Holiday World to unveil world's longest water coaster mid-May

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. — A southern Indiana amusement park will unveil what it touts as the world’s longest water coaster in May.

The $5.5 million Wildebeest ride will open May 14 at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. The ride is a third of a mile long and will use a conveyor system to take riders up a lift hill before dropping them 38 feet. Riders will then go up seven additional hills, through two tunnels and around a helix.

The ride uses a magnetic field under the slide surface to move the toboggan-style rafts up the hills. Park officials say the technology has been used in steel roller coasters in the past.

Wildebeest’s top speed will hit 36 feet per second. The ride lasts 2 1/2 minutes.

Take a virtual ride of the Wildebeest on this YouTube post.