Wicked is a steel launched roller coaster at Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah, built by German manufacturer Zierer and designed by renowned coaster engineer Werner Stengel. The ride opened to the public on June 1, 2007, after construction began in August 2006, and it cost the park about $10 million to build.
What sets Wicked apart is its back-to-back launch sequence: a tunnel-bound LSM boost launch accelerates the train before a second vertical LSM launch rockets it straight up a 110-foot tower. From there, the layout mixes a zero-g roll, an Immelmann turn, and a twisting double half-pipe into a ride that lasts under two minutes but packs in a surprising amount of airtime and inversion for its size.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Lagoon Amusement Park
- Manufacturer: Zierer
- Opened: June 1, 2007
- Height: 110 ft (34 m)
- Top speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
- Length: 2,050.5 ft (625 m)
- Inversions: 1
- Duration: About 1 minute 46 seconds
The Ride Experience
Riders leave the station and roll straight into a dark tunnel, where the first LSM launch pushes the train to roughly 41 mph before a second vertical LSM launch sends it straight up the ride’s signature 110-foot tower in a ‘top hat’ maneuver. The drop down the far side of the tower is where Wicked hits its top speed of 55 mph.
From there, the course moves through a small airtime hill, an Immelmann turn, and a zero-g roll inversion before diving into a twisting double half-pipe and a downward helix that dips through a second tunnel on the way back to the brake run. Trains seat riders four across in two rows, restrained at the ankles and thighs rather than with traditional shoulder harnesses, which lets the ride stay remarkably smooth through its transitions.
Design and Engineering
Wicked was one of the earlier roller coasters to pair dual linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches with a vertical tower element, a format Zierer and designer Werner Stengel used to pack a tall, fast layout into a compact footprint. The ride includes a fail-safe: if a launch doesn’t carry the train over the top of the tower, brakes catch it and it rolls back into the tunnel to be automatically relaunched at a higher speed.
At 900 riders per hour and with a 46-inch height requirement, Wicked is built as an accessible thrill ride within Lagoon’s lineup, offering one of the park’s more intense combinations of launch acceleration and inversion without the longer circuit of the park’s larger coasters.
Explore more: Explore more roller coasters.
Park apps, mobile ordering and photos kill a battery by 3 p.m. This one snaps on magnetically, so there's no cable to snag on a restraint.
Ride with your glasses on and keep them. Many parks allow glasses on rides if they're strapped, so check the ride rules first.
Small enough to ride with on most coasters, big enough for a phone, card and keys. Two zippers mean nothing falls out upside down.
Wicked FAQs
How fast does Wicked go?
Wicked reaches a top speed of about 55 mph (89 km/h), hit during the drop down the far side of its 110-foot launch tower.
How tall is the Wicked roller coaster?
The ride’s launch tower stands 110 feet (34 m) tall, making it one of the taller elements at Lagoon Park.
What company built Wicked?
Wicked was manufactured by Zierer, a German roller coaster company, with the ride designed by engineer Werner Stengel.
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Photo: Davehi1 / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.