Hydrus is the steel roller coaster at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey — and one of the most symbolic rides on the Jersey Shore. Built by Gerstlauer, it opened in May 2017 as the world’s first Euro-Fighter 320 model and the sixth Euro-Fighter in the United States, rising over a boardwalk that Hurricane Sandy had torn apart five years earlier.
Compact and green-and-blue bright, Hydrus climbs 72 feet on a vertical lift and drops at 97 degrees over the Atlantic-facing pier.
Key Stats
| Height | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Drop | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
| Length | 1,050 ft (320 m) |
| First drop angle | 97° |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Manufacturer / model | Gerstlauer / Euro-Fighter 320 |
| Trains | 2 single-car trains, 8 riders each |
| Opened | May 2017 |
Rising from Hurricane Sandy
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy collapsed the end of Casino Pier and dropped the Star Jet coaster into the Atlantic Ocean. The image of the half-submerged coaster in the surf became one of the defining photographs of the storm. Casino Pier rebuilt, extended the pier, and in 2017 opened Hydrus on the new section — a deliberate statement that the Seaside Heights boardwalk was back.
The Ride Experience
Hydrus sends its eight-rider cars up a vertical chain lift, over the crest and into a 70-foot, 97-degree beyond-vertical first drop with the ocean in view the whole way down. At 45 mph the compact 1,050-foot layout dives through three inversions — including a vertical loop and a heartline roll — before returning to the boardwalk station. After dark, the ride’s LED-lit track turns it into the visual centerpiece of the pier.
A 97-degree plunge on a seaside pier is rare company — see how it stacks up against the steepest roller coaster drops in the world.
Visiting Casino Pier
Casino Pier is a classic pay-per-ride boardwalk park jutting into the Atlantic at Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Hydrus headlines a lineup of flat rides, a log flume and kiddie rides, with the beach directly below — a very different setting from the big destination parks, and part of the ride’s charm.
FAQ
How tall and how fast is Hydrus?
Hydrus stands 72 feet tall with a 70-foot first drop at 97 degrees, reaching a top speed of 45 mph across 1,050 feet of track.
Did Hydrus replace the coaster destroyed by Hurricane Sandy?
Yes. Hydrus opened in May 2017 on the rebuilt Casino Pier, replacing Star Jet, which was swept into the ocean when Sandy destroyed part of the pier in October 2012.
What model of coaster is Hydrus?
Hydrus is a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter 320 — the first of that model built anywhere in the world and the sixth Euro-Fighter installed in the United States.
Photo: James Loesch via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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