The Great American Scream Machine Tribute Page
R.I.P. Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure (1989 -2010)
The Great American Scream Machine
The Great American Scream Machine opened at Six Flags Great Adventure on April 15th, 1989. Then it was the tallest and fastest Coaster on the planet. The Great American Scream Machine was 173 feet tall and reached speeds of 68 mph. It featured 7 inversions, including 3 vertical loops, a batwing, and a double corkscrew. The Coaster had bright red track, with white supports. Great American Scream Machine was designed by Ron Toomer, and was built by Arrow Dynamics. When the Coaster first opened, it was praised by fans. In 1989, it was very smooth and enjoyable. Over time, the Coaster started to show its signs of ageing. Great American Scream Machine became very rough, shaky, and a typical Arrow 'headbanger' Coaster. Many people started to dislike the ride because of this. Due to its old age, and decrease in popularity, Six Flags Great Adventure was thinking about removing the Coaster. On July 5th, 2010 Six Flags Great Adventure officially announced that the famous Coaster would close forever on July 18th, 2010.
General Information
Coaster Name: Great American Scream Machine
Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA
Park Section: The Boardwalk
Status: Defunct. (Operated from Saturday April 15th, 1989 to Sunday July 18th, 2010)
Type: Custom Steel Looping Coaster
Designer: Ron Toomer
Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
Height: 173 feet
Drop: 155 feet
Length: 3,800 feet
Speed: 68 mph
Number of Inversions: 7 - 3 Vertical Loops (136 feet, 107 feet, and 97 feet tall), a Batwing, and a Double Corkscrew
Duration: 2 minuets and 20 seconds
Number of Trains: 3 - Red (Freedom), White (Liberty), and Blue (Spirit)
Number of riders per train: 28 people
Number of Cars per train: 7 Cars
Restraint System: Over The Shoulder Harnesses
Capacity: 1680 riders per hour
Max G Force: 3.8
Height Restriction: 54 inches (4 feet, 6 inches)
Amusement Park: Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, USA
Park Section: The Boardwalk
Status: Defunct. (Operated from Saturday April 15th, 1989 to Sunday July 18th, 2010)
Type: Custom Steel Looping Coaster
Designer: Ron Toomer
Manufacturer: Arrow Dynamics
Height: 173 feet
Drop: 155 feet
Length: 3,800 feet
Speed: 68 mph
Number of Inversions: 7 - 3 Vertical Loops (136 feet, 107 feet, and 97 feet tall), a Batwing, and a Double Corkscrew
Duration: 2 minuets and 20 seconds
Number of Trains: 3 - Red (Freedom), White (Liberty), and Blue (Spirit)
Number of riders per train: 28 people
Number of Cars per train: 7 Cars
Restraint System: Over The Shoulder Harnesses
Capacity: 1680 riders per hour
Max G Force: 3.8
Height Restriction: 54 inches (4 feet, 6 inches)
Ride Experience
After boarding the train of the Great American Scream Machine, you depart the station into a small straight away. Riders then enter a small 5-10 foot drop and do a sharp left 180 degree turn, into the lift hill. The lift hill brought riders slowly up a 173 foot scenic hill. After creasing the top of the hill, riders entered a left turning drop. The train then go up a small hill, and enters the first vertical loop. The loop is unique, because it is relatively small (about 70 feet), but it is raised to a height at about 136 feet. The train hits a small break, and does a small left turn. Riders then enter two back to back vertical loops (at 107 and 97 feet tall). After the double loop, the train raises to the left and enters the mid course break run. During the mid course break run, the train completely stops, to make the rest of the ride less stressful to riders. The train then does a drop, which turns riders to the right and the left. The Coaster then enters the Batwing element. The Batwing element flips riders twice, and the inversion loops like a heart. After that, riders enter a small straight away, where the on-ride photos were taken. The train then enters a turn to the right, followed by a Double Corkscrew, which flips riders twice over the que line. Riders then entered a s-bend, and a 180 degree turn to the left. Finally, the train arrived at the brake run, and the ride was over.
Coaster Review
When the Great American Scream Machine first opened, it was a new smooth Coaster. Over the 21 years it was in operation, the Coaster began to get rough and shaky. In recent years, many people started to dislike and hate the Coaster. Scream Machine was a typical Arrow Head banger Coaster. However, for some reason, I loved the Coaster.
The first time I rode the Great American Scream Machine was on April 4th, 2009. It was the first day of operation for Six Flags Great Adventure in 2009, and the park was empty. We waited just about 10 minuets and the first time I rode it, I fell in love with it right away. It was just something about the classic looping Coaster I just loved. I thought it was a fantastic classic old Coaster that was tall, fast, with multiple inversions, and an awesome first loop. That day, I rode the Coaster a ton of times, and could not get enough of it. Also, that day, the Coaster was smoother than it usually was. Even though-out the rest of the 2009/2010 season, it got more rough I didn't mind that. When I review Coasters, I look beyond the Coasters roughness, and look at the whole ride experience. Everything about the Great American Scream Machine was awesome, except its shakiness. Even though it was shaky and rough, it still was a great Coaster.
Overall, the Great American Scream Machine was one of my favorite Coasters of all time. It was a classic Arrow Looping Coaster with a great ride experience. Scream Machine may have been a really rough and shaky ride, but besides that it was a fantastic ride. This may sound crazy, but out of my 244 different Coasters I ridden, Great American Scream Machine was one of top Coasters.
The first time I rode the Great American Scream Machine was on April 4th, 2009. It was the first day of operation for Six Flags Great Adventure in 2009, and the park was empty. We waited just about 10 minuets and the first time I rode it, I fell in love with it right away. It was just something about the classic looping Coaster I just loved. I thought it was a fantastic classic old Coaster that was tall, fast, with multiple inversions, and an awesome first loop. That day, I rode the Coaster a ton of times, and could not get enough of it. Also, that day, the Coaster was smoother than it usually was. Even though-out the rest of the 2009/2010 season, it got more rough I didn't mind that. When I review Coasters, I look beyond the Coasters roughness, and look at the whole ride experience. Everything about the Great American Scream Machine was awesome, except its shakiness. Even though it was shaky and rough, it still was a great Coaster.
Overall, the Great American Scream Machine was one of my favorite Coasters of all time. It was a classic Arrow Looping Coaster with a great ride experience. Scream Machine may have been a really rough and shaky ride, but besides that it was a fantastic ride. This may sound crazy, but out of my 244 different Coasters I ridden, Great American Scream Machine was one of top Coasters.
The Final Ride...
For many people, including myself, were heart broken from the announcement. When I first herd rumors for the Coasters removal, I was in complete shock. I did about 4 hours of on-line research if it the rumor was true, but sadly it was. I would never think Six Flags Great Adventure would even think about removing Scream Machine, but they did. I grew up with this Coaster, and it gave me sweet memories. I then heard Six Flags was offering the last ride on the Great American Scream Machine for $50 dollars. I bought a ticket, and I wanted to be on the last train for one of my favorite Coasters.
The final weeks of operation for the Great American Scream Machine, the park allowed double rides on the Coaster, so people can get there final rides in. Finally on the day it closed, (July 18th, 2012) Six Flags Great Adventure held a little 'party' for some lucky ACE members, and the contest winners. The park provided free food, a band, and auctions. There was also a final hour and a half ERT on the Great American Scream Machine.
Then about 11:30 the final riders, including myself, headed to the station. We all walked together, for our last times, through Great American Scream Machines que line. In the station, we entered the red freedom train. My seat was the second car, second row, on the right side. We all waited patiently, and the ride operators took their time to dispatch us. Finally after much waiting, we got dispatched. When we left the station, I decided to keep my hands up the whole ride, regardless of how shaky and rough the ride was. Surprisingly, it was not as rough as it usually was. My head did get banged around a lot, but I enjoyed it. It was a moment in my life I would never forget.
When we finally reached the brake run, everyone seemed sad. Then someone started shouting "One more ride! One more ride! One ride! One more ride!" Then, everyone started chanting "One more ride! One more ride! One more ride! One more ride!" When we arrived back into the station, everyone was still chanting. The ride operators were very kind and gave us one more ride. Everyone was eccentric and happy. However, at the same time we were all sad because we would only have one more ride on the Great American Scream Machine...
Then, the last final ride on the Great American Scream Machine begun. I decided again to keep my hands up the whole duration of the Coaster. The whole time, besides some cheering on the lift hill, the final ride it was dead silent. It was an eerie feeling, and the only noise was from the train and the wind. It seemed everyone was relaxed, and just was enjoying the last ride on the iconic Coaster.
We then finally arrived back into the station. A few more people started chanting again "One more ride! One more ride! One more ride! One more ride!" I hoped for another ride, but sadly the ride operators did not let us ride again. That was the last ride on the Great American Scream Machine. That last ride was a little more rough. However, because it was the last final ride on the Great American Scream Machine, it was the best.
The final weeks of operation for the Great American Scream Machine, the park allowed double rides on the Coaster, so people can get there final rides in. Finally on the day it closed, (July 18th, 2012) Six Flags Great Adventure held a little 'party' for some lucky ACE members, and the contest winners. The park provided free food, a band, and auctions. There was also a final hour and a half ERT on the Great American Scream Machine.
Then about 11:30 the final riders, including myself, headed to the station. We all walked together, for our last times, through Great American Scream Machines que line. In the station, we entered the red freedom train. My seat was the second car, second row, on the right side. We all waited patiently, and the ride operators took their time to dispatch us. Finally after much waiting, we got dispatched. When we left the station, I decided to keep my hands up the whole ride, regardless of how shaky and rough the ride was. Surprisingly, it was not as rough as it usually was. My head did get banged around a lot, but I enjoyed it. It was a moment in my life I would never forget.
When we finally reached the brake run, everyone seemed sad. Then someone started shouting "One more ride! One more ride! One ride! One more ride!" Then, everyone started chanting "One more ride! One more ride! One more ride! One more ride!" When we arrived back into the station, everyone was still chanting. The ride operators were very kind and gave us one more ride. Everyone was eccentric and happy. However, at the same time we were all sad because we would only have one more ride on the Great American Scream Machine...
Then, the last final ride on the Great American Scream Machine begun. I decided again to keep my hands up the whole duration of the Coaster. The whole time, besides some cheering on the lift hill, the final ride it was dead silent. It was an eerie feeling, and the only noise was from the train and the wind. It seemed everyone was relaxed, and just was enjoying the last ride on the iconic Coaster.
We then finally arrived back into the station. A few more people started chanting again "One more ride! One more ride! One more ride! One more ride!" I hoped for another ride, but sadly the ride operators did not let us ride again. That was the last ride on the Great American Scream Machine. That last ride was a little more rough. However, because it was the last final ride on the Great American Scream Machine, it was the best.
