Patriot (Worlds of Fun)

Patriot is an inverted roller coaster located at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the inverted coaster opened to the public on April 8, 2006. It features four inversions, a height of 149 feet (45 m), and a track length of 3,081 feet (939 m).

Patriot
Patriot at night
Worlds of Fun
LocationWorlds of Fun
Park sectionAmericana
Coordinates39°10′31″N 94°29′20″W
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 8, 2006 (April 8, 2006)
CostUS$14,000,000
General statistics
TypeSteel – Inverted
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelInverted Coaster
Track layoutTwister
Lift/launch systemChain lift
Height149 ft (45 m)
Drop123 ft (37 m)
Length3,081 ft (939 m)
Speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Inversions4
Duration2:18
Capacity1160 riders per hour
Restraint StyleOver-the-shoulder
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Patriot at RCDB
Pictures of Patriot at RCDB

History

Patriot was announced on September 7, 2005 and was the park's largest investment at the time.[1][2] Construction started in the transfer track and station area before progressing to the lift hill in early-October 2005.[3] Just over two weeks later, the roller coaster's 149-foot (45 m) lift hill was topped off.[3] After erecting the first drop and loop, construction on the zero-gravity-roll was complete by mid-November.[4] The third inversion, an Immelmann loop, was completed about a week later followed by the placement of the inclined loop pieces.[4] After the corkscrew and other track elements were completed, the final piece of track was placed in the morning of January 13, 2006.[5]

After testing was completed, the attraction opened to the public on April 8, 2006.[2][6]

In 2019, Patriot was temporarily renamed The Patrick in honor of Patrick Mahomes, a Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.[7]

The ride got a new coat of paint in 2020.

Ride experience
One of Patriot's trains entering the brake run.

After departing from the station, the train makes a left turn leading directly to the beginning of the 149-foot (45 m) lift hill. Once the train reaches the top of the lift hill, it makes a sharp, downward 129-foot (39 m) drop followed by an 89-foot (27 m) Vertical loop. After exiting the loop and making a slight right turn, the train goes up leading into a zero-gravity roll. The train drops back to the ground before going through an Immelmann loop. Next, the train enters a banked turn. Then the train goes over a small inverted hill, drops to the ground, and makes a left turn into a corkscrew. Then the train makes a right turn which leads to the brake run. The train then makes a left turn back into the station where the next riders board.[2][8]

One complete cycle of the roller coaster lasts about 2 minutes and 18 seconds.[2]

Characteristics

Trains

Patriot operates with two steel and fiberglass trains which were manufactured in Switzerland before being shipped to Kansas City.[5][9] Each train has seven cars that can seat four riders in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.[2] The train structure is colored blue, yellow, and white and the seats and over-the-shoulder restraints are both red.[9]

Track

The steel track of Patriot is approximately 3,081 feet (939 m) long. The height of the lift hill is approximately 149 feet (45 m) high, and (with the supports) weighs approximately 1,850,000 pounds (840,000 kg).[2][4] It was fabricated by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio, who manufactures Bolliger & Mabillard's roller coasters and was erected by Lico Steel.[10][11][12] The track color is red with a continuous white strip running through the middle and the supports are blue.[9]

Reception

Mike (no last name given) from NewsPlusNotes likes the fact that Patriot and Talon at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom are very similar in terms of their layouts. He also praises the ride for its speed and enjoyability, "[The train] heads through those elements at a good clip and keeps the fun factor up throughout the ride."[13]

Awards

In Mitch Hawker's worldwide Best Roller Coaster Poll, Patriot peaked at position 48 in its second year of operation. The ride's ranking in subsequent polls is shown in the table below.

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best steel-Tracked Roller Coaster[14]
Year2006200720082009201020112012
Ranking 7048909598No poll135

The roller coaster has never placed in Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards.[15]

References
  1. "Worlds of Fun adds $14M roller coaster". Kansas City Business Journal. September 7, 2005. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  2. Marden, Duane. "Patriot  (Worlds of Fun)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  3. "Patriot Construction Journal (October 2005)". Worlds of Fun. Archived from the original on October 29, 2005. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  4. "Patriot Construction Journal (November 2005)". Worlds of Fun. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  5. "Patriot Construction Journal (January 2006)". Worlds of Fun. Archived from the original on January 30, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  6. "Red, white and ooooooh! Riders of Patriot, Worlds of Fun's new roller coaster, will be heels over head (and weightless, too)". Kansas City Star. April 5, 2006. p. F1. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  7. "Roller Coaster Renamed For Mahomes".
  8. "Patriot Front Seat on-ride HD POV Worlds of Fun". wwwCOASTERFORCEcom (YouTube). August 25, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Patriot Photo Gallery  (Worlds of Fun)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  10. Grandia, Curt (December 12, 2005). "Building To Thrill.(construction equipment)". Midwest Contractor. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014 – via HighBeam Research.
  11. Guido, Anna (November 7, 2005). "Steel plant's business on fast track". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  12. "Lico Steel Homepage". Lico Steel Inc. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  13. "Around The World In One and a Half Days - Part 2". NewsPlusNotes. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
  14. Hawker, Mitch. "Steel Roller Coaster Poll 13 Year Results Table (1999–2013)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  15. "Issue Archive". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
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