46. THE BAT
Known for: World's first suspended
coaster
Park: Kings Island
Location: United States
Type: Steel
Opened: 1993
Designer/Manufacturer: Arrow
Dynamics
Height (ft.): 78
Drop (ft.): 70
Speed (mph): 51
One
of the most notorious rides in roller coaster history is The Bat at Kings
Island. It was the first ever suspended roller coaster where the cars hang
below the rails and are free to swing freely from side to side. The Bat only
operated sporadically between 1981 and 1983 before being dismantled in 1985.
Over the years, the legend of the Bat has grown due to the outrageous rumors
about why the ride was destroyed and because so few people were able to ride
it. Contrary to many wild stories, the Bat never killed or even injured a
rider. Poor engineering of the trains, track, and structure is what really lead
to the ride’s demise. A year after the Bat was removed the Vortex looping
coaster was erected in the Bat’s place and actually reused the station.
Concrete footers from the Bat can still be seen beneath the Vortex’s structure.
The suspended roller coaster returned to Kings Island in 1993 with the edition
of Top Gun (renamed Flight Deck and later re-themed to the Bat). If you were
fortunate enough to ride the original Bat consider yourself lucky!
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