When Kings Dominion opens for their 50th season on March 29, they will also unveil their brand-new roller coaster, Rapterra! Coaster101’s Kyle and his son Andrew were there to preview the record-breaking coaster and are ready to share their take on the ride.
First things first—manufactured by Swiss designers Bolliger & Mabillard, Rapterra is the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster, taking riders upon the wings of the legendary Jungle Hawk! Here is a breakdown of its stats:
- Height: 145 feet
- Length: 3,086 feet
- Top Speed: 65 mph
- Launch: 0 to 65 mph in 4 seconds
- Inversions: 3 (Dive loop, flat spin corkscrew, 360° raptor roll)
- Ride Time: 1:29
- Trains: 2
- Riders per Train: 20
- Hourly Capacity: 1140
- Propulsion: LSM launch
The Rapterra Lore
When Kings Dominion announced that Volcano: The Blast Coaster would be dismantled in 2019, tempers flared, rumors swirled, and anticipation heightened as to what would replace the iconic coaster. Could whatever come next live up to the spectacle that was the launched invert and its very unique setting? Fans would have to wait until the summer of 2024 when the park announced the construction of their 12th coaster, Rapterra. According to the park’s website, here is the backstory on the ride:
“Centuries ago, ancient leaders built a shrine to honor the mighty Jungle Hawk. People who entered the shrine became spiritually linked to—and temporarily possessed—the powers and abilities of the bird of prey.
Building the temple at the base of a volcano, Mt. Inferna, proved unfortunate. The ground surrounding the magma chamber collapsed, burying the Jungle Hawk temple under mounds of volcanic rock. The temple seemingly vanished from the earth.
Archaeologists recently discovered the volcanic site and unearthed the remains of the Jungle Hawk shrine. The bird’s ferocious spirit remains at the site, launching brave riders to exhilarating new heights. Rapterra: The world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster.”
I absolutely love how Kings Dominion did not shy away from referencing the lost coaster, but embraced it, working it into the theme of Rapterra. My favorite nod to the old attraction is deep in the queue there is a large caldera marking where the old mountain once stood. There is solidified volcanic rock oozing out of the pit and singed landscaping all around, but noticeably an abundance of lush vegetation showing how time has passed and now there is new life at the site.
The Rapterra Experience
You embark on your Jungle Hawk journey inside what appears to be an archeological tent site among the ruins of the temple. There are crumbling bird statues along with excavating equipment. You board and turn slightly right out of the station and are faced looking down a series of ancient pillars and archways. Without slowing or stopping, you are then launched 65 mph – in four seconds! – up the first element of the coaster, the 145-foot (non-inverting) Wingover. As you plummet back toward the jungle, you are greeted by the largest inversion, the dive loop. The next section of the ride incorporates several elements at an excellent pacing: an S-turn, a Wingslide, and a Flatspin Corkscrew. The ride concludes with an airtime hill and the final inversion, the 360° Raptor Roll.
What were your first impressions upon walking into the Jungle X-Pedition land?
Andrew: I thought it was cool, it looked almost like Animal Kingdom!
Kyle: This was my first time visiting the park in several years, so that whole section of the park was brand new to me. I thought it all executed very well—the jungle theming was on-point throughout the plaza. There is jungle-y music playing, waterfalls roaring in the distance, and detailed physical props. The addition of plants and and tall grasses were a really nice touch. Visitors will get to have an up-close view of Rapterra as it soars over the midway just above their heads! The renaming and repainting of the bobsled coaster, now Reptillian, fits perfectly into the area, as will Pantherion when it opens.
How was the theme of the ride expressed throughout the queue?
Kyle: You are pretty much fully immersed in the jungle theme before you get to the main entrance of Rapterra. Speaking of which, the port of entry and gift shop are located in the old queue building from Volcano (so cool). As you pass through that building, there is a wall of relics, old news clippings, artifacts, odds and ends of things related to the chain-wide supernatural theme that has been used across new attractions for the past decade. The entire queue fits inside of the layout of Rapterra, giving waiting guests great views of the ride to come. The path does a good job of meandering around and not doing the typical back-and-forth boring queuing that we are used to. As I mentioned before, the centerpiece of the queue theme is the caldera remnant of Volcano along with the ruins of the shrine.
Andrew: I really like volcanoes so I thought it was really cool that there was lava. It even looked like it was still wet!
What were your initial reactions after riding Rapterra?
Andrew: It was good! I liked when it launched off, that was my favorite part. It felt like you could touch the sky on the first hill!
Kyle: I was a bit worried about the length going into it, having ridden Thunderbird at Holiday World, another launched wing coaster; it’s a fun coaster, but it’s short. Rapterra far exceeded my expectations though. It’s the perfect combination of a traditional lift wing coaster and a launched wing coaster—you get the thrill of that first launch while also the satisfying layout of those with a lift. What really surprised me was the pacing. Each element was highlighted so well, with smooth transitions in-between. The inversions were placed at intervals where it wasn’t too intense for younger riders.
What was your favorite part of the ride?
Kyle: My favorite part was actually the middle three elements: the S-turn, Wingslide, and Flatspin Corkscrew. They were just fun. The S-turn is almost like a twisty airtime hill, the Wingslide provides incredible sideways airtime, and the corkscrew was buttery smooth.
Andrew: The launch because it didn’t stop moving before it launched off.
Where is the best place to sit?
Andrew: In the front because it felt like you were going faster!
Kyle: I agree, the front row is the place to be. The views are awesome as you blast through the ruins and soar above the rest of Jungle X-Pedition. As far as the left or right side, I think it’s a toss up. I preferred the left side for the Wingover and 360° Raptor Roll, but the rest I favored the right side for. That just means you’ll have to ride twice!
Take a ride with Kyle and Andrew on Rapterra in the video below!
Kings Dominion has successfully added to their star-studded lineup of coasters. I think that Rapterra was the right investment for them right now because it fills in a gap for those younger riders who are eager to try something more intense but aren’t quite ready for the pacing of Twisted Timbers or the height of Pantherian. The low 48-inch height requirement allows for families to ride together. Make sure you get out to Kings Dominion this season to check out Rapterra, you won’t be disappointed!
For more information on Rapterra, make sure to visit Kings Dominion’s website, and follow the park on social media: Facebook | Twitter/X | Instagram
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