Roller coaster aficionados have strong opinions on steel roller coasters versus wooden coasters. They can put their differences aside on Six Flags New England's new coaster, the Wicked Cyclone.
The amusement park in Agawam, Massachusetts will debut the steel and wood hybrid roller coaster next summer. It's the first such coaster on the East Coast and replaces the wooden Cyclone.
"We take great pride in creating incredible, one-of-a-kind experiences for our guests here at the Thrill Capital of New England," said John Winkler, Six Flags New England Parks President. "This project has been years in the making, and the addition of Wicked Cyclone enhances our commitment to delivering world-class thrills to Six Flags New England ever year."
The coaster puts 3,320 feet of steel track on a wood structure that carries 24 passengers per ride. The start of the ride takes riders up 109 feet before they plummet back to Earth, reaching speeds of up to 55 mph.
Wicked Cyclone features the world's only Double Reversing Bank Airtime Hill and more airtime than any other coaster in New England. It's also the first coaster of its kind to have a 200 degree stall and two Zero G Rolls.
The wooden Cyclone ran its last ride on July 20, 2014. The park hosted one day for state employees and members of American Coaster Enthusiasts to ride the coaster. The Cyclone opened on June 24, 1983 at the former Riverside Park.
Over on the West Coast, Six Flags Magic Mountain, outside of Los Angeles, will also transition a wooden coaster into a hybrid. The park closed the famous Colossus coaster earlier this summer, and it will evolve into the Twisted Colossus.
"You've got the ability to take a traditional wooden coaster, make it much smoother and then add elements, such as inversions, top five, you known, zero-G rolls, barrel rolls," Six Flags CEO James Reid-Anderson told CBS News.
The original coaster was featured in the 1983 film "National Lampoon's Vacation," when Chevy Chase and John Candy rode the nearly mile-long track with 11 big drops.
"Colossus, 36 years old, much beloved, and people are concerned that it's going away," said Reid-Anderson.
