Click on any photo to see a larger version of it.



An Arrow Dynamics coaster let me down but no way would a creation of Water and Claude do the same.



Patriot has an interesting history.  It began life as Vortex; a stand up coaster, in 1991.



Vortex was the second coaster ever by Bolliger & Mabillard after the other Great America's Iron Wolf.



It existed as a stand up until 2016 when Cedar Fair converted all of the chains stand up coasters into floorless.  I have to say I am not terribly surprised that they converted it as first off stand up coasters are just ok and secondly converting it to a floorless was a really inexpensive way to make something new out of something old.



A weird thing about Vortex/Patriot is California's Great America ended up removing the Triple Play Schwarzkopf Troika and the parks train ride to put Patriot in.  I really don't get taking the train out because that was a ride that everyone is able to enjoy.



Next


Copyright 1999 - 2024

Paul B. Drabek