Verbolten

Manufacturer

ZIERER

Model

Elevated Seating Coaster w/ Vertical Drop Element

Hamlet

Oktoberfest (Germany)

Official Opening

May 18, 2012

Soft Opening

May 11, 2012

Tallest Drop

88ft

Top Speed

53mph

Inversion Count

0

Launch Segments

2

Riders Per Train

16

Number of Trains

5

Height Requirement

48in

Verbolten is an indoor/outdoor ZIERER Elevated Seating Coaster that features a Vertical Drop Element. It officially opened in mid-May 2012 on the site formally occupied by the Arrow Suspended Coaster, Big Bad Wolf.

Videos​

Development Documentary​

• From Dreams to Screams: Verbolten by Devin Olson

Ride Recordings​

On-Ride Videos​

• Opening Year POV (Storm Sequence)
• Opening Year POV (Spirit Sequence)
• Opening Year POV (Wolves Sequence)
• Spring 2019 Lights-On POV
• 2012/2019 Side-by-Side POV

Backstage Footage​

• Verbolten Control Booth Screens

 

[Party Rocker]

That is not a drainage pipe. It is plumbing specifically for a manmade waterfall; however, it is not currently operational. On any given day in the summer you will probably see it working. Just after Verbolten was finished being built they used a firehose and have been working on getting the plumbing to work correctly.

 

[Mushroom]

Some black tarps were covering the gap into the back area of Verbolten's station today.

 

[Thomas]

Maybe maintenance was sick of hearing Gerta's voice.

 

[I305Evan]

A lot of Verboltens off season maintenance for the trains is done in there and I'm sure they closed it so the heat would stay inside instead of slowly escaping through that hole.

 

[jonfin826]

Definitely to keep heat in the maintenance bay. Virginia's had a remarkably intense winter this year.

 

[UbblyBubbly]

So, how much longer until some of the special effects start to break? We saw it with Nessie, DarKastle, Le Scoot... Or has it already started...

 

[I305Evan]

The effects have already started. Many lights are out inside the building. It's most noticeable during the wolf theme when you're approaching the drop track. Many of the wolves are one-eyed and some don't have any. I haven't rode Bolt since June, but that's how it was then. Also the headlights are very hit and miss. Some have both working headlights, some have one, some have none, and some like to "blink" at me (one light flickers).

I'm sure someone with more knowledge of the ride can share more into it.

 

[James]

I know the headlights have been an ongoing issue since the ride open. As for other lights. My guess is it's damn near impossible to fix most of them during the season. I haven't ridden this year either but I would hope they replaced a few lightbulbs during the winter.

 

[Zachary]

It's my understanding that a lot of Verbolten's effects were supposedly fixed over the offseason.

 

[BGW Family]

Should something so new need a lot of fixing? :-/

 

[Zachary]

Probably not, but it most certainly did. :-/

 

[jonfin826]

I imagine that since the ride is so complex, maintenance is a lot more difficult to keep up with. There's probably tons of issues that pop up with the ride, and the more important, mechanical ones take precedence.

Still, it would be nice if the park could (would?) spare the resources to keep every aspect of the ride working.

 

[Hoopla]

Well, I have something for you guys (and gals)!

Verbolten has more Big Bad Wolf tributes than we thought.

(Look at picture now before reading on, please)

If you don't know what that is, it is a booklet in a display case in Gerta's office. If you don't know the significance of the booklet, let me tell you! The booklet is for a town called Rothernberg, if you are smart on your Big Bad Wolf information (which many of you are (Nora )), then you know that Rothenberg is one of the towns that the village of BBW was themed after! I guess we should keep an eye out for little things like that!

 

[I305Evan]

I rode Bolt 3 times today. I got each theme once. There is still a bunch of one-eyed wolves. Again, i'm not too knowledgable on the other story lines on whether all of those lights are on or not.

 

[Zachary]

I'm pulling this quote out of the Big Bad Wolf thread because I'd like to avoid shoving that thread down this bunny trail.

A lot of time is spent here dissecting the theming and visuals, but to me the physical experience is fantastic, regardless.

This actually really surprises me. Personally, I've always considered Verbolten's actual physical layout, design, etc to be the ride's weak spots. If Verbolten was as smooth as a B&M (or even most Intamins really) I think I'd find it a much more enjoyable experience. Am I alone in that?

 

[Nicole]

I have never found Verbolten rough, and I ride exclusively in the last car.  But I am once again probably a minority.

I think I don't mind slightly rougher rides, in general.  I enjoy most of the rough woodies, as well.  I will say that Cedar Point has some coasters that hurt too much, though.

That said I keep Tylenol in my park purse, and use it at least once per visit. I just sort of expect to need it, especially after a woodie.

 

[Malsdad]

I can't stand to see burned out bulbs. I've always thought, at any park, if they aren't taking any maintenance time to screw in a new bulb, where else are they skimping? There's no excuse for it, off season or in season.

As far as the effects and visuals, it's just not only BG that fails with this. After the first year it always seems no one cares about the affects and theme anymore and it just becomes a ride. Like Hurler at KD, which was once themed with TV's and the whole shebang. Now it's just the Hurler with no fanfare. (if it's even still there?)

Verbolten is a novelty coaster. Give it 5 years, and I'll be surprised if anything happens in the tunnel but the drop. No lights, no sound, just a drop. Give it 10 years, and they'll probably just alter it and remove the drop and possibly even the tunnel building itself.

It was cool when it first opened, and if I remember right, very smooth.
How it became so rough and a headbanger so quickly amazes me.

 

[chickenking]

Y'all think its rough now, wait 'till I ride it later this summer. Some like it ruff!!

 

[netdvn]

Verbolten was running pretty smooth during Christmas Town. Much better than it was during HOS. Even then outside of the first turn into the building and the last high speed turns, the ride is still pretty smooth.

Even if the wolf eyes are out, I doubt the park will remove the strobes, speakers, or the props inside the drop or the actual drop for that matter. The park stated that the ride has a pretty long service life, so I doubt other than a bit of necessary rehab every once in a while (and the possible seasonal overlays), the ride won't change that much.

The wolf eyes definitely need to be rehabbed. I don't understand why the park went this long without replacing them. The other effects are perfectly fine though.

 

[BBW]

Malsdad, not to be argumentative, but I rode during Verbolten's soft opening and thought it was a headbanger right out of the gate.