Wildfire is a wooden roller coaster at Kolmården Wildlife Park in Kolmården, Sweden, built by Rocky Mountain Construction and designed by Alan Schilke. It opened to the public on June 28, 2016, using RMC’s Topper Track system, which bonds steel rails to a wooden structure to allow for smoother, more aggressive maneuvers than traditional wood coasters.
Standing roughly 56 meters (184 feet) tall, Wildfire is recognized as jointly the tallest wooden coaster in the world and the fastest wooden coaster in Europe, hitting about 115 km/h (71 mph) down its 49-meter first drop. Shortly after its debut, the ride was briefly shut down in October 2016 over an environmental permit dispute before reopening in June 2017 following county council approval.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Kolmården Wildlife Park, Sweden
- Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction
- Opened: June 28, 2016
- Height: about 56 m (184 ft)
- Top speed: about 115 km/h (71 mph)
- Length: about 1,265 m (4,150 ft)
- Inversions: 3
The Ride Experience
Riders climb to a height of roughly 56 meters before plunging down a 49-meter drop at close to 83 degrees, sending trains up to about 115 km/h. Over a ride lasting around two minutes, Wildfire delivers three inversions, including a zero-G stall and two heartline rolls, along with a dozen airtime-filled hills across its terrain-hugging layout.
Because it runs on RMC’s Topper Track, Wildfire can execute tighter, more inverted elements than a classic wooden coaster while still relying on a timber support structure, giving it a rougher, more organic feel than an all-steel ride.
A Rocky Start
Wildfire’s opening season was short-lived: on October 28, 2016, Swedish authorities revoked the ride’s operating permit over environmental concerns tied to its construction. The coaster remained standing while the licensing dispute played out, and after the county council approved the necessary zoning in March 2017, Wildfire reopened to guests in June 2017.
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Wildfire FAQs
Who built Wildfire at Kolmården?
Wildfire was built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) using its Topper Track system, and designed by engineer Alan Schilke.
Is Wildfire a wooden or steel coaster?
Wildfire is a wooden coaster that uses RMC’s Topper Track, meaning a steel rail is bonded to a traditional wooden structure.
Why was Wildfire closed after opening?
The ride lost its operating permit in October 2016 due to an environmental dispute, then reopened in June 2017 after local government approval.
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Photo by Nik Nikolla on Pexels.