Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
This is a loving tribute to a lesser known American Amusement Rides rapids that existed in the early 2000's at Alabama Adventure (formerly VisionLand) in Bessemer, Alabama. I rode it once in 2007 during my first visit to the park. This Planet Coaster model took 91 hours to complete and gives an idea of what the ride was like. I hope you enjoy.
Known Issues:
* The real rafts were six person FAB Design, not twelve person Intamin rafts with modified O.D. Hopkins head rests.
* To get the lift hill, a drop had to go in elsewhere. There was no drop on Wild River Gorge.
* The "whirlpool" and drop area I just couldn't get right. Yep, it's ugly.
* The tunnel was a cement crescent with wood panels in parts and flat on top, not dug out of a hill.
* I could not fit in the on-ride photo building that would've been near the snack bar and tables before the queue bridge.
* The sections before and after the tunnel are too long. I misread satellite photos.
* The lift hill screws where enclosed by a fence. I couldn't duplicate that.
* Still learning Steam's video capture and Kdenlive's audio system, so it's a very quiet video.
Thank you for checking out the video and my theme park historian hobby. I'm grateful.
This is a loving tribute to a lesser known American Amusement Rides rapids that existed in the early 2000's at Alabama Adventure (formerly VisionLand) in Bessemer, Alabama. I rode it once in 2007 during my first visit to the park. This Planet Coaster model took 91 hours to complete and gives an idea of what the ride was like. I hope you enjoy.
Known Issues:
* The real rafts were six person FAB Design, not twelve person Intamin rafts with modified O.D. Hopkins head rests.
* To get the lift hill, a drop had to go in elsewhere. There was no drop on Wild River Gorge.
* The "whirlpool" and drop area I just couldn't get right. Yep, it's ugly.
* The tunnel was a cement crescent with wood panels in parts and flat on top, not dug out of a hill.
* I could not fit in the on-ride photo building that would've been near the snack bar and tables before the queue bridge.
* The sections before and after the tunnel are too long. I misread satellite photos.
* The lift hill screws where enclosed by a fence. I couldn't duplicate that.
* Still learning Steam's video capture and Kdenlive's audio system, so it's a very quiet video.
Thank you for checking out the video and my theme park historian hobby. I'm grateful.
