Mamba Celebrates 20 Years of Thrills
Chris Foshee
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Snakes…most can’t stand the reptilian creatures, but there’s one exception - the Mamba at Worlds of Fun. The 205-foot hyper-coaster is beloved by all who brave the intense adrenaline machine. One ride and you’ll see how its combination of speed and airtime make it full of bite!
The Mamba officially opened twenty years ago on April 18, 1998, as one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world. It put Worlds of Fun on the map for thrill seekers and remains one of our most iconic attractions.
The Ride of Mamba
Riders begin their 3-minute journey with a 205-towering slitter up the giant lift hill, which dishes out stunning views of downtown Kansas City. After the intense plunge down the behemoth, Mamba reaches speeds up to 75-mph before climbing and descending another 184-foot hill, which is taller than most roller coasters.
After feeling like your stomach is leaving the seat, Mamba corals into a spiral helix while support beams fly overhead at speeds up to 60-mph. After a mini-break run, riders enjoy maximum airtime over four camelback hills before capping off their thrills with a trip back to the station.
Poised to Strike
Worlds of Fun announced the addition of Mamba in September of 1997 under the tagline, “Poised to Strike in ’98.” The roller coaster was designed by chief coaster designer Steve Okamoto of D.H. Morgan Manufacturing, Inc. In the press release announcing the ride, Dana Morgan, president of D.H. Morgan, said the ride would be a “truly remarkable event” - and boy was he right!
Fun Fact: D.H. Morgan also designed Steel Force at Dorney Park (our sister park), which opened a year prior to Mamba.
Worlds of Fun Opens Saturday
There’s only one fitting way to celebrate Mamba’s 20 anniversary and that’s with a ride (or six) on this iconic scream machine. Worlds of Fun officially opens for the 2018 season on April 21, and as always, the best deals on tickets can be found at worldsoffun.com. Better yet, with a 2018 Gold Season Pass, you get unlimited visits all year, which means unlimited access to Mamba!
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