Photo: Adrian Lloyd

American Coaster Enthusiasts recognizes Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historical significance.

Built by German roller coaster manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf (1926-2001) and designed by German engineer Werner Stengel (1936- ), this launched, looping shuttle coaster opened to the public on May 25, 1978.

Taking their original looping steel roller coaster design, Schwarzkopf and Stengel created a simple, linear layout in which one vehicle travels in both directions through a loop and two near-vertical spikes along a mere 800 feet of track.

The first Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coaster opened in 1977 and utilized a weight-drop launching system to traverse the course. In a further development, Montezooma’s Revenge uses a spinning flywheel launch instead of the weight-drop launch. This newer system enabled a faster 0 to 55 mph launch in less than five seconds, taking riders immediately into a 76-foot-tall vertical loop before climbing a 148-foot-tall dead-end tower. When forward momentum stops, riders then traverse the course backward through the loop, fly through the station, then ascend another 112-foot-tall reverse-point rear tower before rolling again forward into the loading area, ending their thrilling journey.

ACE recognizes Montezooma’s Revenge as the last operating Schwarzkopf shuttle loop in the United States and the longest standing in its original location. The ride continues to offer timeless thrills and remains an integral part of Knott’s Berry Farm’s collection of roller coasters.

Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts
During Coaster Con 42
June 20, 2019