Glow is the name of the world’s tallest wooden roller coaster, which will premiere on Thursday, August 22. The colossus was built in the Energylandia amusement park in Zator. This extraordinary structure is another record and the 15th roller coaster in Poland’s most modern family amusement park. In addition to Energylandia’s 75 attractions, you can also relax and have fun in the water park’s water zone.

The Wooden Coaster Zadra reaches a speed of 121 km/h. The cable car will take us to a height of 61 meters on a 1,316 m long track. The cable car will carry 24 people at a time, but that’s not the end of the attractions.

A ride on this extreme roller coaster guarantees many turns, that is, so-called inversions, the attraction of which will count up to 3. The first drop can be breathtaking, because its slope is equal to 90 degrees. For those who like to soar in the clouds, attraction producers have provided weightlessness effects, unexpected gravitational effects and panoramic views of the picturesque surroundings.

Zadra – the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world! See how it rides.

The project was created thanks to the synergy of two powerful companies: the American Rocky Mountain Constructions and the Dutch Vekoma. The chariots and layout of Zadra reference the medieval land of dragons. The first guests will be able to ride the cable car next Thursday from 2 p.m. The official opening of the new fifth zone, Dragon City, is also scheduled for that day.

Wooden roller coasters are wooden queue structures that are a symbol of many amusement parks around the world. The roller coaster resembles an old-fashioned structure, but is more technologically advanced than the steel roller coaster. Zadra is a hybrid model, which means it is made of two materials: wood and metal. It has a wooden structure and a metal rail, as well as steel plates, joints, feet and supports.

How was the tallest wooden coaster in the world created?

The construction of the new part of Smoczy Gród and the Zadra cable car lasted 11 months. The project started in November 2018 and finished in August 2019. The number of people working on this project proves that building the world’s tallest wooden roller coaster is a real undertaking. More than 300 people participated in the construction. These include specialist designers, engineers, builders, mechanics, electricians, gardeners and roller coaster builders.

The wood used for the construction of the railway comes from the state of Georgia in the United States. It is yellow pine, extremely hard and weather resistant. The route taken by the specialized wood used to construct Zadra is also astonishing.

– Most of the containers traveled by sea from the United States to the Netherlands, and from there to Poland by truck and train. Some necessary parts also reached us by air at an express pace. 737 tons of American lumber were used to build Zadra. Other elements of the roller coaster, such as the steel legs and the track, were manufactured in the United States and Poland. – says Damian Selph – lead designer.

Zadra construction stages

The first stage of construction was to prepare construction designs, visualizations and select the best specialists for construction. At the start of the work, the foundations were laid and 1,162 steel anchors were installed. The wood arrived in Poland in the form of ready-made elements, which were then assembled to form smaller individual walls. The walls were fixed on anchors then glued with metal plates. The penultimate step is the installation of the joists, which serve as supports for the track on which the Zadra wagon travels. During the final stage, a series of safety tests were carried out, in the presence of the best engineers from many specializations from around the world, so that Energylandia customers can feel safe. The entire construction process took 11 months.

Dragon Town – the land of magic!

Energylandia also surprised its guests with a new 5th zone. Dragon Town is another part of the park, which was built on an area of ​​5 hectares surrounding the new Zadra roller coaster. An amazing place that looks like a city straight out of “The Lord of the Rings” or the mysterious “The Witcher”. Medieval Gothic style streets, period architecture, elaborate castle ruins, all made of wood and stone. It is an extraordinary fantasy land decorated with torches and other refined decorations. In Dragon Town, the youngest will be able to enjoy the exciting Frida roller coaster with a dedicated shop and the special Dragon Adventure panoramic train, which will take us to the magical land of dragons. Foodies will definitely enjoy a visit to an ice cream parlor offering the tastiest ice creams. Dragon Town is a journey into the medieval world of magic and dragons.

Energylandia continues to grow!

The latest data collected for the construction of new attractions indicates that Poles love roller coasters and are increasingly turning to this type of entertainment. Zator already attracts almost two million visitors from all over Europe during the season who are looking for an unusual way to spend time with family. Children scream with joy and go crazy on various roller coasters and carousels, swim on pontoons and slide down several water slides in the meantime. And now the group of these unique attractions will include the fantastic Dragon Castle inspired by the Middle Ages and the highest wooden railway in the world – Zadra.