Batman: The Ride





Batman: The Ride is a steel inverted roller coaster attraction found in various Six Flags Theme Parks themed after the DC Comics superhero Batman though the general decorative theme of the attraction is mostly based after the 1989 Batman film.

History
The concept of an inverted roller coaster was developed in the early 1990s. In collaboration with Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride officially opened to the public on May 9, 1992 at Six Flags Great America. It was considered, at the time, the single biggest investment made by the park on an attraction.

The world's first inverted coaster, it has since gone on to open at other parks in the chain and be awarded Coaster Landmark status by American Coaster Enthusiasts in 2005.

Experience
The attraction was designed to capture the very feel and spirit of Batman's world. Guests would enter through a quaint park in Gotham City. The scenery becomes more ominous as they enter a gritty environment with wrecked, bullet hole ridden cars and crumbling structures. A police squad car has it's CB broadcasting on the Batman's activities as they make their way through an urban setting into the city's sewerlines. A tunnel reaches all the way to reveal the attraction's loading area - the Batcave. Naturally, the area is laden many of Batman's artifacts including computer displays of Gotham and the Batsuit. A large, shiny replica of the Batman logo looms right above the loading platform.



The ride cars are situated so that the riders sit completely upright. As the train prepares to embark, the platform lowers leaving riders feet dangling. Once they reach the top of the hill, the train courses through various loops, corkscrews and raven turns. This gives the riders the sensation of flying much like the way how Batman glides. This occurs until they finally returning to the loading area. Once guests are off the train they make their way to the ride photo-op stand and exit into to the park.

For most of the attractions, a life-size replica of the Batmobile from the film can be seen parked right outside the main entrance plaza.

Design
Designers wanted guests to feel as if they've stepped out of the real world and into the 1989 Batman film. The queue was made to give riders Batman's perspective by making them go through a shortcut into the city's sewers, all the way to his hideout. The color scheme of the coaster rails vary on the attractions but they reflect the general palate associated with the character including: Blue, Black, Indigo, Gray and Yellow.

Reception
Batman: The Ride has generally received positive reviews for it's revolutionary design as well as it's smoothness and pacing. The Dallas Morning News stated the ride "is proof that new thrills on the cutting edge of technology generate excitement". They also praise the theme of the "smooth-riding coaster" stating "the mysterious crime- fighter is a proven crowd-pleaser". They also state "the sensation created by an inverted coaster is very different from that of traditional roller coasters, a sensation that every coaster fan must experience".