It's No Joker: Batman Coaster Wins Award

After a string of disappointing weeks at the nation's box offices, the new "Batman Begins" film is breathing some life into Hollywood--and renewing interest in the Dark Knight. Quirky director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale deliver a thoughtful, fun, and engaging movie (as opposed to the "Batman and Robin" drek to which the franchise devolved a few years ago). Batman's popularity has never waned (or is that "wayned?") at Six Flags parks, where the comic hero is featured in a number of shows and rides. The signature Caped Crusader attraction is Batman-The Ride, an inverted roller coaster. The trains on inverted coasters hang beneath the track, and riders' legs dangle freely as they get tossed and turned through a series of acrobatic maneuvers. It's like a ski lift gone haywire. When it debuted to great acclaim 13 years ago at Six Flags Great America, near Chicago, Batman was the world's first inverted coaster. Today, a number of Six Flags parks feature clones of the original, and many other parks have inverted coasters as well. In honor of its special status, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recently presented the Illinois park with its ACE Roller Coaster Landmark award, according to The Daily Herald. The organization will be honoring other coasters later in the summer. Other Batman-themed roller coasters include Six Flags America's Batwing flying coaster and Six Flags New England's The Dark Knight floorless coaster.
New Hurricane Harbor Water Park at Six Flags Great America