Sand Blaster (Roller Coaster)
The Sand Blaster was a steel roller coaster, formerly located at Daytona Beach Boardwalk, in Daytona Beach, Florida..[1] Prior to the ride's operation at this location, it operated at five previous amusement parks[2]. The ride closed in 2018 after an incident caused the ride to derail, injuring 6 passengers.[3]
History[edit]
Originally designed by Pinfari, an Italian amusement ride manufacturing company based in Suzzara, Italy, the roller coaster was built for the Adventureland amusement park in Addison, Illinois in 1975[2]. Originally named Super Italian Bobs, the steel-track roller coaster boasted a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour, a height of 60 feet, and two 12 passenger trains. The ride was in operation from 1975 through 1977, before being shut down and eventually relocated to Arizona.[4]
In 1978, the roller coaster was relocated to the Legend City amusement park in Tempe, Arizona, where it was renamed Sidewinder. After service in Arizona, it was relocated and re-opened in Wild West World in South Dakota IN 1984, where it remained in operation until the park closed in 1986.[4]
Following the closure of Wild West World, the ride was once again relocated and reopened, this time at Bland's Park (since renamed DelGrosso's Amusement Park) in Tipton, Pennsylvania[5]. This proved to be the ride's longest tenure in a single location, operating in the park from 1987 through 2003, before once more being removed.
The ride was repainted and mildly refurbished before being reopened once more at yet another home, Blue Diamond Park in Delaware. While in Delaware, it had the distinction of being only one of two roller coasters operating in the state. The other roller coaster was the Orient Express, a roller coaster in the same Blue Diamond Park. When the park closed its doors after the 2007 season, the ride remained standing but not in operation.[6]
In January 2012, the owners of Boardwalk Amusements purchased the roller coaster and began preparing the ride for dismantling, refurbishment, and relocation to Daytona Beach, Florida[7]. Complications delayed the opening of the ride, now renamed the Sand Blaster, until August 3, 2013. In February 2017, a state inspection found multiple problems with the roller coaster, including cracked supports and damaged braces. Due to these issues, the ride was closed for operation from February 2017 through July 2017. Less than a year later, on June 14, 2018, a major accident would cause the ride's first car to derail, injuring six passengers[3]. The ride would be permanently closed, and finally demolished in 2019[8]
| Sand Blaster | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Blue Diamond Streak, Zyklon, Sidewinder, Super Italian Bobs | |
| Boardwalk Amusements, Daytona Beach, Florida | |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 2013 |
| Closing date | 2018 |
| Cost | $110,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Designer | Pinfari |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 53 ft (16 m) |
| Length | 1,710 ft (520 m) |
| Speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 12 riders per train. |
References[edit]
- ↑ "Ultimate Roller Coaster Database". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Coasterpedia". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Florida Roller Coaster Derails, Sending Two Riders Plummeting 34 Feet". June 15, 2018.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Legend City Brochure". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Bland Gets Ride". Altoona Mirror. March 31, 1987.
- ↑ "Here Come the Rides at the new Blue Diamond Amusement Park". Delaware Online.
- ↑ "Roller Coaster Sold; Ride Will Be Installed In Florida". Delaware Onlin.
- ↑ "Sand Blaster Roller Coaster removed from Daytona Beach". Wogx.com.
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