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The Joker's Jinx

Coordinates: 38°54′36″N 76°46′34″W / 38.910°N 76.776°W / 38.910; -76.776
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The Joker's Jinx
A train exits the Cobra Roll
Six Flags America
LocationSix Flags America
Park sectionGotham City
Coordinates38°54′36″N 76°46′34″W / 38.910°N 76.776°W / 38.910; -76.776
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 8, 1999
Cost$10 million[1]
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerPremier Rides
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelLIM Coaster
Lift/launch systemLIM launch
Height78.8 ft (24.0 m)
Length2,705 ft (824 m)
Speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Inversions4
Duration0:56
Capacity975 riders per hour
Acceleration0 - 60 in 3 seconds
G-force4.5
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
The Joker's Jinx at RCDB

The Joker's Jinx is a steel roller coaster at Six Flags America in Prince George's County, Maryland. The ride utilizes linear induction motor technology to launch the train from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in just over three seconds.

The Joker's Jinx was designed by Premier Rides and manufactured by Intermountain Lift, Inc.[2]

History

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In the fall of 1998, pieces of green Premier Rides roller coaster track were spotted on the park's property.[3] On October 28, 1998, it was announced that Adventure World would be renamed Six Flags America and feature three new roller coasters, including Joker's Jinx. Joker's Jinx would be an LIM spaghetti bowl launch coaster by Premier Rides. It was to be located in a brand new 6-acre (0.024 km2) Gotham City section, which would be entered by passing under The Wild One roller coaster.[4]

Construction of Joker's Jinx began in December 1998 and was completed in late March 1999. On April 4, 1999, the ride performed its first test runs.[5] Joker's Jinx officially opened on May 8, 1999.

Joker's Jinx was repainted with a brighter green track in 2020.[6]

Ride Layout

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Joker's Jinx track layout

Joker's Jinx is located in the Gotham City section of the park near Superman: Ride of Steel roller coaster and Whistlestop Park. After boarding Joker's Jinx, riders are launched through a narrow launch tunnel into a "spaghetti bowl" of track which contains a cobra roll, a sidewinder, and many twists and turns. The coaster doesn't have a mid-course brake run like the similar rides at Kings Island and Kings Dominion; instead the coaster has multiple rings that the train goes through. After the rings, riders spiral downward and to the left, and after more twists and turns they pass through a corkscrew before arriving at the ride's final brake run.

Premier Rides built several of these LIM Catapult roller coasters from 1996 to 1999, although only the two Flight of Fear rides are indoors. The other outdoor LIM Catapult coaster in the United States is Poltergeist at Six Flags Fiesta Texas; that opened in 1999. In addition, a LIM Catapult coaster called Mad Cobra operated at Suzuka Circuit in Japan from 1998–2003; Mad Cobra was moved to China and reopened at Kingdoms of Discovery in 2006.[7][8] The five Premier LIM catapult coasters share a similar layout and have the same technical specifications.

Premier Rides gave the trains an overhaul in 2002 and replaced the restraints with lap bars.[9]

Ride Elements

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Awards

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Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Ranking
137
134
143
115
113
121
150

Incidents

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On April 13, 2017, a train stalled 100 feet (30 m) off the ground at a 30-degree angle stranding 24 riders. They were evacuated safely, and there were no reported injuries.[10][11] The roller coaster was stuck in the same position it was in when a similar incident occurred in 2014, where it took more than four hours to evacuate the stranded riders.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kraft, Randy (July 4, 1999). "SUPERMAN RIDE OF STEEL MUSCLES ITS WAY ON SCENE". The Morning Call.
  2. ^ "Amusement". Intermountain Lift, Inc. July 30, 2011. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "Track Spotted At Adventure World". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  4. ^ "New Rides Announced For The New Six Flags Parks". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
  5. ^ Stilwell, Andrew (September 16, 2019). "19 for '99: Joker's Jinx at Six Flags America". Coaster101. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "Joker's Jinx". Baynum Painting Inc. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Marden, Duane. "Mad Cobra  (Suzuka Circuit)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  8. ^ Marden, Duane. "Mad Cobra  (Discoveryland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  9. ^ Marden, Duane. "Joker's Jinx  (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  10. ^ "Officials rescue over a dozen people stuck on Six Flags roller coaster in Maryland". Fox News. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Menza, Kaitlin (April 16, 2017). "These People Trapped on a Roller Coaster Are Living Your Nightmare". Seventeen. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  12. ^ Boyette, Chris (April 13, 2017). "For two dozen, getting stuck on Six Flags ride no joking matter". CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
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