# Boomerang (roller coaster)

Boomerang is a model of roller coaster manufactured and designed by Vekoma, a Dutch manufacturer. The roller coaster model name is from the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians. As of January 2023, there are 55 Boomerangs operating around the world.
The roller coaster model was created in the early 1980s and was first introduced at four different parks around the world in 1984.

## Design and ride experience

The Boomerang consists of a single train with seven cars, capable of carrying 28 passengers. The ride begins when the train is pulled backwards from the station and up the first lift hill by a catchcar. After being released, the train passes through the station, enters a Cobra roll element (referred to as a boomerang by the designers) and then travels through a vertical loop. After being pulled up a second lift hill, the train is released to head backwards through each inversion once more, making the total number of inversions per ride six. The train slows down as it passes through the station backwards and then comes to a complete stop in the station. This coaster model is popular among many amusement parks in the United States, but it has appeared at amusement parks around the world.
Boomerang coasters have occasionally stalled, often in the Cobra Roll element. As a precaution, many Boomerang coasters are built with an access platform just under the Cobra Roll/Boomerang element.
During the reverse cycle, riders experience a g force of up to 5.2 when the train re-enters the vertical loop at 47 miles per hour (76 km/h). In back row of the train – the first to enter the loop – this represents one of the most forceful moments seen in steel rollercoaster design.

## Variant designs

There are three main design variants based on the Boomerang layout, all of which are produced by Vekoma.

### Invertigo

The first variant of the Boomerang is the Invertigo. While retaining the same layout as the Boomerang, the Invertigo has inverted track, turning it into an inverted roller coaster. Each car has two rows of seats that are back-to-back, so the riders in the back row of each car would be facing those in the front of the trailing car. The first Invertigo, HangOver at Liseberg in Gothenburg, Sweden was supposed to open in 1996 with a new linear induction motor (LIM) or LSM lift. However, development problems delayed the ride's opening to 1997, and the design was remade to include a traditional chain lift like the original Boomerang. Only four Invertigo models were ever built.

### Giant Inverted Boomerang

The second design is known as both the Giant Inverted Boomerang and the Super Invertigo. While maintaining a similar layout to the Boomerang, the track is again inverted and the size of the ride is increased. The track is 270 feet (82 m) longer, the two lift hills are almost 80 feet (24 m) taller and both hills are vertical. As of 2022, four Giant Inverted Boomerangs operate and one was under construction.

### Family Boomerang

In late 2010, Vekoma announced that they would be manufacturing a family-friendly model of the Boomerang. The prototype opened at Drayton Manor Theme Park, as "Ben 10 – Ultimate Mission", in April 2011; it was later renamed to Accelerator. Another model debuted on 17 May 2016 as “Velociraptor”, in the ‘Lost Kingdom’ themed area of Paultons Park. Unlike the other Boomerang roller coasters, a Family Boomerang does not feature inversions, but it still retains a similar shuttle design. The ride features the two signature end-spikes on (more or less) a figure-8 track layout. Phantasialand added the world's largest family boomerang, “Raik”, in 2016. This debuted in the new themed area of ‘Klugheim’, accompanying the adjacent Taron (an Intamin Blitz coaster).

### Super Boomerang

In 2023, a new variant of the Boomerang model opened in Fantawild Wonderland in China. This version uses a launch system rather than a catch car lift hill and has a longer layout and fewer inversions than the normal boomerang and is more similar to rides such as Mr. Freeze and the now defunct Batman & Robin: The Chiller, though it has a swing launch rather than a stationary launch.

## Ride locations

| Coaster name | Amusement park | Variant | Original opening | Status | |
| Accelerator Formerly Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission | Drayton Manor Theme Park | Family Boomerang 185 m (607 ft) | 2011 | Operating | |
| Aftershock Formerly Déjà Vu | Silverwood Theme Park Six Flags Great America | Giant Inverted Boomerang | 2008 2001 | Operating Closed 2007 | [7] [8] |
| Anaconda | Luna Park, Tel Aviv | Boomerang | 2000 | Operating | |
| The Bat | Canada's Wonderland | Boomerang | 1987 | Operating | |
| Batgirl | Six Flags Mexico Rafaela Padilla | Boomerang | 1987 1984 | Operating Closed 1986 | [11] [12] |
| Boomerang | Bellewaerde | Boomerang | 1984 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Elitch Gardens Theme Park | Boomerang | 1999 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Energylandia | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2017 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | E-World | Boomerang | 1995 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Freizeit-Land Geiselwind | Boomerang | 2000 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Fantasilandia | Boomerang | 1996 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Gero Land | Boomerang | 1997 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | La Ronde | Boomerang | 1984 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Parc des Combes | Family Boomerang 185 m (607 ft) | 2011 | Operating | |
| Búmeran | Parque Diversiones Costa Rica | Boomerang | 2012 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Parque de la Costa | Boomerang | 1998 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Siam Park City Jerudong Park Playground | Boomerang | 2007 1996 | Operating Closed 2006 | [24] [25] |
| Boomerang | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | Boomerang | 1999 | Operating | |
| Boomerang Formerly Flashback | Six Flags St. Louis Six Flags Over Texas | Boomerang | 2013 1989 | Operating Closed 2012 | [27] [28] |
| Boomerang | Trans Studio Bali, Indonesia Pleasure Island Family Theme Park | Boomerang | 2019 1993 | Operating Closed 2016 | [29] [30] |
| Boomerang | Walygator Sud-Ouest Zygo Park | Boomerang | 1992 1987 | Operating | [31] [32] |
| Boomerang | Wiener Prater | Boomerang | 1992 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Wild Adventures | Boomerang | 1998 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Worlds of Fun | Boomerang | 2000 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Family Fun Tivoli Karolinelund | Boomerang | 2015 2005 | Operating Closed 2010 | [36] [37] |
| Boomerang (飞旋过山车) | Wuhan Zhongshan Park | Boomerang | 2017 | Operating | |
| Boomerang | Yerevan Park | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2021 | Operating | |
| Boomerang: Coast to Coaster | Six Flags Darien Lake | Boomerang | 1998 | Operating | |
| Boomerang: Coast to Coaster | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Boomerang | 1998 | Operating | |
| Boomerang Hyper Coaster Formerly Boomerang | Trans Studio Cibubur, Indonesia Knott's Berry Farm | Boomerang | 2019 1990 | Operating Closed 2017 | |
| Boomerang Roller Coaster | Amrapali Funland | Family Boomerang 185 m (607 ft) | 2014 | Operating | |
| Boomerang-Roller Coaster | Al-Shallal Theme Park | Boomerang | 2004 | Operating | |
| Búmeran Formerly Boomerang | Parque Diversiones Playcenter São Paulo | Boomerang | 2012 1997 | Operating Closed 2012 | [22] [46] |
| Bumerang | Tashkentland | Boomerang | 1995 | Operating | |
| Cobra | PowerPark | Boomerang | 2005 | Operating | |
| Cobra | Walibi Belgium | Boomerang | 2001 | Operating | |
| Cloud Shuttle | Fantawild Wonderland Tongshan | Super Boomerang | 2023 | Operating | |
| Diabolik Formerly Two-Face: The Flip Side | Movieland Park Six Flags America | Invertigo | 2015 1999 | Operating Closed 2007 | |
| Family Coaster (合家欢过山车) | Happy Valley | Family Boomerang | 2017 | Operating | |
| FamilyBoomerang RollerCoaster | Happy Valley | Boomerang | 2020 | Operating | |
| Fireball | Furuvik | Family Boomerang | 2017 | Operating | |
| Flashback Formerly Vampire Formerly Boomerang | Six Flags New England Kentucky Kingdom Nanhu Amusement Park | Boomerang | 2000 1990 1985 | Operating Closed 1999 Closed late 1980s–early 1990s | [55] [56] [57] |
| Flashback Formerly Boomerang: Coast to Coaster | Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor | Boomerang | 1997 | Operating | |
| The Flying Cobras Formerly Carolina Cobra Formerly Head Spin/Mind Eraser | Carowinds Geauga Lake | Boomerang | 2009 1996 | Operating Closed 2007 | [59] [60] |
| Frontline Charge (火线 追击) | Fanta Park Glorious Orient Ningbo | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2021 | Operating | |
| Frontline Charge (火线 追击) | Fanta Park Glorious Orient Ganzhou | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2021 | Operating | |
| Generator | Walibi Rhône-Alpes | Boomerang | 1988 | Operating | |
| Giant Inverted Boomerang (巅峰一号) | Jin Jiang Action Park | Giant Inverted Boomerang | 2011 | Operating | |
| Goliath Formerly Déjà Vu | Six Flags New England Six Flags Magic Mountain | Giant Inverted Boomerang | 2012 2001 | Demolished Closed 2011 | [65] [66][67] |
| Good Gravy! | Holiday World & Splashin' Safari | Family Boomerang | 2024 | Operating | |
| High Speed Round Trip | Bao Son Paradise Park | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2019 | Operating | |
| Invertigo Formerly Face/Off | Kings Island | Invertigo | 1999 | Operating | |
| Jolly Rancher Remix Formerly Sidewinder | Hersheypark | Boomerang | 1991 | Operating | |
| Light Explorers | Energylandia | Family Boomerang Spirit | 2021 | Operating | |
| London Loop | Global Village | Family Boomerang | 2017 | Operating | |
| Luna | Liseberg | Family Boomerang | 2023 | Operating | |
| Pine Tree Rocket (飞跃狗熊岭) | Oriental Heritage, Shanxi | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2021 | Operating | |
| Pine Tree Rocket (飞跃狗熊岭) | Fantawild Land | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2021 | Operating | |
| Quantum Leap | Sochi Park | Giant Inverted Boomerang | 2014 | Operating | |
| Ragin' Cajun Formerly Boomerang | Dixie Landing' Hafan y Môr Holiday Park | Boomerang | 2001 1987 | Operating Closed 1998 | |
| Raik | Phantasialand | Family Boomerang | 2016 | Operating | |
| Recoil Formerly Thunderbolt | Wonderla Amusement Park Bangalore Aladdin's Kingdom | Boomerang | 2016 1994 | Operating Closed 2009 | [81] [82] |
| Recoil Formerly Zoomerang Formerly Demon Formerly Titan | Wonderla Amusement Park Hyderabad Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure Wonderland Sydney World Expo Park | Boomerang | 2016 2005 1992 1988 | Operating Closed 2011 Closed 2004 Closed 1988 | [83] [84] [85] [86] |
| Recoil Formerly Colossus | Wonderla Amusement Park Kochi Habtoorland | Boomerang | 2017 2004 | Operating Closed 2011 | [87] [88] |
| Saven | Fårup Sommerland | Family Boomerang Spirit | 2020 | Operating | |
| Sea Serpent | Morey's Piers | Boomerang | 1984 | Operating | |
| Snow Slope | Lusail Winter Wonderland | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2022 | Operating | |
| Space Shuttle Max Formerly Cobra | Enchanted Kingdom West Midland Safari Park | Boomerang | 1995 1985 | Operating Closed 1991 | [92] [93] |
| Spartan Race (Chúa tể đấu trường) Formerly Flying Dolphin Coaster | VinWonders Phú Quốc | Family Boomerang 185 m (607 ft) | 2015 | Operating | [94] [95] |
| Speed of Sound Formerly La Via Volta | Walibi Holland | Boomerang | 2000 | Operating | |
| Stinger Formerly Invertigo | Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom California's Great America | Invertigo | 2012 1998 | Demolished Closed 2010 | |
| Stress Express | Fantawild Dreamland, Fujian | Boomerang | 2013 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Fantawild Adventure | Boomerang | 2012 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Oriental Heritage Jinan | Boomerang | 2015 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Fantawild Dreamland, Hunan | Boomerang | 2016 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Oriental Heritage Jiujiang | Boomerang | 2015 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Oriental Heritage Cixi | Boomerang | 2016 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Fantawild Asian Legend | Boomerang | 2018 | Operating | |
| Stress Express | Silk Road Dreamland | Boomerang | 2019 | Operating | |
| Stunt Fall | Parque Warner Madrid | Giant Inverted Boomerang | 2002 | Operating | |
| Tidal Wave | Trimper's Rides | Boomerang | 1986 | Operating | |
| Triops Formerly Tornado Formerly Unknown Formerly HangOver | Bagatelle Sommerland Syd Allou Fun Park Liseberg | Invertigo | 2012 2005 Never opened> 1997 | Operating Closed 2011 Never opened Closed 2002 | [110] [111] [112] [113] |
| Turbo Dino (角龙战车) | Zigong Fantawild Dinosaur Kingdom | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2022 | Operating | |
| Tweestryd | Wildlands Adventure Zoo Emmen | (Double) Family Boomerang | 2018 | Operating | |
| Velociraptor | Paulton's Park | Family Boomerang | 2016 | Operating | |
| Volldampf | Erlebnispark Tripsdrill | Family Boomerang | 2020 | Operating | |
| Whirly Roller Coaster Formerly Boomerang | Floraland Continent Park Qingdao International Beer City | Boomerang | 2015 1995 | Operating Closed 2010 | [118] [119] |
| Wipeout Formerly Missile Formerly Coca-Cola Roller | Pleasurewood Hills The American Adventure Theme Park Glasgow Garden Festival | Boomerang | 2007 1989 1988 | Operating Closed 2004 Closed 1988 | [120] [121] [122] |
| Zoomerang | Lake Compounce | Boomerang | 1997 | Operating | |
| The Quest | Emerald Park | Family Boomerang Spirit | 2024 | Operating | |
| Zydeco Scream Formerly Boomerang | Six Flags New Orleans Parc de Montjuic | Boomerang | 2000 1990 | Removed in 2024 after being SBNO from 2005 to 2024 Closed 1998 | |
| Unknown | Fantawild, Mudan | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2023 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Fantawild, Rencheng | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2023 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Fantawild, Liangyuan | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2023 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Oriental Heritage, Henan | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2024 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Oriental Heritage, Jiangxi | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2024 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Fantawild, Yunnan | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2024 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Fantawild, Jiangsu | Family Boomerang Rebound | 2024 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown | Warner Bros. Movie World | (Double) Family Boomerang | 2024 | Under Construction | |
| Unknown Formerly Déjà Vu | Mirabilandia Six Flags Over Georgia | Giant Inverted Boomerang | TBD 2001 | In Storage Closed 2007 | |
| The Flash: Vertical Velocity | Six Flags Great Adventure | Super Boomerang | 2025 | Under Construction | |