For the first time in the U.S., a steel coaster will go over a roadway.
This feat will be achieved by Palindrome, a shuttle coaster from Gerstlauer, being built at Cotaland, a park at the Circuit of the Americas Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas.
The home for this Infinity coaster had been a mystery until the announcement Wednesday at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando. Little of coaster enthusiasts’ speculation focused on Cotaland, a young park that previously featured only a small lineup of kiddie rides.
“Our little kiddie park of eight kiddie rides last November is going to have over twenty rides” when it opens in 2022, according to Matt Hughey, the park’s senior manager.
Palindrome, which is expected to open in late 2022, will be the third Infinity coaster built by Gerstlauer in the U.S. and the first to be a shuttle coaster. It will feature a 95-foot vertical lift hill, 51 m.p.h. top speed, a twisting near vertical drop, two inversions and a vertical “hop- stall” before riders experience the ride again backwards.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring the first Infinity shuttle coaster to the United States,” said Siegfried Gerstlauer, managing director of Gerstlauer. “Guests riding Palindrome are in for a truly special experience aboard the newest icon of Cotaland.”
It will be the second Gerstlauer coaster opening next year, following Defiance at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado.