White Cyclone

White Cyclone
Layout
Nagashima Spa Land
Coordinates 35°01′49″N 136°44′05″E / 35.03028°N 136.73472°E / 35.03028; 136.73472Coordinates: 35°01′49″N 136°44′05″E / 35.03028°N 136.73472°E / 35.03028; 136.73472
Status Closed
Opening date 1994
Closing date 28 January 2018
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer Intamin
Designer Stand Company
Model Wooden Coaster
Track layout Out and Back
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 139 ft (42 m)
Drop 129 ft (39 m)
Length 5,577.42 ft (1,700.00 m)
Speed 63.4 mph (102.0 km/h)
Duration 2:38
Height restriction 51.1811 in (130 cm)
White Cyclone at RCDB
Pictures of White Cyclone at RCDB

White Cyclone (ホワイトサイクロン, Howaito Saikuron) was a wooden roller coaster at Nagashima Spa Land in Mie Prefecture, Japan. At 1,700 m (5,600 ft) in length, White Cyclone was the third longest wooden roller coaster in the world, and was the longest wooden roller coaster outside of the United States.[1] Despite its length, White Cyclone was still considerably shorter than the 2,479 m (8,133 ft) Steel Dragon 2000, the world's longest steel roller coaster (also at Nagashima Spa Land). In addition to being the third longest wooden roller coaster during its operation, White Cyclone was the seventh tallest wooden roller coaster in the world and the fourth tallest wooden roller coaster outside the United States.[2] A single ride on the White Cyclone cost ¥1,000 (approximately $9 USD), and the ride was restricted to those individuals above 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) in height; and those individuals under 54 years of age.[3]

Layout and construction

Closer aerial view of White Cyclone

Before the construction of White Cyclone in 1994, there had previously been only one wooden roller coaster ever constructed in Japan. This roller coaster, Jupiter, was opened in 1992—after height restrictions on wooden structures were relaxed by the Japanese government.[4] Another wooden coaster, White Canyon, opened in 1994—the same year as White Cyclone. In 2013, the roller coasters Jupiter and White Cyclone were two of only four operating wooden roller coasters in Japan,[5] and of only thirteen operating wooden roller coasters in Asia.[6]

White Cyclone was constructed of enough Alaskan timber to construct nearly a thousand homes.[7] The ride was particularly fast for a wooden roller coaster and it incorporated many standard elements such as helixes, large drops and smaller bunny hills.[4] The roller coaster incorporated a double out-and-back design and used cars manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.[8]

The roller coaster closed on 28 January 2018.[9] Rocky Mountain Construction is planning to refurbish the roller coaster using its patented I-Box Track technology,[10] with the ride being renamed as White Whale (白鯨, Hakugei).[11]

References

  1. ↑ RCDB list of wooden roller coasters by length
  2. ↑ RCDB list of wooden roller coasters by height
  3. ↑ Nagashima Spa Land park brochure
  4. 1 2 Urbanowicz, Steven J. (2002). The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the World's Best Coasters. New York: Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-2309-3.
  5. ↑ RCDB list of wooden roller coasters in Japan
  6. ↑ RCDB list of wooden roller coasters in Asia
  7. ↑ Heacox, Kim (2006). The Only Kayak. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot. ISBN 1-59228-894-4.
  8. ↑ Ultimaterollercoaster's listing for White Cyclone
  9. ↑ http://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/spaland/attraction/02.html/
  10. ↑ "White Cyclone at Nagashima Spa Land Closes For RMC Treatment - Coaster101". Coaster101. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
  11. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Hakugei - Nagashima Spa Land (Nagashima, Kuwana, Mie, Japan)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
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