What happened to Hypersonic XLC?

[BrandonR]

I've been out of the coaster loop (pun most definitely intended) for some time now and was wondering whatever happened to Hypersonic XLC? Why was it removed? I vaguely remember reading it had become rather rough. Anyone know why?

[braztaz]

Plagued with mechanical problems, low capacity. To keep it short and sweet, it was hell for the park.

[Funky Cold Medina]

And now the track that was laying near Grizzly was melted down so there's no chance of anything happening with it.

[angryemobeaver]

And now the track that was laying near Grizzly was melted down so there's no chance of anything happening with it.

You sure? I've only been to KD once and that was I305's opening day, but as of then Hypersonic was sitting in the field behind Grizzly.

[braztaz]

^

 

I believe it's still there... don't know why they'd spend money to melt it down when it's doing no harm in the woods.

[Funky Cold Medina]

I've heard that from quite a few people that it disappeared not too long ago, and was confirmed it was melted down to scrap metal considering there's nothing to do with it.

[KDcoasterMAN]

Yes. Hypersonic was removed after the 2007 season after it had been plague with various mechanical issues from the launch system to the helicopter tires it used for wheels. (great job S&S) The park was draining droves of cash into keeping the ride operational.

 

Hypersonic was put up for sale before its deconstruction but due to it receiving no offers, Hypersonic was "ripped" down and placed behind the Hurler and Grizzly in a spare lot waiting for the economically low raw steel prices to rise. This past May, the ride was removed for final scrapping. Only a few scattered supports were left (to my knowledge). Hypersonic is gone. Respect that Fact.

 

For those thinking that XLC could had been salvaged, Like I said, when she was removed, they ripped the ride apart taking no care into making it resell-able. The only part of Hypersonic that survived (that I heard) was the launch system which was purchased back by S&S.

[testtrack321]

I too heard it turned into scrap.

 

It was a modified version of a prototype and was a nightmare. I heard rumors from people at the park it was so bad that they had to repour foundations every once in a while. The trains were redesigned multiple times. It went down all the time. It never could perform to advertised capacity. The interior queue was poorly designed with not enough exit areas that they could never use it. The ride was put together with bolts which caused a lot of it's shakiness. It goes on, and on, and on.

 

HXLC had a special place in my heart: it as my first big boy coaster back when I was in middle school. It was, initially, an incredible ride. I thank that ride for getting me into parks and coasters.

[braztaz]

I too heard it turned into scrap.

 

It was a modified version of a prototype and was a nightmare. I heard rumors from people at the park it was so bad that they had to repour foundations every once in a while. The trains were redesigned multiple times. It went down all the time. It never could perform to advertised capacity. The interior queue was poorly designed with not enough exit areas that they could never use it. The ride was put together with bolts which caused a lot of it's shakiness. It goes on, and on, and on.

 

HXLC had a special place in my heart: it as my first big boy coaster back when I was in middle school. It was, initially, an incredible ride. I thank that ride for getting me into parks and coasters.

 

All in all, a failure for KD.

[B-RadG]

The pieces that were sitting in the woods behind Grizzly are no longer there. I was about to point them out to my friend on Grizzly's turnaround and I noticed that absolutely nothing was there. There are random pipes and other crap near Hypersonic's station, but other than that, nothing else is around anymore. Glad to see it go. Twas a piece of crap. When I rode it in 2002, I remember it being the best damn thing I'd ever ridden. The next 4 times I rode it were less than poor quality. It was rough, short, and the brakes were so strong that it hurt.

[braztaz]

I looked for it behind Grizzly in May as well...I thought I was just looking at the wrong place cause I couldn't see it but guess not.

 

Always got that bit of nostalgia seeing the pieces in the woods.

[KDCOASTERFAN]

^

 

I believe it's still there... don't know why they'd spend money to melt it down when it's doing no harm in the woods.

Nope,it's as good as gone now.

 

Now if only they'd do something about that piece of firewood that it was being stored next to for the last year or two.I never really liked Hypersonic as the ride was a one trick pony,had poor capacity & terrible reliability so I'm glad it's gone.

[BrandonR]

As a mechanical engineer, I'm especially interested in any details of the ride's failures if anyone knows more info.

 

And while on the topic, anyone know how Dodonpa has been doing? RCDB says it's still operating. Perhaps the park is just pouring more money into theirs?

[KDcoasterMAN]

One issue that I know of was that Hypersonic ran on helicopter tires... which never held up more than a 30 or more cycles before going flat...

 

And the launch system itself... anybody who's anybody has seen a Hypersonic rollback...

[John Peck]

When you think about it, Paramount really threw a lot of money into some major failures... Hypersonic, Son of Beast, Tomb Raider (Kings Islands Giant Top Spin) and spending all that money on Stealth to have it moved a few years later.

 

Of course, you can say the same thing about Six Flags on not only their rides, but many infrastructure expenses.

 

With Cedar Fair, not so much as they purchased most of their rides as second and third generation (less kinks) and their problematic rides (Dragster and Xcellerator) are still operating and are somewhat reliable.