TOGO
TOGO
Toyo Gorakuki | |
Industry | Amusement Rides |
Fate | Bankruptcy |
Founded | 1935 |
Founder | Teiichi Yamada |
Defunct | 2001 |
Wordwide (Excluding Western Hemisphere) | |
Products | Roller coasters |
Website | http://www.tohgo.co.jp/[81] |
TOGO (株式会社トーゴ, Kabushiki-gaisha Tōgo) was a Japanese amusement ride company that built roller coasters, giant wheels, carousels, flumes, dark rides, sky cycles and other amusement rides.
Toyo Gorakuki | |
Industry | Amusement Rides |
Fate | Bankruptcy |
Founded | 1935 |
Founder | Teiichi Yamada |
Defunct | 2001 |
Wordwide (Excluding Western Hemisphere) | |
Products | Roller coasters |
Website | http://www.tohgo.co.jp/[81] |
History
In 1935 Mr. Teiichi Yamada founded the Toyo Gorakuki Company and built his first attraction, a five-foot mechanical walking elephant that was a popular attraction at one of Tokyo's neighborhood parks.[1] Yamada reorganized his company in 1949 and changed the name to TOGO.
TOGO built its first roller coaster in 1953 at Hanayashiki Park in Tokyo. That coaster is still in operation and is the oldest coaster in Japan.[1]
In 1965 TOGO built Cyclone at Toshimaen Park that at the time was the largest coaster in Asia. The company also began to expand its export business, selling coasters in Russia, Cuba and China.[1] Although the company built a variety of different rides in Japan, its export business was primarily roller coasters. In 1979, TOGO installed standup trains on two of its existing coasters in Japan, Momonga Standing & Loop Coaster, at Yomiuriland and Thrill Valley, creating the world's first Stand-up roller coasters. These two installations captured the attention of Taft/Kings Entertainment company, who then purchased TOGO's Astro-Comet, the world's first coaster designed from the ground up as a stand-up roller coaster, installing at Kings Island as King Cobra.[1]
In 1986 TOGO developed the Ultra Twister Coaster.
This unique concept had rails on the side of the vehicle allowing the coaster to perform true heartline rolls as it navigated the course.
TOGO also incorporated a vertical lift hill and near-vertical drop into the ride.[1] TOGO built seven of these models, all similar, but not identical to each other.
The original versions were not capable of making turns, so all seven operated as shuttles.
However, TOGO did display a full-circuit model at the IAAPA trade show in the mid-1990s that was capable of making turns, but the ride was never built.[1] In the fall of 1989, Arrow Dynamics began building a similar concept called the Pipeline, which failed to get past the prototype stage.[3]
TOGO went bankrupt in 2001 due to a lawsuit by Knott's Berry Farm for problems with their Windjammer Surf Racers roller coaster. TOGO created several unique coasters, including its combination of a looping sit-down coaster and a hypercoaster with its Manhattan Express coaster in Las Vegas (now known as "The Big Apple Coaster"). The looping wild mouse by TOGO was a style of ride with a drop into a vertical loop, followed by the hairpin turns and drops of a wild mouse coaster. The former Windjammer coaster at Knott's berry Farm was a variation of the looping wild mouse; it didn't feature any hairpin turns.
TOGO is also renowned for inventing the Twist-and-Dive roll, an inversion maneuver that combines elements of a half-heartline roll with a half-loop.
A version of this maneuver included a half-oblique loop instead of a half-loop, so riders exited the element at an angle.
This was used on the now-defunct Viper at Six Flags Great Adventure.
In 2018, TOGO announced a possible comeback after releasing a concept of their new stand up coaster model.
Notable rides
Bandit at Yomiuriland – It was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world when it opened in 1988 and inspired Richard Kinzel of Cedar Point to build Magnum XL 200.[1]
Fujiyama – A hypercoaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Japan. Until 2000, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world.
King Cobra at Kings Island (1984–2001) – The world's first coaster designed specifically to be a stand-up looping coaster. It was taken down and scrapped after TOGO went out of business, making parts very expensive.
Big Apple Coaster at New York-New York Hotel & Casino (first opened in 1997 as the "Manhattan Express").
Ultra Twister – A pipeline roller coaster that uses single cars that ride between the rails. Because of the design, the cars are unable to make lateral turns and require switch tracks at either end of the ride.
Viper at Six Flags Great Adventure – A roller coaster that featured a unique heartline roll. The ride was scrapped in 2005, and its station was re-used for El Toro.
White Canyon at Yomiuriland – White Canyon was the tallest and longest Cyclone-style roller coaster in the world before it closed in 2013.
Windjammer Surf Racers at Knott's Berry Farm – a twin racing coaster with 65-foot vertical loops. This coaster was a massive failure, and part of the lawsuits would lead to TOGO's bankruptcy.
Shockwave – Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia. Built in 1986 Specifically for Kings Dominion, was retired August 9, 2015.
SkyRider – Canada's Wonderland Opening date May 1985, retired in 2014 dismantled and sent to Italy.
Freestyle is a stand-up roller coaster operating at Cavallino Matto in Tuscany, Italy. It opened as the park's fifth roller coaster on 18 July 2015. Freestyle originally opened at Canada's Wonderland in 1985 as SkyRider
List of roller coasters
As of 2019, TOGO has built 61 roller coasters around the world.[5]
Name | Model | Park | Country | Opened | Status | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jet Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | Unknown | Operating | [6] |
SL Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Yomiuriland | Japan | Unknown | Removed | [7] |
Roller Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Beijing Amusement Park | China | Unknown | Removed | [8] |
Zola 7 | Sitdown Coaster | Fuji-Q Highland | Japan | Unknown | Removed | [9] |
Diving Shooter | Sitdown Coaster | Itozu No Mori Park | Japan | Unknown | Removed | [10] |
Cycle Coaster | Cycle Coaster | Enakyo Wonderland | Japan | Unknown | Operating | [11] |
Jet Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Kagoshima Jungle Land | Japan | Unknown | Removed | [12] |
Crazy Mouse | Looping Mouse | Kagoshima Jungle Land | Japan | Unknown | Removed | [13] |
Jungle Mouse | Wild Mouse Coaster | Yoshinogawa Yuenchi | Japan | Unknown | Removed | [14] |
UnknownFormerlyUltra Twister | Ultra Twister | Six Flags AmericaSix Flags AstroWorldSix Flags Great Adventure | United States | Unknown1990 to 20051986 to 1988 | Removed | [15][16][17] |
Roller Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Hanayashiki | Japan | 1953 | Operating | [18] |
Jet Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Tokyo Dome City | Japan | 1955 | Removed | [19] |
Cyclone | Sitdown Coaster | Toshimaen | Japan | 1965 | Operating | [20] |
Diving Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | GrinPa | Japan | 1973 | Removed | [21] |
Bobster | Bobster | Takakonuma Greenland | Japan | 1973 | Removed | [22] |
Jet Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Yatsu Yuenchi | Japan | 1976 | Removed | [23] |
Momonga Standing and Loop CoasterFormerly Standing and Loop Coaster | Stand-Up Coaster & Sitdown Coaster | Yomiuriland | Japan | 1979 | Operating | [24] |
Crazy Mouse | Looping Mouse | Tobu Zoo Park | Japan | 1981 | Removed | [25] |
Bobster | Bobster | Shirakaba Resort Family Land | Japan | 1982 | Operating | [26] |
Dangai | Stand-Up Coaster | Thrill Valley | Japan | 1982 | Removed | [27] |
Ultra Twister | Ultra Twister | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | 1984 | Operating | [28] |
King Cobra | Stand-Up Coaster | Kings Island | United States | 1984 | Removed | [29] |
Standing Coaster | Stand-Up Coaster | Rusutsu ResortOtaru Expo | Japan | 19851984 | Operating | [30][31] |
Ultra Twister | Ultra Twister | Tokyo Dome City | Japan | 1985 | Removed | [32] |
Montaña Rusa | Bobster | Parque Lenin | Cuba | 1985 | Removed | [33] |
Shockwave | Stand-Up Coaster | Kings Dominion | United States | 1986 | Removed | [34] |
Star Jet | Stand-Up Coaster | Brazilian Park Washuzan HighlandTsukuba Expo | Japan | 19861985 | Operating | [35][36] |
Bandit | Sitdown Coaster | Yomiuriland | Japan | 1988 | Operating | [37] |
SL Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Minamichita Beach Land & Minamichita Toy Kingdom | Japan | 1989 | Removed | [38] |
Unknown | Sitdown Coaster | Fantasy Dome Tomakomai | Japan | 1990 | Removed | [39] |
Milky WayFormerly Fujin-RaijinFormerly Ultra Twin | Stand-Up Coaster & Sitdown Coaster | Greenland | Japan | 1991 | Operating | [40] |
Ultra Twister | Ultra Twister | Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland | Japan | 1991 | Operating | [41] |
Fujin Raijin II | Stand-Up Coaster | Expoland | Japan | 1992 | Removed | [42] |
Geopanic | Sitdown Coaster | Tokyo Dome City | Japan | 1992 | Removed | [43] |
Super Roller Coaster DIOS | Sitdown Coaster | Odakyu Mukogaoka Yuen | Japan | 1992 | Removed | [44] |
Aladdin Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Aliba City | Japan | 1992 | Removed | [45] |
Surf Coaster LeviathanFormerly Surf Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Sea Paradise | Japan | 1993 | Operating | [46] |
Ultra Twister | Ultra Twister | Rusutsu Resort | Japan | 1994 | Operating | [47] |
Unknown | Sitdown Coaster | Fantasy Dome Seiro | Japan | 1994 | Removed | [48] |
Unknown | Sitdown Coaster | Fantasy Dome Kishiwada | Japan | 1994 | Removed | [49] |
Ultra Twister Megaton | Ultra Twister | Greenland | Japan | 1994 | Operating | [50] |
White Canyon | Wooden Coaster | Yomiuriland | Japan | 1994 | Removed | [51] |
Clipper | Sitdown Coaster | Space World | Japan | 1995 | Removed | [52] |
Viper | Sitdown Coaster | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | 1995 | Removed | [53] |
Fujiyama | Sitdown Coaster | Fuji-Q Highland | Japan | 1996 | Operating | [54] |
Mega Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Hamanako Pal Pal | Japan | 1997 | Operating | [55] |
Big Apple CoasterFormerly Roller CoasterFormerly Manhattan Express | Sitdown Coaster | New York, New York Hotel & Casino | United States | 1997 | Operating | [20] |
Windjammer Surf RacersFormerly Jammer | Looping Mouse | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | 1997 | Removed | [57] |
Kiddy Shuttle | Kiddy Shuttle | Thrill Valley | Japan | 1998 | Removed | [58] |
Crazy Mouse | Looping Mouse | Kitami Family LandNakajima Park | Japan | 2000Unknown | Operating | [59][60] |
Hyper Kid Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Fantasy Dome | Japan | 2000 | Closed | [61] |
Flounder's Flying Fish Coaster | Sitdown Coaster | Tokyo DisneySea | Japan | 2001 | Operating | [62] |
Rushing Car | Wild Mouse Coaster | Kashiikaen Yuenchi | Japan | 2002 | Removed | [63] |
Actpo Kometa | Sitdown Coaster | MavilandMetalworkers' Palace | Russia | 20021992 to 2000 | Operating | [64][65] |
Loop Screw | Sitdown Coaster | Seibuen Yuenchi | Japan | 2004 | Removed | [66] |
Go Go Sneaker | Sitdown Coaster | Rusutsu ResortKintetsu Ayameike | Japan | 2005Unknown | Operating | [67][68] |
Hurricane - Screw & Loop CoasterFormerly Tornado | Sitdown Coaster | Himeji Central ParkKintetsu Ayameike | Japan | 20071981 to 2004 | Operating | [69][70] |
Ultra CoasterFormerly Ultra Twister | Ultra Twister | Marah Land SabahiyaIkoma Skyland | Kuwait | 20082004 to 2006 | Removed | [71][72] |
Bledek CoasterFormerly Loop & Cork | Looping Mouse | Suroboyo Carnival Night MarketJawa Timur Park 2Maruyama KidLand | Indonesia | 2014UnknownUnknown | Operating | [73][74][75] |
Grand CanyonFormerly CobraFormerly Kiddy Shuttle | Kiddy Shuttle | Parc de la ValléeLunapark FréjusOdakyu Mukogaoka Yuen | France | 20142004 to 20111998 to 2002 | Operating | [76][77][78] |
FreestyleFormerly SkyRider | Stand-Up Coaster | Cavallino MattoCanada's Wonderland | Italy | 20151985 to 2014 | Operating | [79][80] |