THE FUTURE OF VIPER at Six Flags Magic Mountain!
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- čas přidán 17. 04. 2023
- Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain is now the last remaining Mega Looper from Arrow Dynamics after Shockwave, Great American Scream Machine, and Vortex were dismantled. In this video, we examine the various options Six Flags can explore in a potential replacement worthy of its iconic location.
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I hope Magic Mountain continues to preserve its classic attractions. They stand as monuments to the cutting-edge thrill legacy Magic Mountain represents. Viper adds to the diversity of coasters within MM's arsenal, which makes it so special, so I hope they keep and maintain it for many more years.
I really do wish Viper can still be preserved. It is a unique ride along with the other Arrow's here at this park. One could say that SFMM is an Arrow Dynamics museum. Showing their earliest rides from the Runaway Mine Train to their last hurrah, X2.
And its ancestor down the 5, the Matterhorn.
your head doesn’t hurt after riding viper? i do not ride this ride because it’s extremely rough
@@jessc.13 I've been riding it since I was a boy. Never had that problem.
@@brucewayne1894 me either. Flashback and the former ots restraints on Revolution were much worse.
@@jessc.13 They’ve done work on the car wheels, it’s smoother than a few years ago.
Viper is actually top 5 in the park for me. I absolutely LOVE the intensity! I grew up with KI as my home park and Vortex was always one of my favorites there. SFMM became my home park 15 years ago and I was blown away the first time I rode Viper.
Yes, it's rough, but there is something so nostalgic about Arrow Loopers. I know that it won't be around for much longer, it's only a matter of time; but I take advantage of it as much as possible.
Absolutely. For me: X2, Wonder Woman, Tatsu=Viper, Colossus (thing batters my quads)
I got chills when you noted that 2 of Arrow's greatest creations sat right next to each other! I will say, even with all the bigger, "better" coasters SFMM currently has, when you're standing in the plaza by the water fountain, seeing Viper dominate the skyline is pretty damn awe-inspiring, even after 33 years. I sincerely hope that SFMM will give Viper the TLC it needs; new track and cars would be amazing.
I’m pretty sure someone’s said it before but M K 1 2 1 2
lol it will be removed SF is dead broke
It is too iconic to replace. It's namesake, location and ride really represent the area on many levels. Preserve it as a landmark of roller coaster history.
My 2 fav coasters in 1990 were Viper and Space Mountain. One day, I got the idea to ride both in the same day. My then GF and I spent 1/2 day at MM and 1/2 day at DL. Oh the memories
That's dedication!
Viper got a huge refurb a few years ago including modernizing the computer system. Also s&s also finally makes replacement trains for arrow coasters (Loch Ness Monster received 3 new trains a few years ago) so the parts shortage is no longer as much of a problem.
Not the suspended trains those are still completely rare
Also Morgan could provide their trains
But at what point do you just scrap the thing because sometimes new things Don’t help the ride I herd the same was with hulk it’s still rough as hell
@@kevinthompson6986 Morgan is no longer as well.
uh track is a diffarent story track can be only welded so much vortex at KI was removed for that reason so was GASM at SFNJ was removed for it viper is barley opened the last few months S&S doesnt make arrow track and no park is gonna waste money on a retrack speically viper
Maybe Viper could get the Phantom's Revenge treatment. Remember, steel phantom at kennywood was also an arrow looper that replaced all of its loops with turns and airtime hills. Maybe magic mountain could do the same thing with viper. And it's an idea that nobody talks about. Remove all the inversions and replace them with airtime hills and turns they could also extend the layout while keeping the original structure in place. Also making the ride popular again. Just an idea that I would love to see.
That's something we thought about and almost included in the video. However, with the park loving inversions so much and already having Goliath, we didn't see how they could market it. We also weren't very impressed with Phantoms Revenge. But the idea isn't a bad one. 😀
@@AmericasCoasterNetwork Dont you think that its less likely that they want more inversions since they already have so many?
I'd love something like that but keeping the inversions, the inversions make Viper what it is
I’ve been drafting concepts of this idea for years in no limits 2. It’d definitely to veer away from its current plot of land for the layout to reach potential but it could cross over to the hill decline on the other side of the pathway leading to x2. Would definitely add some speed and more space
Phantoms revenge style on this would be amazing, still “saves” viper while giving it a much smoother ride
I love viper honestly. The amount of inversions, the drop, and the head banging just make it one of a kind in the park
I could do without the headbanging but agree with u
There is a particularly brutal headbang toward the end, do you know if it is right b4 the bat-wing? I have been figuratively beating my head against the restraint trying to remember where in the ride it happens. I rode it 7x straight one day some 15 years ago, haha, must have knocked out my memory-or maybe a tooth? Lol.
Viper is just so iconic it would be very hard to see it go, even if it's replaced with something smoother and more thrilling.
Low-profile harnesses along with softer wheels, and a newer, stylish front car, would be affordable upgrades without having to replace the trains entirely. That, plus a track repaint, queue upgrades, and good advertising would be more than enough to keep Viper alive for many years to come.
We have similar histories with Viper. I was 10 when spring 1990 hit, and I’d only been to the park once before (May 1988 just before Ninja opened). The tallest coaster I had ever seen or ridden up to that moment was Colossus, so Viper was truly imposing. It had 5-6 hour waits during opening summer. We joked about either riding Viper twice or riding everything else lots of times instead. Rope drop to Viper was insane. Vinnie the Viper was a puppet show along the extended queue that entertained guests in the long line in the unshaded scorching heat (although there were misters along the way). Doing quick math upon entering the main queue building, it was obvious that the shortest wait would be the back section, since it took the inside turns in the building, this meaning it was physically shorter than waiting in the other two sections (middle and front). The extra wait for the front row was also insane. So my first ride was in the back row and my heart was beating out of my chest and I was praying for Rapture before we created the lift hill. But once we were flying through the first loop, I was instantly in love. This became my favorite coaster, and was until Goliath opened 10 years later (yes Goliath was awesome when it was new!).
Great video Chris! Thanks for putting in the effort to produce it.
Thanks for that story. And you're welcome. Glad you enjoyed the video! Vinnie the Viper! Yes! That something I always mean to point out in my vlogs. I remember it too from when I was a kid.
@@AmericasCoasterNetwork and Vinnie’s house is still there!
I know rides don’t last forever but I hope this thing can last for years to come. It’s a very iconic ride and I would be sad to see it go
Some retracking and new trains to make it look like a better tennesse tornado would be cool and a way to keep the iconic track and overall structure.
Viper was the coaster I always wanted to ride as a kid. I'm from the UK and the only way I could see these big coasters was on VHS tapes, so many featured Magic Mountain and Viper in particular.
I'd exhausted Alton Towers & Thorpe Park. When me and a couple of friends were looking at heading to the states for a road trip around the west coast in 2011, I knew we had to set aside a day to finally get to Magic Mountain. What a day it was! No queues and everything open. The longest wait was 10 minutes for X2 and everything else was walk on. Viper was a little tough on the neck but I was so grateful to finally ride it.
As mentioned, Alton Towers are rightly preserving their iconic Nemisis with a big refurb and it would be great to see Six Flags do something similar with one of theirs. Would love to have another ride on it in the future.
So many memories thinking back of how intimidating Viper was pre X2 when you pulled up to the park.
Viper will always have such a special place in my heart. I will never forget waiting in the full extended queue on the bottom floor of the station building when I was finally tall enough to ride in 1993.
Hearing that Arrow chain lift and the screams of guests coming around the first turn around while waiting in the queue added so much to the intimidation factor as a kid! I get chills thinking about it.
Great story! Yeah, I totally feel ya with that. I ran away from my older brother and sister when they wanted me ride. My brother caught up with me and said that I didn't have to ride. But it just wait in line with them. When the station gates opened, I was gonna walk across to the exit. But then saw kids younger than me riding. I was super embarrassed. So decided to ride. I mean, I had been on all the other big rides in the park. I think it was 1995/96. So I had even been on Batman. Anyway, going up that lift, I thought I was gonna die. But the fear instantly turned into joy. By the end I wanted to hop back in line.
That chain-clink I lovingly heard in my sleep after a day at the park. I re-watch videos just to keep the memory alive as I cannot ride coasters anymore due to being wheelchair bound with a bad back. But, love that you love that sound. Keep riding for all who can't!
It’s a stretch, but I love the idea of an RMC T-Rex called Viper’s Revenge or something like that. I mean that single rail looks like a huge snake itself! And Six Flags has a GREAT relationship with RMC…
And SFMM also really needs a new hyper, or even a Giga…
rmc isnt even making a t rex model they sleved it in 2021 they dont need another rmc they alreday have twoyou will never see a giga at a SF park money reasons
Viper was the first coaster with inversions that I ever rode♥Such a fun ride, I hope they keep it.
I had a similar experience to yours when I first rode VIPER. I rode it as a youth back in 1991, and it really did Dominate the park’s coasters!!! I hope Magic Mountain keeps VIPER and just give it new trains and paint job 🌟✨
I suspect a big reason Viper is still around is because it is cheap to maintain and is quite reliable. It isn't that popular with guests, which has probably led to more closures in low seasons recently (especially with sub-optimal staffing), and for that reason I unfortunately don't see it getting a major overhaul to extend the life of the ride. However, I think the park knows they need something iconic to go in that spot, and I think whatever they choose as a replacement will be among the best rides in the park. As for how long it has left, my guess is that a replacement will be SFMM's second coaster project from now (with their next being a Mack PowerSplash in 2024/2025), with a timeline of having something epic to show off for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. What could that something be? I see three likely candidates (most to least likely):
1. A Vekoma tilt coaster that can be marketed as the tallest tilt coaster in the world. My money's on something with similar statistics to Viper, but with a towering tilting drop and the intensity and smoothness modern design techniques can provide.
2. A B&M Giga coaster running along the southern border of the park. This would probably be an out and back layout that would break west coast records but not world records.
3. A prototype of some sort, either something new from Zamperla, a RMC T-Rex, a S&S Axis, or perhaps even an Intamin. If they go this route, it will still be a large coaster, but might not be gigantic as the focus will be on something that looks crazy and intimidating even if it isn't as massive.
Viper will be missed when it does retire, but I do think SFMM knows how important that ride is and will do it justice when the time comes. I have to think that if they didn't care about the legacy it holds, it probably wouldn't still be operating to this day.
doubt it SF is in major debit right now and not looking good for majoe projects
I really hope they can save and refurbish Viper. It's iconic and actually a really fun ride.
I hope they keep the exact same layout and give the blueprints to B&M and have them refurbish the ride so it has many more years left.
Viper is a classic and should be preserved. The fact that there are seven inversions in it makes it almost one-of-a-kind. As you mentioned, the other ones that are identical to it have been removed from their respective parks. I wonder if Magic Mountain is giving any thought to purchasing some of that open, barren land that sits adjacent to the park?
Unfortunately, all that open land is already claimed by a developer. There's a master plan for every square inch around the park. Next to Viper is zoned for commercial. Across from the toll booths is for condos and entertainment if I'm remembering correctly. In fact, Six Flags sold off the land behind Apocalypse which was their graveyard. It's now a man-made hillside for the development behind the park. Was pushed out and flattened.
Viper is the absolute TOP of my must ride coasters for so many reasons. Currently hoping I can get out there this year!
Wow I am 44 years old now and remember riding the Viper ride when I was 11 years old when it was the newest ride in the park. Back when Warner Bros owned the Six Flags company and the money was flowing.
Batman? Is that you?
Just rode on Viper again yesterday. It's an iconic ride that I've loved for years, I would hate to see it go. It's definitely time for a refurbishment though. It's become such an incredibly rough ride now.
It's probably my favorite ride in the park. The thrill mixed with the insane smoothness it really shouldn't have make for a ride that heals my very soul ❤
You might be the first person I've seen call it insanely smooth. With that said, for its age, it runs pretty darn well!
The best thing about Arrows are the intense transitions. I like having 1g and then almost instantly being 4+g.
Heck yeah!
Viper is my personal favorite coaster, so I'm definitely biased in hoping it at least gets new trains with vests at least, and a Python-style retrack would be even better. Blue Hawk currently doesn't have whatever function that used to keep the antirollbacks silent on its lift, and it sounds so similar to Viper even with the Vekoma trains. Maybe S&S could provide new trains with vests too, as they're who the park currently sends Viper trains too for refurb - find a way to work their freespin restraints into the chassis of their new Arrow-style trains (re: Loch Ness Monster's new S&S trains). But this is all a pipe dream of course.
My biggest concern with the refurb concept is that, unfortunately, Blue Hawk is not super popular. It is very similar to Viper in that while it can easily draw a line on very busy days, most of the time it's a walk on or station wait if both trains are running. An under-discussed counter to this is that due to the simple OTSR and no seatbelts combo, they're both super easy to load and can churn through riders more than people give them credit for, while being operated by only a crew of three. For example, Viper with two trains can hit 800pph, per a ride op I spoke with in June 2022. But, even post-refurb, Blue Hawk certainly is not a ride that holds 30+min lines on the average spring Saturday like pretty much all of the park's other major coasters have had as of late. The bad reputation it had as Ninja is still something I hear talked about by park goers relatively often, and while it rides so much better now & many guests know that, there still seems to be hesitancy from people who did not like it in its previous form.
Unfortunately I'm in the camp of thinking that SF used Blue Hawk as a test for this kind of refurb of older loopers - new trains, new paint, new name, but still same ride experience (as opposed to say Firebird, which changed rider position) - and in seeing that it hasn't consistently held increased ridership over time, decided to not go for this option for other rides in the chain like Viper, Ninja at SFStl, & Demon. But that's just my speculation, because you could also argue that the chain going forward with refurbs like Firebird, Riddler Mindbender (though this and Revolution hold really strong historical significance at their parks), and even Boomerang at SFFT's current refurb being contrary to my above argument.
All in all, I know what I'm hoping for, and I guess we'll wait and see.
Being the last of it’s kind, MM should preserve that classic like a museum piece.
Totally. Just like they will with Revolution.
I share your same feeling as first time I saw Viper was back in 1995 when I was 13 and I was so freaked out as well when I saw it. Great Video!!! I think they should keep this ride for decades, just an upgrade maybe as they did with X2, new colors, new logo, new trains, make it faster and maybe add some additional features.
Viper is one of the best coasters at Magic Mountain and I would love to see it stay for the long run, though a tilt coaster replacement was pretty intriguing, I still think Viper should stay, it already got a refurbishment a while back and they could give Viper the blue hawk treatment.
Viper was so ahead of it's time it's still great
The first time I went to SFMM I was 7 and when I saw Viper it scared the life out of me. Fast forward some years and it became one of my favorite coasters in the park. It is still intimidating to look at especially since it sits on top of the hill. I would love to see new trains and a repaint to keep the ride running for more years. If SFMM does decide to remove Viper, something bigger and faster will need to take its place but for now Viper and X2 make up Arrow Corner and the best first look when entering the park
My first big coaster ever. This is the one that made me fall in love with coasters back in 08
Viper is still one of the best rides in the park. It'll be a sad day when it's gone.
This is the first video that I have seen actually acknowledge that Rapids has been closed for 2 years. I've been saying for a long time that they could totally build a giga using those same plots of land described in this video, with pretty much the exact same wording. Viper has been down recently due to a number of issues, ranging from staffing to maintenance. In the last 2 years, its lift motor has blown out at least 4 times. To be fair though, I've heard X2, Scream, and Riddlers have had the same issue but Viper has had it the most. I also have heard, from a good source, that it will be down for the rest of the year at this point due to maintenance. I can't say that I will be sad to see Viper go, but I also can't say I'll be happy either. In 2021, that was the very first ride I was trained at when I worked at Magic Mountain. I still am very good friends with people that I met working there and I do have a sense of ownership over the ride. It is, however, time for Viper to go. That corner of the park is definitely the next area that needs work now that DC Universe has been... "re-imagined." Even when X2 is down for wind, most people won't choose to ride Viper even though it's right next door. It kind of makes the area even more depressing. If I were Six Flags, I would build either a massive B&M Dive or Giga on that plot. I've heard even from maintenance people that the most likely option is a Mack Powersplash, but to me that's a terrible replacement for such a huge plot of land and such an iconic coaster. Personally, I don't think an Axis or a Tilt are good options. They would fit amazingly in the park's lineup, but the maintenance required on them would probably be too much to handle. X2 is already a maintenance headache in that area, with Ninja and Superman not far behind on the scale. Not to mention that a Tilt or Axis would also probably be highly affected by the wind issues that plague so many rides at the park already - the 3 aforementioned coasters included. Unfortunately, I think the days of brand-spankin' new ride models are over for Magic Mountain. They need some tried-and-true workhorse machines, especially in that corner. It will be a bittersweet day when Viper does finally go, but I believe it will get a worthy replacement.
A Mack power splash would be great but in a different area of the park. That would be such a huge waste of space to put one there. Viper’s plot of land is massive and it’s in a really premium spot. When viper goes one day they need to put something that’s a worthy replacement to such an iconic ride. Magic mountain is the flagship park of the chain so I’m hoping they’d be willing to pay for something big there.
It definitely needs a new trains and track. It's one of the roughest rides I have ever been on.
I have wondered what the elevation was for the coasters in the front of the park. I notice on the bridge heading to X2 that your already looking down on Scream and Twisted Colossus. Tatsu and superman are even higher off the ground
I doubt Six Flags would spend the money but honestly they only really need two types of coasters. They need a terrain woodie and a giga. If they were to tear it down I would vote for the giga. There isn't one on the west coast so it's a no brainer. If they don't want to tear it down then either a Vekoma rehab or a Chance conversion would be cool. A ridiculous Chance airtime machine would be incredible.
I'm with you! A vekoma retract with major reprofiling, or a GTX mega on crack and chamoy.
You forget that when it comes to magic mountain they will spend money
For about 5 or 6 years I been saying tear it down but now that I really look at it’s history in the coaster world it should be preserved
The first coaster that informed me that I wouldn’t be able to do roller coasters for much longer 😅
😂
I love the Viper and it's nostalgic for me too. Recently I've ridden it with my son who also loves it, so I'm good if they keep it. But imagine a giga coaster using the land from Roaring Rapids to Viper. It would be truly monumental.
Agreed! My only worry is how many trees they might remove to make it happen. That area around Revolution and Roaring Rapids is basically last remaining area of large trees and shade.
I just gotta say, Viper is an outstanding experience to ride. It really overwhelms your senses in a great way. I hope it hangs around.
Couldn't agree more!
I was 10 years old and too scared to ride Viper when it opened in 1990. We moved across country soon after and I never made it back to Magic Mountain again until 2011. At 31, I was no longer afraid. It’s a classic and I loved it. I also noticed Colossus is still there but is very different. I’ll have to get back out west one day to check it all out. And Viper better still be there 😊
If it's possible, have Vekoma retrack everything from the first drop to the final brakes. That, plus their new trains may provide a fantastic ride experience while keeping the layout the exact same. Only tweaks I'd make would be a more angled curve after the first loop and maybe add a zero g roll toward the end before the dive under the lift. That'd be well within Six Flags budget as well.
For replacement, due to Six Flags strained relationship with Gerstlaurer due to TNTG accident, unfortunately I don't see that happening but I can see them working with S&S to add a ride similar to Steel Curtain with 10+ inversions.
Vekoma stepping in would be a great idea for sure! The layout is one of the best. Just needs better transitions.
I just subbed. I am 60 and was at the opening day of magic mountain. This was my home park.
A giga would be awesome since the west coast is lacking such a beast, but like you said it's highly unlikely. I don't like Viper but don't really want to see it go. I respect what it represents and it getting refurbished would do it justice. Hilarious clip of the water dummies on Green Lantern. It wasn't always water spewing from that ride.
Excellent and informative video. I rode Viper the very year it opened! It was my first coaster. I rode X the very year it opened with my dad. I lost him not long after our amazing adventure and due to medical conditions, X was my last rollercoaster, too. So, they both bookmark my life and my heart says, don't change a thing, but my love for others' enjoyment says that yellow 360 twisting coaster you showed (never saw that), would be a great replacement someday. Regardless, coasters are my jam and I was blessed to grow up riding them with a mother and father. #ViperIsMyFang
What amazing memories. And cool you still follow coasters even though you can't ride them anymore. I always think about how much my late father loved Psyclone because he grew up riding the original at Coney Island.
@@AmericasCoasterNetwork Memories are all we have! How neat regarding your father and Coney Isaland. Love that coasters can bring people together like music... everyone vibing and hopefully riding those happy waves, wether on a ride or watching a video.
what an amazing video! viper meant so much to me, also.. i was born in 83, so i felt the impact of its greatness as a kid. my dad would drive us down from bakersfield and viper was the king coaster at the time, a father son bonding ride we could both enjoy.. unforgettable fun, and unrivaled height and speed. though last time i rode it a decade or more ago, it was quite rickety and way less smooth than it was upon opening, for sure.. my head was banging around against the restraint, and it gave me a gnarly headache lol. crazy to see how far things have come since then with coaster tech! totally curious as you are as to what six flags magic mountain may (or may not!?) put in viper's hill-perched prime park location one day. thanks for posting! and honestly you offer some great info about what coaster companies build what and where.. it's cool to think about that stuff, but thanks also for the educational/informative elements of your video today. subscribe, i shall! :)
Thank you! Happy you enjoyed the video and all the information. And thanks for that story. It's always great to hear the memories others have of Viper. Also thanks for the sub.
Viper is one of my favorite coaster in the park. I hope it gets a nice referb and magic keeps it around for many more years to come. Honestly I rather see Goliath go before viper does. But when it eventually does get removed I hope magic does what ceder fair did and sell parts of the track. Would love to have a piece of viper on my shelf siting next to the vortex piece lol
I absolutely like this video! Viper from what I heard and seen looks like a great coaster I hope it stays around a little longer. I hope to ride Viper one day if I visit.
I have ridden Viper a couple of times and enjoyed it very much….but that was years ago….today, I’m more subdued and Magic Mountain doesn’t hold much for me.
The perfect coaster for me now is The “Incredicoaster” (formerly “California Screamin’” at DCA)….a little of everything but not too much of anything!
I grew up with Magic Mountain going every year. I was 10 when it came out on 1990. I loved Viper, but here I am 30yrs later and took my kids, 13 and 15yrs of age, on it for the first time and it had been a while for me as well and it was like torture for us with how rough of a ride it was. All I can assume is due to the age of the coaster. I don’t remember it being like that. We go on all of the major ones like Goliath, Tastu and Full Throttle with no problems but Viper was headache waiting to happen.
I absolutely loved Viper as a kid and into my teenage years. Once I was at my full height, though, I realized it was designed at a time when people were shorter haha. Uncomfortable as hell.
How tall are you? I'm 6'2 and don't have any issues aside from the restraint sticking out super far because it hits my shoulders before my chest/stomach.
Still remember the hype when it first opened. Blew us away.
I would love to see a giga built at Magic Mountain. Something like Fury with a fly over or under the front entrance would be beautiful at the park. Ive got a soft spot for Viper because I grew up riding it and it was one of the few coasters that actually scared me a bit. I cant handle
the roughness anymore and its been years since Ive been on it. I think its time to replace it personally. I get the nostalgia though. Its a bad*** ride with a bad** name. Another great video!
I agree with many of the sentiments with regard to the nostalgia that Viper evokes. Personally, I would love to see a RMC T-Rex with some of the iconic features, curved drop into the tall loop, of Viper along with significant upgrades to height (300ft+) and inversions (11+) keeping the same color scheme. This would allow for some records and hopefully the first T-Rex.
Not a bad idea! And also the first RMC with a vertical loop!
my favorite roller coaster ride of allll time!!!!
best ride at the park. the loops are so intense. The view from thelift and drop are so nostalgic and iconic
I’m glad you mentioned it appearing in Encino Man. That’s partly what inspired me to want to ride it.
I remember being 13 that summer it opened and just scared shitless waiting in line for about 3 hours to ride it lol.
On busy days Viper still get lines. So it's still popular with guests. For being 30+ years old I'm amazed at how well they have it running. The problem they may run into with a ride this old is finding spare parts for it. I've only ridden 2 of the Arrow mega loopers and I can tell you that Viper is far superior to the late Scream Machine. If they could figure out a way to fix the transition into the 1st corkscrew that would make a huge difference in Viper's ride experience. The 2nd problem is the teardrop loops taken at those high speeds cause a whip effect at the peak of the loops that cause people to bang their heads on the restraints. If you keep your head back on the seat however this is completely avoidable. Viper is actually one of my favorite rides at the park but everytime I ride it I do wonder if it will be my last.
Well said! Yeah, parts might be an issue. But I believe a company like Vekoma can help. Given how they ripped off Arrow to start. And that transition into the worst corkscrew is so weird! But hasn't ever been an uncomfortable part for me.
Finally! Someone who knows how to ride that ride, haha. Keep your head back, pull left on that janky hard right, laugh, scream, then repeat the theme.
The smoothest riding multiloop I've ever ridden. Which makes sense that cameras seem to love it. The view over the valley, to the freeway and entrance to the park is memorable. I hope it stays, but upgrades would be cooler! Revamp and add, I dare ya. ;p
Agreed! It still runs as good as it did 20+ years ago. And while never B&M smooth, it has its own style which I've grown to love even more over the years. The view is amazing too.
Viper was also my first coaster that got me over my fears of roller coasters
To be honest I hope they keep it and just give it better restraints and maybe updated trains to give it a better ride experience. New track profiling too around the heart line would also be great! Will always love this ride tho
I expect Viper will be there for a while. It's not had the same issues as some other Arrow rides that were removed. They don't age super gracefully given the rough nature, but there are many older Arrow coasters still going and they're reliable.
I'd also hope that the first Axis goes to Kings Island in the old Vortex plot. It would pay homage to both the Vortex and original Bat, and Kings Island for many years was also a pioneer in debuting unique ride experiences.
Love that idea for an Axis in the spot of Vortex!!
Shockwave at six flags greet America was also the first thing you’d see when you drove in. It was a “ holy shit “ moment.
Oh yeah! I can see that! Wish I got to see that one too. And ride it.
In case no one else has mentioned it, TRUE ROMANCE BRUH!!!
Great video loved viper when it came out
Thank you! Yeah, I remember the line down the hill.
I hope they keep the exact same layout and give the blueprints to B&M and have them refurbish the ride so it has many more years left. It would be a lot more smoother than what it is now.
If anything happens to viper any classic coasters they have ever gets taken out!
I will never go to any amusement park anywhere anymore ever again!
I will just continue playing roller coaster tycoon until the day I die!
It'll be a sad day when Viper is removed. however due to SFMM and Energylandia currently battling for the most coasters, i dont see her going away any time soon, they'll need every coaster they have. If anything, i can see Goldrusher, scream, or Superman being removed first.
I think a refurbishment with new trains and/or track really would be the best option. Viper's already a very iconic ride as it is and I'm among the many who just can't see anything else sitting in in its place that could possibly live up to its legacy. But it's undeniable that its age is showing so a refreshment of any kind would be welcome. Heck, even just a new paint job and some vest restraint trains like SF did with Ninja/Blue Hawk would go a LONG way.
Definitely new trains, re-tracking and re-paint. Just not the name change and keep the colors the same. Hopefully that'll be it's fate. If it does get removed, I would hope it'll be an S&S looping coaster like Steel Curtain but make it a giga with a few more inversions. I think that would pay great homage to Viper. 😎🤙
LONG LIVE VIPER! LONG LIVE VIPER! LONG LIVE VIPER! 👑🐍👑
I just hope it stays around till at least the end of next year. It’s one of my biggest bucket list rides, since I never got to do Shockwave at my home park.
Here's what I know about Viper after talking to two employees.
Six flags magic mountain is running out of parts to maintain Viper. The Ride is aging and is going to be in need of an overhaul soon. In short, the Coaster is simply reaching the end of its service life.
Now. Don't get it wrong. Viper is safe. The Ride isn't dangerous at all nor will it be in a long time. Service life is simply the time that passes until the park needs to start planning for a replacement or a refurbishment. Apparently, SFMM was ready to get rid of Viper back in 2017 in favor of a new coaster. But after the (at the time) uncertain future of Green Lantern. Those plans were scrapped and six flags overhauled the Ride with a new control panel and new and so many other mechanical components back in 2018 to keep it going while Green Lantern got replaced.
Viper was not originally supposed to be one of the 20 Coasters that are standing at SFMM today. But it is because of Green Lantern. And now, it's nearing the end of its service life and the park doesn't have that much time to keep it going.
According to them. The park was almost ready to keep it SBNO for the rest of 2023 until they decided what to do. But given all of the closures the park has been having and the negative press the park has been getting lately. They can't afford to lose Viper. They need a big shiny Coaster to replace it and they don't have the funds to do that. And they don't want to lose the 20 Coaster record either.
So now. The current plan is to operate Viper on a limited schedule to keep it going for as long as possible. Until they are ready to replace it.
Keep in mind. These are just rumors. But both employees told me that Goliath would be getting a huge refurb for 2022 nearly a year before it happened. So they're both reliable sources.
I hope it's wrong because I love Viper so much. But I'm afraid the end might be near for our favorite rattlesnake.
Viper needs a full refurbishment and restoration, the ride is still amazing.
Great video. I'm glad growing up in the 80's and visiting Six-Flags, the park was clean and well taken care of. Sadly, NOW it's dirty and no upkeep...haven't been back with my son.
Thanks. Glad you liked the video. And yeah. Would be nice to return to those days.
You and I are the same age so this video hits hard. I travel down to Santa Clarita at least twice a month in order to ride Viper alone.
That's dedication! I love it! Just too bad it's been closed so much these days. How many times did you make the drive only to be disappointed?
Great video!
Thanks!
I went on Viper when it opened. Now it’s too rough, and needs to go!! The area (hill) it’s in would be great to showcase a 300+ foot Giga!
I'm planing on riding viper before its to late but I have 2nd hand ptsd because my brother and sister went on it when I wasn't tall enough and then when they got off their backs got messed up for the rest of the day.
I really hope i can make my way to magic mountain soon so i can experience the intensity of viper
They have been bringing back the rafts after they’ve been refurbished for roaring rapids, so I don’t think that will be going away soon.
Just been a long process? And I guess they can always build over it. Ha.
Viper has the height and speed to be a good candidate for the Phantom's Revenge treatment. And enough inversions that they need a no inversion airtime machine. Honestly surprised Shockwave and Scream Machine weren't given that treatment, seems like Six Flags would love it. Just sayin'.
It needs new trains and a new track. They have to make it smoother somehow and more rider friendly. I first went on viper in 1991. I was terrified! I do like it except for my head being jerked in all directions. It gave me a headache every time I rode it. Compare it to Goliath.. now that’s a smooth ride, no headaches either. Viper is cool but it’s bumpy. I don’t want it removed, it just needs an upgrade.
I think the most financially conservative move Six Flags could do to test out the merits of the Vekoma trains used on Blue hawk is to during the off season send those over and gauge the reaction of the writers. The only thing they would be out would be the cost to ship and install and uninstall the trains. This would give them a good idea on how much using the improved trains would improve the experience.
My opinion from there If it needs to be retracked, I would have if possible ride centerline design the improved layout fixing the areas that cause unnecessary stress and roughness and use chance / Morgan track. This would give them the best engineers designing the layout who have proven to be able to make very intense layouts that are not rough and the Morgan track is a more durable and more refined tract design that arrow mimicked in later rides. Doing these things I believe would give it the best possible mix of reliability, smoothness, intensity, and longevity.
And how to market it, I would say it depends on how much they're willing to invest in the upgrades and how far they can get away with changing it while keeping it in a classic designation. I would explore changing the initial drop to one of two formations: either a abrupt steep straight drop off the lift hill with some added elements to add some airtime heels before entering the first loop, or simply changing the first drop to being a typical arrow turn then straight drop as found in most of their other coasters like vortex, loch Ness monster, etc. One way or another, I think the dive loop is a weakness that needs to be changed if they're going to go through the effort of retracking.
For the ideas of replacements, I would vote against a B&M dive and B&M giga. If the park wants to go with a dive coaster, I would use Goliath's plot of land or Scream as I think they both would naturally fit that segment better. Personally I think the dive is getting to be long in tooth and overdone. The B&M giga is going to have to try to top fury 325 which is not going to be an easy task. On top of this, it's also going to be compared to lots of B&M hypers because we have to remember just because it's taller doesn't mean it's going to be better. In my opinion the market is flooded as it is with B&M hypers and gigas. I think going with a different manufacturer that hasn't been done yet is a better move. I would look to RMC for that since no one's done it yet, in addition that RMC has proven to make very smooth rides that are very intense that are both more intense and smoother than B&M. To use B&M dives and B&M gigas I think it's two much of a me too strategy trying to copy what cedar Fair does. I think the better strategy is to focus on what cedar fair isn't doing yet and should be looking into doing.
Magic mountain has some very great rides which has defined the park. X2 created it and maintains it due to its uniqueness in this country. Ninja built it up and at this point is a good supporting coaster which at first was an intensity focused coaster and now is maybe more of a family coaster. Other ones such as Batman and tatsu built up the park and maintain it. What I would be looking to replace are ones that don't live up to the hype and do not stand out.
Goliath while reliable from a experience standpoint has not aged well and is in a lower tier compared to most other hypers regardless of which manufacture you want to compare it against including ones that are shorter. I would plan on replacing that. Scream has not aged well at all being both rough yet forceless. I would look to move that to different park in the chain that has been neglected and during the transfer I would see if B&M could fine tune it to improve it as much as possible.
I love the idea is testing out the Blue Hawk trains on Viper! And you're not a fan of the curving first drop? That's one of my favorite drops for that very reason.
@@AmericasCoasterNetwork thank you. What is it about the curved drop that makes you prefer it?
After Vortex left King's Island, it seems to me that the days of the mega loopers are numbered everywhere, just like many of the traditional wooden coasters in the age of RMC.
I'd like to see it stick around, but I'm not optimistic. Also, I don't see another inversion filled coaster taking its place. Numerous airtime hills are all the rage now, so it'll probably something that incorporates a lot of this.
But airtime hills have been a thing for a couple decades now. And the park still hasn't built a traditional airtime coaster. Even when they got Goliath.... Lol.
Definetly agree with what you said, I think a retrack and new trains will be the best option, it keeps the og ride around while offering a more comfortable experience, if it had to be replaced I'd hope it's something that at least pays tribute to it, unlike what happened with its sister coasters, it's an icon and whenever it does end up leaving, it'll be a sad day.
If SFMM was to ever give Viper new trains I wonder who they would be from, probably Vekoma given Six Flags has purchased the new style Vekoma trains before.
@@matthewl5434 A company called S&S makes parts for Arrow coasters so they could easily supply two new trains for Viper that are nearly identical to the original trains. That's what Busch Gardens Williamsburg did for Loch Ness Monster a few years ago.
This was such an important coaster for the park. Before it was built, what was there? Colossus, Revolution, Goldrusher, Freefall, Ninja, and maybe a couple others? Ride rotation stuff? That said, it has never featured my favorite forces, and evidently I'm not alone. I never rode any of the other mega loopers, but it kind of seems like maybe this was the best of them.
DITTO!!!!! I was there opening day. I had an autographed blueprint from Ron Toomer. I was this little kid obsessed. Viper is still the most scenic thing. But. It’s time. I have over 600 rides on this thing. Again- opening day Ron Toomer blueprint. But. Its bad rap is starting to overshadow its history I don’t think the vast bulk of attendees share with the old school and historical lovers. I’m genuinely so totally torn and it’s good to know others understand my plight! (PS- now that it appears the Knott’s giga plans got scrapped I wonder if SFMM will seize the opportunity to beat a California park to it now….)
Viper is a rough ride. Perfect platform for a new track top.
I think Viper isn't going anywhere, it's a classic and an icon. A refurb is possible, but under the current CEO I don't see Six Flags spending the capital on it.
If they do replace it, I feel like you perhaps did miss the most obvious way they could go.
Record Breaking: Check
Multiple Inversions: Check
Speed: Check
Not super expensive: Check
Great relationship with the manufacture?: Check.
I'm talking an RMC T-Rex coaster. They have already installed a raptor, a first of it's kind, record breaking top to bottom experience that could be amazing. I dunno if they would go that way though considering they just installed Wonder Woman but I wouldn't take it off the table... that is assuming RMC ever gets around to building the thing....
I was pretty sure the T-Rex was a dead concept. But wouldn't mind seeing one there. Wouldn't be cheap though.
I hope my home park keeps VIPER as long as possible. History is cool
I hope so too!
I havent been on it in decades, even though I made a couple of trips there over the last few years, my ears are still sore from riding it. 😁
I was there the week it was opened. Still to this day, I remember that curved drop, and speed./
The Colasses is the og ride. I used to love that ride. I rode right when they were tearing it down. I see why they did. It was rickety and would sway back and forth.
I can see Vekoma going in and doing Viper 2.0 reasonable price and similar layout even if it’s not a tilt coaster but a drop similar to Lech coaster
I need to see this get the phantoms revenge treatment. I wish they could’ve done that to vortex as well :(
It made sense for Kennywood because they didn't have a hyper. But both Kings Island and Magic Mountain already do. So I can't see why they would. As cool as that might be.
@@AmericasCoasterNetwork yes but they would be turned into insane ejector machines
They could replace Viper, this arrow looper, with an arrow looper, would be a great option
I’d say convert it to a non looping coaster with airtime hills and new lap bar trains, like they did with the one in kennywood. It would keep the classic lift hill and signature arrow drop.
I'd be okay with that. But not sure how they could market it. Wouldn't have any kinda height or speed record. What worked out well for Phantom is that it had two large drops. And the park didn't have a traditional hyper already.