Thrillseeker (roller coaster)

Thrillseeker
Previously known as Wild Wave Rollercoaster
Sea World
Coordinates 27°57′24.3″S 153°25′29.9″E / 27.956750°S 153.424972°E / -27.956750; 153.424972Coordinates: 27°57′24.3″S 153°25′29.9″E / 27.956750°S 153.424972°E / -27.956750; 153.424972
Status Closed
Opening date 1982 (1982)
Closing date May 2002 (2002-05)
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer S.D.C.
Model Galaxi
Lift/launch system Chain Lift Hill
Height 14 m (46 ft)
Length 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Speed 65 km/h (40 mph)
Inversions 0
Duration 2 minutes
Trains 3 trains with 2 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Thrillseeker at RCDB
Pictures of Thrillseeker at RCDB

The Thrillseeker was a steel Galaxi roller coaster located at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The ride is now a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria known as Taipan.[1]

History

In 1982, Sea World opened the park's first roller coaster, the Wild Wave Rollercoaster, along with the Pirate Ship and Carousel.[2] The Wild Wave Rollercoaster was later renamed to the Thrillseeker.[3] In May 2002, the Thrillseeker was closed and removed from Sea World.[1][3] It now operates as a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria, known as Taipan.[1]

Following the ride's removal, proposals were made for the area it once occupied. These included a seal exhibit named Seal Rocks[4] and a hippopotamus attraction was proposed for the site.[5] From 2006 to 2008 the site was home to the temporary Sea World Eye.[6][7] In September 2008, work began on the site for a yet-to-be-named ray exhibit.[8] By October, the name of the exhibit was announced to be Ray Reef.[9] It was originally scheduled that the exhibit would open on Boxing Day 2008 (26 December 2008), however, a number of delays forced it to open on 14 January 2009.[10][11]

Ride

The Thrillseeker had a track length of 1,000 m (3,300 ft), with a ride time of 2 minutes and a maximum speed of 65 km/h (40 mph). The track is steel. Trains consist of two four-seat cars, making 8 passengers per train.[3]

The ride began with the right turn out of the station. After ascending the 14 metres (46 ft) chain lift hill riders were sent in a course of quick dips and spiralling helixes.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Thrillseeker (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  2. Sea World (2006). "History and Development of Sea World". MyFun. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Thrillseeker  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  4. "Seal Rocks (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  5. "Unknown Hippopotamus Attraction (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  6. "Sea World Eye (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. AAP (12 December 2007). "Sea World Eye to close on Gold Coast". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. joz (22 September 2008). "Ray Reef (Sea World)". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. Seipelt, Gavin (19 October 2008). "Ray Reef Logo". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  10. Seipelt, Gavin (26 December 2008). "Ray Reef Construction". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  11. Bedo, Stephanie (15 January 2009). "Stingrays wing it for a feed and fondle". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
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