Dragon Fyre (formerly Dragon Fire) is an old Arrow looping coaster at Canada’s Wonderland. This was an opening day attraction and while it’s quite literally dwarfed by its next-door neighbor, this coaster does have some redeeming qualities.
Video Credits
Dragon Fyre POV (Canada’s Wonderland)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urWQCUGOF7Y
Background Music
Medieval Song Village Consort
Always No Copyright Music | Free Music for Everyone
Title: Village Consort
Genre: Country & Folk
Mood: Dramatic
Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ_r1H9vHkI
33 Comments
Fun fact: Big Loop at Heide Park is an exact clone of this ride, only it’s mirrored and it was built by Vekoma.
I just went here for the first time two weeks ago, I was super impressed with the coaster lineup and this one would still be among the coasters I'd ride on every visit. It was way less rough for me than other old arrows like Corkscrew at CP or Carolina Cyclone. I'd rank it below the woodies but above the vekomas and family coasters.
I still think so. It is a good roller coaster for children going on their first big coaster. It is also a classic.
This is one of my favourite rides at Wonderland. I love the simplicity of the layout. I think the straight section between the first drop and loops is cool because you view these loops ahead of you.
I have been riding Dragon Fyre every single year since 1990. When I was a child (before I got into roller coasters) I was so intrigued by the look of the ride. I was fascinated that it went upside down.
The ride was originally green track with brown supports. The supports were painted purple midway through the 2005 season. The rails were painted yellow in 2007. The trains used to be fyre coloured (yellow, orange, red) during the 80's. From 1990-1996 the trains were white and neon green (which I really liked). Then in 1997 the trains were changed to its current colour.
Originally Dragon Fyre had a larger and very nice looking queue line with large trees and cobblestone. Unfortunately it was no longer used and it was removed to make room for Riptide. What was cool was that at the time when you first walk into Medieval Faire towards Dragon Fyre you do not see much of the ride because it was hidden.
I went 20 years between rides on this (1997-2017) and was pleasantly surprised to find that I still enjoyed it a whole heck of a lot. For what it's worth, I like janky old Arrow loopers far more than the average enthusiast, but this is one of my favorites. Those super forceful vertical loops are worth a ride, alone! Gray-out city.
And just another thought…
I have this memory of being a little kid and watching Dragon Fire zoom about the back of the Medieval Fair section of the park. For whatever reason, I remembered the colors as being white and light green, however, I can't find any photographic evidence to back up this memory (maybe the trains were this color, but not the track?). Can any CW regulars tell me what the color scheme might have been back in the mid to late '90s?
I absolutely love this coaster because of its nostalgia value for me but I have it rated 5/10 as well and I think that’s a fair evaluation
Surprisingly I found those loops to be the most intense inversions in the park. They just don't make them like they used to
Awesome review man can you review vortex
It's a vintage Arrow looper. Of course I would ride it.
Actually did run 3 trains for a short period of time, before train 3 went to the bat. Also, who else noticed the MOVING CHAIN on the MCBR?!
Canobie coaster I have a question and it might be a silly question but how come you can't do a review of fantasy fair at Woodbine mall
Seems like they took a standard Arrow loop-screw and kicked it up just a notch.
I believe the 'weird' straight aways after the first drop on old arrows/vekomas is to provide a place for rider evacuation in the case of valleying
Dragon Fire was the first coaster I ever rode at the park back in 2010, and its a fun ride experience. I haven't ridden it since 2013, but I noticed during my visit to Heide Park in 2019 that Big Loop is basically a mirror-image version of Dragon Fire. Same awkward straight section before the loops and the same helix! Oddly enough, according to rcdb that one is 20 ft taller, yet over 10 mph slower?
This was the first inverted coaster I rode as a child and pretty much turned me into the coaster enthusiast I am now. I don't think it has aged well and I haven't ridden it in years, but it's pretty iconic for Canada as it was the first inverted coaster in the country back in '81. I think for history sake it should remain, but definitely on its final legs. There are other coasters there that are worse (wildebeest) and should be removed or RMC'd. Thanks for the video 👍✨
this one has got an uglyish color scheme but in general Arrow Loopers look so classic. they are like the classic cars of the roller coaster world
I rode it yesterday during Halloween Haunt, still IMO the best CW classic to this day.
too much headbanging, but I appriciate it for its history, and the loops were very fun
I still think this looks better than a lot of Canada wonderlands other roller coasters which is kind of a problem if this is one of their biggest parks
It may be one of the weaker Arrows, but I still enjoyed it. I always love my Arrows. I'm at a good height to not get headbanging and also not too tall.
Always love to see more recognition for old school Arrow Loopers. Let's hope they continue to last for a long time.
Also the fact that the only arrow Loopers with counterclockwise corkscrews are Dragon Fyre and Drachen Fire is my favorite stupid piece of coaster trivia
I feel like at least one arrow looper in America should be re tracked and preserved. In my opinion that ride should be viper at magic mountain. That was the zenith of arrows capability using the old style track.
LONG LIVE ARROW!
4:54 well put.
I rode it once in the back and liked it! It's my 6th favourite coaster in the park after the 3 B&Ms, Vortex and back lot stunt coaster.
Canada‘s Wonderland is my home park and I am absolutely hates dragon fyre. I think that the first half is fine but once you get to the double corkscrews and helix it’s unbearably rough. I find it more rough than flight deck.
This coming from the guy hoarding kiddie credits he refuses to rank in detail
It's funny that supposedly the only other Arrow looper to have counter clockwise corkscrews was Drachen Fire, a ride with basically the same name as this ride. Do you prefer this ride or Anaconda at Kings Dominion?
Ah Dragon Fyre! My only visit to Wonderland was on a stormy day in June of 1987. I don't think Bat ever opened that day, or maybe it wasn't even quite yet open. The other coasters didn't open until around 3 and lines were brutal. After finding both wooden coasters completely pointless (yup, even when they were still on the new side…), I was ready to call Canada's Wonderland the worst park ever.
Then I rode Dragon Fyre! I want to point out this was 1987. I didn't visit KI that year so I had yet to ride Vortex. Magnum did not exist. The most extreme coaster credits I had were just the coasters that existed at KI and CP at that time. So Beast, Corkscrew, Gemini or King Cobra would have been my most intense credit.
Looking at Dragon Fyre I thought "it's just Corkscrew with another loop."
But it was so much more than that.
Maybe being disappointed by the storm, long lines and weak wooden coasters had something to do with it…
But that was one of the most memorable rides of my life!
Whenever I visit a park and things are not going in my favor I always think "just be patient, you are bound to get that Dragon Fyre moment eventually!"
It happened to me this Saturday at CP in a 2.5 HR line for Steel Vengeance. And then of course I had that magic moment at the end of the line!
Thanks for the review, it means a lot to me that you talk about these almost forgotten rides, because I can remember when Dragon Fyre did tower over the park.
Of course it is still worth riding. It's one of my favorites. I love it.
Waited 3 hours for this during opening summer. Concussion inducing 30 seconds
I think dragon fire is by far the best looping coaster and I might grey out on the positive gs but it's really fun and I know some people are gonna disagree with me here cause yeah you do get a bit of headbanging on the turn after the second loop but it's not as rough as some people say it is
Bro you caught brendon on a video