GhostRider

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GhostRider

GhostRider is a wooden roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park in Buena Park, California. It is located in the Ghost Town section of the park, south of the main entrance. It is the longest wooden coaster on the West Coast.

The Ride

You will approach the ride near the entrance to Ghost Town. The queue begins by going through a mysterious mining tunnel and then going into the mine-themed queue house. You will wait on both stories of the queue and then enter one of the silver, copper, or gold colored "mine trains." There is a small initial descent into a ravine, where you will sweep to the right and ascend the lift hill. The first 108 foot drop ensues and is followed by a good supply of airtime. The ride follows a double out and back pattern. Most of the attraction resides on the parking lot near the marketplace.

GhostRider facts

Height

118 ft (36 m) tall
108 ft (33 m) first drop

Length

4533 ft (1,382 m)

Top speed

56 mph (90 km/h)

Structure

10 crossovers, 14 Hills, and 3 bridges
Built with 2.5 million board feet (5900 m³) of treated long-leaf southern yellow pine

Miscellania

The initial drop was covered with a metal overhang after nearby residents complained of screams. Occasionally on its "Rehab" time, the shed is extended. As of 2006, it covers over half of the drop.
The legend of the Ghostrider tells us that one day, a miner in the West once entered an abandoned mine, never to be seen again. He roams the lands to this day, and he is known as the GhostRider.
Three trains colored gold, silver, and copper are used.
A maximum of two trains can be used at any given time. The third train will usually be in "rehab" and will be rotated out during the duration of the year. Each train is usually rehabbed during the year.
The trains' paint jobs have gone through several different "generation" designs. Originally with the first generation, Copper was a dark brown, Silver was a flat gray, and Gold was a light brown. All trains sported the standard "Knott's" logo on the front of the train. The second generation had logos on the train and a metallic sheen on Gold and Copper. Generation three included airbrush effects on the sides of the individual cars along with a customized "Knott's GhostRider" logo on the front, along with a repaint of Copper, which was repainted metallic orange/copper.
The entrance to the ride, an eerie cave, was once part of the Pan for Gold attraction.
Construction on the attraction proceeded so quickly that the coaster was completed and opened nearly six months ahead of schedule.
At night, small orange ropelights are lit along the handrail beams of the roller coaster.