[RCT3] Virginia Vortex - Custom Arrow Looper

Hello again, RCT3 friends. It's been too long, hasn't it?

Between work, school, life and a dead laptop, I haven’t had much time for RCT3. But after building a (so far) functioning and more powerful desktop computer, I’m back in business. And I’m very excited to share with you progress on a track I began working on my laptop before it bit the bullet.

Virginia Vortex.

That tornado didn’t stop spinning when it struck East Tennessee. In fact, it picked up speed, grew larger and started barreling toward Virginia.

It picked up everything in its path – trees, cows, horses, mansions – and it even twisted up another ore just like it did at Dollywood.

This is my dream sequel to Tennessee Tornado. I imagine Arrow Dynamics may have created another one of their “new” custom loopers had they not succumbed to bankruptcy. This is what I think it might have looked like.

A fella can dream, can’t he?

Enjoy the screens below, and rest assured that the coaster is not complete, and these screens are only meant to give you a glimpse of what’s to come.

So batten down the hatches – there’s a twister churning right for you!

Virginia Vortex is a terrain coaster through and through. From the coaster's entrance, it doesn't look all that imposing.

All the fun takes place below ground. Note: there's still a good bit of work left to do here. The two six-car trains will sync so that they meet here as shown in the shot above.

The coaster's entrance plaza and ride area will feature two viewing platforms. You can see one of those platforms in the upper right-hand corner.

One of those platforms will offer a spectacular view of the lower half of the coaster, which features three of Virginia Vortex's seven inversions.

Virginia Vortex's hillside layout requires two lift hills...

...the second of which leads to a vertical plunge underground.

This should be a popular spot for family photos.

Stay tuned. More updates are coming soon!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Viriginia Vortex - Construction Update

Welcome back! Progress at this point is rather slow since I'm focusing on landscaping, fine-tuning supports, etc. But I wanted to share some more screens. Enjoy:

There is still much to do to complete the area surrounding Vortex.

The first drop plunges through the village's bell tower.

The scenic train ride that surrounds the coaster's layout will offer some great vantage points of the sprawling layout.

The Vortex takes full advantage of the hilly terrain.

Much of the middle section of the coaster takes place in and around this small lake.

A train ascends the coaster's first lift hill.

Can you spot the big drop?

Work continues on this mess of wood and steel where the coaster's two trains meet.

Stay tuned. More updates are coming soon!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Viriginia Vortex - Construction Update

Hello again! I have a few new images of progress to share with you. I would like to have this finished (with a video) before the end of the year, but I'm not 100% sure that is possible at this point. We'll see!

The queue area is coming along nicely.

The entrance structure is in place but still needs a lot of work. But this gives you an idea. The newly planted foliage will add a nice barrier between the midway and those waiting to conquer the Vortex.

Guests enter the Virginia Vortex ride area underneath the train station, which is nearing completion.

Stay tuned for more construction shots!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Is anybody here?

Viriginia Vortex - Construction Update

Merry Christmas Eve! I have an early Christmas present for you in the form of several new Virginia Vortex construction shots:

Welcome back to Virginia Vortex!

The big loop is one of only two Arrow "giant loops;" the other being Tennessee Tornado's.

The final climb leads to the...

...vertical dive underground.

Down by the lake are three of the coaster's seven inversions.

The coaster's corkscrew finish should be thrilling to say the least.

Hopefully the ride ops will be able to dispatch the trains so they meet here as intended.

Stay tuned for more!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Viriginia Vortex - NOW OPEN!

Merry Christmas! What better e-gift to receive than photos of Virginia Vortex operating with riders?

I'm pleased with how the overall Virginia Vortex ride area has turned out.

The "upper half" of the ride.

This Verbolten-esque bridge was added at the last minute.

Immediately after exiting the bridge, riders swoop down the hillside toward the lake.

Virginia Vortex trivia time: is this the first or second lift hill?

This is the point of no return before the vertical plunge underground.

Care for an overbanked turn?

The train will give the best view of the "lakeside" portion of the coaster.

I'm now working on filming and editing the video. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Viriginia Vortex - Update

While I continue to work on the Virginia Vortex POV video, here are some additional shots to hold you over:

Seen above, one of the two Virginia Vortex observation decks gives onlookers a spectacular view of the coaster.

A Virginia Vortex train enters the smaller of the coaster's two vertical loops.

Virginia Vortex ride area.

It looks like a few park guests decided to literally smell the roses. SECURITY!

Stay tuned -- the video is coming soon!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Nice to have you back.

^ Thanks, AUWent! It's great to be back.

Viriginia Vortex - Update

Great news! The Virginia Vortex video will debut on Wednesday, Dec. 31 (New Year's Eve)!

We're nearing the end of the road for updates. It seems like just yesterday the first piece of steel was set in place.

But now, the coaster is quite the twisted mess of steel.

The first drop threads itself through the giant vertical loop.

The queue will become even more quaint once these young trees fill in.

The final plunge...

Stay tuned for the video release on Wednesday!

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for additional previews. And be on the lookout for the coaster’s video on my YouTube channel.

Viriginia Vortex - Video Now Available!

The moment you've all been waiting for...the Virginia Vortex video is now online! Watch it below:

VIRGINIA VORTEX STATS

HEIGHT: 117 feet

SPEED: 65 mph

LENGTH: 3,836 feet

INVERSIONS: 7

DURATION: 2 minutes

TRAINS: 2, 24-seat trains

MANUFACTURER: Arrow Dynamics

Enjoy new images of the coaster below:

It's all downhill from here.

See more photos of Virginia Vortex on my Facebook page.

Follow me on Twitter and visit my YouTube channel for more of my work.

Thank you for your support of this project!

This was such a cool project. Thanks for sharing.

I haven't been on this forum in years, but I will never forget how much I enjoyed your Hershey Hawaii park saga. You do some truly incredible work with RCT3. This was a great reminder of why I used to be so invested in these games!

This was such a cool project. Thanks for sharing.

 

I haven't been on this forum in years, but I will never forget how much I enjoyed your Hershey Hawaii park saga. You do some truly incredible work with RCT3. This was a great reminder of why I used to be so invested in these games!

Thanks, DBru! I appreciate the kind words. And it's always nice to see a familiar username from the "good ole days." I sure do miss Hershey Hawaii from time to time.