The Legend
Wood Twister at Arnolds Park, Arnolds Park, Iowa. Opened 1930.
- Height
- 63 ft
- Drop
- 63 ft
- Top speed
- 50 mph
- Length
- 2,000 ft
- Inversions
- 0
- Ride time
- n/a
- Designer
- Outdoor Amusement Enterprise, Inc.
The Legend is a wooden roller coaster at Arnolds Park, the amusement park on the shore of West Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Iowa. It opened on June 8, 1930, under the name Speed Hound, and was designed by John A. Miller. The park lists it as one of only 10 surviving Miller designs.
The ride follows a figure-eight layout around the park. A chain lift carries the single three-car train to the top before a 63-foot drop, and the park gives a top speed of 50 mph on its 2,000-foot track. The train seats 18 riders. The park's own page requires riders to be at least 48 inches tall.
History
The coaster was later known as the Giant Coaster before taking the name The Legend. It was badly damaged by a storm in June 1968. It stood idle in 1987 and 1988 and was rebuilt with a new train for the 1989 season, when the park changed hands. Restoration work was completed in phases in 2013 and 2014, and a final refurbishment phase was finished in 2023.
Sources
- rcdb.com/347.htm (RCDB: Legend, Arnolds Park, operating since 1930-06-08; wood; make Outdoor Amusement Enterprise, Inc., built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, designer John A. Miller; height 63 ft; 0 inversions; chain lift; one train of 3 cars, 18 riders; former names Speed Hound and Giant Coaster; SBNO 1987 to 1988; rebuilt with a new train for 1989 with a change of park ownership; severely damaged by a storm in June 1968; earlier claimed 1927 opening not supported.)
- arnoldspark.com/legendcoaster (Park page: originally christened The Speed Hound, showcase of the park in 1930; architect John A. Miller; one of only 10 surviving Miller designs; figure-eight layout; six-story lift; three-car train; 2,000-foot track; plunges 63 feet at 50 miles per hour.)
- arnoldspark.com/project/the-legend-roller-coaster (Park ride page: built in 1930; wooden coaster; 48-inch height requirement.)
- arnoldspark.com/our-history (Timeline: coaster built 1930, later renamed; Legend renovation completed in two phases in 2013 and 2014.)
- radioiowa.com/2023/05/15/166225 (Radio Iowa, May 15, 2023: the last section of the coaster was redone, completing the final refurbishment phase.)
Numbers are from the ride's manufacturer and park where published; "n/a" means we have not confirmed that number yet. Spotted an error? Tell us.