Magnum Height

I forget where I saw this, but I heard Magnums original height was around 180 feet, then changed to go 200 feet for the record. Any truth to this? I can't remember where I saw it.

I doubt it but maybe.

No.

I heard this somewhere too....hmmm?

But another bit of history on Magnum was that it was announced in October 1988 and listed in a 1989 park brochure at only 201 feet tall versus the 205 foot tall statistic seen today. The 201 foot statistic came from the rides blueprints and did not include the height of the footers. Interesting, eh?

I read it in a book. Magnum's original design was going to be 180 feet but they made a last minute change to have it at 205 feet.

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TTD rides-9, front row-5

maXair rides-3

Yes, because especially before they were using computers to design these things, you can just instantly change the entire design and recalculate all of physics of the ride instantly, just like RCT!

If only life were like RCT, roller coasters would cost $10,000!

If roller coasters were to cost 10 grand, I'd build a 300 footer in my back yard when I am older!

Yeah, and a decent sized park would only cost $900,000 to build…with its rides, scenery, coasters, shops, etc.

There would be parks everywhere!

Keep in mind, the coasters in RCT don't go much higher than 300 feet or faster than 90mph. All this RCT talk makes me want to play! RCT Loopy Landscapes, the best version ever made!

Keep this in mind also, the 8 cars trainer allows for any height (500) and any speed. You can turn an innocent looking long piece of track with chain into launch track! That means you can make launch coasters! Like I do :)

Jeff, what I saw didn't mention "last minute", just that the original plans called for it.

I seem to remember hearing something like this 'legend.' Arrow's orginal plans called for the first hill to be around 180 ft. and a 50 degree drop. When the plans were reviewed by the park's staff they thought going the extra 20 feet would help market the ride. To make the ride fit the degree of drop had to be bumped up to 60 degrees... all this long before construction took place, not "last minute." That is just coming off the top of my head, but I'm pretty I read this in an interview with Kinzel around '99 when the park was all up on celebrating Magnum's 10 years.

I have read it as well in a book some time ago. While I can't remember the name of the book, it did mention Magnum was originally going to be about 180 feet tall. This was during the premature stages in planning, way long before the first shovel hit the ground.
*** Edited 7/26/2005 11:14:43 AM UTC by kylepark***

All of you are probably right, but I thought CP was trying to build the first 200 ft coaster, so I couldn't see why it was first 180 ft then they just changed it to 200 ft.

No, from what I have heard, CP was going for the fastest coaster when the Magnum concept was first talked about. The 200 ft thing came later.

I thought I remember hearing that somewhere as well. I forget where though...that's what bookmarks are for!

I remember all this as well:

After seeing BANDIT open in Japan, Kinzel contacted ACE and asked if a non-looping steel coaster would go over in the U.S.

Once Arrow had a design, they showed it to the board of directors. It was going to be 180+ feet tall. Slightly taller than the GREAT AMERICAN SCREAM MACHINE that Arrow was going to build in Six Flags Great Adventure. Then the question came up: "How much with it cost to break the 200 ft barrier?"

I wish I could remember where I read it. I want to say it was an interview with Kinzel in Rollercoaster magazine from ACE. I will try to look for my old issues and see if I can find it.

It seems like it could make sense. Plans do change. Although the physics, depending on how the ride was planned, may not have changed all the much. The forces I can see changing and the next hill height being bumped up a little bit. But it wouldn't be to severe. Would it?

And $10,000 for a coaster?! Some of my bigger creations are up in the $30,000-$50,000 range. And did anyone else recreate a TTD to their best ability and it be a less intense ride?

Yes, make sure you put the twists near the top of the tower, peeps like it better.