View source for VertiGo (ride)

{{Short description|Defunct thrill ride}}
{{ Infobox attraction
<!--GLOBAL STATISTICS-->
| name                = VertiGo
| logo                =VertiGo logo.gif<!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| logo_width          = 250px<!--Default is 250px-->
| image               = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| imagedimensions     = <!--Default is 250px-->
| caption             =
<!--INDIVIDUAL PARK STATISTICS-->
| location            = Cedar Point <!--Must not be linked.-->
| section             = [[Cedar Point#Challenge Park|Challenge Park]] <!--Should be linked.-->
| coordinates         = <!--Use {{Coord|display=inline}}-->
| status              = Removed
| cost                =
| soft_opened         =
| opened              = August 2001
| closed              = October 2001
| previousattraction  = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| replacement         = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| location2           = Knott's Berry Farm<!--Must not be linked.-->
| section2            = <!--Should be linked.-->
| coordinates2        = <!--Use {{Coord|display=inline}}-->
| status2             = Removed
| cost2               =
| soft_opened2        =
| opened2             = Fall 2001
| closed2             = March 2002
| previousattraction2 = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| replacement2        = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
<!--GENERAL STATISTICS-->
| type                = <!--Should be linked.-->
| manufacturer        = S&S Worldwide<!--Must not be linked.-->
| designer            = <!--Should be linked.-->
| model               = Absolutely Insane
| theme               = <!--Should be linked.-->
| height_ft           = 265
| drop_ft             = 300
| length_ft           = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_m            = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph           = 50<!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_km/h          = <!--Must be expressed in kilometres per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| gforce              =
| capacity            =
<!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience-->
| vehicle_type        = Triangular car
| vehicles            = 1
| riders_per_vehicle  = <!--Only use if vehicles has been specified.-->
| rows                =
| riders_per_row      = <!--Only use if rows has been specified.-->
| participants_per_group= 6<!--Only use if neither rows or vehicles is applicable.-->
| audience_capacity   = <!--For shows-->
| duration            =
| restriction_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_in = <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_cm = <!--Must be expressed in centimetres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| virtual_queue_name  =
| virtual_queue_image = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| virtual_queue_status= <!--should be available if above fields are used-->
| single_rider        = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| pay_per_use         = yes<!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| custom_label_1      =
| custom_value_1      =
| custom_label_2      =
| custom_value_2      =
| accessible          =
| transfer_accessible =
| assistive_listening =
| cc                  =
| small               = <!--Must be "yes" to collapse location sections by default-->
}}

'''VertiGo''' was a thrill ride located at [[Cedar Point]] and [[Knott's Berry Farm]]. Both opened in 2001 and were designed by [[S&S Worldwide]]. After an offseason incident at Cedar Point in 2002, both rides were removed for the 2002 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/2002/stories/030702_01.shtml |title=Cedar Fair Removing Vertigo Thrill Rides From Parks |publisher=Ultimaterollercoaster.com |date=2002-03-07 |access-date=2013-01-24}}</ref>

==Ride experience==
The ride structure consisted of three {{convert|265|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall towers}}, placed in a triangular arrangement. The towers were able to sway up to {{convert|8|ft}} in high winds, or when the ride was in motion. In the center of the towers was a small [[Triangle|triangular]] ride vehicle. The ride vehicle was connected to the top of the towers by three steel cables. Each face of the ride vehicle had two seats, for a total of six riders. The seats were able to pivot, allowing the riders to be rotated forward while the ride was in motion and face the ground or partially invert, depending on the ride mode selected.

At dispatch, the vehicle was lifted a few feet off the ground, and then pneumatic air pressure would launch the riders vertically at {{convert|50|mph}}. At the top, the vehicle would ascend over the peaks of towers, reaching up to {{convert|300|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/thrillrides/vertigo/ |title=VertiGo &#124; Thrill Rides |publisher=Ultimaterollercoaster.com |access-date=2013-01-24}}</ref> The seats would be able to pivot forward depending on mode in use. The ride operated with three modes available: "Hot Rocket" where riders remained in the upright position throughout the entire cycle; "Cosmic Flip" where they began in the upright position, then as the ride reached its peak height, rotated forward 150 degrees to provide a [[Descent (aeronautics)|nose-dive]] sensation as the ride vehicle descended toward the ground; and "Big Bang" where shortly after launch, riders were quickly flipped forward 150 degrees, rising through the apex and a majority of the return to the ground in the almost upside-down position. Knott's Berry Farm's version had a fourth option: "Big Bang Plus", in which the rotations were all random.

==Incident==
As a part of Cedar Point's preventative maintenance program, the VertiGo ride vehicle was removed and placed in storage for the offseason.<ref name="vortex" /> On January 14, 2002, one of the {{convert|265|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} towers suffered a structural failure approximately {{convert|65|ft}} up the tower, causing a {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=on}} section of the tower to fall to the ground.<ref name="Collapse-Murphy">{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Steve |title=Section of VertiGo fails at Cedar Point |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/frontpage/2002/01/16/Section-of-VertiGo-fails-at-Cedar-Point.html |access-date=July 3, 2021 |date=January 16, 2002}}</ref> The event occurred while Cedar Point was closed for the winter, and no one witnessed the collapse.<ref name=vortex>{{cite web |url=http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0205/Byko-0205.html |title=Materials Give Roller Coaster Enthusiasts a Reason to Scream |first=Maureen |last=Byko |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208115610/http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0205/Byko-0205.html |archive-date=8 February 2007 | publisher=The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society | date=May 2002 | access-date=2009-02-22 }}</ref><ref name="Collapse-Murphy" />

A post-accident investigation by the [[University of Western Ontario]] ascribed the problem to [[vortex shedding]], which can occur when wind blows across a cylindrical object for a long period of time under specific weather conditions.<ref name="vortex" /> Vortex shedding can lead to structural failure resulting from the oscillation of the towers back and forth across the direction of the wind.<ref name=vortex/> Confirmation of the analysis occurred a few weeks later, when one of the remaining towers began oscillating {{convert|4.5|m|ft}}.<ref name=vortex/> It was determined that had the vehicle remained attached to the towers, it would have absorbed the vibrations and oscillation, preventing the structural failure.<ref name=vortex/> An option to hang a heavy chain from the top of the towers was presented as a fix, but the park decided to forego repair.<ref name=vortex/> Cedar Fair President [[Richard Kinzel|Richard L. Kinzel]] later stated, "We believe the unfavorable perceptions resulting from the incident will negatively impact the popularity of the ride. With the opening of Cedar Point less than two months away and Knott's Berry Farm nearing its peak season, we feel the best decision is to remove the rides from our parks."<ref name=vortex/>

Other identical models of the ride continued to operate at other parks, including "Thrill Shot" at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]]. After the Cedar Point VertiGo incident, Thrill Shot’s 265’ towers were reduced in height and reopened with modified operations. That installation was retired in 2012.

"Eruption" at Six Flags Great Adventure was removed in 2010 and replaced by a Funtime Slingshot in [[Frontier City]]. It closed in 2012 and was removed in December 2013.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/thrillrides/vertigo/ Vertigo at Cedar Point]
* [http://www.thepointol.com/vertigocon.html/ Vertigo Construction Pictures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911075546/http://www.thepointol.com/vertigocon.html |date=2009-09-11 }}
* [http://www.greatadventurehistory.com/ErUPtion.htm ErUPtion at Six Flags Great Adventure]

{{Cedar Point}}
{{Knott's Berry Farm}}
{{S&S Worldwide}}

[[Category:Cedar Point]]
[[Category:Knott's Berry Farm]]
[[Category:Amusement rides manufactured by S&S – Sansei Technologies]]
[[Category:Amusement rides introduced in 2001]]
[[Category:Amusement rides that closed in 2001]]
[[Category:Amusement rides that closed in 2002]]
[[Category:Cedar Fair attractions]]<!--Leave; As this attractions operated by Cedar Fair before the merger-->