Bocaraca is a steel roller coaster located at Parque de Diversiones Dr. Roberto Ortiz Brenes in San José, Costa Rica.

Bocaraca
Previously known as Whirlwind
Parque Diversiones
Coordinates9°57′39″N 84°07′37″W / 9.9607°N 84.1269°W / 9.9607; -84.1269
StatusOperating
Opening date2005 (2005)
Bocaraca at Parque Diversiones at RCDB
Knoebels Amusement Resort
NameWhirlwind
Coordinates40°52′42″N 76°30′18″W / 40.878346°N 76.505005°W / 40.878346; -76.505005
StatusRemoved
Opening date1993 (1993)
Closing date2004 (2004)
Whirlwind at Knoebels Amusement Resort at RCDB
Playland
NameWhirlwind
Coordinates40°57′58″N 73°40′23″W / 40.966°N 73.673°W / 40.966; -73.673
StatusRemoved
Opening date1984 (1984)
Closing date1992 (1992)
ReplacedJet Star
Whirlwind at Playland at RCDB
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerVekoma
ModelWhirlwind
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height64 ft (20 m)
Length1,148.3 ft (350.0 m)
Speed37.3 mph (60.0 km/h)
Inversions2
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
TrainsSingle train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.

History and design

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Bocaraca is a standard production model Vekoma Whirlwind double corkscrew roller coaster, featuring a 64-foot (20 m) lift hill, and a pair of corkscrews separated by a turn. The overall track length is 1,184 feet (361 m). It previously operated at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, from 1993 to 2004 as Whirlwind,[1] and before that, it opened at Playland in 1984, operating there until 1992 under the name Whirlwind as well.[2]

The ride opened at Knoebels in 1993, replacing the Jet Star. The Whirlwind was removed after the 2004 season due to space constraints at Knoebels. After being removed, the ride was moved to Parque de Diversiones where it opened in 2005, and still operates to this day.[3] While at Knoebels and Playland, the coaster was the only Vekoma corkscrew coaster in the United States to feature two separate corkscrew elements, as opposed to a double corkscrew.

References

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  1. ^ "Whirlwind - Knoebels Amusement Park & Resort (Elysburg, Pennsylvania, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  2. ^ "Whirlwind - Playland Park (Rye, New York, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  3. ^ "Bocaraca - Parque Diversiones (La Uruca, San José, Costa Rica)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2016-03-09.