It's a rather chilly and semi cloudy day here in Valencia, California. I set out driving to my destination this morning knowing very well that mulitple layers of clothing and a warm jacket would be appropriate attire for the day.
My destination this morning was Six Flags Magic Mountain, just off of Interstate 5 at Magic Mountain Parkway.
There was a feeling of excitement as I parked my car and began to follow the masses of excited thrill seekers toward the front gate here at the park. The reopening of Superman The Escape, (now renamed "Superman; Escape From Krypton") was on the tip of everyone's tongues and the subject of nearly every conversation this morning.
I could clearly see that the 400 foot tall superstructure of Superman had been repainted from the rather dull grey original paint scheme, to a vibrant blue and red with yellow rails.
Perhaps I should share a brief history of the park here and the ride before I tell you the rest of my morning adventure here.
Magic Mountain was originally opened in 1971. It was the brainchild of the Newhall Land Developement Company. The idea was that a new park might help entice families to move further north out of the San Fernando Valley and into the communities of Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia.
Magic Mountain opened with a handfull of small rides,....and Arrow Developement Mine train ride called "The Gold Rusher" and two exciting log flume rides.
It wasn't until 1976 that Magic Mountain entered the big leagues with the building of "The Great American Revolution". Now simply called "Revolution" it was this ride that put the park "on the map", so-to-speak.
Designed and built by Anton Schwarzkopf and Werner Stengel of Germany, the Revolution was a graceful ballet of white steel track that followed the curves and terrain on the front end of the park. But what REALLY set this ride apart was the fact that it was the first coaster to successfully feature a 360 degree vertical loop. It was a SENSATION when it opened to the public on May 8th, of 1976. The park ran the slogan "Revolution, it'll knock your socks OFF!!!" They even went so far as to strategically place socks underneath the loop on press day.
Universal Studios made the Revolution the star of their action flick "Rollercoaster" the following year in 1977.
After Revolution, Magic Mountain became a park of innovation,..always trying new things, and building the latest in thrill ride technology.
So fastforward now to 1997. The VERY SAME European company that built the steel track for Revolution in 1976, was commisioned to build a record breaking thrill ride for Magic Mountain's 1997 Season. It would stand over 400 feet tall at it's high end,..and reach speeds of up to 100 mph. Using linnear induction magnets for the launch, it was capable of launching a 6 ton car full of passengers from a stand still to 100 mph in just 7 seconds. INTENSE is was the word.
The ride did well for the most part. But after a while become more of a maintenance headache, and spent more time closed than anything.
Something had to be done to make this ride a worth while investment.
After the 2009 Season, Superman The Escape sat dormant awaiting it's unknown fate.
Six Flags Magic Mountain,...always the park to make lemonade out of lemons,....decided to bring back Intamin and revamp Superman,.....
The result made it's debut this morning as "Superman, Escape from Krypton".
I wasn't exactly sure that I would be able to ride it this morning. I walked around the park in the chily morning air checking out all of the familiar sights and sounds. As the morning wore on, and it was nearly time for the park to open to the public, I made my way up the steep hill to where the Ice Cave looking loading platform is for Superman. As I approached the entrance, a smiling and enthusiastic young man waved me forward to come and be one of the first to take a ride!!!! YES,..it was open already!
With my heart racing,...and a feeling of great anticipation,..and a hint of raw nerves,....I entered the dark and heavily themed Ice Cave entrance.
After winding my way through the dark passageway, I caught up with a few other "first time riders".
The room I am waiting in is illuminated with bright electic green lights against this ice cave background.
We could hear the riders ahead of us but could not see them because of the metal closing doors that open automatically only allowing the next riders to board the cars.
With a loud "WHOOSH" and the sounds of some muffled screams,..the first trains ahead of us were BLASTED out of the Ice Caves from 0 to 100mph.
Within mere seconds those metal doors swung open revealing the newly refurbished cars right in front of me.
The VERY FIRST difference I noticed was that the cars now face backwards! Not only that,....but there are now shoulder harnesses as restraints.
Previosly the ride operated with ONLY individual locking lap bars.
Well I knew one thing for sure,..I wouldn't come popping out of the cars at the top of it's 400 foot apex.
I stepping quickly into the new colorful cars, noting how we were seemingly facing the wrong way,....looking away from the tower and back at the ride operator's box.
The restraints were quickly lowered over our heads and torsos,.....
I felt completely emcompassed by this restraint. You are REALLY held in securely this time. And yet, on a positive note,..I don't feel that it took away from the ride experience.
With a reassuring wink from the ride operators, and a simple syncronized push of a button,...my train, and the one next to us lurched backwards with such force that I felt as though I lost my stomach,....this would be the FIRST time I felt as though I lost my stomach while still parallel to the ground.
We blasted out into the day light still gaining speed with such force. The G-Forces plaster you into the seat when you hit 100mph and the train goes 90 degrees straight up!
The whole time you are facing down,.....looking 400 feet DOWN at the Earth and the rest of Magic Mountain.
Now one must remember,.....when you are weightless,.....everything kind of suspends,..time seems to stop,..everything gets REAL QUIET,.........just for seconds though......6 seconds of weightlessness to be exact!
Fantastic!
After that 400 foot high session of pure weightlessness,.....there was nowhere else to go but straight down,.....400 feet straight DOWN!!! Freefalling all the way back to the bottom of this massive tower,...and then being slowed down by those linnear induction magnets that line the whole launch section of the track. Yes! That's right! The very same magnets used to hurl the trains to 100 mph are also used to slow it down safely.
All in all, I'd say Magic Mountain has a REAL WINNER on their hands.
I have to admit I was a bit light headed and dizzy when I stepped off of this thing. But hey,....I'm not 20 years old anymore.
Back on terra-firma,....and wondering what exactly just happened to me in all but perhaps 30 seconds. AMAZING!!!!
Truly not for the faint of heart!
So for all of you here in Southern California who are looking for the next exciting thrill this Spring and Summer,.....get the kids in the car and head on out to Valencia for a day in the warm Southern California sunshine,...and give Superman; Escape From Krypton a try!
Also worth mentioning,...as of right now, March 19th, 2011, Six Flags Magic Mountain is in the Guiness Book of World Records for having the most operating roller coasters within one park.
Later this Season the park will be opening yet another rollercoaster. This one will be called "The Green Lantern" and will be built by Intamin of Switzerland. The Green Lantern will be the very FIRST of it's kind in the United States, featuring a tightly woven track of green steel and cars that have passengers riding on either side of the track, rather than on top of the track like a traditional rollercoaster.
I don't want to give the whole surprise about the Green Lantern away though. You'll just have to come out to Magic Mountain and find out for yourself.
Until then, Happy Coasting!
Reporting from Magic Mountain in Valencia, California!
Matthew Horstman
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