Sidewinder (Elitch Gardens)

Sidewinder is a steel roller coaster located at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado.

Sidewinder
Previously known as Roaring Tornado at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Sidewinder's Loop
Elitch Gardens
Coordinates	39.748614°N 105.012612°W / 39.748614; -105.012612
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 27, 1995
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Coordinates	34.519°N 93.016°W / 34.519; -93.016
Status	Removed
Opening date	1980
Closing date	1989
General statistics
Type	Steel – Launched – Shuttle
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Arrow Dynamics
Model	Launched Loop
Track layout	Shuttle Loop
Lift/launch system	Launch
Height	56 ft (17 m)
Drop	47 ft (14 m)
Length	635 ft (194 m)
Speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions	1
Duration	1:06
Max vertical angle	47°
Capacity	400 riders per hour
G-force	4.0
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	Single train with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Sidewinder at RCDB

This is a fairly simple coaster that takes rides through one loop. Instead of starting from the ground, riders have to ascend stairs fifty feet up to the loading station. The train is launched down a hill, goes into the loop, then ascends a slope opposite of the station with a braking section. The train repeats the layout backwards, and returns to the station.

Before being operated at Elitch Gardens this roller coaster was at the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls amusement park as the Roaring Tornado. The coaster operated at the original Elitch Gardens from 1990 to 1994, then was relocated to the current Elitch Gardens in 1995.

It is one of only three Arrow Dynamics launched loop coasters to be operating around the world, the others being Diamond Back at Frontier City, and the Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The ride has received new paint for the 2010 season, and is now more of a lime green than the darker shade it has been since being repainted from its original white.

References