The Gravity Group
 |
This article relies on references to primary sources. (February 2009) |
| Industry | Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 2002 |
| Founder(s) | Former Custom Coasters International employees |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, Ohio, USA |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Roller coasters, roller coaster trains |
| Website | www.thegravitygroup.com |
The Gravity Group, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an American based roller coaster design firm. The firm was founded in July 2002 out of the engineering team of the famed but now defunct Custom Coasters International. The design and engineering team has more expertise and experience than any other wooden roller coaster manufacturer. The core group of designers and engineers at The Gravity Group have backgrounds in civil, structural and mechanical engineering. Their experience comes from work on over 40 different wooden roller coasters around the world. The first coaster designed under the name of "The Gravity Group" is called Hades and opened at Mount Olympus Theme Park in 2005. The Gravity also designed the currently #2 ranked The Voyage at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, which opened in May 2006. These first two accomplishments of the team have been received with great success by both the industry and coaster enthusiasts alike.
The Gravity Group designed the Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer in Erie Pennsylvania, which was opened at the start of the 2008 season. In 2009 the Fireball was opened at Happy Valley in China, becoming China's first wooden roller coaster. Their next roller coaster will be constructed at Quassy Amusement Park for the 2011 season, this will be the company's sixth wooden roller coaster. The Gravity Group was also involved in the rebuilding of Libertyland's Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
In 2008, members of The Gravity Group announced the development of their own wooden coaster trains called Timberliners. They are being produced by Gravitykraft Corporation, a sister company to The Gravity Group. The Gravity Group promotes their trains as the only wooden coaster trains capable of steering through curves, resulting in a more comfortable and maintenance friendly ride. Timberliners were planned to debut on The Voyage at Holiday World for the 2010 season, but have faced delays. However, in 2011, the Timberliners appeared on Wooden Warrior at Quassy Amusement Park in Connecticut and on Twister at Gröna Lund in Sweden.
The Gravity Group Coasters
| Name | Park | Length (ft) | Height (ft) | Speed (mph) | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk Bullet[nb 1] | Kemah Boardwalk | 3236 | 96 | 51 | August 31, 2007 | Operating |
| Dauling Dragons[nb 1] | Happy Valley, Wuhan, Hubei, China | 3914 | 105 | unknown | 2012 | Operating |
| Hades 360 | Mt. Olympus | 4726 | 136 | 70 | May 14, 2005 | Operating |
| Ravine Flyer II | Waldameer | 2900 | 120 | 57 | May 17, 2008 | Operating |
| Twister | Gröna Lund | 1574 | 50 | 37.9 | 2011 | Operating |
| The Voyage | Holiday World | 6442 | 163 | 67 | May 6, 2006 | Operating |
| Wooden Coaster - Fireball[nb 1] | Happy Valley, Shenzhen | 3819 | 108 | 56 | July 28, 2009 | Operating |
| Wooden Warrior | Quassy Amusement Park | 1200 | 35 | 35 | 2011 | Operating |
| Zippin Pippin[nb 1] | Bay Beach Amusement Park | 2865 | 70 | 40 | 2011 | Operating |
| unknown[nb 1] | Happy Valley, Dongli, China | 3923.9 | 109.9 | TBA | 2013 | Under construction |
