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Batman: The Ride

Six Flags Great America

Take on the crime kingpins of Gotham City as you zoom over the city streets with Batman...

Theme ParkSix Flags Great America
Park AreaYankee Harbor
TypeRollercoaster
AudienceThrillseekers
Opened9 May 1992
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelInverted Coaster - Batman
Height100 ft
Length2700 ft
Inversions5
Max Speed50 mph
Duration2 minutes
One of Batman's vertical loops

One of Batman's vertical loops

Versions of Batman the Ride can be found at multiple Six Flags parks throughout the United States, but Six Flags Great America's was the first.

Not only was the rollercoaster the first Batman, it was also the first of B&M's Inverted Coasters to be installed. It was so successful that Time Warner, which owned the park at the time, ordered clones to be installed at other locations which now include Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags St Louis.

The ride itself takes waiting riders into Gotham City, with the queueline winding through the city's park before ending up in the famous Batcave via a storm drain. Six Flags Great America's Batman station is more open and airy than some of the others which have more of an underground feel.

Once riders are secured, the train ascends the 100ft lift hill. At the top is the signature B&M "pre-drop drop", then the main first drop bends down to the left allowing the train to pick up sufficient momentum to navigate through Batman's first inversion: a vertical loop. Next up is a zero-G roll followed immediately by a second vertical loop. After sweeping right and left hand bends come another two corkscrews, before the train hits the final brakes still full of energy.

Batman became popular due to its inverted trains, but also its unrelenting intensity and smoothness. Despite the passing of the years, remarkably it still retains these traits today. Some might even say it is a little too unrelentingly intense, but it remains a definite favourite among parkgoers and rollercoaster enthusiasts alike.

TPJ Rating: starstarstarstar
Thrills: starstarstarstarstar
Theming: starstarhalf star
Experience: starstarstarstar

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