Megafobia

Megafobia is a wooden roller coaster located at Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom. It opened on 30th April 1996 and was built during 1995-96 by Custom Coasters International, who wanted a ride to showcase their company in Europe. Megafobia features a twister style layout.

Megafobia
Megafobia
Oakwood Theme Park
LocationOakwood Theme Park
Coordinates51.7807°N 4.8056°W / 51.7807; -4.8056
StatusOperating
Opening date30 April 1996
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerCustom Coasters International
DesignerJohn Wardley, Dennis McNulty, Larry Bill
Track layout Twister
Height85 ft (26 m)
Length2,956 ft (901 m)
Speed48 mph (77 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:40
Max vertical angle55°
Acceleration+2.75g (25 m/s)
G-force2.75
Height restriction120 cm (3 ft 11 in)
Megafobia at RCDB
Pictures of Megafobia at RCDB

Megafobia was the first white-knuckle attraction to be installed at Oakwood Theme Park (then Oakwood Leisure Park) in West Wales and transformed the park's fortunes from a small family leisure park to a major UK theme park. Until the construction of Wicker Man commenced at Alton Towers in 2017, it was also the most recent wooden roller coaster to be built in the UK.

On 30 April 2016 it celebrated 20 Years at Oakwood.

Ride experience

Out of the station, trains make a left turn and small dip before climbing the 85 foot tall lift hill. At the top, the track makes a 180 degree left turn, before diving down the first drop. The first drop passes through the structure, and is followed by a sweeping left curve and an airtime hill crossing over the lift hill. After this airtime hill, the track hits a 180 degree left turn, to face back towards the lift hill. The camera is situated at the exit of this turn. The track heads back towards the lift hill, passing over an airtime hill and drop that cross under the lift hill and over the first drop. The track then makes a three-quarter right turn that passes through the lift hill's structure. Leaving the lift hill structure, the train passes through an airtime hill and crosses over the exit from the first turnaround before turning around on a 180 degree right turn and drop. The track weaves under itself and traces back along the earlier pass through the lift hill structure before making a drop and turn to the right. After passing under the second hill, the track makes another right turn and then makes another drop before hitting the final brake run. Trains then pass through the transfer track and storage area before returning to the station.

Similar rides

Rampage at Alabama Adventure, also built by Custom Coasters International, has an almost identical layout to Megafobia. The biggest deviation is the station and brake run. Rampage places the final brake run under the first airtime hill, with trains then making a slight left, passing through the transfer track parallel to the second hill, then going through a dip drop and 180 degree right turn before sliding down another drop into the station. There is thus a slight right turn from the station to the lift hill instead of a left turn.

Awards

Megafobia has consistently been rated among the top wooden coasters in the Golden Ticket Awards.

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year1998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Ranking 5[1]10[2]9[3]10[4]9[5]9[6]14[7]13[8]24[9]25[10]22[11]25[12]30[13]20[14]27[15]30[16]33[17]27[18]35[19][20]46[21]44[22]

References

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  6. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  7. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
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  13. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  14. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  15. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  16. "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  17. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  18. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  19. "2016 top 50 wooden roller coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  20. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  21. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  22. "2019 Top Wood". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
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