tho and i think some part of me would rather ride it than a b&m hyper
Diamond Back has much stronger airtime than Diamondback!
@@OklahomaCoasterFan I agree, but I'll take Diamondback's quantity.
I rode the exact model when it was the lower Blue track of Lightning Loops at Six Flags Great Adventure in August 1981; the last time I was there, and then on late October '19 I rode the same ride with shorter trains "Revolution" at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. When I 1st rode this in 1981 I was nervous since I'd never been on an inversion before; made worse by some smartypants who replied "married!" after I was calling "Single" with my yet unchanged 11 year old voice. Well that 1st ride I must've been towards the back of the train because I found the airtime more scary for me than "Coaster at Playland" but perhaps that's because the latter's latter half might have been slower back then. Rolling Thunder was also there then, it was the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster I'd been on but my dad an I noticed how inferior it was to Coaster at Playland and felt as thought the speed was controlled. No shit: they have trims on the turn arounds! It'd remain the tallest, longest and fastest coaster I'd be on until May 2018 when I visited Cedar Point.
I'm surprised Rolling Thunder had trims on it that early in its lifetime. That's sad it started tearing itself apart that quickly.
@@CanobieCoaster What's funny is that the most famous coaster enthusiast around that time thought R.T. was one of his favourited coasters, his very favourite being Cyclone at Coney Island at Luna Bach Brooklyn New York N.Y. I've never ridden Cyclone, but I can see how it's possible some people preferring Cyclone to Coaster in Vancouver, but NOT Rolling Thunder. (I'm pretty sure that guy NEVER rode Coaster!) Also, as of this writing I've still not seen this review so I may write another comment.
@@Paolo8772 The Coney Island Cyclone is one of my favorites, so I can understand why someone would have that ride rated so highly. The only good ride I got on Rolling Thunder was near the end on a very rainy day.
@@CanobieCoaster HOW? does it speed up? I know that in the mid summer, it's still hot there when it rains (and humid, like in 1977; the only other time I visited in July or August of 1977 there was a rainstorm; we rode the log flume many times because 1: we were wet already; 2: my mom doesn't like coasters but liked the log flume and she rode the flume and Runaway Mine Train and 3: that time of year at that part of the world that a rainstorm is never cold.) I only ask how that improved R.T. because usually rain doesn't help unless the rider loves riding in the rain.
@@Paolo8772 The return run was giving floater airtime. Usually the return run was a slow, screeching mess.
FRUNtier not FROOONTIER
Sorry, my family has always pronounced Frontier that way.
frun-tier city!!!!!, not fron
I've always pronounced Frontier that way. Is it different locally?
@@CanobieCoaster locally and non locally
Canobie Coaster I didn’t notice the way you were pronouncing it until Green Bean pointed it out. 😆. Yes, in America it’s universally pronounced frun-teer. I’ve never heard anyone say fron-teer. 😊
That's how my family has always said it haha.