View source for Invertigo (roller coaster)

{{Short description|Dutch designed roller coasters}}
{{Infobox attraction model
| name                = Invertigo
| logo                = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| logo_width          = <!--Default is 250px-->
| image               = Invertigo 2025.jpg
| imagedimensions     = 250px
| caption             = Invertigo at Kings Island in 2025
| status              = Operating
| first_produced      = 1997
| installations       = 4
| manufacturer        = Vekoma
| manufacturer2       = <!--Only to be used if there is more than one manufacturer.-->
| designer            = <!--Should be linked.-->
| height_ft           = 131.3
| height_m            = 
| drop_ft             = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_m              = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft           = 1013.8
| length_m            = 
| speed_mph           = 50
| speed_km/h          = 
| gforce              = 5
| capacity            = 
<!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience-->
| vehicle_type        =
| vehicles            = 1
| riders_per_vehicle  = 28
| rows                = 14
| riders_per_row      = 2
| duration            = 1:30
| restraint           = Over-the-shoulder
| custom_label_1      = Inversions
| custom_value_1      = 3 (traversed twice)
| rcdb_number         = 8196
}}

'''Invertigo''' is an inverted [[shuttle roller coaster]] model developed and manufactured by [[Netherlands|Dutch]] company [[Vekoma]]. Four roller coasters based on this model were built, with the first installation opening in 1997 as HangOver at [[Liseberg]] amusement park located in [[Sweden]]. Three of the four are still in operation. Invertigo is designed as an [[Inverted roller coaster|inverted]] variation of their traditional [[Boomerang (roller coaster)|Boomerang]] model, which first appeared in 1984. Invertigo's seat configuration is also a departure from its predecessor, in that riders sit back-to-back, resulting in all rows facing one another with the exception of the first and last.<ref name=Official>{{cite web|title=Invertigo|url=http://www.vekoma.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=17|publisher=Vekoma|access-date=July 16, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712232933/https://web.archive.org/web/20110829061606/http://www.vekoma.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=17|archive-date=July 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Invertigo At Great America.jpg|Stinger when it was at California's Great America as Invertigo.|thumb|left|200px]]
The first installation of an Invertigo roller coaster occurred at [[Liseberg]] in 1997. ''HangOver'' was originally scheduled to open in 1996 as a launched roller coaster, however, the technology at the time prevented this from occurring and forced the opening back by a year.<ref name="Liseberg"/> On March 21, 1998, [[California's Great America]] opened a ride known simply as ''Invertigo''.<ref name="CGA">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Invertigo|location=California's Great America|rcdb_number=473|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref> On April 17, 1999, ''Face/Off'' opened at [[Kings Island]]. It was originally themed after the 1997 [[Paramount Pictures]]/[[Touchstone Pictures]] [[Face/Off|film of the same name]].<ref name="KI"/> On May 8, 1999, Two Face: The Flip Side opened at [[Six Flags America]].<ref name="SFA"/> It was themed after [[DC Comics]]' [[Batman]] rival, [[Harvey Dent]] A.K.A. [[Two-Face]].<ref name="PR Two-Face">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Six Flags America launches two, totally twisted, steel super coasters|location=Press Release|accessdate=March 11, 2012|url=http://www.rcdb.com/545.htm?dt=126&d=34}}</ref>

In 2002, HangOver at Liseberg closed and was relocated to Allou Fun Park the following year.<ref name="Liseberg"/><ref name="Allou"/> The ride, however, was never set up there and was relocated to Sommerland Syd where it operated under the name ''Tornado'' from July 2, 2005.<ref name="Allou"/><ref name="Sommerland"/>

An accident in October 2007 closed Two Face: The Flip Side at Six Flags America indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ackland |first1=Matt |title=Ride Malfunctions At Six Flags; Several Injured |url=http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=4566347&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1 |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=MyFox Washington |publisher=Fox News |date=7 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012122425/http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=4566347&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1|archive-date=October 12, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The coaster did not reopen for the 2008 season and was sold to a park in Italy. The ride reopened as Diabolik at Movieland Park for the 2015 season.

In 2008, Face/Off at Kings Island was renamed to Invertigo following the park's initiative to remove Paramount themes from the park after being sold to [[Cedar Fair]] two years prior.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mo.middletownjournal.com/e/content/oh/story/entertainment/events/2008/04/11/go041108kingsisland.html|title=Kings Island Opens April 20|date=April 11, 2008|publisher=Middletown Journal|access-date=February 1, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712232933/http://mo.middletownjournal.com/e/content/oh/story/entertainment/events/2008/04/11/go041108kingsisland.html|archive-date=July 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 27, 2011, California's Great America announced that Invertigo would be removed from the park and relocated to a different [[Cedar Fair]] park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cagreatamerica.com/news/detail.cfm?item_id=1069 |title=Great America &#124; Invertigo Going to a New Home |access-date=2011-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202070540/http://www.cagreatamerica.com/news/detail.cfm?item_id=1069 |archive-date=2011-02-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcall.com/news/local/parkland/mc-dorney-park-planning-oks-20110218,0,2411061.story |title=Planners OK new Dorney coaster – Morning Call |publisher=Mcall.com |date=February 18, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref> Invertigo was removed and moved into storage in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]. During this time, the track received a new teal paint scheme, with the supports remaining in royal blue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/allentowns-just-brimming-with-coaster.html |title=NewsPlusNotes: Allentown's Just Brimming With Coaster Track |publisher=Newsplusnotes.blogspot.com |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref> On August 30, 2011, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom announced that Invertigo would reopen as ''Stinger'' for the park's 2012 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dorneypark.com/public/park/rides/roller_coasters/stinger.cfm |title=Thrill Rides – Roller Coasters – PA Thrill Rides &#124; Dorney Park, Lehigh Valley PA |publisher=Dorneypark.com |access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref> Construction of the main ride was completed in November 2011, and the station and queue closely followed.<ref name="Construction">{{cite web|title=Stinger Construction|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150456406001788.427052.107234641787&type=1|author=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|access-date=December 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="complete">{{cite web|title=Wall Photos|url=https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.113968626787.129433.107234641787&type=3|author=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|access-date=December 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="completion">{{cite web|title=Wall Photos|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150593037591788&set=a.10150456406001788.427052.107234641787&type=1&permPage=1|author=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|access-date=January 9, 2012}}</ref> An incident on May 3, 2014, resulted in a temporary closure when the coaster experienced a rollback that injured two riders – both were transported to the hospital.<ref name="wfmz">{{cite web|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/two-injured-on-dorney-parks-stinger-coaster/19870601|author=69 News|title=Two injured on Dorney Park's Stinger coaster|website=WFMZ|date=6 May 2014|access-date=December 17, 2017}}</ref> During the 2017 offseason, it was announced by Dorney Park that Stinger would be removed to make way for future development. The coaster was demolished in April 2018.<ref name="blogspot">{{cite web|url=http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2017/12/dorney-park-to-remove-stinger-roller.html|website=newsplusnotes.blogspot.com|title=NewsPlusNotes: Dorney Park to Remove Stinger Roller Coaster|date=15 December 2017|access-date=December 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Deconstruction">{{Cite web|url=http://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2018/03/exclusive-photos-of-deconstruction-of.html|title=Exclusive Photos of the Deconstruction of Stinger at Dorney Park|date=31 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoasters/comments/88whbg/stinger_at_dorney_confirmed_to_be_scrapped/|title=Stinger at Dorney confirmed to be scrapped|date=2 April 2018}}</ref>

In 2011, Sommerland Syd's installation of Tornado closed with the ride currently being relocated to Bagatelle where it operates as ''Triops'' from June 30, 2012.<ref name="Sommerland"/><ref name="Bagatelle"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.parcbagatelle.com/2012/07/longue-vie-au-triops/ |title=Longue et belle vie au Triops |access-date=2012-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622132509/http://www.parcbagatelle.com/2012/07/longue-vie-au-triops/ |archive-date=2013-06-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 13, 2012, Kings Island posted a picture of Invertigo getting a new paint scheme on their Facebook page. The ride was given an aqua-colored track and royal blue supports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/visitkingsisland?ref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10150772363868368&set=a.226729858367.174830.155893938367&type=3&theater |title=Kings Island |publisher=Facebook |access-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref> 

On December 15, 2017, Dorney Park announced on their website that Stinger would be removed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Behind-the-scenes: Winter Update |url=https://www.dorneypark.com/blog/2017/december/changes-at-the-park |publisher=Dorney Park |access-date=July 10, 2020 |date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> The ride was scrapped prior to the 2018 operating season. After Stinger was torn down, its train was reused on Invertigo at Kings Island.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecoasterkings.com/what-makes-kings-island-so-great-trip-report/|title=What Makes Kings Island So Great? - Trip Report - The Coaster Kings|date=17 June 2019}}</ref>

==Installations==
[[File:Stinger Dorney Park 01.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Stinger at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Coaster name !! Amusement park !! Opened !! Closed !! Status !! class="unsortable" | Refs
|-
| Invertigo<br/><small>Formerly ''Face/Off''</small> || [[Kings Island]] || data-sort-value="2008–04" | {{Start date|2008|4|20}}<br/><small>{{Start date|1999|4|17}}</small> || {{n/a}} || Operating || <ref name="KI">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Invertigo|location=Kings Island|rcdb_number=530|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Stinger<br/><small>Formerly ''Invertigo''</small> || [[Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom]]<br/><small>''[[California's Great America]]''</small> || data-sort-value="2012–04" | {{Start date|2012|4|28}}<br/><small>{{Start date|1998|3|21}}</small> || style="text-align: center;" | {{End date|2017}} || Removed || <ref name="CGA"/><ref>{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Stinger|location=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom|rcdb_number=9849|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-lehighvalley/Local/two-injured-on-dorney-parks-stinger-coaster/25822034|title=Two injured on Dorney Park's Stinger coaster|date=May 5, 2014|publisher=WFMZ|access-date=June 30, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Triops<br/><small>Formerly ''Tornado''</small><br/><small>Formerly ''unknown''</small><br/><small>Formerly ''HangOver''</small> || Bagatelle<br/><small>''Sommerland Syd''</small><br/><small>''Allou Fun Park''</small><br/><small>''Liseberg''</small> || data-sort-value="2012–06" | {{Start date|2012|6|30}}<br/><small>{{Start date|2005|7|2}}</small><br/><small>''Never opened''</small><br/><small>April 1997</small> || {{n/a}} || Operating || <ref name="Liseberg">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=HangOver|location=Liseberg|rcdb_number=1060|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Allou">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=unknown|location=Allou Fun Park|rcdb_number=2331|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Sommerland">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Tornado|location=Sommerland Syd|rcdb_number=3078|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Bagatelle">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Triops|location=Bagatelle|rcdb_number=10341|accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Diabolik<br/><small>Formerly ''Two-Face: The Flip Side''</small> || [[Movieland Park]] <br/><small>''[[Six Flags America]]''</small> || data-sort-value="2015–04" | {{Start date|2015|4|24}}<br/><small>{{Start date|1999|5|8}}</small> || {{n/a}} || Operating || <ref name="Movieland">{{Cite RCDB |coaster_name=Diabolik |location=Movieland Park |rcdb_number=11532 |accessdate=May 22, 2025}}</ref><ref name="SFA">{{Cite RCDB |coaster_name=Two-Face: The Flip Side |location=Six Flags America |rcdb_number=545 |accessdate=February 18, 2012}}</ref>
|}

==Ride experience==
[[File:Vekoma Invertigo layout.png|thumb|The layout of an Invertigo roller coaster]]
[[File:Two-Face The Flip Side.jpg|left|thumb|Two-Face: The Flip Side at Six Flags America]]
Riders sit face-to-face, staring at fellow passengers through the course of the ride. The train completes the circuit twice running in the opposite direction as it returns to the station. This gives riders the opportunity to experience the ride in both directions moving forwards and backwards.

The ride begins when the train is pulled backwards from the station and up a {{Convert|138|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} [[lift hill]]. It is held for several seconds before releasing riders into a {{Convert|130|ft|m|adj=mid}} drop sending them {{Convert|55|mph}} through the loading station. The train then enters a [[Cobra roll]] element that transitions into a [[vertical loop]]. Upon exiting the loop, the train climbs the second lift hill making it most of the way up on its own momentum. Once towed to the top, the train is quickly released sending riders through the ride in reverse before being caught by the first lift hill and returned to the loading station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitkingsisland.com/rides/Thrill-Rides-12-14-11-44/Invertigo|title=Invertigo at Kings Island official site|publisher=Kings Island|access-date=February 1, 2012}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[2012 in amusement parks]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Invertigo (roller coaster model)}}
* {{Official website|1=http://www.vekoma.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=17}}
* [http://www.visitkingsisland.com/rides/Thrill-Rides-12-14-11-44/Invertigo Invertigo at Kings Island]

{{Vekoma}}
{{California's Great America}}
{{Dorney Park}}
{{Kings Island}}
{{Six Flags America}}

[[Category:Roller coasters introduced in 1997]]
[[Category:Mass-produced roller coasters]]
[[Category:Shuttle roller coasters]]
[[Category:Vekoma]]