El Loco is a compact but ferocious steel roller coaster inside Adventuredome, the indoor amusement park at Circus Circus Las Vegas. Opened on February 18, 2014, it replaced the aging Rim Runner log flume, reusing some of that ride’s old infrastructure, including its station, as the foundation for an entirely new thrill experience.
Built by S&S – Sansei Technologies, El Loco was only the second installation of the company’s El Loco coaster model in the United States and the second built for an indoor setting. Despite early buzz that its first drop would go ‘beyond vertical,’ the finished ride settled for a straight 90-degree plunge, still enough to deliver an intense, disorienting launch into a track packed with reversals and two dive loops.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Adventuredome, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Manufacturer: S&S – Sansei Technologies
- Model: El Loco
- Opened: February 18, 2014
- Height: 90 feet
- Top speed: 45 mph
- Length: 1,300 feet
- Inversions: 2 (dive loops)
The Ride Experience
Riders climb a lift hill before dropping straight down at 90 degrees into a track that packs constant direction changes, two dive loops, and quick reversals into a surprisingly short footprint. Each four-person car is fitted with speakers that play a custom soundtrack blending hip hop, rock, and Latin beats, adding an extra layer of sensory overload to the short but intense circuit.
Because the entire layout is enclosed within Adventuredome’s climate-controlled dome, El Loco runs year-round regardless of the desert heat or occasional cold snap outside, making it one of the more reliably operating thrill rides on the Las Vegas Strip.
History and Legacy
El Loco arrived as part of a broader push to modernize Adventuredome’s aging ride lineup, taking the place of the long-running Rim Runner flume that closed in 2013. Its designers repurposed elements of the old ride’s structure, letting the park cut costs while still delivering a completely new attraction.
As one of only a handful of El Loco-model coasters worldwide, the ride helped put Adventuredome on the map for coaster enthusiasts seeking a compact, high-intensity indoor experience unlike anything else on the Strip.
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El Loco FAQs
Who manufactured El Loco at Adventuredome?
El Loco was built by S&S – Sansei Technologies and is one of the company’s El Loco model coasters, only the second such installation in the United States.
How fast does El Loco go?
El Loco reaches a top speed of about 45 mph despite its compact 1,300-foot track layout.
Does El Loco have any inversions?
Yes, the ride features two inversions in the form of dive loops.
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Photo: John Biehler / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.