Grizzly (roller coaster)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Grizzly


imagedimensions=240px
caption=A train about to bunny hop over the tunnel element
location=Kings Dominion
locationarticle=
section=
type=Wood
type2=Terrain
type3=
status=Opened
opened=March 27, 1982
closed=
manufacturer=Kings Entertainment Company
designer=Taft Attractions Group
model=
track=
lift=
height=87
drop=84
length=3150
speed=51
inversions=
duration=2:30
angle=
capacity=2500
cost=
acceleration=
gforce=5.5
restriction=44
rcdb_number=90

Grizzly is a wooden roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. The grounds of the ride are densely forested, with the intended thrills heightened from the illusion of inadequate clearance between the track and trees. The attraction opened in 1982, and the double-figure-eight layout is based closely on the defunct Coney Island Wildcat. [http://www.kingsdominion.com/attractions/category.cfm?ac_id=13|The Kings Dominion website's official Grizzly Page]

History

The announcement by Kings Dominion that Grizzly would be ready to open for the 1982 season was made in a press release [http://www.rcdb.com/document90.htm|The official press release announcing the construction of Grizzly] on March 15, 1982. The new coaster was intended to be the top thriller in the park, billed as "Taller than the park's most popular ride (Rebel Yell)" and "heaven for the real thrillseeker". Grizzly's design is very closely based on that of the Wildcat roller coaster (demolished in 1964) at the early Coney Island park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The layout was able to be mimicked so faithfully because the media conglomerate Taft Broadcasting, at the time owned both parks. The layout would place the coaster in the Old Virginia section of the park, winding mostly through the existing forest for the first half, then entering a large infield (which also held an employee parking area) for the second. The ride opened on March 27, 1982, and has not closed for any major refurbishments/modifications since. [http://www.rcdb.com/id90.htm|the Roller Coaster Database Page on Grizzly]

Theming

The attraction is not definitively themed, attempting instead to immerse the riders in a setting that resembles the natural habitat of the grizzly bear. The entire attraction is deep in the woods, far from the nearest paths. This not only hides the coaster from the rest of the park, making it impossible for guests to visually gauge the thrill they are about to experience, but psychologically supports the idea of entering an isolated wilderness. The station and support building architecture is faux timber-framed cabin style, and the color scheme is exclusively brown and woodgrain. The roller coaster itself is stained a gray-brown natural woodtone, though the trains are red. At the entrance of the long , the attraction's name is not publicly displayed anywhere near or on the grounds of the roller coaster.

References

External links

* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/yellowpages/coasters/grizzly_pkd.shtml UltimateRollerCoaster.com's Grizzly ID page]
* [http://database.thrillnetwork.com/dbgallery/index.php?rideid=539 ThrillNetwork.com's Grizzly Roller Coaster Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w7DwCdegC0&feature=related An onride video of the roller coaster]