Volcano, The Blast Coaster, Steel roller coaster at Kings Dominion, Virginia, US
Volcano, The Blast Coaster was a steel roller coaster at Kings Dominion built inside an artificial mountain that rose 155 feet (47 meters) above the park. The ride featured two launch tunnels that carried riders through the structure before sending them through multiple inversions outside the mountain.
This ride was built in 1998 by manufacturer Intamin and became North America's first suspended catapult coaster. The installation operated for twenty years before closing permanently in 2018 to make way for future park developments.
The mountain structure housing the coaster represented a continuation of Kings Dominion's commitment to immersive themed environments established since the park's 1975 opening.
The ride reached speeds around 70 miles per hour (113 kilometers per hour) and required securing all loose items before boarding. Guests could experience the launch sequence and inversions during the full circuit, which lasted about one minute.
The ride used linear induction motors to push trains vertically through the peak of the mountain, creating an eruption effect. This vertical launch movement was visible throughout the park and became a recognizable feature of the installation during its operating years.
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