Last night Knott’s Berry Farm announced that a brand new angle on thrill coasters will be arriving just in time for the summer 2018 season. HangTime, a brand new steel rollercoaster – and the only dive coaster on the West Coast – will tower 150 feet above the Boardwalk area of the park. 

 

HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill into a raised 96-degree drop – the steepest drop in California. The coaster’s train will come to a halt once the highest peak is reached, and will leave riders suspended at the crest for 2 grueling seconds at a 60-degree angle, giving the illusion of a disappearing track. Then the train will suddenly drop in a beyond-vertical drop, through 2,198 feet of steel track and five inversions. HangTime will be only the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a negative-g stall loop, which gives riders the sensation of floating.


“HangTime’s disappearing track creates a memorable illusion of the unknown as riders feel like they are hanging over a cliff, staring at the ground in nervous anticipation,” said Jon Storbeck, vice president and general manager, Knott’s Berry Farm. “People who crave that adrenaline rush will want to ride this coaster again and again. Introducing a coaster like HangTime firmly positions Knott’s Berry Farm as a must see attraction among Southern California theme parks, and we look forward to welcoming our guests to this new experience.”


Now, what is really cool, is that there will also be a custom lighting package. HangTime’s ride structure itself will come to life and illuminate the Boardwalk area with colorful nighttime track chase lighting that will accompany the coaster train’s travels across the smooth steel track. What’s more, there will be a special lighting package for Knott’s Scary Farm too. What does that mean? Not sure really, but we assume crazy, spooky colors or strobes. 

HangTime Basic Stats:

  • Height: 150 feet
  • Track Length: 2,198 feet
  • Capacity: 3 trains with 16 single passenger carrying units each
  • Maximum velocity 57 mph

Ride Features

  • 150-foot Vertical Lift
  • 96-degree First Drop
  • 5 Inversions
  • Holding Break at 60 degrees- ride will hang guests looking down over the first drop before starting
  • The Negative-G Stall Loop- only the 2nd roller coaster in the Western Hemisphere to have this feature offering unprecedented hang time
  • Colorful nighttime track chase lighting that will accompany the coaster train as it travels across the track

HorrorBuzz Live Stream

Here is our live feed from the evening. The beginning has some pretty interesting music. If you want to skip that go to about 7:20 and you should be good.

HorrorBuzz Live Stream Knott's Berry Farm Special Announcement Event 2017

HangTime is manufactured by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, GmbH, and is the company’s next-generation “infinity coaster” model.

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Guests can experience an entire season of fun including the thrill of HangTime with a 2018 Knott’s Season Pass, on sale now at the best price of the year. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. The special pricing ends October 29, 2017.

About the Author

Norman Gidney is a nearly lifelong horror fan. Beginning his love for the scare at the age of 5 by watching John Carpenter's Halloween, he set out on a quest to share his passion for all things spooky with the rest of the world.