ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coaster

[JJLehto]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

^ Well, with the small footprint, and the park's popularity, what would've you expected?

My noobness can't be hidden, I've not heard of this park before seeing this post pop up : O (ashamed face)

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

I had the opportunity to visit the park after Batman: The Ride's media day. ZDT's is a small park located off the Interstate between San Antonio and Houston about a half hour's drive from the Alamo.
After taking the tour I have to admit that this is beyond a doubt my most eagerly awaited new coaster of the year. I know it's going to be tiny, but so is Roar-O-Saurus which was my biggest surprise last year.
The tour is 30 minutes and I had some audio trouble at the beginning (still getting used to the new camera), but I think it's worth watching to see just what they're going through in the building process.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs73wo4KwQw[/youtube]

An here's a few photos for those that don't have the time to watch the video.

The building fly-through:

The 104° banked turn:

The cross over/under:

All of that crammed into this tiny space:

 

[JJLehto]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

And as we know small doesn't worse, they sometimes can be the most forceful. That is certainly a compact coaster, so it's possible! Thanks for the updates, I've heard nothing of this ride or even park but I am intrigued. Can't wait to hear your opinion after riding, when I go to Texas next year I may have to tack this on : D

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

The lift hill has gone vertical.

From the park's Facebook page

 

[davidm]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Stopped by last Wednesday mid-afternoon (3rd June) - still looked a _long_ way to go to be honest...

Impressively small/tight footprint though.

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Posted this on our Facebook page earlier today and thought I'd post it here as well.

I can't believe the construction progress since my visit last month. Pretty remarkable considering the extreme weather, including tropical cyclone Bill, the area has been through. Still no announced opening date though.

All photos provided by ZDT's.

 

[Hyde]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Thanks for posting Jerry! Fun seeing the coaster take more form, especially that tight turn/cut through the warehouse.

 

[GuyWithAStick]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Lookin' good! Working through the bad storms is true devotion.

 

[Gavin]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Can't be arsed to find the link now, but on their Facebook page they've confirmed that it won't be opening this summer.

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Yeah. I see they posted this last night after I posted those photos.

Though we will continue to push forward, Switchback is no longer anticipated to open for the summer season. We will open this exciting, new, one-of-a-kind roller coaster as soon as possible! We will also continue to post updates on our progress until that time comes. Here are some pictures of where Switchback is at today:

So I spoke with Sarah Donhauser and she confirmed that Gravity group called yesterday to inform them that they would not be able to get the coaster open this summer, but they're pushing on with the work to make sure we won't have to wait until 2016 to ride this baby. Sarah and Danny aren't going to speculate on any rough date right now, but the park is open year round and I hope they get everything up and running before the Halloween season kicks off.

Photo from the park's tweet.

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Switchback is really beginning to take shape now. Tracking on the over-banked turn is nearing completion as well as the dive through the building. Meanwhile, tracking work continues on the initial lift-hill and drop. Structure and tracking have also commenced where the coaster will hug the ground beneath the awning as well as where the crossover takes place in route to the final spike.

All of these photos were sent to me by the park.

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

So the world record that's been hinted at throughout all the announcements has finally been revealed - when completed, Switchback should officially claim the title of world's steepest wooden roller coaster!
The steepest point of the ride will occur on the ‘Grand Spike’ at the tail end of the ride, where the riders will travel upwards, stop, and then fall backwards to complete the track circuit again in reverse. While the track itself will reach upwards to a full 90 degrees, Gravity Group estimates that the train should reach a near vertical 87 degrees before falling backwards (topping the current wooden roller coaster record of 85 degrees).

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Its been a little while, so here are some updated photos:

 

[Ethan]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

They're taking the p*ss with the "steepest wooden coaster" in my opinion. It's not even a drop! If they said "steepest incline" it would be more accurate but I guess that sounds pathetic.

 

[GuyWithAStick]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Are they banking the spike like in the animation, or is it going to be straight?

Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Hixee]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

^I was wondering that too. Looking back at the animation, I wonder if they just didn't build it properly in NoLimits. There was always the 'trick' of using Con-Roll or Rel-Roll to stop that sort of thing happening on vertical sections of track.

The support structure they've build looks like it won't twist. Either they didn't know how to use the Rel-Roll feature in NL, or they've modified the design since that animation was released. I'm going with the former, if it banked it'd be vile.

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Switchback is looking more amazing by the day...

Love the way they have ZDT in the steel structure.

From the park's Facebook page

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

It's getting there! :--D

From the park's Facebook page

 

[ECG]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

Trains arrived yesterday and the track is complete, which means that testing should begin soon. Yay!

 

[GuyWithAStick]

Re: ZDT's Amusement | Switchback | Gravity Group Shuttle Coa

My god that looks amazing. This'll be a great ride.

Sent from my VS840 4G using Tapatalk