Everything’s bigger in Texas — including the nightmares.
On Thursday, Six Flags Over Texas opened Tormenta: Rampaging Run. It’s the world’s first-ever “giga dive coaster,” a new breed of thrill ride that towers between 300 and 399 feet and dangles riders face-first over the edge.
Located in the northeast part of the Lone Start State in Arlington, Tex., the coaster has major fear factor: a slow crawl to the top that puts riders at 309 feet — the same height as the Statue of Liberty.
Then the ride holds daredevils over the abyss for an agonizing three seconds, allowing them to contemplate every life choice they’ve ever made. Next, it’s time for a 285ft drop, followed by two upside-down loops that top out at 87 mph (nearly 30 mph faster than a cheetah).
Tormenta: Rampaging Run was created by the Swiss engineering firm Bolliger & Mabillard, which has also made coasters for Busch Gardens and Knott’s Berry Farm.
The coaster’s name is a nod to the Spanish word for “storm,” but has a rodeo theme with a fictional mascot — a golden bull named Tormenta — that greets park guests just before they scream their heads off.
But the ride isn’t without its critics. Animal liberation group PETA slammed the coaster’s theme ahead of its opening, saying it “glorifies the torment of bulls” in violent ring fights. Six Flags Over Texas says that no bulls were harmed in the making of the ride. The park cannot make the same guarantee for motion-sick men who get on the coaster to try and impress their date.
General admission to Six Flags Over Texas currently costs between $29 and $59, but it’s considerably more for New Yorkers — basic economy tickets are currently hovering around $400 from LaGuardia Airport to Dallas Fort Worth.
Thrill junkies in the tri-state area might want to head to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. instead. Their tallest roller coaster is a two minute scream-fest at 80 mph, and features a mile of track with multiple drops and loops.
You could also just close your eyes and take the N,R, or W train, which — on a good day — hit top speeds of 55 mph while chugging through the 60th St. Tunnel, making them the fastest of the MTA’s fleet.
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