Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Great Adventure)

Great American Scream Machine was a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The 173 ft ride opened in 1989 as the tallest and fastest looping roller coaster in the world, reaching a maximum speed of 68 mph. It was designed by Ron Toomer and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, which built two other coasters with similar layouts – Shockwave at Six Flags Great America and Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Great American Scream Machine featured seven inversions including a batwing and double corkscrew. Records set by the ride were succeeded by Viper the following year in 1990. It operated until July 2010 and was replaced by a stand-up roller coaster, Green Lantern, in 2011. Green Lantern closed on November 10, 2024, and will be replaced by a "multi-record-breaking launch coaster".

History

The coaster was originally going to be named Ninja, but there were problems with the crowds drawn to the Ninja coasters in other parks. Instead, the name Great American Scream Machine was selected.[2] Great American Scream Machine was announced in September 1988.

Modifications

During the 1992–93 off-season, the top of the vertical loops were removed and replaced by track with additional strength bracing. This was due to issues with other Arrow coasters, including Shockwave at Six Flags Great America. The top of the original first loop can be found in the baboons' enclosure in the Wild Safari at Six Flags Great Adventure. Along with the new loop tops, a trim brake was installed after the first loop. The modifications were used to slightly adjust the speed of the train and to alleviate the stress to the ride's structure and trains.

In 2005, The Great American Scream Machine and Batman & Robin: The Chiller were repainted.

In 2009, the Liberty (white) train was ad-wrapped as an advertisement for one of the ride's sponsors, got2b Glued Styling Spiking Glue, a hair gel. Assorted signs were also placed on the station platform advertising. It was the first train in the park to feature advertisements, but as this idea spread throughout the Six Flags chain, it was joined by Kingda Ka and El Toro, whose trains featured The Karate Kid and Stride Gum ads, respectively.

In the 2010 operating season, guests noticed that the Liberty (white) train was adwrapped as an advertisement for another ride sponsor, Axe, a grooming product for young males. Signs for the product could be found around the rides entrance.

Removal

During the 2010 season, speculation that Great American Scream Machine was being removed at the end of the season began circulating on message boards, pegging June 30, 2010, as a possible last day of operation. None of the rumors initially were confirmed nor denied until July 1, 2010, when a staff member stated that the coaster was not being removed. In a contradicting statement released on July 5, 2010, Six Flags Great Adventure informally announced the coaster's permanent closure would occur on July 18, 2010, in order to clear space for a new attraction in 2011.[4] The announcement was officially confirmed on the park's website a few days later.

As announced, the ride's last operating day was on July 18, 2010.[5] Deconstruction began soon after, and signs teasing the construction of its replacement were posted. A first look at the outline of the new ride replacing the Scream Machine was revealed on August 6, 2010. Six Flags requested permission from Jackson Township to remove parking spaces from the area behind Superman: Ultimate Flight to accommodate the ride's construction.[6] On September 15, 2010, Six Flags unveiled the new ride as Green Lantern, a stand-up roller coaster relocated from then known as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, where it originally operated as Chang. It would be re-themed to the DC Comics Green Lantern superhero.

Following the demolition, only Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain remained from the original three Arrow installations involving their custom, 7-inversion design. The other one, Shockwave at Six Flags Great America, was demolished in 2002.

location	Six Flags Great Adventure
section	Boardwalk
type	Steel
status	Removed
opened	April 15, 1989
closed	July 18, 2010
cost	$7 million‡R1R‡
previousattraction	Sarajevo Bobsled
replacement	Green Lantern
manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
designer	Arrow Dynamics
model	Custom Looping Coaster
track	Twister
lift	Chain lift hill
height ft	173
drop ft	155
length ft	3800
speed mph	68
inversions	7
duration	2:20
capacity	1680
restriction in	54
gforce	3.8
coordinates	40.13909°N, -74.43807°W
rcdb number	34

Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Great Adventure)

History

Modifications

Removal

Ride experience

See also

External links

References