Ride Profile
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That monster first drop
Leviathan now being one of the biggest coasters in the world, I think it’s safe to say it has now become our signature attraction, with Behemoth a close second.”
provides five moments of negative gravity and 57 seconds of ultra high-speed action. Toronto is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities, and Canada's Wonderland's attendance has been soaring as a result. “Canada’s Wonderland is known for being one of the top amusement parks in North America and the addition of Leviathan solidifies our position as a destination of choice for thrill seekers and families,” notes Norm Pirtovshek, the park's vice- president and general manager. “Another reason for the addition of Leviathan is to assist with ride capacity. Leviathan has huge rider throughput (1,600 per hour) and this helps guest satisfaction with reduced lines throughout the park.” “It’s very different from Behemoth and the rest of our coaster line-up,” adds Pirtovshek. “Leviathan has an incredible drop and tremendous speed with high speed turns that leaves you breathless. With
Top Five Public reaction to ride has been overwhelming. “People love it,” says Pirtovshek. “On several occasions people have commented to me and said, and I quote, ‘This ride alone is worth the price of a seasons pass.’ A coaster enthusiast that attended our media preview commented, ‘It’s one of the top five coasters in the world and when it warms up it will be number one’.” For his part, Pirtovshek has ridden Leviathan many times. “One day late in the evening when everyone went home,” he remembers, “I asked a couple of the B&M staff if they were up for a ride. They said yes and off we went. Needless to say I was amazed. The drop, the speed and the smoothness made it clear we had a great ride that everyone could enjoy. The drop was my favourite part as it seemed to go on forever. Walter Bolliger just recently had a chance to experience Leviathan and he absolutely loved the ride. His comment to me was, ‘Leviathan looks so majestic and elegant. The ride is fantastic; a perfect balance combining height, steep drop, high speed and air time with smoothness’.”
Construction went smoothly, recalls Pirtovshek.
“One of the great benefits of working with B&M is their coaster installation and operation. It is always a smooth process and they are ready in advance. Leviathan was ready for guests two weeks in advance of opening. Having dealt with Walter Bolliger as far back as 1996, we have always had a very good relationship. B&M had always been reluctant to build a 300ft coaster but after many conversations and the proven success of Behemoth here at the park, this masterpiece was built. I consider B&M the Swiss watchmaker of coaster manufacturers.” Part of the Cedar Fair chain, Canada’s
Wonderland chose trains for Leviathan with four-in- line seating rather than the staggered four seats found on Behemoth. “Rider load time is quicker which allows for higher throughput with four-in-line
Another train full of passengers enjoys the ride of their life
Top 10 tallest
B&M coasters •Leviathan (306ft/93m) Canada’s Wonderland
•Shambhala (249ft/76m) PortAventura, Spain
•Silver Star (239ft/73m) Europa-Park, Germany
•Intimidator (239ft/71m) Carowinds, North Carolina
•Behemoth (230ft/70m) Canada’s Wonderland
•Diamondback (230ft/70m) Kings Island, Ohio
•Nitro (230ft/70m) Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey
•Diving Coaster (213ft/65m) Happy Valley Shanghai, China
•Wild Eagle (210ft/64m) Dollywood, Tennessee
•Griffon (205ft/62m) Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia
JUNE 2012
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