What do you get when you
take a lumbering wooden coaster, replace the track with steel and make numerous
other modifications? In this case you
get the New Texas Giant, a Rocky Mountain Construction makeover featuring that
company’s famed I-Box track. You also get
a ride that’s as smooth as it is exhilarating.
With six cars seating two
across for a total capacity of 24 riders, the train makes a right turn out of
the loading station and ascends a 153-foot chain lift hill before dropping 147
feet at a wicked 79-degree angle. This
is followed by a double up into a 90-degree overbanked turn, drop and ascent
into another overbanked turn, then guess what? - drop with ascension into a 115-degree
overbanked turn. This leads into a small hill before the
mid-course brake run. From that point
the train drops sharply to the left, traverses a series of hills, speeds around
turns and races through three tunnels – all of this at a maximum speed of 65
mph which feels faster - before hitting the final brake run.
From start to finish the
ride is absolutely amazing. The
restraints – which consist of a lap bar and seat belt – are supremely
comfortable although there’s nothing to hold onto, baby! As if the initial drop weren’t awesome
enough, the overbanked turns make for a thrilling ride. The ride features numerous airtime hills and
the airtime is glorious! One memorable
moment occurred while going into a left turn during the latter part of the
ride. I found myself fairly bouncing out
of my seat. The tunnels near the end of
the ride are a blast, with small dips affording more airtime. The New Texas Giant gives about as good a
ride as I’ve had on any coaster. 5 out
of 5 stars. For more information about
rides at Six Flags Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.
