Beyond the gates of Canada’s Wonderland rises Leviathan. It is not a sea monster but a steel giant. What secrets does this modern behemoth hold?
Leviathan is Canada’s tallest and fastest roller coaster. It steals the title from Behemoth. That coaster is on the park’s opposite side. This kingly coaster resides in the Medieval Faire section.
Bolliger and Mabillard a Swiss firm designed Leviathan. Werner Stengel is the designer. They are famous for exceeding expectations. Leviathan was their first coaster over 91.5 meters. That puts it in the giga-coaster class.
Leviathan’s stats are impressive. It is 93.3 meters tall. Its track is 1672 meters long. Riders hit 148 kilometers per hour. The drop angle is a steep 80 degrees. A complete ride cycle lasts three minutes and 28 seconds.
Wonderland announced Leviathan in August 2011. The track completed construction in February 2012. Test runs occurred in March 2012. Season pass holders first experienced it in April 2012. The general public enjoyed it starting May 6 2012. Leviathan became the park’s 16th roller coaster.
In early planning, Bolliger and Mabillard almost declined. They were unsure about a coaster over 91.5 meters. Walter Bolliger felt he owed the park. An earlier deal prevented an inverted coaster.
The ride features a 180-degree turn after leaving the station. The chain lift carries riders to the peak. The drop plunges riders at an 80-degree angle. A 30-meter tunnel awaits at the bottom. It sits next to the Wonderland Terminal. A 50-meter overbanked turn follows. A speed hill and camelback humps offer more thrills. A hammerhead turn adds to the excitement.
Leviathan has three open-air trains. They are red orange and yellow. Each train features the face of Leviathan. Each train seats 32 riders. Lap bars and seatbelts ensure safety.
The steel track is over a mile long. It features a cyan color. Blue supports hold it in place. Leviathan uses a single chain for the lift hill.
Leviathan’s station includes an elevator. It also has wooden guard rails. A Fast Lane queue is available. A rock fountain with a Leviathan sculpture stands outside. The station also has its own gift shop. Here you can purchase FunPix photos.
Leviathan earned third place in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards. That was for the best new ride of 2012. It scored 14 percent of the vote. It has consistently ranked high in subsequent years.
So next time you seek a thrill remember Leviathan. It is a record-breaking Canadian giant. Are you brave enough to ride?