Arkansas Twister

Infobox roller coaster
name= Arkansas Twister


imagedimensions=
caption=
location= Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
section=
type= Wood
type2=Twister
type3=Terrain
status= Open
opened= 2000
manufacturer= Michael Black and Associates
designer= Don Rosser
model=Wooden Twister Coaster
track=Douglas Fir
lift= Chain lift hill
height= 95
drop= 92
length= 3340
speed=50
duration=2:00
angle=56
capacity=2000 Riders Per Hour
cost = $900,000
acceleration=
gforce=3.4
restriction= 48
tpj_number=
rcdb_number= 418 The Arkansas Twister is a wooden roller coaster at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls Amusement Park at Hot Springs, Arkansas. The coaster stands 95 feet tall and has a track length of 3340 feet and top speed of over 50 mph, as it takes riders through the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. It debuted at the park in 2000 after relocating from Boardwalk and Baseball near Haines City, Florida, where it was known as the "Florida Hurricane" and, for a brief period of time, "Michael Jackson's Thrill Coaster."

Magic Springs purchased the coaster from Boardwalk and Baseball for $10,000; however, relocation and reconstruction brought the total investment to just under $900,000.

The Arkansas Twister is actually an out-and-back coaster, not a "twister" as the name implies.

The following is compliments of Tom Stone and his history of Magic Springs and the Arkansas Twister:

"The coaster was built by the now defunct Roller Coaster Corporation of America in 1977, and opened in 1978, for Circus World, and was originally named the Roaring Tiger, and was painted with a white structure, and orange hand rails. The coaster was an immediate hit. When Circus World closed, the park was purchased by Anheuser Busch, and the park was renamed Boardwalk and Baseball, the coaster received a new name, the Florida Hurricane, and a new color scheme, the structure was painted grey, and had pepto pink handrails." "This is how Magic Springs came into possession of this great out and back coaster." "Augie Busch made the decision to close Boardwalk and Baseball with a simple phone call from St. Louis to Orlando, the park was directed to close immediately that day. They made an announcement over the sound system that the park was closing and refunded everyones admission. Mr. Busch was mad that Coors beer had been locked in as a sponsor." "I don't blame him, a Busch park, selling Coors!?" "Anheuser Busch had no interest in the coaster for the other Busch parks. Magic Springs negotiated with Anheuser, who was not worried about the money. They just wanted the coaster gone. Magic Springs paid $10,000 for everything. Plus they bought a few kiddie rides."

"Magic Springs contacted Harper Construction of Prattsville, Arkansas, to dismantle the ride and load it on trucks for transport back to Arkansas. Before dismantling it, an engineer was brought in to survey the exact height of the concrete footings for every support on the ride. That way the park could duplicate the exact topography so the supports would fit without being shortened or lengthened. Of course each piece was numbered, and many numbers still show to this day, along with a few hints of pink, and grey paint."

"It took about 40 semi-trailers to haul everything back to Arkansas at a cost of approximately $1,000 each. The coaster was stored in the parking lot for the 2001 season. During this time contacts with possible engineers, and contractors to help in reconstructing the ride. The park was even in contact with William Cobb, who was glad to hear his coaster was being saved. When Mr. Cobb was asked what would he change about the coaster, his reply was, "Wouldn't change a thing". Mr. Cobb even sent the park complete engineering drawings at no charge as his contribution to the parks effort. Sadly, Mr. Cobb passed away from cancer, and never got to see the completed coaster." ""'The $10,000 purchase price was just the beginning of the cost. When it opened, close to $900,000 was investeded in it. The "Twister" was a huge success, drawing a record number of guests to the park for 1992, somewhere around the 325,000 mark. The coaster almost paid for itself in one year.""'"The first manned ride was on May 30, 1992."

External links

* [http://www.rcdb.com/id417.htm Florida Hurricane RCDB page]
* [http://www.rcdb.com/id418.htm Arkansas Twister RCDB page]
* [http://www.magicsprings.com/rides.html Magic Springs page with description of the Arkansas Twister]