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Rapterra

Rapterra is a steel launched wing roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.[1] [2] It is the world's tallest and longest-launched wing roller coaster.[3]

History

Removal of Volcano

Volcano: The Blast Coaster was an inverted launched coaster that operated at the park from 1998 to early 2018, situated inside of the preceding Smurf Mountain structure. In February 2019, Kings Dominion announced that Volcano had been decommissioned, citing issues with reliability, rider capacity, and overall customer satisfaction.[4][5] By May of the same year, the entire attraction had been fully demolished.[6]

The removal of Volcano left a sizable empty site in the park, sparking discussions for a replacement as early as 2019; it was then that Bolliger & Mabillard first drafted a wing coaster layout for the land.[7] However, the park's closure during 2020 per the COVID-19 pandemic and retirement of The Crypt after the 2019 season contributed to Tumbili taking priority as a replacement for the latter. The coaster opened in March 2022, bringing with it the reimagining of Safari Village as Jungle X-Pedition and thematic foundation for future attractions.[8]

Preparation & Construction

Plans were submitted to Hanover County, Virginia in December 2023 for the construction of Amendment 47, a new roller coaster project to be located where Volcano: The Blast Coaster previously stood.[9] Construction had already commenced when the park opened for the season in March 2023, with groundwork in full swing and the first concrete foundations being poured.[10]

Roller coaster steel – including track and supports – began arriving at the end of May, with the first piece of brake run being placed on June 18, 2024.[11][12] The tallest point of the ride was topped off at 8:22am on July 28 and the final track piece set in place on September 6, eighty days after installation began.[13][14]

Announcement

Kings Dominion began promoting their mystery attraction during construction, with various teasers and clues gradually appearing around its work fences.[10] On July 31, 2024, Kings Dominion officially announced Rapterra for the 2025 season.[1][2]

Ride Experience

After leaving the station, a small right hand turn leads the train onto the launch track. The trains are then launched at a speed of 65 mph in 4 seconds, before transitioning into a 145 ft "wingover turn". Following is a 119 ft dive loop alongside the station. After a 90 ft S-turn over the launch track, the train turns back around going through a "wing slide" over the pathway. As it reaches the back of the layout, the train goes through a corkscrew and airtime hill. The ride finishes with a 360° "raptor roll" and right turn into the final brake run that leads back into the station.[15]

Characteristics

Rapterra is the second launched Wing Coaster by Bolliger & Mabillard to open in the United States, following Thunderbird at Holiday World in Indiana.[16] It is 145 ft tall, 3086 ft long, and reaches a top speed of 65 mi/h throughout the ride. The coaster runs two 20-passenger trains, arranging riders in 5 rows with a pair on each side.

External links

References

  1. Eric Kolenich. Kings Dominion gets approval to build new roller coaster Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2024-07-31, retrieved 2024-08-03^
  2. Patriceia Beckford. New Rapterra rollercoaster to open at Kings Dominion in 2025 WVEC, 2024-08-02, retrieved 2024-08-03^
  3. Duncan Weigand. Rapterra Roller Coaster coming to Kings Dominion WSLS-TV, 2024-08-01, retrieved 2024-08-03^
  4. Park Update Kings Dominion^
  5. Elizabeth Tyree. Kings Dominion announces decision to remove Volcano: The Blast Coaster WSET, February 9, 2019, retrieved February 9, 2019^
  6. Austin Rdzanek. Kings Dominion's "Volcano" is Almost Completely Gone! May 3, 2019^
  7. Zachary. Leaked Draft Reveals Possible Plans for Kings Dominion's Next Major Roller Coaster kdfans.com, November 5, 2019, retrieved August 17, 2024^
  8. Andrew Stilwell. The Not-So-Hidden Details of Jungle X-Pedition at Kings Dominion Coaster101, April 14, 2022, retrieved August 17, 2024^
  9. Marshall LeMert. New Roller Coaster to Debut in 2025 at Kings Dominion Cville Right Now, 2024-07-09, retrieved 2024-08-03^
  10. Much of Jungle X-Pedition is behind walls in preparation for... March 22, 2024^
  11. It looks like a support is being unloaded. ... May 30, 2024^
  12. Kings Dominion. Rapterra Report - Kings Dominion 2025 Update YouTube, August 16, 2024, retrieved August 17, 2024^
  13. Sunday surprise! The first element after the launch is complete on the... July 28, 2024^
  14. WATCH as the final piece of #Rapterra is set into place! Keep your eye on the sky for our next Rapterra Report to see the moments leading up to this world-record setting occasion! Kings Dominion, 2024-09-06^
  15. Kings Dominion. The Rapterra Experience - Kings Dominion 2025 2024-07-31, retrieved 2025-01-07^
  16. Why Thunderbird Soars Over Rapterra^