Ragin' Cajun (roller coaster)

Ragin' Cajun is a steel mouse roller coaster at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Manufactured by Zamperla and Reverchon Industries, the design is a "Crazy Mouse", which is similar to a "Wild Mouse." Crazy Mouse coasters' cars freely spin during the second half of the ride, but Wild Mouse coasters' cars do not. The ride runs five cars at a time, and each car holds up to four riders with a maximum of two adults. Ragin' Cajun previously operated at Six Flags Great America from 2004 to 2013.

Ragin' Cajun
Ragin Cajun at Six Flags Great America
Six Flags America
Park sectionMardi Gras
Coordinates38°54′32″N 76°46′17″W / 38.9088°N 76.7715°W / 38.9088; -76.7715
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 21, 2014 (2014-06-21)
ReplacedTwo Face: The Flip Side
Six Flags Great America
Park sectionMardi Gras
Coordinates42°22′08″N 87°55′57″W / 42.368889°N 87.932559°W / 42.368889; -87.932559
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 28, 2004 (2004-05-28)
Closing dateOctober 27, 2013 (2013-10-27)
Replaced byThe Joker
General statistics
TypeSteel – Wild Mouse – Spinning
ManufacturerZamperla
ModelTwister Coaster 420STD
Track layoutWild Mouse
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height42.7 ft (13.0 m)
Length1,377.9 ft (420.0 m)
Speed29.1 mph (46.8 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:30
Capacity900 riders per hour
G-force2.5
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trainsa single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 4 riders per train.
Ragin' Cajun at RCDB

History

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On January 17, 2004, Six Flags Great America announced five new attractions and a whole new themed section called Mardi Gras, which included Ragin' Cajun. The newly themed section Mardi Gras transformed parts of the Orleans Place section. The newly family themed area opened on May 3, 2004, along with the park for the 2004 season.[1] Ragin' Cajun opened later that month for the public on May 28, 2004.

 
Ragin' Cajun at its current location.

On May 29, 2004, the day after opening of the new roller coaster, a 52-year-old Six Flags ride mechanic Jack Brouse of Zion, Illinois, was hit by one of Ragin' Cajun's car full of passengers as he was working along the tracks of the roller coaster. Suffering from a traumatic head injury, he died at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.[2]

On August 29, 2013, Six Flags America announced that they would be adding a new Mardi Gras themed area for the 2014 season for their park. The area would include a roller coaster named, Ragin' Cajun and a Flying Scooters attraction called French Quarter Flyers.[3] With no official announcement from Six Flags or Six Flags Great America, the Illinois Ragin' Cajun was removed after the 2013 season.

The new Mardi Gras section at Six Flags America which includes Ragin' Cajun, replaced the former Southwest Territory themed area. The rides in Southwest Territory including Wild One was rethemed to fit the new Mardi Gras theme.[4]

Ragin Cajun at Six Flags America was built on the former location of Two Face: The Flip Side that was removed from the park in 2007.

Mardi Gras opened with Six Flags America on opening day of the 2014 season. All rides excluding Ragin' Cajun opened on April 5, 2014.[5]

Six Flags America officially opened Ragin' Cajun on June 21, 2014.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Six Flags Great America to Undergo a Mass Makeover This Winter". January 17, 2004. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  2. ^ Comerford, Michael (September 11, 2007). "Great America cited by OSHA". Daily Herald. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "New for 2014". August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Cooper, Rebecca (August 29, 2013). "Six Flags America to add new roller coaster, Mardi Gras theme". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  5. ^ "Six Flags America opens for weekends, spring break". Baltimore Sun. April 3, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  6. ^ "Six Flags America launching new roller coaster this weekend". Baltimore Sun. June 20, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.