Dorney Park set to receive approval to open Invertigo rollercoaster in 2012

Dorney Park describes Invertigo as a "modest coaster". Image © Cedar Fair

Dorney Park's plans to install the Invertigo rollercoaster in time for the 2012 season look set to receive the go-ahead from local authorities.

South Whitehall Township planners have recommended approval of the plans, which would see the ride moved from sister park California's Great America. Work is already underway to dismantle Invertigo at its current home, with owners Cedar Fair having announced its removal in January.

Dorney Park spokesman Chuck Hutchison refused to confirm that the ride referred to in the plans is Invertigo, but did conceded that it would be "similar" to the Vekoma Inverted Boomerang rollercoaster. Invertigo features a first drop of 138-feet - exactly matching Dorney Park's plans.

If planning approval is confirmed, Invertigo is set to be located on the former site of Laser, which now operates as Teststrecke on the German travelling fair circuit. The park will remove several minor attractions to make room for the coaster, including an Antique Cars ride, a Duny Buggy ride and a Kiddie Merry-Go-Round. All three attractions are listed for sale on Ital International.

Hutchison described the new addition as a "modest coaster", saying that it will not attract large numbers of additional guests to Dorney Park. However, he did confirm that it will be completely rebuilt and repainted before installation at the park, and will receive a brand new control system.

Invertigo only reopened in July 2010 at California's Great America following a year-long closure, which came after an incident which left riders standed 70 feet in the air. The incident on August 10, 2009 saw all of the trapped guests rescued safely after firefighters were called to the scene, but the ride was closed for an extended period while safety inspectors worked to identify the cause of the malfunction. The problem was ultimately blamed on an issue with the ride's lift chain, and it was cleared to return to operation.

The coaster sees riders boarding inverted trains, with seats arrayed in a "face-to-face" formation. This leaves half of the passengers facing forwards during the first trip around the "boomerang" course, and the other half facing backwards. During the return leg, the situation is reversed as the train traverses the course in the opposite direction.

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