Predator at Six Flags Darien Lake is a shockingly great wood coaster. Although it’s more of a hybrid coaster today with the installation of Titan Track on about 80% of the course. However, the Titan Track makes the train run like butter and the bumpy last 20% without it actually serves as a reminder of what a great decision the retrofit was. The retrofit has been a 5 year process with the remainder of the conversion scheduled to happen the offseason. Once that is complete this could be one of the best wood hybrid rides anywhere.

Predator isn’t going to blow you away with its specs. It has a 95 foot height and 3,400 feet of track taken at 50 mph over a 1 minute and 50 second ride. Similar to ArieForce one though, it’s how the elements flow together in a relentless progression that makes it magic. It opened in 1990 and was made by Dinn Corporation and designed by Curtis D. Summers. Mr. Summers also worked on iconic coasters like The Beast, The Racer, Mean Streak, America Eagle, Georgia Cyclone and Texas Giant.

Titan Track is a new generation of steel roller coaster track that Skyline Attractions designed and engineered for Great Coasters International, Inc. It can be used on new coasters or to retrofit wooden roller coasters. Titan Track doesn’t use any welds and can be installed like an erector set. It debuted in 2019 and was first installed on White Lightning at Fun Spot Orlando. The Predator renovation started in 2022 and it’s great for a park’s budget to be able to do a renovation in pieces over years. Wolverine Wildcat at Michigan’s Adventure is made by Dinn Corporation and has also received Titan Track. Although the new track does allow for inversions and other new elements, it seems like most parks look to keep largely the same profile, perhaps with minor tweaks for comfort and reliability.

Darien Lake has quite the diverse roller coaster collection in addition to Predator. The rest of the lineup includes an Arrow hyper, a Zamperla launched motorbike coaster, an Arrow looper, a Vekoma SLC, a Vekoma Boomerang and a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter. Predator itself is unique in that it was manufactured by Dinn Corporation, who only built about 10 coasters, several of which have been “RMC’ed” or closed. I really like the use of Titan Track here though as it preserves the original ride and character of the coaster. Predator slots nicely in the lineup at Darien Lake, giving a ride like nothing else in the park that feels old school, but that is actually powered by new coaster technology.

I saw several Darien Lake reviews online in advance of my visit all raving about Predator and they definitely were right. Predator is a sincerely great coaster and will be even better next year when the Titan Track is complete. Darien Lake is a great stop for a coaster enthusiast as you get to ride some rare birds. There aren’t many Arrow hypers and Arrow loopers left and the Motocoaster uses a really unique flywheel launch. Mind Eraser, the Vekoma SLC, has the new flexible comfort vests meaning a great ride with no head-banging. Titan Track is a great innovation that can take a coaster like Predator and return it to its opening day greatness, or perhaps even better. If you head to Darien Lake expect to want to ride Predator several times, it’s a highly re-rideable coaster. It’s not a true 100% wooden roller coaster anymore, but that’s ok when it runs this well.