Colossus the Fire Dragon is the blue-steel heart of Lagoon’s skyline. This Anton Schwarzkopf double-looper has been hurling trains through its twin yellow-ringed loops in Farmington, Utah since 1983 — and today it stands as one of only two Schwarzkopf double-looping coasters still operating in the United States, alongside Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas.
Key Stats
| Type | Schwarzkopf Double Looping (steel) |
| Opened | 1983 |
| Height | 85 ft (26 m) |
| Drop | 81 ft (25 m) |
| Track length | 2,850 ft (869 m) |
| Top speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 vertical loops (65 ft tall) |
| Ride time | 1:45 |
| Max g-force | 4.9 g (back seat) |
| Cost | $2.5 million |
| Restraints | Lap bars only |
| Height requirement | 46 in (117 cm) |
A Fairground Giant That Settled Down
Like Olympia Looping, Colossus was born portable. The Schwarzkopf Double Looping model was engineered to be dismantled and rebuilt within a day, and this one spent roughly two years touring the European fair circuit before Lagoon bought it and planted it on the South Midway in 1983. The portability kept the price down — about $2.5 million, a bargain for a ride this substantial. As for the name: the park wanted plain “Colossus,” but tacked on “the Fire Dragon” to avoid confusion with the famous Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Ride Experience
From the 85-foot lift hill, trains ease through a right turn and then plunge into a twisting drop that bottoms out at 55 mph, slamming straight into two back-to-back 65-foot vertical loops that push back-seat riders to 4.9 g. What follows is pure Schwarzkopf geometry: a huge first helix arcing over the elevated queue and up through the second loop, a pass just over the station roof, and a signature “slanted spiral” helix that dips, rises, and dips again before the final turn home. The silver trains — each fronted by a green dragon decal and headlights — carry riders with nothing but lap bars, the way Schwarzkopf intended.
Why Coaster Fans Care
Anton Schwarzkopf’s loopers are prized for their intensity-to-size ratio, and Colossus proves the point: 85 feet tall yet nearly 5 g in the loops, forces that flirt with our highest g-force coasters ranking from a ride shorter than many kiddie hills on the world’s tallest coasters list. The ride owns three trains and rotates them through maintenance, running up to two at once on busy days. Its blue track, white supports, and Olympic-yellow loop rings light up in orange at night in front of neighboring coaster Wicked.
FAQ
How many loops does Colossus the Fire Dragon have?
Two 65-foot vertical loops, taken back-to-back right after the first drop, with forces reaching 4.9 g in the back seat.
Why is it called “the Fire Dragon”?
Lagoon planned to call the ride simply Colossus, but added the dragon surname so it wouldn’t be confused with Colossus, the giant wooden coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Is Colossus the Fire Dragon rare?
Yes — it’s one of just two Schwarzkopf double-looping coasters operating in the US, along with Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas, after Dorney Park’s Laser closed in 2008.
Photo: Ben P L via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)