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 You are here: Home -> Coasters -> Ride Reviews -> Desperado

  DESPERADO
Buffalo Bill's Hotel & Casino

Desperado LogoAre you ready for one of the best rides of your life? If you're a roller coaster enthusiast then you certainly are.

Desperado Roller Coaster First DropBetween Los Angeles and Las Vegas, just off Interstate 15 there stands one of the best attractions in the world. It's hard to miss, since the yellow steel structure can be seen for miles rising from the desert floor at the location called Stateline.

For a few Stateline is the first chance to drop a quarter in a slot machine, but for thrill ride fanatics, Stateline is home to Desperado, one of the tallest, fastest, longest steel roller casters in the United States.

Desperado Hypercoaster First Drop Designed and custom built by Arrow Dynamics of Utah, Desperado is a dramatic contrast to the surrounding landscape. Combining the latest roller coaster technology and design techniques, Arrow built a ride that broke nearly every roller coaster record, which is exactly what Primm Valley Resorts wanted to accomplish with this attraction. The resort owners weren't looking for an average roller coaster. Instead they wanted to give motorists passing by on the nearby Interstate a reason to stop before driving on to Sin City.

 

Coaster Facts
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Desperado

Type of Coaster
Hypercoaster

Height: 209 feet
First drop: 225 feet
Top speed: 79 mph
Length: 5,483 feet
G-Forces: 4 G's

Other Features:
155-foot Spiral Second Drop, Tunnel

Ride Time:
2 minutes, 43 seconds

Number Of Trains:
3 - 30 passenger

Opening Date:
May 1994

Coaster Designer:
Arrow Dynamics

Location:
Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino
Primm, Nevada

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Debutting as the tallest, fastest, steepest and longest steel coaster in the world, Desperado fell into a new category of roller coasters called Hypercoasters.

Desperado Roller Coaster Spiral Drop

Desperado Roller Coaster, Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino

A hypercoaster is a steel roller coaster designed with large drops for speed and plenty of airtime and no inversions. A Hypercoaster generally begisn with a first drop in excess of 200 feet, which is then followed by a series of drops, hills and maybe a high-speed turn or two.

Desperado begins inside of the casino as it begins the trip up the 209-foot tall lift hill. Peaking high above the adjacent hotel tower, the first drop is incredibly steep as it plunges down 225-feet to then pass through a dark, underground tunnel.

Guests arriving at Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino will get a front row view of Desperado as the trains pass through the porte corchere at speeds of nearly 70 mph. It's a definite must see!

After the memorable first drop, Desperado begins the second, a 155 foot tall spiral drop that propels the trains to speeds in excess of 70 mph! Riders will feel the G-forces as the train screams by the parking lot below.

If you've survived so far, it's save to say you'll survive the rest. Averaging about 60 miles per hour, Desperado begins to fly up and over a series of camelbacks delivering incredible airtime. You'll either hang on tight or go with the flow as ride the wave of negative G-forces, up and down, over and over again.

After the series of camelbacks the track begins to head for home making its way around the resort. After a mid-course brake check, the train picks up speed and flies towards the big drop on the Adventure Canyon Log Flume attraction. Avoiding the log ride, the track curves around the themed mountain and dives into a tunnel to begin a high-speed, upward helix inside the mountain.

Bunny Hops

With one final small dip and a decent headchopper effect, Desperado finally comes to an end. Approaching te station it's now time to catch your breath as you've just survived the Desperado. Yes, you can now claim you've ridden one of the tallest, fastest, longest steel roller coasters in the world.

As the brakes tighten bring the train to a stop its time get get off, but before you step off, why not treat yourself to one more ride. Ready to ride again? We're certain you won't pass up the chance.

Desperado logo courtesy of Primm Valley Resorts. All rights reserved.
Photos by Eric Gieszl. Copyright © 1998 Ultimate Rollercoaster.


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