Blue Fire Megacoaster opened at Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, on April 4, 2009, and quickly earned its place among Europe’s most celebrated launched roller coasters. Built by Mack Rides — the storied family-owned manufacturer based in nearby Waldkirch — it was the company’s very first launched coaster, marking a pivotal moment in the brand’s evolution. Situated in the park’s Iceland-themed area, the ride pairs an atmospheric dark-ride prologue with the sudden shock of a linear synchronous motor launch to create a uniquely complete experience.
From a standstill, Blue Fire accelerates riders to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.5 seconds along an 80-meter launch track, then threads them through four inversions — including a twisted horseshoe roll that was the first of its kind on any coaster in Europe at its 2009 debut. The 3,464-foot (1,056 m) circuit climbs to 124 feet (38 m) and pulls up to 3.8 Gs before returning riders to a separate unloading station, with the full experience lasting around 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
- Manufacturer: Mack Rides
- Opened: April 4, 2009
- Height: 124 ft (38 m)
- Top Speed: 62 mph (100 km/h)
- Length: 3,464 ft (1,056 m)
- Inversions: 4
The Ride Experience
Blue Fire begins deceptively quietly, easing riders through a darkened pre-show tunnel before the LSM launch fires without warning: zero to 62 mph in 2.5 seconds slams riders into their stadium-style seats and delivers an immediate adrenaline jolt. The lap-bar-only restraint system — unusual for an inverting coaster — heightens the sense of freedom and allows for genuine airtime between inversions.
The layout uncoils over the Iceland section’s rooftops, rising through a soaring 105-foot vertical loop — the tallest on any launched coaster in Europe — then navigating a mid-course brake run before plunging into the signature twisted horseshoe roll that partially sweeps over a lake. A final heartline roll closes out the inversion sequence before the train glides into the unload station. Five 20-rider trains cycle through with separate load and unload stations, giving Blue Fire a capacity of around 1,450 riders per hour.
A Milestone for Mack Rides
Blue Fire occupies a unique chapter in roller coaster history as the ride that proved Mack Rides could compete in the high-speed launch market. The Waldkirch manufacturer had built traditional gravity coasters and water rides for over a century before Blue Fire debuted in 2009, and its success directly seeded a new generation of Mack launch coasters seen at parks across Europe and beyond.
The coaster carried Gazprom sponsorship from 2010 to 2019, with a 1,300-square-meter exhibition hall constructed on-site. That arrangement was suspended following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Today Blue Fire stands on its own as a must-ride at one of Europe’s busiest theme parks, praised by enthusiasts for its combination of launch intensity, smooth inversion sequence, and open-restraint comfort.
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Blue Fire Megacoaster FAQs
How fast does Blue Fire Megacoaster go?
Blue Fire launches from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in approximately 2.5 seconds via a linear synchronous motor, giving it one of the sharpest accelerations of any coaster in Europe.
How many inversions does Blue Fire have?
Blue Fire features four inversions: a vertical loop (the tallest on any launched coaster in Europe at 105 feet), a twisted horseshoe roll — the first of its kind on any European coaster when the ride opened in 2009 — and a heartline roll.
Where is Blue Fire Megacoaster located?
Blue Fire is located at Europa-Park in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, inside the park’s Iceland-themed section. Europa-Park is Germany’s largest theme park and consistently ranks among Europe’s best.
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Photo: Fritz Spitzkohl / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.