What was the deal with Vertigo?

I was searching the net and on RCPro it mentioned something about a ride called Vertigo at Knotts Berry Farm that is where the Screamin' Swing is currently.

1. What was Vertigo and does any one have any pics?
2. What happened to Vertigo?
3. When was it put in and taken out?

I tried Googleing it but I could not find any thing. I have been to Knotts a lot between 1995 to 2001 but have not been back since a trip about a year ago. *** Edited 5/15/2006 4:34:39 AM UTC by Hamster Boy***

It was a S&S production ride called the S&S Absolutely Insane (it's now called the S&S Sky Sling in their ride catalog).

Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Cedar Point's Challenge Park were the first parks to install this ride, for the 2001 season, however, during the off-season following the 2001 season, one of the three towers on Cedar Point's VertiGo toppled over due to a phenomenon S&S called *"vortex shedding."

Despite the option of having the VertiGo rides modified at no cost by S&S, Cedar Fair then decided to have the VertiGo rides removed at Knott's and Cedar Point (this occured in early 2002), then a few months later attempted, but failed to get a reimbursement from S&S for the money spent on the rides and the money spent removing the rides. Magic Mountain chose to not remove theirs, and had their installation, dubbed Thrill Shot, modified instead.

The S&S Absolutely Insane towers stood 265' tall and riders were launched to a height of 300' tall at a speed of 50 mph. Compare that to the redesigned Sky Sling, which is 225' tall and riders are launched to a height of 235' at 40 mph. The S&S Sky Sling is a much tamer ride as you can tell.

Here is (or was) Knott's VertiGo - http://www.twistedrails.com/kbf/sep15-08.shtml

Here is the ride carriage on Knott's VertiGo -

http://www.twistedrails.com/kbf/sep29-10.shtml

Riders were allowed to choose what seat-spinning program to experience, as shown here on signage -

http://www.twistedrails.com/kbf/sep29-09.shtml

*** Edited 5/15/2006 5:02:38 AM UTC by kRaXLeRidAh***

He told you in the second paragraph.

Ah Vertigo....Being in a nosedive position 100 feet above Magnum's first hill and seeing the look of sheer terror in the eyes of the 5 other riders while we all were screaming bloody murder is a memory I'll take to the grave.
I remember one insane ride when I had to reach between my legs with both hands, grab the banana seat and yank myself back onto it as it was flipping back to the "start" position so I wouldn't be dangling in midair when the ride was over.
The velcro harnesses were kind of sexy too. ;)

I remember all the things mentioned, but the whole money deal with S&S. Is there a news article to this?

We don't really know what the monetary implications of the whole fiasco really were. Clearly there was some kind of settlement and agreement, or Cedar Fair wouldn't have installed two new swings this year.

I rode the one at Cedar Point. It was pretty insane. I was so dissapointed when I heard they took it out cause I wanted to ride it again. Gotta love being shot up 300 feet with absolutely nothing around you.

Doesn't SFSTL have a similar version of this attraction as well?

The ride at SFSTL is just a standard Slingshot, I believe.

We only saw them testing the Challange Park ride and hoped it would open while they were there. Opened the next week and I never got to ride it. Looked like a lot of fun, though.

*** Edited 5/15/2006 5:01:00 PM UTC by Frantic Ferret***

Every time I go to SFMM I don't even see anyone on their Sky Sling.

I'm not sure the Sky Sling at SFMM even actually operates.

^ Yeah, it hasn't operated in months. Apparently, it's supposed to be "getting new cables." But that was said months ago.