WindSeeker

WindSeeker
WindSeeker at Cedar Point
Canada's Wonderland
AreaAction Zone
Coordinates43°50′26.40″N 79°32′32.89″W / 43.8406667°N 79.5424694°W / 43.8406667; -79.5424694
StatusOperating
CostUS$5 million
Opening dateMay 24, 2011[1]
ReplacedJet Scream
Carowinds
AreaCrossroads[2]
Coordinates35°06′7.60″N 80°56′28.85″W / 35.1021111°N 80.9413472°W / 35.1021111; -80.9413472
StatusOperating
Cost$6.5 million[4]
Soft opening dateMarch 30, 2012[5]
Opening dateMarch 31, 2012[3]
Cedar Point
AreaThe Boardwalk
Coordinates41°28′57.99″N 82°40′50.35″W / 41.4827750°N 82.6806528°W / 41.4827750; -82.6806528
StatusOperating
Cost$5 million
Opening dateJune 14, 2011[6]
ReplacedOcean Motion
Kings Dominion
AreaCandy Apple Grove[7]
Coordinates37°50′13.98″N 77°26′47.02″W / 37.8372167°N 77.4463944°W / 37.8372167; -77.4463944
StatusOperating
Cost$6.5 million[9]
Opening dateApril 6, 2012[8]
ReplacedEl Dorado
Hypersonic XLC
Kings Island
AreaConey Mall
Coordinates39°20′26.62″N 84°15′49.83″W / 39.3407278°N 84.2638417°W / 39.3407278; -84.2638417
StatusOperating
Cost$5 million
Opening dateJune 21, 2011[10]
Knott's Berry Farm
AreaFiesta Village
StatusRelocated To Worlds of Fun
Cost$5 million
Opening dateMid-August 2011[11]
Closing dateSeptember 19, 2012[12]
ReplacedFiesta BBQ (Restaurant)
Replaced bySol Spin
Worlds of Fun
AreaAmericana
Coordinates39°10′27.27″N 94°29′21.25″W / 39.1742417°N 94.4892361°W / 39.1742417; -94.4892361
StatusOperating
Opening date2014
Ride statistics
Attraction typeTower swinger
ManufacturerMondial
ModelWind Seeker[13]
Height301 ft (92 m)
Speed30 mph (48 km/h)
G-force1.5
Capacity960 riders per hour
Vehicles32
Riders per vehicle2
Duration3 minutes
Height restriction52 in (132 cm)
Fast Lane available at all parks

WindSeeker is a 301-foot-tall (92 m) swing ride at several Six Flags parks. The rides are Wind Seeker models manufactured by Mondial.[13] They opened for the 2011 season at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio, and Knott's Berry Farm in California. Carowinds in North Carolina and Kings Dominion in Virginia opened their WindSeekers in 2012. The first four each cost US$5 million, while the remaining two each cost $6.5 million. Cedar Fair (now Six Flags) relocated the Knott's Berry Farm WindSeeker to Worlds of Fun in 2014, where it reopened as SteelHawk.[12]

The three-minute ride features 32 suspended twin seats – 64 seats total – spinning around a central tower. A lighting package was installed on all four WindSeekers,[14] consisting of LED light strips mounted on the arms that support the swings and, with the exception of SteelHawk,[15]) colored floodlights to illuminate towers from above.

WindSeeker at Canada's Wonderland was the first of the four parks to open on May 24, 2011. Problems soon after the ride opened led to a closure for repairs;[1] it reopened several weeks later.[16] The second WindSeeker opened to the public at Cedar Point on June 14, 2011,[6] followed by the third at Kings Island on June 21, 2011,[10] and the fourth at Knott's Berry Farm in August 2011.[11][17] The following season, the fifth WindSeeker opened at Carowinds' on March 31, 2012,[3] along with the sixth at Kings Dominion on April 6, 2012.[8]

On September 21, 2012, Cedar Fair announced the temporary closure of all WindSeekers in response to two incidents at Knott's Berry Farm.[18] All the installations, excluding Knott's Berry Farm, later reopened.[19][20] The Knott's Berry Farm installation remained closed and was eventually relocated to Worlds of Fun.[12]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CW not open was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Official C was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Carowinds Open was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Herald 2011-8-25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Herald 2012-3-30 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference CP open was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference BTT 2011-8-31 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference KD Open was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference TPT 2012-1-24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference KI official opening was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference KBF open ABC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b c Haake, Garret (August 30, 2013). "Planned Worlds of Fun attraction has checkered past". KSHB. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference wind_seeker was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference windseeking was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference westcoaster was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference CW back open was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference Knotts opening was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sept 2012 closures was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Wootson, Cleve (July 28, 2013). "Carowinds ride malfunctions, stranding dozens". Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference Official KBF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).