Thrillseeker (roller coaster)

The Thrillseeker was a steel roller coaster located at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Designed by S.D.C., the Galaxi model opened to the public in 1982. The ride is now a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria known as Taipan.[1]

Thrillseeker
Previously known as Wild Wave Rollercoaster
Sea World
LocationSea World
Coordinates27°57′24.3″S 153°25′29.9″E
StatusRemoved
Opening date1982 (1982)
Closing dateMay 2002 (2002-05)
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerS.D.C.
ModelGalaxi
Track layoutZyklon
Lift/launch systemChain Lift Hill
Height14 m (46 ft)
Length1,000 m (3,300 ft)
Speed65 km/h (40 mph)
Inversions0
Duration2:00
Trains3 trains with 2 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Thrillseeker at RCDB
Pictures of Thrillseeker at RCDB

History

In 1982, Sea World opened the park's first roller coaster, the Wild Wave Rollercoaster, along with the Pirate Ship and Carousel.[2] The Wild Wave Rollercoaster was later renamed to the Thrillseeker.[3] In May 2002, the Thrillseeker was closed and removed from Sea World.[1][3] It now operates as a traveling roller coaster owned by Shorts Amusements of Victoria, known as Taipan.[1]

Following the ride's removal, proposals were made for the area it once occupied. These included a seal exhibit named Seal Rocks[4] and a hippopotamus attraction was proposed for the site.[5] From 2006 to 2008 the site was home to the temporary Sea World Eye.[6][7] In September 2008, work began on the site for a yet-to-be-named ray exhibit.[8] By October, the name of the exhibit was announced to be Ray Reef.[9] It was originally scheduled that the exhibit would open on Boxing Day 2008 (26 December 2008), however, a number of delays forced it to open on 14 January 2009.[10][11]

Ride

The Thrillseeker had a track length of 1,000 m (3,300 ft), with a ride time of two minutes and a maximum speed of 65 km/h (40 mph). The track is steel, and the trains consist of two four-seat cars per train, for a train capacity of 8 passengers.[3]

The ride began with the right turn out of the station. After ascending the 14 metres (46 ft) chain lift hill riders were sent in a course of quick dips and spiralling helixes.[1]

References
  1. "Thrillseeker (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  2. Sea World (2006). "History and Development of Sea World". MyFun. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  3. Marden, Duane. "Thrillseeker  (Sea World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  4. "Seal Rocks (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  5. "Unknown Hippopotamus Attraction (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  6. "Sea World Eye (Sea World)". Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. AAP (12 December 2007). "Sea World Eye to close on Gold Coast". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  8. joz (22 September 2008). "Ray Reef (Sea World)". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. Seipelt, Gavin (19 October 2008). "Ray Reef Logo". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  10. Seipelt, Gavin (26 December 2008). "Ray Reef Construction". Photo. Parkz. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  11. Bedo, Stephanie (15 January 2009). "Stingrays wing it for a feed and fondle". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 17 November 2011.


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