The lightning fast Xcelerator roller coaster that has been closed for two years is finally back in action after Knott’s Berry Farm finished testing a new hydraulic launch system on the 1957 Chevy-themed thrill ride.
Xcelerator reopened on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the Buena Park theme park, according to Knott’s officials.
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During the summer, Knott’s began installing new parts from original manufacturer Intamin Amusement Rides before conducting commissioning tests on the launch coaster.
The relaunch of the beloved but temperamental coaster should delight coaster fans who have been eagerly awaiting the return of Xcelerator.
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Xcelerator closed in October 2021 for a new paint job and returned for only a couple months with a new red, orange, yellow, blue and gray color scheme before going down again in March 2022 for maintenance. Fans of the thrill ride have been waiting impatiently for the highly-anticipated return of the aging coaster.
Xcelerator accelerates from zero to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds with the assistance of a hydraulic launch, according to Roller Coaster Database. The Intamin Accelerator coaster trains quickly transition into a 205-foot-tall vertical top hat element before sending riders plunging downward. The relatively short ride covers 2,200 feet of track in a minute.
Knott’s paid $13 million for the Intamin extreme coaster in 2002, according to RCDB.
