Scott Rutherford Amusement Today Wicked,
Lagoon's new-for-2007 tower launch roller coaster, was custom- designed for the Utah amusement park by Germany's Zierer.
Lagoon debuts first Zierer LSM tower launch coaster PHOTOS COURTESY LAGOON Guests are flocking to Utah's Lagoon Park this summer for a chance to check out Wicked, the Farmington park's new LSM tower launch roller coaster. Custom-designed for Lagoon by Germany’s Zierer Rides, the $10 million Wicked opened June 1, and is appropriately touted as the most unique roller coaster in the park’s 121-year history.

A ride aboard Wicked begins with passengers being secured in one of one of six individual eightseat cars. Riders are seated in two rows of four with the back row seats elevated above the front row. Zierer's new lap/leg restraints provide plenty of upper body freedom.

From an indoor platform, the cars are propelled by a powerful linear synchronous motor (LSM) drive system that launches the vehicles to the base of the tower. As they begin the 90-degree ascent, a second LSM boost quickly propels the vehicles to the top of the ride's signature 110-foot tower. With riders experiencing pronounced weightlessness as they soar over the crest, the cars pitch forward into a 90-degree, 10-story plunge to the ground. Wicked's spectacular opening is followed by high-banked turns, a half-pipe, a heart-roll inversion and other exciting elements along the coaster's 2,050-footlong layout.

With design and calculations provided by Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH, Lagoon's new Wicked is the first example of Zierer's LSM tower launch coaster system. Though the ride encompasses plenty of action, it requires only a modest amount of real estate – 112 feet by 404 feet. Total track length is 2,050 feet, top speed is 55 mph and guests are treated to a powerful 4.85G force. The coaster sports an attractive color scheme (emerald green track with both gray and bright yellow supports) and can accommodate 900 riders per hour.

Zierer has equipped Lagoon's new coaster with a wealth of revolutionary safety devices including a magnetic braking system and triple-locking passenger restraints. The lift includes a redundant anti-rollback protection that will gently lower a fully loaded vehicle to the horizontal launch area in the event of a system stop, loss of power, or failure to crest the crown of the lift. The launch system then returns the vehicle to the original launch starting point for relaunch or unloading.
"Lagoon’s newest ride – Wicked – has lived up to our highest expectations. The staff and management are absolutely thrilled with both its performance and the positive response from our guests," said Dick Andrew, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Lagoon. "In all honesty, we have not heard one negative comment in regards to this ride. We’re thrilled!”