Looks are deceiving
Fun Spot’s new wooden roller coaster explodes onto scene
when it comes to Central Florida’s newest roller coaster, according to some of the first folks to ride Mine Blower at Fun Spot.
Looks are deceiving when it comes to Central Florida’s newest roller coaster, according to some of the first folks to ride Mine Blower, which made its debut at Fun Spot in Kissimmee on Friday morning.
“The amount of air time that it has is amazing — at spots where you don’t expect it,” said Cy Kidd after his second go-round on the Mine Blower.
The wooden coaster, which includes a rare barrel-roll maneuver that twists above its loading station, was built on land that had been the location for two flat Go-Kart tracks on the east side of the attraction.
“It looks so compact, but it’s very thrilling and exciting. And it really manages to punch a real punch in a tiny space,” said Stacey Petrone, who lives in Orlando. Others agreed. “I think it’s an incredible coaster — very well-paced, lots of nice acrobatics, nice hairpin turns,” said Kidd, who came from Washington, D.C., specifically to check out Mine Blower, which he said was the 900th roller coaster he had ridden.
Although riders do go completely upside-down during the barrel roll and then experience other steeply banked turns, there are no shoulder restraints on the ride, which was designed by Gravity Group. Passengers are kept in place with a curved lap bar and a seat belt — as well as inertia.
“It gives you the freedom to move your head and arms. It’s really cool,” said John Arie Jr., chief operating officer of Fun Spot.
Construction on the ride began in January. It tops out at 83 feet high and goes about 48 mph.
When Adam W. Kelley arrived at the attraction, he thought Mine Blower looked like “a cool, small coaster.” After riding, he gave high marks to its maneuvers.
“I think it’s a really smooth inversion. … Sometimes they