The Smiler - A Record-Setting Thrill Ride

Have you ever wondered about roller coasters that push the boundaries of what's possible? There is, you know, one particular ride that stands out for its sheer number of twists and turns, a true head-spinner that holds a special place in the record books. It’s a steel marvel that started welcoming guests in 2013, and it has quite a story to tell, honestly, a tale that involves both incredible achievements and, well, some really challenging times.

This attraction, located in the United Kingdom, specifically at Alton Towers, is pretty famous for its record-breaking number of inversions. It’s not just a ride; it’s a whole experience that has, in some respects, been watched by many, both for its amazing design and for the events that have shaped its history. People often talk about its unique features and the way it makes you feel, which is quite something, really.

We're going to take a closer look at this fascinating coaster, exploring what makes it so special, where it lives, and some of the moments that have made it so well-known. We’ll cover its remarkable features, the events that brought it into the public eye, and why it continues to draw people in, very much like a magnet, actually. It’s a ride that, basically, gets people talking.

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Table of Contents

• What Makes The Smiler So Special?
  • The Smiler's Amazing Loops
• Where Can You Find The Smiler?
  • The Smiler's Home at Alton Towers
• How Did The Smiler Come To Be?
  • The Smiler's Early Days and Design
• What Happened With The Smiler in 2015?
  • The Smiler's Serious Incident
• Has The Smiler Changed Since Then?
  • The Smiler's Return and Safety Updates
• What's The Smiler's Theme All About?
  • The Smiler's Mind-Bending Story
• Why Do People Keep Coming Back to The Smiler?
  • The Smiler's Lasting Appeal
• Looking At The Smiler's Numbers
  • The Smiler's Ride Details

What Makes The Smiler So Special?

This particular steel roller coaster, which is quite a sight, actually, holds a very specific world record. It’s known for having more inversions than any other ride of its kind. When it first opened its doors in 2013, it immediately claimed this impressive title, and it has kept it for a good ten years now, still giving guests a truly memorable time. You know, it's pretty unique in that sense.

The Smiler's Amazing Loops

The main thing that makes the smiler stand out is its incredible number of loops and twists. It has fourteen, to be exact, which is, honestly, the most on any roller coaster anywhere. This twisting path combines those world-beating fourteen loops with a speed that reaches around 85 kilometers per hour. That kind of speed and all those turns are, basically, going to give your body and your mind a real workout. It really challenges you, you know, in a good way, perhaps.

Where Can You Find The Smiler?

If you're thinking about experiencing this record-setting ride for yourself, you'll need to head over to a well-known amusement park in the United Kingdom. This coaster, which is, like, a custom infinity model, makes its home there. It’s a place that many people visit for its various attractions, and this one is certainly a highlight, in some respects.

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The Smiler's Home at Alton Towers

The smiler is located at Alton Towers, which is in Staffordshire, a lovely part of the United Kingdom. This amusement park is, you know, set in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside, giving it a rather picturesque setting for such a thrilling machine. It’s a spot that draws crowds, and the smiler is, arguably, one of the biggest reasons why people come to visit this specific location.

How Did The Smiler Come To Be?

The story of this coaster starts back in 2013, when it first began operating. It's a steel infinity coaster, a type of ride made by a company called Gerstlauer. When it was introduced, it immediately made headlines for its world-record-setting number of inversions. There were, however, some moments of delay before it was ready for its grand debut, which is pretty common for big projects like this, I mean, as a matter of fact.

The Smiler's Early Days and Design

The smiler was, you know, put together as a custom infinity coaster by Gerstlauer. It features a few distinctive elements that make up its incredible journey. These include a section where you go straight up, a part where you go through a double set of turns that send you downwards, a loop that looks like a snake's head, and a unique twisting element called a Staffordshire knot, among other things. These pieces work together to create its record-breaking fourteen flips and spins, which is, basically, what it’s known for.

What Happened With The Smiler in 2015?

While this ride is famous for its record-breaking design, it also has a history that includes some very serious challenges and difficult events. There was, in fact, an unfortunate incident that occurred a couple of years after it opened, which brought it a lot of public attention. This event was, basically, a significant moment in the ride's story.

The Smiler's Serious Incident

On the second day of June in 2015, there was a very serious situation involving the smiler. Four people received serious leg injuries after two of the ride's trains came together. This happened on a part of the track known as the batwing element. One of the trains was full of people, and the other was empty, having, like, stopped on the track before the event. This incident received a lot of coverage from news outlets and is considered the most serious event in Alton Towers' history, to be honest.

Has The Smiler Changed Since Then?

After the serious event in 2015, the coaster had to close down for a period. It was a time of, you know, careful review and making sure everything was absolutely safe before it could welcome guests again. This period of closure was important for, in some respects, rebuilding trust and ensuring the ride was as secure as possible for everyone who wanted to experience it.

The Smiler's Return and Safety Updates

The smiler started running again in 2016, after being involved in that serious event in 2015, which was caused by a problem with the machines. When it reopened, it came with additional measures to keep people safe. These extra steps were put in place to help prevent similar issues from happening again, giving people, you know, more confidence when they ride. So, it's pretty clear that safety became a bigger focus.

What's The Smiler's Theme All About?

Beyond its impressive structure and thrilling movements, this coaster also has a specific story or idea that goes along with it. This theme adds another layer to the whole experience, making it more than just a ride that goes fast and turns you upside down. It’s, actually, pretty interesting how they tie it all together.

The Smiler's Mind-Bending Story

The smiler has a theme that revolves around a made-up group that, basically, conducts experiments on people. The idea behind these experiments is to make everyone smile, all the time. This concept is, you know, woven into the design and feel of the ride, adding a somewhat unsettling yet captivating element to the overall adventure. It’s a bit of a psychological twist, you could say.

Why Do People Keep Coming Back to The Smiler?

Despite its history and the intense nature of the ride, many people find themselves drawn back to this particular coaster time and again. There’s something about it that keeps them wanting more, something that goes beyond just the speed or the number of loops. It has, you know, a certain appeal that really sticks with people.

The Smiler's Lasting Appeal

Many fans of the smiler, when asked, couldn't quite pick just one reason why they love this coaster so much. Instead, they often praised it for going beyond simply being a good ride with a great path. They championed the benefits of what many of them saw as something truly special, something that, you know, really made it stand out from other coasters. It’s like it offers something extra, basically.

Looking At The Smiler's Numbers

For those who like to look at the details and figures of roller coasters, there's quite a bit of information available about this one. You can find all sorts of facts and figures, which is, honestly, pretty cool if you're into that kind of thing. It helps you get a sense of just how big and how much of a challenge this ride really is.

The Smiler's Ride Details

If you're curious about things like how fast, how tall, or how long roller coasters are, you can find all that and more using an interactive database about rides. This database also provides specific information and figures for the smiler. You can, for instance, look at the usual wait times for the ride on different days and even see if the ride is open or not. We have even brought you an exclusive view from the front seat of the smiler, the only fourteen-looping roller coaster in the world, which was filmed with permission from Alton Towers, so you can get a real sense of what it's like, you know, from the very front.

This article has explored the Smiler, a steel roller coaster at Alton Towers in the UK, known for its world-record 14 inversions. We covered its opening in 2013, its unique design elements like the vertical lift hill and cobra roll, and its top speed of 85 km/hr. We also discussed its theme, which involves a fictional group making people smile. A significant part of its history includes a serious incident in 2015 due to a technical issue, leading to its reopening in 2016 with added safety measures. The article touched upon why fans appreciate it and how its record for inversions has been held for a decade, continuing to entertain guests.