Batman ride at Fiesta Texas described as first of its kind

Batman: The Ride, which is a one-of-a-kind 4-dimensional coaster, will feature a 120-foot incline, two 90-degree drops and six free-fly flips. Six Flags Fiesta Texas revealed its new roller coaster on August 28, 2014. less Batman: The Ride, which is a one-of-a-kind 4-dimensional coaster, will feature a 120-foot incline, two 90-degree drops and six free-fly flips. Six Flags Fiesta Texas revealed its new roller coaster on August ... more Photo: Kristin Smith, Courtesy, Six Flags Fiesta Texas Photo: Kristin Smith, Courtesy, Six Flags Fiesta Texas Image 1 of / 117 Caption Close Batman ride at Fiesta Texas described as first of its kind 1 / 117 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Thrill seekers can catch a new kind of adrenaline rush next summer at a small piece of Gotham that is coming to the Alamo City.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced Thursday that Batman: the Ride, a four-dimensional, free-fly roller coaster called the first of its kind, will be open to park-goers some time during summer 2015.

The roller coaster includes two drops that are more than 90 degrees, an elevator-style lift that will take riders up before plunging them 120 feet and a magnetic system that guarantees at least six flips.

“We felt like this was so new and so tremendous that it certainly justified the Batman name,” spokeswoman Sydne Purvis said.

The attraction features more vertical and side-to-side moves than traditional roller coasters, said Jerry Willard, vice president of American Coaster Enthusiasts. Most free-fly rides with flips are controlled, but Fiesta Texas' new coaster will send riders head over heels depending on their weight and height and how the car hits the turn, he said.

Each of the five vehicles on the attraction will hold eight passengers who will physically face each other during head-over-heels flips.

The magnetic technology will simulate weightlessness for riders who are strapped in by a chest harness and will be seated on either side of the track, Purvis said.

Although the ride is similar to a few other free-fly coasters across the globe, Batman: the Ride will stand out because of its compact layout, vehicle design and free-moving seats, Willard said.

“Obviously there are thrill seekers out there always looking for something new and something different,” Purvis said. “We feel that being one of those very first locations with this particular attraction that's an entirely new sensory experience, people will want to come and experience that along with our other coasters.”

Demolition has started near the Rockville High auditorium, which will house the line for the ride. Riders will be immersed in Batman's world while they wait, entering a replica of the Gotham's run-down Monarch Theater where Bruce Wayne's parents were killed. The theater will house the Batmobile, a bat suit and the bat signal.

Batman's yellow-and-black track will replace the Motorama Turnpike in the area near the Rockville High theater, which will be converted to the Monarch Theater. The last Rock n' Roll High show will be Monday.

Fiesta Texas can expect to see an influx of people after the ride is opened, Willard said.

“Particularly when you label it the first of its kind, people flock to it,” Willard said. “When you have something brand-new, people will wait in line to ride it.”

The coaster is a “substantial investment” for the park, Purvis said, but would not comment on how much the coaster will cost. This will be the eighth coaster in the park.

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