Centennial Screamer
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Location: South Midway |
Year Opened: 1987 |
Manufactured By: HUSS Maschinenfabrik |
Model: Enterprise |
Ground Dimensions: 69 x 74 feet |
Diameter of Wheel: 56 feet |
Max Car Height: 65 feet |
Structure Weight: 35 tons |
Power (Drive): 90 kW |
Power (Lights): 70 kW |
Number of Cars: 20 |
Ride Capacity: 40 (2 per car) |
Hourly Capacity: 1,400 riders |
Ride Colors: Blue, Yellow, Space theming on backdrop |
Height Requirements: Riders under 46" in height may not ride. |
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This article came from the LiF rides pages and has not yet been edited to reflect the LiF wiki writing style. In order to build a better wiki, please consider Helping Out. |
Centennial Screamer was one of two rides installed at Lagoon in 1987 to celebrate the park's 100th operating season.
The ride consists of 20 cars around a wheel. When you first enter the ride the wheel is in a horizontal position. Once the doors are shut and the latches checked the ride begins to rotate in a clockwise direction gaining speed until riders are held in place by centrifugal force. At this point the arm attached to the wheel begins to slowly raise to a vertical position (87°) sending riders upside down.
While the ride looks very repetitive and nauseating, the ride experience is very different. Most passengers find the ride very enjoyable and smooth.
One of the most interesting aspects to this ride is the lack of safety harnesses. A couple of bars on both sides helps give the feeling of being "locked in", but there are no seat belts or lap bars. Through some well designed engineering, a persons body weight and the centrifugal force in motion are almost equal creating a feeling of weightlessness while ensuring that you remain in your seat.
The ride is commonly called just "Screamer", "You've got to be kidding me", and "No way, I'm not riding that!".
In 2008 Lagoon repainted the space backdrop adding the name of the ride to it and a spaceship. They also removed the lighted Screamer sign that used to sit on top of the backdrop.
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