| Silver Bullet | |
|---|---|
| |
| Park | Knott's Berry Farm |
| Park section | Ghost Town |
| Opening date | December 7, 2004 |
| Closing date | Unknown |
| Height | 146ft |
| Drop | 109ft |
| Speed | 55mph |
| Replaced | Unknown |
| Replaced by | Unknown |
Silver Bullet is an inverted, high-speed, popular roller coaster in the Ghost Town area of Knott's Berry Farm. The attraction is considered one of the park's star attractions, along with Xcelerator and Supreme Scream.
Ride history[]
On May 28, 2003, Knott's filed a trademark for the name Silver Bullet. The coaster was announced to the general public more than half a year later on December 1, 2003. Construction commenced shortly after and the final piece of track was placed on September 30, 2004. After the final piece of track was placed, trains began testing the track several days later. Then, on November 5, 2004, Knott's launched a worldwide auction for one of the first public riders to ride Silver Bullet on opening day. Thirteen seats were bidded on, though sixty were able to be bidded on. The public raised $1,643 for the Speech and Language Development Center of Buena Park. Finally, after a year of anxious and patient waiting, Silver Bullet opened to the general public on December 7, 2004, with a grand opening ceremony, and the first train with public riders ascending up the hill (auction bidders).
Ride synopsis[]
After riders are loaded into their vehicle, the train turns 90 degrees to the right and begins ascending 146 feet above the park. Then, when the train reaches the top of the lift hill, the ride enters a mini-drop before speeding down the 109-foot downward right drop. When the vehicle reaches the bottom of the drop, the train enters a 105-foot loop, before making a banked right turn that leads the train into the famous cobra roll that towers above the park's main entrance. Immediately after exiting the cobra roll, the train enters a zero-g roll followed by a helix that goes downwards to the left. Next, riders are thrown into the first of two corkscrews. Then, the ride makes a left banked turn before entering the final corkscrew. Then, the vehicle enters an upward left helix before entering the ride's final brake system. After the vehicle has slown down, it slowly curves 180 degrees to the right and back into the station.
Trivia[]
- The track is 3,125 feet long.
- Every foot of track on Silver Bullet is filled with sand to reduce the noise the trains make on the ride.
- Silver Bullet is featured on an Algebra textbook cover.
- In 2007, the cast of Knocked Up rode several coasters at Knott's including Silver Bullet in the main scene of the ride.
- In addition, the ride was featured on BrainRush two years later.
- Sometimes, on a sunny day, from the queue of Boomerang, a silver gleam is visible when the train ascends the ride's first drop.
Awards[]
Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll[]
| Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | 120 | 110 | 129 | 126 | 109 | 99 | N/A | 136 |
Photo Gallery[]
