This winter, adjustments are being made to Revolution in Bobbejaanland, Belgium. The popular (Vekoma) indoor coaster turns 35 years old this year, and this is being celebrated with investments in theming and technology. Even the famous roller coaster train is being thoroughly overhauled.
Bobbejaanland will open its doors again on Saturday, March 30, but behind the scenes the work is anything but quiet. During the planned winter closure, maintenance will be carried out on all attractions, but extra attention will be paid to Revolution. In honor of the 35th anniversary of this indoor coaster, Bobbejaanland is investing 1 million euros in train and technology as well as theming.
Technical improvements
Revolution's thirty-car train is an icon: with a length of 56 meters, it is currently the longest roller coaster train in the world. Over the years the train made countless journeys. As a result, the base on which the carts are attached needs to be replaced.
A completely new chassis is therefore being custom-made at Vekoma, the manufacturer that supplied the attraction in 1989. That is an investment that visitors will not immediately notice - but it does ensure that Revolution can last for many years to come. Work is also being done on the top of the train this winter. Bobbejaanland chose to restore all thirty carts to their former glory and have them completely sanded and lacquered. During their makeover, the bodies were again given the silver-gray and green-blue tones they had at the opening in 1989.
Further theming
The technology in the attraction will also receive a major upgrade. Various lighting effects are replaced and expanded, so that the experience of Revolution becomes even better. The nostalgic character of the attraction is taken into account. “We absolutely want to honor Revolution,” says commercial and creative director Peggy Verelst.
“This indoor rollercoaster receives the highest customer satisfaction score of all attractions from Bobbejaanland visitors. And it doesn't stop there: the ride even has its own fan club. So there is no reason to give the attraction a new look – on the contrary. We are fully committed to preserving the rich history and using new technology to ensure that Revolution remains an audience favorite for years to come.” This winter, Revolution's queue will also be overhauled. Bobbejaanland engaged Kabuki to theme this space, which last year also provided the exterior decoration of Terra Magma and the Mystery Bay theme zone.
Five-part video series
Revolution is close to the hearts of many visitors. That is why they will get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the works in the coming months. In a five-part video series, visitors are taken through the upgrade of Revolution: from the wear and tear on the chassis to the finishing touches. The early years of the attraction are also discussed in detail in an interview with Jack Schoepen. The series is kicked off by Tom Knuts, Maintenance Manager at Bobbejaanland. He gives in episode 1 more explanation about the need to replace the existing chassis and explains the technical steps that follow.
More information: www.bobbejaanland.be