View source for Twisted Colossus

{{Short description|Roller coaster at Magic Mountain}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
| name                 = Twisted Colossus
| logo                 = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| logodimensions       = <!--Must be expressed in pixels (px); default is 250px-->
| image                = SFMM- Twisted Colossus.jpg
| imagedimensions      = <!--Must be expressed in pixels (px); default is 250px-->
| caption              = Twisted Colossus
| previousnames        = Colossus (1978–2014)
| location             = Six Flags Magic Mountain
| locationarticle      = <!--Must not be linked.-->
| section              = Screampunk District
| subsection           = <!--Should be linked.-->
| coordinates          = {{coord|34|25|40|N|118|35|51|W|display=title,inline|region:US-CA_type:landmark_source:dewiki}}
| status               = Operating
| opened               = {{Start date|2015|5|23}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/05/23/twisted-colossus-to-open-to-the-public-saturday-at-magic-mountain/|title=Highly-Anticipated Twisted Colossus Opens To Public At Magic Mountain|date=May 23, 2015}}</ref>
| closed               = <!--Use {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->

| previousattraction   = Colossus
| type                 = Steel <!--Must be "Steel" or "Wood", nothing else. Must not be linked.-->
| type2                = <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| type3                = <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| manufacturer         = Rocky Mountain Construction
| designer             = [[Alan Schilke]]
| model                = I-Box &ndash; Custom
| track                = [[Möbius Loop roller coaster|Möbius Loop]] with one station
| lift                 = [[Chain lift hill]]
| height_ft            = 121
| drop_ft              = 128
| length_ft            = 4990
| speed_mph            = 57
| inversions           = 2
| duration             = 3:40
| angle                = 80
| capacity             = 
| acceleration         = <!--Expression in full form e.g. "X to Y mph (χ to ψ km/h) in Z seconds". -->
| acceleration_from    = <!--Initial speed in mph or km/h defaults to zero, only numeric characters-->
| acceleration_mph     = <!--Final speed in mph may contain only numeric characters-->
| acceleration_km/h    = <!--Final speed in km/h may contain only numeric characters-->
| acceleration_in      = <!--Number of seconds may contain words -->
| gforce               = 
| restriction_in       = 48<!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| trains               = 4 (3 max. in use)
| carspertrain         = 6
| rowspercar           = 2
| ridersperrow         = 2
|virtual_queue_name  = [[Flash Pass]]
|virtual_queue_image = Fastpass availability icon.svg
|virtual_queue_status= available for Gold and Platinum Levels
|single_rider= 
| accessible           = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| transfer_accessible  = available
| custom_label_1       = 
| custom_value_1       = 
| custom_label_2       = 
| custom_value_2       =  
| rcdb_number          =12282
| video                = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| videosize            = <!--Must be expressed in pixels (px); default is 250px-->
| videocaption         = 
}}
'''Twisted Colossus''' is a [[steel roller coaster]] located at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] in [[Valencia, California]]. Originally designed and built by [[International Amusement Devices]], the roller coaster opened as '''Colossus''', a [[dual-tracked roller coaster]], on June 29, 1978. It was the tallest and fastest [[wooden roller coaster]] in the world and the first with two drops greater than {{convert|100|ft|m}}. Colossus became well known after appearances in film and television, including the box-office hit ''[[National Lampoon's Vacation]]'' and the made-for-TV movie ''[[Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park]]''. For 19 years, it was the park's main attraction until the opening of [[Superman: The Escape]].

After more than 36 years in operation, Six Flags closed Colossus on August 16, 2014. [[Rocky Mountain Construction]] renovated the ride converting its wooden track to steel, allowing for the addition of inversions and steep drops. It retained much of its wooden structure, however, and reemerged as Twisted Colossus on May 23, 2015.

==History==
[[File:Colossus parking view.JPG|thumb|Colossus in 2007 prior to the renovation|alt=|left]]
For its next attraction to debut in 1978, Magic Mountain wanted a [[wooden roller coaster]] for the classic "rumble and sway" experience that they felt was missing from steel coasters.<ref name="bernard">{{cite news|last1=Apodaca|first1=Patrice|title=Three of a Kind : Bernards Brothers Fame Rides on Projects Like Magic Mountain's Giant Roller Coaster|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-07-fi-1135-story.html|access-date=August 31, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 7, 1989}}</ref> They hired [[Ohio]]-based [[International Amusement Devices]] (IAD), who began designing Colossus in January 1977.<ref name="McCrate">{{Cite interview|last=McCrate|first=Tim|title=Interview With Colossus' Structural Engineer, Tim McCrate|url=http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2014/08/03/interview-colossus-structural-engineer-tim-mccrate/|access-date=August 31, 2014|date=August 3, 2014|work=The Coaster Guy|interviewer=Kurt Dahlin}}</ref><ref name="RCDB Colossus" /><ref name="RCDB IAD">{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=International Amusement Devices, Inc.|rcdb_number=6846|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}</ref> IAD in turn subcontracted Bernard Brothers Construction for the construction of the ride, Continental Consultants for all of the [[mechanical system]]s, and Lorenz & Williams for the [[structural engineering]] and [[electronic system]]s.<ref name="bernard" /><ref name="McCrate" /> A member of the design team traveled to [[Mexico City]] to study [[Montaña Rusa (La Feria Chapultepec Mágico)|Montaña Rusa]] – the largest wooden roller coaster in the world at the time – in order to help plan for the project.<ref name="bernard" /><ref name="McCrate" />

The design was finalized in May 1977, and construction began a few months later in August.<ref name=McCrate /> During construction, a [[tornado]] caused part of the structure to collapse, but the roller coaster was still completed on schedule.<ref name="bernard" /> At a final cost of $7 million, Colossus opened to the public on June 29, 1978. It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, as well as the first to feature two drops over {{convert|100|ft}}.<ref name="Business Wire">Entertainment/Travel Editors.  "ADVISORY/After 20 Years -- Six Flags Magic Mountain's Colossus Is Still the West Coast's Most Thrilling `Woodie'."  Business Wire. December 4, 1998.  Retrieved June 5, 2008</ref>

===Modifications===
Colossus underwent a number of changes over the years. In 1979, the ride closed for approximately ten months to remove excessive negative g-forces. The [[speed hill]] after the second drop, the double-up element, and several of the ride's other hills were reprofiled. Also, the original IAD trains were replaced with trains manufactured by [[Philadelphia Toboggan Company]] (PTC) during this renovation. In 1987, the PTC trains were replaced with trains manufactured by [[Morgan Manufacturing]], and the valley within the double-dip element was leveled off and received block brakes in 1991.

During the Halloween season, the coaster's web-like structure was accompanied by a giant black spider, and the height restriction became {{Convert|54|in}}. On August 29, 2013, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced that they would run Colossus backward for a limited time during the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=New for 2014|url=http://content.sixflags.com/comingin2014/|date=August 29, 2013|access-date=August 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901054320/http://content.sixflags.com/comingin2014/|archive-date=September 1, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The train on one side of the track was changed to run backward using the old trains from the now defunct [[Psyclone (roller coaster)|Psyclone]] roller coaster.<ref name="bernard" />

===Closure and Twisted Colossus announcement===
[[File:SFMM- Twisted Colossus 2.jpg|thumb|Twisted Colossus|alt=|left]]
During the 2014 season Six Flags Magic Mountain announced that Colossus would close permanently on August 16, 2014.<ref name="Permanent closure">{{cite web|url=https://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/legendary-rollercoaster--colossus--closing-in-august-182643881.html|title=Legendary rollercoaster 'Colossus' closing in August|last=Silverman|first=Ben|date=June 4, 2014|publisher=Plugged In|access-date=June 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402120019/https://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/legendary-rollercoaster--colossus--closing-in-august-182643881.html|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> On August 4, 2014, the park held a 36-hour riding marathon event on the roller coaster as a way for the public to say goodbye to one of the park's staples.<ref name="Riding marathon">{{cite news|url=http://hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/arts-and-entertainment/magic-mountain/coaster-marathon-be-held-six-flags-magic-mountains-colossus-080135|title=Six Flags Magic Mountain's Colossus is scheduled to close Aug. 16, and park officials are planning to host a 36-hour coaster marathon to say "goodbye" to the coaster.|last=Boyer|first=Jessica|date=July 31, 2014|publisher=KHTS|access-date=September 9, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819181513/http://hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/arts-and-entertainment/magic-mountain/coaster-marathon-be-held-six-flags-magic-mountains-colossus-080135|archive-date=August 19, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Out of 24 participants, six completed the marathon of 328 laps around the track in {{nowrap|45-minute}} intervals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/arts-and-entertainment/magic-mountain/six-riders-complete-36-hour-colossus-marathon-at-magic-mountain-080613|title=Six Riders Complete 36-Hour Colossus Marathon At Magic Mountain|publisher=KHTS|date=August 5, 2014|access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref>

On September 8, 2014, Colossus caught fire. Less than two weeks after the ride closed, Six Flags announced that Colossus would reopen in 2015 as Twisted Colossus following a renovation by [[Rocky Mountain Construction]].<ref name="Twisted Colossus announced">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-twisted-colossus-six-flags-magic-mountain-20140828-story.html|title=Six Flags Magic Mountain turning wooden coaster into Twisted Colossus|last=Macdonald|first=Brady|date=August 28, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 9, 2014}}</ref> The company added their patented I-Box track technology to the ride, also known as Iron Horse, which converts the wooden track to steel while retaining some to most of the original wooden structure.

In late 2018, the trains were updated with zipper pouches and modified lap bars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecoasterkings.com/six-flags-magic-mountain-park-update-late-december-2018/|title=Six Flags Magic Mountain Park Update - Late December 2018 - The Coaster Kings|date=December 27, 2018 }}</ref>

==Characteristics==
The table below summarizes the differences between Colossus and Twisted Colossus. With the exception of capacity, the statistics of Colossus represent a single track only.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! width="20%" | Statistic !! width="40%" | Colossus<ref name="RCDB Colossus">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Colossus|location=Six Flags Magic Mountain|rcdb_number=26|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}</ref>!! width="40%" | Twisted Colossus<ref name="RCDB">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Twisted Colossus|location=Six Flags Magic Mountain|rcdb_number=12282|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Years || 1978&ndash;2014 || 2015–Present
|-
| Manufacturer || International Amusement Devices || Rocky Mountain Construction
|-
| Designer || Lorenz & Williams || [[Alan Schilke]]
|-
| Track Type || Wood || Steel
|-
| Track Layout || [[Racing roller coaster|Racing]] || [[Möbius Loop roller coaster|Möbius Loop]]
|-
| Height || {{Convert|125|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}} || {{Convert|121|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}}
|-
| Drop || {{Convert|115|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}} || {{Convert|116|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}}
|-
| Length || {{Convert|4325|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}} || {{Convert|4990|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}}
|-
| Speed || {{Convert|62|mph|km/h|disp=or|abbr=on}} || {{Convert|57|mph|km/h|disp=or|abbr=on}}
|-
| {{No wrap|Max vertical angle}} || {{N/A|Unknown}} || 80°
|-
| G-force || 3.2 || {{N/A|TBD}}
|-
| Capacity || 2600 <small>riders per hour</small> || {{N/A|TBD}}
|-
| Duration || 2:30 || 3:40
|-
| Inversions || 0 || 2
|-
| Trains || {{No wrap|Morgan Manufacturing}} || Rocky Mountain Construction
|}

==Ride experience==
{{expand section|date=August 2014}}

===Colossus===
The previous configuration of the roller coaster featured two drops greater than {{convert|100|ft|m}}; the first drop was {{convert|115|ft|m}} and the second was {{convert|105|ft|m}}. The ride spanned two and a half minutes and reached speeds up to {{convert|62|mi/h|km/h}}.<ref name="Business Wire" />  Its original configuration was noted for numerous and sustained [[air-time]] moments, which were eventually toned down or eliminated by reprofiling and/or braking.

===Twisted Colossus===
[[File:SFMM- Twisted Colossus Entrance.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Twisted Colossus Entrance]]
The ride begins on the blue track, boarding from what was the right side track's station. Immediately after dispatch, the ride makes a 90 degree left turn, is sent through a set of drive tires to boost the train towards the pre-lift section, and makes another left turn. After going through a series of small hills in the pre-lift, the train makes its way up the right side of the lift hill, catching up to the train on the green track.  Immediately after the lift hill ends, riders are sent down an 80 degree, 128 foot drop.  The trains then go through a small airtime hill and then up another tall hill, crossing under Goliath.  The train then proceeds to go through a banked turn to the left, and goes through a "high-five" element.  After this, the blue tracked train drops down and goes under the train on the green track while it does its top gun stall. The blue track goes through an airtime hill, taking riders close to the train in the green track's stall. Then the blue tracked train does a zero-g roll.  After a double up and a quick turn to the left, the blue track turns green and the train hits a brake run, before returning to the left side of the lift hill.  The green track is identical to the blue tracked segment up through the high-five, which is banked in the opposite direction as to create the "high-five" illusion with the blue track. After the high-five, the green track does a double down and does a top gun stall crossing over the blue track. After crossing under the blue track's zero-g roll, it then goes up a double up and turns left, where the train hits the final brake run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWJY62lZ2rM|title=YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>

Because Twisted Colossus is a "racing coaster" with one long continuous circuit, it may be considered a [[Möbius Loop roller coaster]]. However, unlike most Möbius Loop layouts, it only has one station and one cycle sends riders through both sides. This is different from a traditional Möbius Loop layout (such as [[Racer (Kennywood)|Racer]] at Kennywood), which takes riders through only half of the ride's "complete" circuit before stopping and unloading at the other station.

Because of the unusual setup of a one-station Möbius Loop layout, to race, the operators on Twisted Colossus must properly time dispatches. While a train is in the blue side, the ride operators will sometimes call out " __ seconds to race", counting down to encourage riders to board quickly so they can race. To give the ride operators extra time, the green lift can run slower than the blue lift, giving the blue side time to catch up.

==Use in media==
Colossus was nearing completion in May 1978 when it was used as a backdrop for fight scenes in the NBC TV movie ''[[Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park]]''.<ref name="Permanent closure" /> In 1983, it was featured in the film ''[[National Lampoon's Vacation]]'' as ''Screemy Meemy''. In the sitcom ''[[Step by Step (TV series)|Step by Step]]'', Colossus is the roller coaster that the Lambert-Foster family rides in the opening sequence. The roller coaster was also seen in television episodes of ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'', ''[[Wonder Woman (TV series)|Wonder Woman]]'', and ''[[The A-Team]]''.<ref name="Permanent closure" />

==Incidents==
A 20-year-old woman died after being thrown from the ride in December 1978. An investigation determined the lap bar restraint was in working condition, but they speculated that the rider's size may have made the restraint ineffective.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/sr9617.htm|title=SCVHistory.com SR9617 - Magic Mountain - Eagles Flight|website=www.scvhistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/97/12/97012aa.html|title=Evolution of California's Amusement Rides Safety Laws|date=August 1997|publisher=California Research Bureau|pages=Appendix A|access-date=September 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109191614/http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/97/12/97012aa.html |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On September 8, 2014, while workers were disassembling the track, the top of the lift hill on Colossus caught on fire. The fire – which occurred while the park was closed – was contained and no injuries were reported.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ktla.com/2014/09/08/firefighters-respond-to-report-of-fire-at-magic-mountains-colossus-roller-coaster/|title=Magic Mountain's Colossus Roller Coaster Catches Fire; Peak Collapses|date=September 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc7.com/news/fire-erupts-on-colossus-ride-at-magic-mountain/299887/|title=Fire erupts on Colossus ride at Magic Mountain|publisher=KABC-TV Los Angeles|date=September 8, 2014|access-date=September 8, 2014}}</ref>

On July 7, 2022, an 8-year-old girl was wounded in the head when a mobile phone struck her while she was riding the roller coaster.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/six-flags-roller-coaster-child-injured-cellphone-hits-face/2932210/?amp | title=Riverside Girl Injured After Cellphone Hits Her in the Face on Six Flags Coaster | date=July 7, 2022 }}</ref>

==Awards==
Twisted Colossus ranked in the ''[[Amusement Today]]'''s [[Golden Ticket Awards]] for [[Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride|best new ride]] of 2015 with 13% of the vote, coming in third place.<ref name="2k15"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  style="text-align:center; background:white;" colspan="500"|[[Golden Ticket Awards]]: [[Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride|Best New Ride]] for 2015
|- style="background:#white;"
! style="text-align:center;"|Ranking
|{{center|3<ref name="2k15">{{cite journal|title=Park and ride winners|journal=[[Amusement Today]]|date=September 2015|url=http://goldenticketawards.com/2015-park-and-ride-winners/|access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref>}}
|-
|}

{{GTA table
| type       = steel
| accessdate = September 9, 2017
| 2015       = 28
| 2016       = 26
| 2017       = 16
| 2018       = 24
| 2019       = 6
| 2021       = 16
| 2022       = 18
|2023=28|2024=30 (tie)}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Twisted Colossus}}
* {{RCDB|12282|Twisted Colossus}}
* {{RCDB|26|Colossus}}
* [https://www.rockymtnconstruction.com/twisted-colossus/ Twisted Colossus] at [[Rocky Mountain Construction]]

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|rows=3|before=''[[Screamin' Eagle]]''}}
{{s-ttl|title=World's Tallest Wooden Roller Coaster|years=June 1978&ndash;May 1981}}
{{s-aft|after=''[[American Eagle (roller coaster)|American Eagle]]''}}
{{s-ttl|title=World's Tallest Roller Coaster Drop|years=June 1978&ndash;April 1979}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=''[[The Beast (roller coaster)|The Beast]]''}}
{{s-ttl|title=World's Fastest Roller Coaster|years=June 1978&ndash;April 1979}}
{{s-end}}

{{SFMM Coasters}}

[[Category:Roller coasters in California]]
[[Category:Hybrid roller coasters]]
[[Category:Roller coasters manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction]]
[[Category:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags]]
[[Category:Six Flags Magic Mountain]]
[[Category:Steel roller coasters]]
[[Category:Roller coasters introduced in 2015]]