The Dark Knight Coaster is coming in 2008! Be transformed into a citizen of Gotham City — caught in the middle of a city under siege and torn apart by The Joker.
With The Dark Knight, experience the ride of a lifetime. Venture through demented hallways of twists, turns and hallucinatory images, while being tormented by The Joker himself. Then set foot onto a distressed, vandalized train platform. You can only guess at what awaits as you speed through six
180-degree hairpin turns, climb unseen hills, plunge into pitch darkness and dip into unforeseen danger. As you attempt to escape the terror, your only hope is that Gotham's Silent Guardian —
Batman — can save you!
Height Restrictions 48" min. to ride alone, 42" with adult.
Flash Pass No
Length 1,213 feet
Duration 120 seconds
Capacity 32
Introduction Spring, 2008
Manufacturer Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG
A new roller coaster is coming to Six Flags Great America after a three year wait. The Gurnee theme park announced today "The Dark Knight Coaster," will open to much fanfare in 2008.
The coaster will be built indoors, said Great America spokeswoman Brooke Gabbert, and will be based on the upcoming Warner Bros. "Batman"-themed movie, "The Dark Knight." The coaster is expected to cost about $7.5 million.
Officials said the coaster will transform guests into citizens of the fictitious Gotham City. Those people will be caught in the middle of a city under siege being torn apart by the villain, The Joker.
On the coaster, guests will venture through demented hallways of twists, turns and hallucinatory images while being tormented by The Joker. Then, after stepping on a distressed, vandalized train platform, they can only guess at what awaits them as they speed through hairpin turns, climb unseen hills, plunge into pitch darkness and dip into unforeseen danger.
"Today's announcement represents Six Flags Great America's continued focus on delivering a well-rounded and balanced entertainment package," Hank Salemi, Six Flags Great America Park President, said in a release. "The Dark Knight Coaster offers a unique experience that will appeal to families and teens alike."
The coaster will use storytelling, physical movement, video, sound and special effects to bring guests a one-of-a-kind experience, officials said.
It will be located in the Orleans Place section of Six Flags Great America. The opening will be timed to coincide with the opening of "The Dark Knight" movie, officials said.
"Superman: Ultimate Flight," opened to big crowds in 2003 and was the last big coaster introduced at Great America. Officials said the much smaller Ragin Cajun coaster opened with the Mardi Gras-themed area in 2004.
7.5 million for an indoor mouse? I wonder how much that mouse by itself costs - $2 - $3 million max? If that is so, hopefully a lot of money will be left over for the themeing. I'm not asking it to be on par with Universal or Disney, but seeing themeing better than Paramount used to do (w/ the exception of Flight of Fear) would be very nice. Also, let us hope that SF will keep up on the themeing - something that Paramount was extremely bad at.
Also, I REALLY hope this isn't timed to open exactly with The Dark Knight as that movie isn't scheduled to open until July 08! Hopefully Shapiro's committment to having rides ready on opening day will happen next year. (though I thought I think I read that sfstl's woodie wouldn't be ready until mid-summer? That's ..like the Six Flags of old!).
So, what are you thoughts? Good/bad addition..and why? I think it has potential to be good..it just has to be themed well, and that themeing has to kept up..and it will be a nice family addition. Simliar to RC, yes..but..at least, finally, SFGAm will get a dark ride. It should make for an interesting season (and long lines!) next year.
Last edited by Cryptkeeper on September 27th, 2007, 1:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
With Ragin Cajan, I was hoping for something else.. I rather have an enclosed ride like Buzz Light year at Disney. But at least we are getting something new!
By the way... It's going in Orleans Place if anyone cared to know.
Alrighty.....so what's the point of getting rid of SWF? You would think they would put it in that place but there might not be room....I don't really know. I guess it'll be nice to get a new coaster since we haven't gotten one since 04 with Cajun.
I'm surprised with already having a Batman themed ride that they'd go with another. I mean it's great they brought more diversity to the dark by having a dark ride, but I think they should have been gone with diversity on the theming too.
Who would have guessed that? Seriously though, it should have been themed something else, but guess they are just going to use the same layout as GAdv's.
Universal Orlando Mechanical Engineer Marathon down, Goofy to go.
IrishTinkND wrote:I'm surprised with already having a Batman themed ride that they'd go with another. I mean it's great they brought more diversity to the dark by having a dark ride, but I think they should have been gone with diversity on the theming too.
Its themed after the new movie "The Dark Knight." Much like Time Warner did when BTR opened in 92 it was themed after Batman Returns.
Ok , I am lazy. just a copy/paste from my post at TPR.
I really hope that they actually put some planning into the theming of this coaster. For some reason I feel this coaster is just a gimmick. I would rather they rename and enclose Ragin Cajun and add the Batman theming. Then add a Tony Hawks Big Spin over where Splashwater Falls is/was. Two wild mouse rides in fairly close proximity will just seem strange.
Splashwater fall and Deja Vu are not going anywhere like I said before, who said it's leaving? The only DejaVu that is going away is SFOG.. TDK will be build behind theater royale; entrance and line will be between theater and papa john's there is plenty of room, if you haven't yet notice..... you fill the rest.
Six Flags Ameirca as the number 1 park at SFI.... this is JOKE!
While im not thrilled with the type of coaster we are getting as it is very similiar to the last one we got, im very happy that we are getting a new attraction for next year and that it will be enclosed I hope there is alot of air conditioning in summer (LOL). . And im very happy with the Batman theme to the ride, there is alot to work with for theming purposes if it is done right.
So overall I would give SFGAM kudo's for this new addition!!
...holy crap. Is this real? For some reason this feels so unreal. When I read the title I almost thought it was a joke or something else.
I wanna see what it will look like, then maybe I'll actually feel EXCITED.
I guess it feels unreal because I never imagined something like this at SFGAm, and not many seem surprised by it... meh. I haven't had a great past few days, I'm really out of it.
Well, inside I'm probably really excited, but I'm not feelin' it. I know I'm picturing opening day and running to it...
I wanna see what it will look like, then maybe I'll actually feel EXCITED.
Any Mack mouse that you see on this page (http://www.rcdb.com/ir.htm?model=29) is what is to be installed. The only difference is that this will be indoors and highly (hopefully) themed.
Okay, here are my thoughts. I think this is a very good addition based on a few criteria.
1- its a new coaster, duh!
2- its a mouse which means it's geared toward the younger ones but,
3- its themed to Batman and should be pretty intense layout for us
4- its a dark ride (havent had one of those in a while)
5 and its not replacing anything.
Thats just what i think and those 5 things are all pretty good. Can't wait to see it!
Definitely not what I expected. I honestly thought this ride was going to have an inversion or two. I love the whole Dark Knight theme, but yeah... did not see another mouse coming.
Well I'm sure I'll be excited when I feel like being excited.
I'm happy that GAm is getting a new ride but I don't get the logic in adding a second wild mouse. I'm happy GAm is adding an enclosed coaster and I think the theming will be good.
This is pretty good...I like the fact that's it's indoors, because otherwise it would be pointless. Now we have a dark ride, sorta. Now what are they gonna do with Ragin Cajun?
(though I thought I think I read that sfstl's woodie wouldn't be ready until mid-summer? That's ..like the Six Flags of old!).
Seriously though, it should have been themed something else, but guess they are just going to use the same layout as GAdv's.
