The History of Vortex at Canada's Wonderland

We take a look at the history of the legendary Arrow Suspended Coaster Vortex at Canada's Wonderland on its 30th anniversary. #canadaswonderland #vortexwonderland #arrowdynamics

[@justylex]

I love Vortex. Not the most intense coaster, but just plain fun. A great first big coaster for kids too!

[@CranialExtractor]

I didn't care much for Vortex in the 90s. But I really appreciate you teaching me the history of this ride.

[@1st_Drop]

Thank you for watching!

[@randywest2591]

Randy West Love ❤️ Vortex Roller Coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario Canada 🇨🇦.

[@claudiapawlak3971]

Vortex is my favourite Wonderland ride. So underrated!

[@theagnosticpagan]

Vortex is underrated. Easly My favorite coaster.

[@musikmirage]

I remember seeing the commercial back in the spring in 91 was a young kid, we all thought the coaster was going to be built with that mechanical hand holding it up for real lol

[@1st_Drop]

They should still look into this idea...

[@mitch1352]

Love Vortex! I was a teenager when it opened and it still holds up. I just have this dream of the track being painted gold or yellow. It is too similar to Yukon Striker right now, and it would match the theme and look gorgeous!

[@unseeninja]

Cool video. The ride still holds up today and its still pretty busy. They really should improve the mountain top section tho. Its kinda ugly up there.

[@dreamer7102]

Lol ya

[@Lorijenken]

I was there on opening day for this 3 1/2 hours it was 100% worth it !!

[@StamfordBridge]

Great video! I love the old ads and the “fashion” segment. I’ve been on all the operating suspended coasters in North America and Vortex for me is the best. I just wish I could have experienced that Wonder Mountain “hiking trail” to the top.

[@1st_Drop]

Thanks Stamford! There are more to come, if entry isn't allowed into Wonderland yet we will at least have something to celebrate this anniversary season, where sadly in its first I actually went up that mountain myself!

[@ChristieAdamsKangoo]

Ha ha, yeah, the Vortex trains have probably had more paint jobs than any other coaster in Wonderland. The 90s one was pretty bad@ss, but was probably a huge pain to touch up every off-season.

[@sylvainbrousseau44]

Great video. Thank you

[@johnbalazy9768]

Thank you for a great video of Vortex I always hear too many coaster people saying to take it out, but its a great ride. Thank you for a great video

[@1st_Drop]

I feel anyone who claims it should be removed are not true coaster people ;)

[@junkbox_]

I remember when Vortex opened, I had a season pass that year and it was one of the final times that I got a season's pass. The ride was a much needed coaster boost for the park, even back then before hyper and giga coasters were popular, the coaster selection at the park was disappointing overall. Crazy to think that this would be their last proper coaster for almost two decades. Apparently the top of the mountain still looks like that, and has ever since Vortex opened. They could atleast line the top and have a pond or something. Unlike other parks, Canada's Wonderland were never really into terrain theming, trees, shrubs, or shaders. Shade is limited inside this park compared to other parks. Bats live inside small holes of the mountain and they come out to play at night. The red air traffic way point beacon on top of the mountain used to be visible from South of Hwy7 and Weston Rd. Until the 407 and the Langstaff bypass was built, the Mountain was visible from street level of Keele and Steeles, and visible at night from screen 2 and 3 of the 400 Drive-In. Before access was closed, from the highway you used to be able to see people working their way up and down the mountain when it was an attraction of it's own. I think medievel torches lined the walkways up there because you could see those from the road too. I went up the mountain 2 or 3 times before Thunder Run was built, but it was always during the day. The park needs to hybridize the Wild Beast and Minebuster.

[@ShaunBMcKinnon]

I love the vortex, it’s our first primer ride at the park, I hope it never leaves!

[@1st_Drop]

Absolutely agree!

[@derisleybrittain]

Excellent footage ❤️❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕💕

[@MercHunter66]

Vortex is my 2nd favorite ride at the park. I think it's more enjoyable than Behemoth and Yukon Striker. I really miss the original logo though. Something about that terminator hand grabbing the track was just epic!

[@1st_Drop]

It really is the park's official legendary ride! I wish I had that old sign!

[@coasterfair2602]

Wish that an another manufacturer would pick this up so more parks would pick up like Carowinds and Kings Dominion

[@clairefunnell8481]

Love Vortex, it is one of my favourite rides. Can't wait to ride it again.

[@aroundtorontotwo8817]

lot's of great info thanks

[@1st_Drop]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@OliviaFranks219]

The ride is pretty aggressive and bumpy, but if you put your head at the back of the seat it’s fine. That’s what makes it fun!

[@heatnicoleher]

It's a lot smoother than those wooden coasters!

[@randywest5149]

Randy West Love Vortex EST. 1991 at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario Canada 🇨🇦.

[@1st_Drop]

Vortex, legend of Canadian skies!

[@kimmygengar]

I love Vortex! I'll be going to Wonderland to ride it tomorrow!

[@kimmygengar]

Update: I rode it and it was just as awesome as I remember!

[@1st_Drop]

It is legendary and still riding very well, glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaelofficial1023]

Time machine back to the 80s would be nice

[@johnpatterson4272]

Freakin' awesome video. Vortex strangely always gave me a headache, for a coaster with 'allegedly' no anchoring (bottom) track it was rather rough. I always thought the design could have used a higher lift-hill with a steeper drop.

[@MadameChristie]

Admittedly I like both sign designs. The new one has nice texture and a cool twister look, but the original sign is metal as fuck XD

[@junkbox_]

The logo does look like Judas Priest. I could never put my finger on it, but it looks like Turbo meets Painkiller. I wasn't into them back then but I love JP in my old age. That Painkiller video came out the year before Vortex debuted, and on that tour cycle in 1991 Rob Halford got knocked out at Exhibition Stadium when he rode out on his bike and hit his head on the drum riser. He abruptly left the band after that. That incident in Toronto is still talked about.

[@ThreeLions82]

I was a fan of Jet Scream to be fair. I still remember hearing the coins from peoples pockets dropping into the machine down below.

[@1st_Drop]

We loved it too! There may be a fun short about that on the way.

[@jasonstamp10]

Vortex is still my all-time favourite ride at the park. Not quite as smooth as it used to be but it's still great and can be deceptively intense, especially the drop and that first big turn. Behemoth, Leviathan, and Yukon Striker are great but this one still remains my favourite. I'm a bigger guy and the over the shoulder restraints are much, much easier for me than the lap bars of the 3 B&Ms. I'm going to be really sad when they announce the closing of it. I can't believe it's been there over 30 years now, I can still sort of remember when it was added when I was a kid.

[@1st_Drop]

Where Behemoth and Leviathan get praise, Vortex has continually delivered for decades and even today gives rides that are on par with those two - a night ride during haunt is astounding for example!