Quick Facts (thanks to RCDB for the statistics)
Height: approx. 50 ft
Speed: approx: 40 mph
Duration: approx 1:40
Manufacturer: Anton Schwarzkopf
Model/Type: Wildcat
Year model was first produced: 1969
Other facts: Wildcat was greatly damaged during Hurricane Sandy, as it was covered in six feet of salt water. Keansburg was still interested in repairing their classic ride, until they heard the cost… 100,000 dollars. For a small park that was just rebuilding after a hurricane, this was too much. The ride was sold to the owner of a German fair, who was planning on repairing the ride and reopening it in Germany.
Height: approx. 50 ft
Speed: approx: 40 mph
Duration: approx 1:40
Manufacturer: Anton Schwarzkopf
Model/Type: Wildcat
Year model was first produced: 1969
Other facts: Wildcat was greatly damaged during Hurricane Sandy, as it was covered in six feet of salt water. Keansburg was still interested in repairing their classic ride, until they heard the cost… 100,000 dollars. For a small park that was just rebuilding after a hurricane, this was too much. The ride was sold to the owner of a German fair, who was planning on repairing the ride and reopening it in Germany.
Before Ride Thoughts
I spotted the Wildcat from the top of one of the neighboring Roaring Rapids water park slides. It looked really cool and was a pretty tall roller coaster for a small park like Keansburg. I decided to check it out later that year. Keansburg wasn't exactly a clean or "safe" looking park before the hurricane, and Wildcat was no exception. It hadn't been painted in ages, and didn't look all to safe. On top of this, the cars made insane noises as they maneuvered through the track. I was pretty excited to ride the Wildcat, and the ride ops were very friendly, surprising considering the state of the park. Wildcat has individual "wild mouse-style" cars instead of a train. Each car has two rows. I rode once in the front and once in the back.
The Ride
Wildcat released us from the station and we began to travel up the lift hill. After a small dip and turnaround, the ride makes the most of its height and plunges to the ground. The drop was pretty steep and fun for a coaster of its size. After a few more similar turns and drops, Wildcat goes through a really cool aerial double helix. It was tons of fun with the perfect amount of intensity. After another double helix, Wildcat goes over a few more hills before reaching the station.
Overall Thoughts
I wasn't really blown away by the Wildcat, but I wasn't really let down either. The ride was surprisingly smooth for its age and condition and there wasn't really any bad roughness except for the final brake run. Then again, it is a Schwarzkopf. The ride is pretty fast, but it only maintains its top speed for a short while. The rest of the ride is taken at a slower pace. For its size, Wildcat truly delivers. It is a great compact coaster and is a great attraction for a fair or carnival. I had a lot of fun on the coaster, but it's not all that thrilling. Definitely a great coaster to go on if you're looking for a fun ride. It was a perfect fit for Keansburg and I was very sad to see it go. The park's skyline will never quite look as impressive. With the number of operating Wildcats decreasing, I hope this one will end up running once again. It is now one of only eight in the world.
My Rankings
For my overall scale, Wildcat gets about a 4.5 (average). It's a very fun ride, but not too impressive.
Wildcat gets a 2 on the intensity scale mainly because of the large speedy drops.
Wildcat gets a 0 for theming as it is named after the coaster model and has no evident theme.
Rankings in the Mitch Hawker Poll. Current Rank: 307th
Wildcat is grouped in the "favorite wildcat" category of the poll.
The highest this category has ever gotten was 119th.
Wildcat gets a 2 on the intensity scale mainly because of the large speedy drops.
Wildcat gets a 0 for theming as it is named after the coaster model and has no evident theme.
Rankings in the Mitch Hawker Poll. Current Rank: 307th
Wildcat is grouped in the "favorite wildcat" category of the poll.
The highest this category has ever gotten was 119th.
Have you ever ridden a Schwarzkopf Wildcat? The most famous one was Wildcat at Cedar Point. Have you been to Keansburg