Tornado, Wooden roller coaster at Adventureland, Altoona, United States.
Tornado is a wooden roller coaster at Adventureland amusement park in Altoona, Iowa, built right along the edge of a lake. The track runs through three main drops and a sharp 90-degree curve, sending riders close to both the wooden structure above them and the water below.
Tornado opened on July 4, 1978, during Adventureland's third season. It was designed by William Cobb and built by Frontier Construction Company, and it has remained in the park ever since.
Among wooden coaster fans in the US, Tornado is seen as a strong example of the classic 1970s style of coaster design, where the track hugs the water's edge. Visitors standing in line can see the wooden frame rising close to the lake, which gives the whole ride a very open-air feel.
Riders must be at least 48 inches (about 122 cm) tall to board. Because the track runs right along the lake, the area can feel windier than other parts of the park.
Unlike most wooden coasters of its era, which follow a mostly straight out-and-back layout, Tornado uses a tight 90-degree curve that wraps around the shoreline, which was an unusual choice when it was built. This means that from certain spots near the lake, you can watch the train disappear around the bend close to the water.
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