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Thrill Ride Designer

Engineer Suzy Cheely designs roller coasters and other extreme rides

May/June 2023
By Dani Leviss

BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG

Suzy Cheely and her team created the indoor ride DarKoaster, which opens this year! This illustration shows how part of it will look.

As you read, think about how engineers use forces and motion to create thrilling rides.

BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG

Suzy Cheely

Clink, clink, clink. Your car inches up the first hill of a wild roller coaster. The car begins to tip forward over the top of the hill. Then WHOOSH!

You scream with excitement as you race down the track!

If you love thrills like this, you have engineers like Suzy Cheely to thank. She leads a team that designs rides at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, both in Virginia. She recently spoke with SuperScience about her work.

Clink, clink, clink. Your car inches up the first hill of a wild roller coaster. You reach the top. Your car begins to tip forward. Then WHOOSH!

You scream as you race down the track!

Do you love thrills like this? If so, you have engineers like Suzy Cheely to thank. She works at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, both in Virginia. There she leads a team that designs rides. Cheely recently spoke with SuperScience about her work

What led you to your career?

I love math and drawing. So in college I pursued engineering, which involves both. I really enjoyed it! For 10 years after college, I designed buildings and bridges. Then I heard about a job at a theme park. I thought, “Wow, how fun would that be?” A few months later, I joined Busch Gardens.

I love math and drawing. So in college I studied engineering. It uses both. I really enjoyed it! I designed buildings and bridges for 10 years after college. Then I heard about a job at a theme park. I thought, “Wow, how fun would that be?” I joined Busch Gardens a few months later.

How do you come up with ride ideas?

We think about what’s the next big thing in ride design and see how it could fit at the park. The theme of Busch Gardens Williamsburg is European countries, like France, Germany, and Italy. Each ride has a story that connects to the corresponding country’s culture.

An empty building inspired our newest ride, DarKoaster, which opens this year. The space is shaped like a castle, and we designed a ride to fit inside. The building has no windows, so we used lights and sounds to play off the scenery and tell a story about a cursed castle during a storm. That’s an experience you can’t get from an outdoor ride.

We think about what’s the next big thing in ride design. We see how it could fit at the park. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has a theme. It’s European countries, like France, Germany, and Italy. Each ride has a story that links to a certain country’s culture.

An empty building inspired our newest ride. It’s called DarKoaster. It opens this year. The space is shaped like a castle. We created a ride to fit inside it. The building has no windows. So we used lights and sounds to play off the scenery. It tells a story about a cursed castle during a storm. You can’t get that from an outdoor ride.

What features make a great ride?

We use shapes like loops and drops to make rides exciting. Engineers call these shapes elements. With Pantheon, an outdoor roller coaster that opened in 2022, we used 1,014 meters (3,327 feet) of track. That gave us room to use a lot of creative ride elements!

For example, in the middle of Pantheon, there’s a section of track where devices called electromagnets use magnetic forces to push the car forward, then backward up a vertical piece of track, then forward again (see Design of Pantheon). Finally, the car builds up enough kinetic energy, the energy of motion, to make it over a 55 meter (180 foot)-tall hill.

At the top of that hill, your car is full of potential energy. Then gravity pulls you down the other side. As you speed over the remaining hills, you feel weightless, like you’re coming out of your seat.

We use shapes like loops and drops. It makes rides exciting. Engineers call these shapes elements. Pantheon is an outdoor roller coaster that opened in 2022. We used 1,014 meters (3,328 feet) of track for Pantheon. That gave us room to use a lot of fun ride elements!


There’s a section of track in the middle of Pantheon. It has devices called electromagnets. They use magnetic forces to push the car forward (see Design of Pantheon). Then they pull it backward straight up a piece of track. And then forward again. Finally, the car builds up enough kinetic energy. It’s the energy of motion. This drives it over a 55 meter (180 foot)-tall hill.

Your car is full of potential energy at the top of that hill. Then gravity pulls you down the other side. You speed over the remaining hills. You feel weightless. It’s like you’re coming out of your seat.

Take a Wild Ride!

Cheely’s team designed Pantheon, a roller coaster in Virginia, for maximum thrills!

Cheely’s team designed Pantheon, a roller coaster in Virginia, for maximum thrills!

©2022 SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

On Pantheon, riders zoom backward up a spike, or vertical piece of track, then drop straight down 178 feet.

On Pantheon, riders zoom backward up a spike, or vertical piece of track, then drop straight down 178 feet.

©2022 SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Take a Wild Ride!

Cheely’s team designed Pantheon, a roller coaster in Virginia, for maximum thrills!

Cheely’s team designed Pantheon, a roller coaster in Virginia, for maximum thrills!

©2022 SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

On Pantheon, riders zoom backward up a spike, or vertical piece of track, then drop straight down 178 feet.

On Pantheon, riders zoom backward up a spike, or vertical piece of track, then drop straight down 178 feet.

©2022 SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

How are designing water rides and roller coasters different?

Roller coasters have motors or magnets that pull the cars up the first big hill and sometimes other hills too. Most water rides don’t have motors. Instead, guests gain potential energy by climbing to the top of a tower. There might be little hills along the way, but the energy you have at the top is what gets you to the bottom.

When we build a new slide, we build the tower on top of a hill. Then we build the splash pool in a valley. That way we get as much height difference as possible for the ride.

Roller coasters have motors or magnets. They pull the cars up the first big hill and sometimes other hills too. Most water rides don’t have motors. Instead, guests gain potential energy by climbing to the top of a tower. There might be little hills along the way, but the energy you have at the top is what gets you to the bottom.

We build the tower on top of a hill when we build a new slide. Then we build the splash pool in a valley. That way we get as much height as possible for the ride.

What advice would you give kids who want to design rides?

Think about what you love about the ride experience. You can work for a park or for companies that help build rides for different parks. You can be the person who comes up with the themes and stories for rides. There are so many pieces that go into creating rides, so there’s a lot you can do!

Think about what you love about a ride. You can work for a park. Or you can work for companies that help build rides. You can be the person who comes up with the themes and stories for rides. There are so many pieces that go into creating rides. So there’s a lot you can do!

Shaped to Thrill!

Roller coasters zoom through different shapes called elements. Here are a few elements from rides at different parks that lift, twist, and turn upside down.

Roller coasters zoom through different shapes called elements. Here are a few elements from rides at different parks that lift, twist, and turn upside down.

PERRY MASTROVITO//PASSAGE UNRELEASED/GETTY IMAGES

LOOP
Boomerang - Quebec, Canada

In loops, the track turns 360° to make an oval shape. They can be vertical (above) or horizontal.

LOOP
Boomerang - Quebec, Canada

In loops, the track turns 360° to make an oval shape. They can be vertical (above) or horizontal.

COASTERMAN1234 VIA WIKIPEDIA

CORKSCREW
Corkscrew - Ohio, U.S.

Corkscrews look like stretched out vertical loops. They often appear in pairs.

CORKSCREW
Corkscrew - Ohio, U.S.

Corkscrews look like stretched out vertical loops. They often appear in pairs.

JEREMY THOMPSON/CC VIA FLICKR

ZERO-G ROLL
Hydra the Revenge - Pennsylvania, U.S.

A zero-g roll twists the track 360° while going over a hill. Riders often briefly feel weightless, or like there’s zero gravity.

ZERO-G ROLL
Hydra the Revenge - Pennsylvania, U.S.

A zero-g roll twists the track 360° while going over a hill. Riders often briefly feel weightless, or like there’s zero gravity.

Shaped to Thrill!

Roller coasters zoom through different shapes called elements. Here are a few elements from rides at different parks that lift, twist, and turn upside down.

Roller coasters zoom through different shapes called elements. Here are a few elements from rides at different parks that lift, twist, and turn upside down.

PERRY MASTROVITO//PASSAGE UNRELEASED/GETTY IMAGES

LOOP
Boomerang - Quebec, Canada

In loops, the track turns 360° to make an oval shape. They can be vertical (above) or horizontal.

LOOP
Boomerang - Quebec, Canada

In loops, the track turns 360° to make an oval shape. They can be vertical (above) or horizontal.

COASTERMAN1234 VIA WIKIPEDIA

CORKSCREW
Corkscrew - Ohio, U.S.

Corkscrews look like stretched out vertical loops. They often appear in pairs.

CORKSCREW
Corkscrew - Ohio, U.S.

Corkscrews look like stretched out vertical loops. They often appear in pairs.

JEREMY THOMPSON/CC VIA FLICKR

ZERO-G ROLL
Hydra the Revenge - Pennsylvania, U.S.

A zero-g roll twists the track 360° while going over a hill. Riders often briefly feel weightless, or like there’s zero gravity.

ZERO-G ROLL
Hydra the Revenge - Pennsylvania, U.S.

A zero-g roll twists the track 360° while going over a hill. Riders often briefly feel weightless, or like there’s zero gravity.

Design of Pantheon

One of Cheely’s recent rides, Pantheon, opened in the spring of 2022. Here’s how its design keeps its cars moving—and its riders screaming—from start to finish!

One of Cheely’s recent rides, Pantheon, opened in the spring of 2022. Here’s how its design keeps its cars moving—and its riders screaming—from start to finish!

ILLUSTRATION BY KATE FRANCIS

Magnets in the track push the car forward. It speeds around a loop.

Magnets in the track push the car forward. It speeds around a loop.

Magnets launch the car up a 180-foot hill, but the car doesn’t make it over. It zooms backward up a spike, drops down, then finally soars over the hill.

Magnets launch the car up a 180-foot hill, but the car doesn’t make it over. It zooms backward up a spike, drops down, then finally soars over the hill.

At the bottom of the hill, the car reaches its top speed of 73 miles per hour.

At the bottom of the hill, the car reaches its top speed of 73 miles per hour.

The car travels over one last big hill, then loses kinetic energy as it slows down.

The car travels over one last big hill, then loses kinetic energy as it slows down.

Think: Where on the track does the car have more potential energy than kinetic energy?

Think: Where on the track does the car have more potential energy than kinetic energy?

Design of Pantheon

One of Cheely’s recent rides, Pantheon, opened in the spring of 2022. Here’s how its design keeps its cars moving—and its riders screaming—from start to finish!

One of Cheely’s recent rides, Pantheon, opened in the spring of 2022. Here’s how its design keeps its cars moving—and its riders screaming—from start to finish!

ILLUSTRATION BY KATE FRANCIS

Magnets in the track push the car forward. It speeds around a loop.

Magnets in the track push the car forward. It speeds around a loop.

Magnets launch the car up a 180-foot hill, but the car doesn’t make it over. It zooms backward up a spike, drops down, then finally soars over the hill.

Magnets launch the car up a 180-foot hill, but the car doesn’t make it over. It zooms backward up a spike, drops down, then finally soars over the hill.

At the bottom of the hill, the car reaches its top speed of 73 miles per hour.

At the bottom of the hill, the car reaches its top speed of 73 miles per hour.

The car travels over one last big hill, then loses kinetic energy as it slows down.

The car travels over one last big hill, then loses kinetic energy as it slows down.

Think: Where on the track does the car have more potential energy than kinetic energy?

Think: Where on the track does the car have more potential energy than kinetic energy?

Plan Your Ride

You’ve learned how engineers use different elements to design roller coasters. Now it’s your turn to plan a new thrill ride!

You’ve learned how engineers use different elements to design roller coasters. Now it’s your turn to plan a new thrill ride!

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, sketch a design for a new roller coaster that fits the criteria and constraints below. Use labels to explain where cars get energy.

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, sketch a design for a new roller coaster that fits the criteria and constraints below. Use labels to explain where cars get energy.

Materials

  • sheet of paper
  • pencil

Materials

  • sheet of paper
  • pencil

Criteria:

  • The ride must have motors or magnets at the start to launch the cars or pull them up a hill.
  • The coaster must have three or more elements, like loops or corkscrews.
  • The coaster should be fun!

Criteria:

  • The ride must have motors or magnets at the start to launch the cars or pull them up a hill.
  • The coaster must have three or more elements, like loops or corkscrews.
  • The coaster should be fun!

Constraints:

  • The ride must start and end in the same place.
  • The track must be designed so cars have enough energy to make it to the finish.

Constraints:

  • The ride must start and end in the same place.
  • The track must be designed so cars have enough energy to make it to the finish.

TAKE IT FURTHER:  Use materials in your classroom to build a 3-D model of your design!

TAKE IT FURTHER:  Use materials in your classroom to build a 3-D model of your design!

Plan Your Ride

You’ve learned how engineers use different elements to design roller coasters. Now it’s your turn to plan a new thrill ride!

You’ve learned how engineers use different elements to design roller coasters. Now it’s your turn to plan a new thrill ride!

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, sketch a design for a new roller coaster that fits the criteria and constraints below. Use labels to explain where cars get energy.

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, sketch a design for a new roller coaster that fits the criteria and constraints below. Use labels to explain where cars get energy.

Materials

  • sheet of paper
  • pencil

Materials

  • sheet of paper
  • pencil

Criteria:

  • The ride must have motors or magnets at the start to launch the cars or pull them up a hill.
  • The coaster must have three or more elements, like loops or corkscrews.
  • The coaster should be fun!

Criteria:

  • The ride must have motors or magnets at the start to launch the cars or pull them up a hill.
  • The coaster must have three or more elements, like loops or corkscrews.
  • The coaster should be fun!

Constraints:

  • The ride must start and end in the same place.
  • The track must be designed so cars have enough energy to make it to the finish.

Constraints:

  • The ride must start and end in the same place.
  • The track must be designed so cars have enough energy to make it to the finish.

TAKE IT FURTHER:  Use materials in your classroom to build a 3-D model of your design!

TAKE IT FURTHER:  Use materials in your classroom to build a 3-D model of your design!

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