Batman: The Escape was a steel stand-up roller coaster at Six Flags AstroWorld. It opened on April 24, 1993 and closed after the park's final day of operation on October 30, 2005. It moved to Six Flags Darien Lake after AstroWorld closed and put into storage in a lot across from the park and scrapped around 2018. It was formerly located at Six Flags Magic Mountain as Shockwave from 1986 to 1988. After its removal, it operated Six Flags Great Adventure from 1990 to 1992 under the same name. Batman: The Escape was designed by Intamin and featured one loop. This loop was followed by a diving turnaround, a mid course brake run and a helix through the loop before returning through a straight away back to the final brakes.
History[]
Batman: The Escape's Sign
After Shockwave at Six Flags Great Adventure was dismantled in September 1992 and relocated to AstroWorld in 1993. The coaster was painted a white and renamed and rethemed "Batman: The Escape". A Batcave adjacent to the coaster was created out of an artificial mountain for a previous attraction and heavily themed as guests would prepare to ride the coaster.
In 1998, the theming at the Batcave would be eliminated.
In 2004, the coaster was repainted yellow and black to make sense with Batman's actual color.
On September 12, 2005, Six Flags CEO, Kieran Burke, announced that the company's legendary AstroWorld theme park in Houston, Texas, would be closed and demolished at the end of the 2005 season. The company cited issues such as performance, the park becoming an eyesore, and parking issues involving the Houston Texans football team, Reliant Stadium, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo leveraged with the estimated value of the property upon which the park was located. Company executives were expecting to receive upwards of $150 million for the real estate, but ended up receiving less than half of that amount. After spending $20 million to demolish the park and clear the land, Six Flags received $77 million when the bare property was sold to a development corporation in 2006 (reported in a corporate earnings report). This transaction contributed to the decision by shareholders of the company to remove CEO, Kieran Burke, from his position on the board. He was replaced by Mark Shapiro formerly of Disney and ESPN.
After being dismantled, Six Flags placed the coaster in storage at Six Flags Darien Lake in Buffalo, New York. It remained there in storage for 12 years, through the sale of the park to PARC Management and CNL Income Properties. The plans of park operator Premier Parks, LLC are unknown. The ride remains in storage outdoors. However, no mechanical parts exist. As of 2018, the ride has been removed from Darien Lake's property and has been sold for scrap.
Experience[]
Queue[]
From 1993 to 1998, guests went through the Batcave, which contained many props such as the Batmobile. The queue line began when guests crossed over a bridge over the railroad tracks with a sign that said The Moore Crossing on the outside. Reaching the other side, guests navigated through Arctic Park, passing through an archway with penguins. In this segment, guests went through winding pathways with scenery, a blue banner, a plaque dedicated to Arctic Park and other themed elements. There were several speakers that played sound effects of chirping birds. Guests then went through the back of the area depicting more details of Arctic Park on the blue walls. After going through that section, guests passed through a gap in the blue wall and entered the next area. This section was the streets section of the queue line, which contained another banner, a police car that crashed into a fire hydrant, pieces of junk, graffiti and The Duck from Batman Returns. The speakers also played sound effects of approaching vehicles, sirens, criminals, police chases, gunshots and barking dogs. In this area, guests passed through a switchback section underneath an overpass. After the section was completed, guests entered a tunnel with a sign that said Auxiliary Drain above it. This tunnel would lead guests into Gotham City Gold Storage, which featured a cold atmosphere in total darkness. Guests then made a right turn and passed through more paths before reaching the station. At the back of the station was a chicken exit for guests who decided not to ride the attraction.
Layout[]
The train departed from the station, going through a small drop into the 90 foot tall chain lift hill. Upon reaching the drop, riders dropped 85 feet to the right at 55 mph. After the drop, the train passed through a 66 foot tall vertical loop. This was followed by a left-handed spiral. Riders then went through a small airtime hill and a right turn that led into the block brake. The train then dropped downwards into a left turn and a double helix. After completing the helix, riders went through a left turn. This would lead straight into a tunnel with flashing lights. Then, the train turned right and hit the final brake run. Riders returned to the station and exited the train.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Queue photos[]
Exterior photos[]
Aftermath photos[]
References[]
See also[]
- Batman: The Ride, the name of various coasters installed at other Six Flags theme parks.
External links[]
- Batman The Escape - Six Flags Astroworld at Six Flags (archived 2004-02-10, 2001-07-03, 1997-05-21)
- Batman: The Escape at the AstroWorld Wiki
Batman The Escape at Coasterpedia- Batman The Escape at the Roller Coaster DataBase
- Batman The Escape at the Roller Coaster Wiki
- Batman The Escape at Wikipedia
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