Immersive €18m dive coaster Baron 1898 comes to Efteling
by Tom Anstey | 01 Jul 2015
Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the new coaster has been developed around storytelling
Efteling – the Netherlands’ oldest theme park – has launched its newest attraction, the €18m (US$20m, £12.7m) immersive steel dive coaster Baron 1898.
Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the new coaster has been developed around storytelling. The ride tells the tale of a gold mine’s owner, Gustave Hoogh Courage, who in 1898 finds a cursed lump of gold and is subsequently haunted by the ghostly Witte Wieven ("Wise women" or "White ladies").
For the ride portion of the attraction, guests will be guided into the rollercoaster cars. The vengeful spirits of miners who have previously vanished under the influence of the Witte Wieven will then attack before the foreman’s office explodes.
As the car ascends, a fireball will erupt, almost reaching the rear car of the train. As the train is about to leave the mine, the Witte Wieven will scream, "You shall not evade my curse! Prepare to forfeit your lives!" as the miners plunge down 37.5m (123ft) into a smoke-filled pit for the start of the ride.
The attraction is the first dive coaster manufactured by B&M that doesn't feature a turn between the lift hill and the first drop. the 501m (1.644ft) ride reaches speeds of up to 90kmph (56mph) and features two inversions, lasting a duration of just over two minutes.
Music for the ride has been specially created by the Brussels Philharmonie symphony orchestra and several producers, under the direction of Dutch composer René Merkelbach. Mark Jansen headed up engineering, while Efteling’s Sander de Bruijn handled cosmetic design.
Efteling – the Netherlands’ oldest theme park – has launched its newest attraction, the €18m (US$20m, £12.7m) immersive steel dive coaster Baron 1898. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the new coaster has been developed around storytelling. The ride tells the tale of a gold mine’s owner, Gustave Hoogh Courage, who in 1898 finds a cursed lump of gold and is subsequently haunted by the ghostly Witte Wieven ("Wise women"
TAW,VAT
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