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Mind Bender (Six Flags Over Georgia)
Encyclopedia
Mind Bender is a steel roller coaster
located at Six Flags Over Georgia
near Atlanta, Georgia
. Billed as "the world's first triple-loop roller coaster" when it opened on March 31, 1978, Mind Bender maintains its popularity some three decades after it opened. In its 30th anniversary season in 2008, Mind Bender was ranked #15 by Amusement Today magazine in its annual Golden Ticket Awards, and was one of only two roller coasters built before 1980 on the list; the other was its "fraternal twin," Shockwave
, at Six Flags Over Texas
.
and built by Anton Schwarzkopf
, Mind Bender would be the last original roller coaster the park would construct until the arrival of Georgia Scorcher
in 1999. Since its debut, Mind Bender has had three different color schemes and been counted within three different sections of the park. In its inaugural season, the attraction was part of the USA section and was silver in color. In 1979, Mind Bender became part of the new Jolly Roger's Island, itself an offshoot of the USA section. The structure was painted brown during the 1980s. Throughout its first two decades, the trains were silver in color, with a rainbow-colored stripe along both sides.
In 1997, when Jolly Roger's Island was converted into Gotham City
, Mind Bender was painted green to suggest that it was the creation of Batman's
arch-enemy, The Riddler
. Even a waterfall within the attraction's site was dyed green, and occasionally still is (although at times it retains a more natural color). The trains were painted black, and sprinkled with green question marks, another hallmark of the Riddler.
Because Mind Bender is a relatively mild looping coaster with a low height restriction (42"/107 cm), it is marketed to families with children who are too short to ride bigger coasters like Batman: The Ride
and Georgia Scorcher
.
to ensure trains do not collide with each other. To assist in the movement of trains through the brakes, station, and transfer table, a series of feed motors can move a train at a slow speed from a full stop.
The ride opened with three trains. However, at no time was the ride control system equipped to handle all three on the track at once. One train was used as a spare should another be taken out of service. In normal operation, two trains are utilized, although at times only one has been used for regular operation. In the 1990s, one trainset was cannibalized to supply parts for the remaining two. More recently, the park obtained trainsets from the former Six Flags Astroworld's
Schwarzkopf-designed Viper
. Each train has seven cars with four seats per car (two seats per row) for a total of 28 riders. Passengers are restrained with a single ratcheting lapbar.
The transfer table is used to move trains to and from the maintenance building. The table is located between the station and the lift hill, sliding across to adjacent tracks in the nearby maintenance shed. It has one brake on it but they are unused in normal passenger operations, instead only functioning to hold trains in place as the table itself moves. There is also one feed motor located on the transfer table.
The primary set of brakes that stops the trains' movement at the end of the ride are known as the reduction brakes. Because there is no covering over these brakes, rainfall causes unwanted slipping. Because of this, the Mind Bender will typically suspend operations during mild rainshowers, while others within the park that have covered brake runs continue normally.
There are two sets of trim brakes on the course of the ride. These brakes reduce the speed of the train. The first is before the horizontal loop, after exiting the first vertical loop. The second is located before the second vertical loop. The attraction is placed on the side of a ridge, and portions of the track—including the second and third loops—are located in an adjacent ravine, thus increasing the attraction's overall elevation change. Of the advertised "triple loops," only the first and third loops send the train upside-down; the middle loop is actually a diving circular helix into the ravine.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
located at Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park located west of Atlanta, in unincorporated Cobb County. Opened in 1967, it is the second park in the Six Flags chain, after the original opening in 1961 in Texas....
near Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. Billed as "the world's first triple-loop roller coaster" when it opened on March 31, 1978, Mind Bender maintains its popularity some three decades after it opened. In its 30th anniversary season in 2008, Mind Bender was ranked #15 by Amusement Today magazine in its annual Golden Ticket Awards, and was one of only two roller coasters built before 1980 on the list; the other was its "fraternal twin," Shockwave
Shockwave (Six Flags Over Texas)
Shock Wave is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas.Contrary to popular belief, it was not the first roller coaster to feature back to back vertical loops. That distinction goes to the Double Loop roller coaster at Geauga Lake, near Cleveland, Ohio, which...
, at Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is a major amusement park located in Arlington, Texas , east of Fort Worth and about west of Dallas. It is the oldest park of the Six Flags chain. The park opened on August 5, 1961 following just a year of construction and an initial investment of US$10 million by real estate...
.
Attraction history
Designed by Werner StengelWerner Stengel
Werner Stengel is a German roller coaster designer and engineer. Stengel is the founder of Stengel Engineering, also known as Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH ....
and built by Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
, Mind Bender would be the last original roller coaster the park would construct until the arrival of Georgia Scorcher
Georgia Scorcher
Georgia Scorcher is a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The second design from Bolliger & Mabillard to be built at the park, Georgia Scorcher opened in May 1999 as the last new stand-up roller coaster to have been constructed anywhere on Earth...
in 1999. Since its debut, Mind Bender has had three different color schemes and been counted within three different sections of the park. In its inaugural season, the attraction was part of the USA section and was silver in color. In 1979, Mind Bender became part of the new Jolly Roger's Island, itself an offshoot of the USA section. The structure was painted brown during the 1980s. Throughout its first two decades, the trains were silver in color, with a rainbow-colored stripe along both sides.
In 1997, when Jolly Roger's Island was converted into Gotham City
Gotham City
Gotham City is a fictional U.S. city appearing in DC Comics, best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 . Gotham City is strongly inspired by Trenton, Ontario's history, location, atmosphere, and various architectural styles...
, Mind Bender was painted green to suggest that it was the creation of Batman's
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
arch-enemy, The Riddler
Riddler
The Riddler is a fictional character, a comic book character and supervillain published by DC Comics, and an enemy of Batman. Created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #140 ....
. Even a waterfall within the attraction's site was dyed green, and occasionally still is (although at times it retains a more natural color). The trains were painted black, and sprinkled with green question marks, another hallmark of the Riddler.
Because Mind Bender is a relatively mild looping coaster with a low height restriction (42"/107 cm), it is marketed to families with children who are too short to ride bigger coasters like Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride
Batman: The Ride is a steel inverted roller coaster found in many Six Flags theme parks, as well as other parks around the world, including Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Fiesta Texas , Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags...
and Georgia Scorcher
Georgia Scorcher
Georgia Scorcher is a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The second design from Bolliger & Mabillard to be built at the park, Georgia Scorcher opened in May 1999 as the last new stand-up roller coaster to have been constructed anywhere on Earth...
.
Design and operations
Like almost all modern roller coasters, Mind Bender operates on the block system. The attraction has 5 blocks: station, transfer table, lift hill, reduction brake, and ready brake, after which it reenters the station block. The bulk of the attraction's layout lies between the lift hill and the reduction brake. These blocks are controlled by a program running on a programmable logic controllerProgrammable logic controller
A programmable logic controller or programmable controller is a digital computer used for automation of electromechanical processes, such as control of machinery on factory assembly lines, amusement rides, or light fixtures. PLCs are used in many industries and machines...
to ensure trains do not collide with each other. To assist in the movement of trains through the brakes, station, and transfer table, a series of feed motors can move a train at a slow speed from a full stop.
The ride opened with three trains. However, at no time was the ride control system equipped to handle all three on the track at once. One train was used as a spare should another be taken out of service. In normal operation, two trains are utilized, although at times only one has been used for regular operation. In the 1990s, one trainset was cannibalized to supply parts for the remaining two. More recently, the park obtained trainsets from the former Six Flags Astroworld's
Six Flags Astroworld
AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA...
Schwarzkopf-designed Viper
Viper (Six Flags)
The Viper at Six Flags Astroworld was an Anton Schwarzkopf designed Looping Star model and had operated at Astroworld since 1989. It consisted of a single loop and was demolished with the closing of Astroworld in 2005. It had originally been the Jet Scream at Six Flags St. Louis....
. Each train has seven cars with four seats per car (two seats per row) for a total of 28 riders. Passengers are restrained with a single ratcheting lapbar.
The transfer table is used to move trains to and from the maintenance building. The table is located between the station and the lift hill, sliding across to adjacent tracks in the nearby maintenance shed. It has one brake on it but they are unused in normal passenger operations, instead only functioning to hold trains in place as the table itself moves. There is also one feed motor located on the transfer table.
The primary set of brakes that stops the trains' movement at the end of the ride are known as the reduction brakes. Because there is no covering over these brakes, rainfall causes unwanted slipping. Because of this, the Mind Bender will typically suspend operations during mild rainshowers, while others within the park that have covered brake runs continue normally.
There are two sets of trim brakes on the course of the ride. These brakes reduce the speed of the train. The first is before the horizontal loop, after exiting the first vertical loop. The second is located before the second vertical loop. The attraction is placed on the side of a ridge, and portions of the track—including the second and third loops—are located in an adjacent ravine, thus increasing the attraction's overall elevation change. Of the advertised "triple loops," only the first and third loops send the train upside-down; the middle loop is actually a diving circular helix into the ravine.
1984 accident
On June 3, 1984, a mechanical problem caused a train to stop abruptly, sending four people to a hospital. The ride was repaired and put back into service with no more problems.Awards
| Golden Ticket Awards: Top Steel Roller Coasters | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Ranking |