Orphan Rocker: What really happened to the ‘world’s scariest roller coaster’?
IT has been the centre of conspiracy theories, rumour and curiosity for over 30 years. The Orphan Rocker at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains was dubbed ‘the world’s scariest rollercoaster’ by enthusiasts and ‘dangerous’ by online theme park forums.
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IT has been the centre of conspiracy theories, rumour and curiosity for over 30 years.
The Orphan Rocker at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains was dubbed ‘the world’s scariest rollercoaster’ by enthusiasts and ‘dangerous’ by online theme park forums.
It started in the 1980s as a passion project for Scenic World owner Harry Hammon and his son Phil.
In 1985, Harry told the media, “It’s a frightening ride...it really will be bit of a horror”.
The 840-metre steel coaster was anticipated to be the first of its kind — an Australian-made and manufactured thrill ride — with carriages like coal mine carts, darting through the forest, plunging down tunnels and towering 200-metres above the rainforest floor.
Over time, theories would surface grasping to explain delays in the ride opening.
Some would say the coaster was unsafe, claiming sand-filled test dummies were hurled from carriages zipping around cliffhanging bends.