Knott’s Berry Farm to test Xcelerator coaster ahead of highly-anticipated return

The lightning fast Xcelerator roller coaster that has been closed for nearly two years will soon be back in action after Knott’s Berry Farm finishes testing a new hydraulic launch system on the 1957 Chevy-themed thrill ride.

Knott’s expects to begin conducting commissioning tests on Xcelerator in mid to late August, officials said. Knott’s plans to reopen Xcelerator by late Summer – suggesting a mid to late September return for the aging launch coaster.

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Knott’s Berry Farm has installed new parts from original manufacturer Intamin Amusement Rides to restore operation of Xcelerator, according to Knott’s officials.

Screamscape reports that a new hydraulic drum and cable spool was recently lowered by crane into the Xcelerator launch track during an overnight installation.

Third party inspectors will review ride operations in accordance with Cal/OSHA standards prior to reopening the roller coaster, according to Knott’s officials.

“Safety is always the top priority at Knott’s Berry Farm and all Cedar Fair parks,” Knott’s officials said. “When the ride reopens to guests, it will have been thoroughly tested and recommissioned.”

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Xcelerator closed in October 2021 for a new paint job and returned for only a couple months with a new red, orange, yellow, blue and gray color scheme before going down again in March 2022 for maintenance. Fans of the thrill ride have been waiting impatiently for the highly-anticipated return of the temperamental coaster.

Xcelerator accelerates from zero to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds with the assistance of a hydraulic launch, according to Roller Coaster Database. The Intamin Accelerator coaster trains quickly transition into a 205-foot-tall vertical top hat element before sending riders plunging downward. The relatively short ride covers 2,200 feet of track in a minute.

Knott’s paid $13 million for the Intamin extreme coaster in 2002, according to RCDB.

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Xcelerator’s troubles are part of a series of setbacks in recent years suffered by hydraulic launch coasters made by Liechtenstein-based Intamin Amusement Rides.

Cedar Point closed Xcelerator sister coaster Top Thrill Dragster for the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons after a metal piece flew off the ride and seriously injured a woman waiting in the attraction queue in August 2021.

The Knott’s sister park in Ohio has announced a reimagined Top Thrill 2 will open in 2024 with new coaster trains, a reverse vertical spike and an electromagnetic launch.