HangTime

HangTime is a steel roller coaster located in the Boardwalk area of Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Manufactured by Gerstlauer, it is an Infinity Coaster designed around a distinctive vertical lift, a five-second pause at the crest, and a beyond-vertical first drop. The ride rises approximately 150 feet and descends at 96 degrees, reaching a top speed of about 57 miles per hour over a 2,198-foot course. When it opened, the drop was promoted as the steepest on a roller coaster in California. Knott's Berry Farm announced HangTime on August 16, 2017. The attraction occupied the former sites of two retired rides: Boomerang, a shuttle coaster that closed in April 2017, and RipTide, a Top Spin attraction that had closed in 2016. Its development represented a redevelopment of an established section of the park rather than the creation of a separate venue. HangTime was the second Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster operating in the United States at the time, following The Monster at Adventureland in Iowa. Construction began in late 2017. Track and support installation started in early November, the track layout was completed on January 20, 2018, and testing began in March. The ride held an initial season-passholder opening on May 11, 2018, before opening to the general public on May 18. Its introduction gave Knott's Berry Farm a major modern thrill attraction and added a highly visible new landmark to the Boardwalk area. The ride's identity is built around 1960s California surf culture. The queue incorporates surfboards, a surf-conditions sign, sand, coastal plants, a surfboard-shop-inspired maintenance building, and a beach-sunset mural. The trains use blue seats with surfboard-themed headrests, while the light-teal track and tan supports reinforce the coastal color palette. At night, an installation illuminates the structure in blue, pink, and purple. The lighting can be adjusted for park events, including seasonal color schemes and sequences synchronized with live music. After leaving the station, the train climbs a vertical lift hill before being held at the top. It then enters the 96-degree drop and a negative-g stall loop, an inversion designed around a non-inverted dive-loop entry, a sidewinder, and an exit in the opposite direction. The course continues through a corkscrew, cutback, camelback hill, and cobra roll before returning through the brake run to the station. The layout combines inversions, directional changes, and brief airtime moments rather than relying only on height or speed. HangTime trains can be operated in a configuration of up to three trains. Each train has four cars with four rows, accommodating 16 riders. Riders are secured with lap-bar restraints and seatbelts, and the attraction has a posted rider-height range of 48 to 77 inches. The ride has generally received favorable attention from coaster reviewers, who have highlighted its smoothness, restraints, lighting, and the tension created by the hold before the initial drop. HangTime remains principally an individual amusement-park attraction rather than a consumer brand distributed across multiple markets.

HangTime was developed by Knott's Berry Farm as a replacement and redevelopment project for the former Boomerang and RipTide site in the park's Boardwalk section. RipTide, a Top Spin attraction, closed in 2016, while Boomerang, a shuttle roller coaster, closed on April 23, 2017. Knott's formally announced the new attraction on August 16, 2017, identifying it as a Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster and presenting it as a major new thrill ride for the park. Construction started in late 2017. The first track and support pieces were installed in early November, and the complete track layout was finished on January 20, 2018. Test runs began in March. The project was notable within the United States because it became only the second Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster in the country at the time, following The Monster at Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa. HangTime received a preview opening for Knott's season-pass members on May 11, 2018, followed by its public opening on May 18. At launch, the attraction was promoted as California's steepest roller coaster because of its 96-degree drop. Knott's also marketed it as California's first dive coaster, although the ride's Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster design combines elements associated with several coaster types rather than following a conventional vertical-dive layout. The attraction was designed as a complete thematic environment as well as a ride. Its queue and surrounding structures draw on 1960s Californian surf culture, using surfboards, coastal landscaping, sand, a surfboard-shop motif, and a beach-sunset mural. The trains, track colors, and lighting continue that visual language. The nighttime lighting system can be programmed for ordinary operation, seasonal park events, and sequences coordinated with entertainment programming. The ride begins with a vertical lift to approximately 150 feet, followed by a five-second hold and a 96-degree plunge. It reaches approximately 57 miles per hour and proceeds through a negative-g stall loop, corkscrew, cutback, camelback hill, and cobra roll before braking and returning to the station. Its four-car trains carry 16 riders and use lap-bar restraints with additional seatbelts. The posted rider-height requirement is between 48 and 77 inches. Reviews cited in the reference material were generally positive. Commentary emphasized the suspense created by the holding position, the intensity of the vertical lift and first drop, the smoothness of the ride, the restraint system, and the visual effect of the lighting installation. HangTime therefore occupies a clear role within Knott's Berry Farm: a signature, surf-themed steel thrill ride that combines a compact high-intensity layout with a strongly localized California identity.

• 2018

  Track layout completed

  [1]HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The track layout was completed on January 20, followed by the first test runs in March.

• 2018

  Public opening

  [1]HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  After a May 11 season-passholder preview, HangTime opened to the general public on May 18.

• 2017

  Boomerang closes

  [1]HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Knott's Berry Farm retired Boomerang on April 23, 2017; its former location became part of the HangTime construction area.

• 2017

  HangTime announced

  [1]HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Knott's Berry Farm announced the new Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster on August 16.

• 2017

  Construction begins

  [1]HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  Construction began in late 2017, with early track and support installation taking place in November.

• 2016

  RipTide closes

  [1]HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org

  The former Top Spin attraction on the future HangTime site ceased operation, making space available for later redevelopment.

A high-intensity California surf-themed thrill attraction distinguished by its vertical lift, beyond-vertical drop, signature stall inversion, and nighttime lighting.

• Steel roller coaster · 2018

  HangTime

  A Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster at Knott's Berry Farm. The attraction features a 150-foot vertical lift, a five-second hold, a 96-degree first drop, a maximum speed of approximately 57 miles per hour, and a 2,198-foot steel track. Its layout includes a negative-g stall loop, corkscrew, cutback, camelback hill, and cobra roll. It is themed around 1960s California surf culture and includes surf-inspired queue design, trains, and programmable nighttime lighting.

• 2017

  Development of HangTimeProduct launch

  Background

  Knott's Berry Farm selected the former Boomerang and RipTide site for a new steel thrill attraction and announced the project as a Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster.

  Action taken

  The park commissioned and constructed HangTime with a surf-culture theme, vertical lift, beyond-vertical drop, signature stall inversion, and integrated lighting.

  Aftermath

  The ride opened in May 2018 and became a prominent Boardwalk attraction, promoted at opening as California's steepest roller coaster.

  Source

1. 1HangTime (roller coaster)en.wikipedia.org