Special thanks to Yatsuyuuen over at YouTube and his friend, Kikuo Kawasima for the pics and videos of Geopolis and Geopanic.

Back in 2007, when Trevor, Mom and I stayed at the Tokyo Dome for Trev’s Make-A-Wish in Japan, one of the sections there was called Geopolis. This section was built underground and had a special roller coaster in it. This coaster was called GeoPanic and was a custom indoor TOGO coaster. (TOGO is a now-defunct Japanese coaster builder infamous for rough coasters, their biggest and most famous work is FujiYama at the base of Mt. Fuji, which we also rode on this trip). About a month ago, I decided to check the Tokyo Dome’s website for fun and was shocked to find a notice that Geopolis was temporarily closed. I found out about Yatsuyuuen, a user on YouTube who took on ride footage of GeoPanic and lived in the Tokyo area. So, I sent him a message on YouTube and this is the reply I got:

Hello Josh, Thank you for your message about my Thunder Dolphin movie and photo.(^o^)/
When I went to Tokyo Dome City Attractions yesterday,I asked Geopolis staff,
Thunder Dolphin staff, Ferris wheel staff about where GeoPanic coaster went to,
they three all said the coaster was disassembled,and was disposed,not to other
amusement park, so we can’t ride GeoPanic anymore.

Needless to say I feel weird. It isn’t the first time I have experienced this (the very first amusement park I ever went to, Miracle Strip, is no longer around) but still, GeoPanic was such a unique coaster. Not only are TOGOs rare (not to mention, custom TOGOs–a lot of TOGOs left around are ones that were mass produced, so you find the exact same track layout at every park that bought one) but GeoPanic had a soul all its’ own too. It’s hard to believe it is gone!!! So, to immortalize GeoPanic I am making this blog post and posting these pics and videos (again, courtesy of Yatsuyuuen and his friend) so that more people will know of the lost coaster treasure.

BTW, when we rode it, they actually rethemed it to GeoPanic Marvel Heroes–it was cool to see a Japanese coaster mixed in with something from my culture! Right before one of the drops, you see the Hulk on a wall and hear a low growling scream! All of GeoPanic was in the dark with some special effects lighting and 1 time where riders dive through a partially cut away tube into the general hall of Geopolis–so it was somewhat like a psychotic version of Disney’s Space Mountain–and by psychotic I mean this ride was intent on beating the snot out of you haha!

Entry way into Geopolis. Once inside, you went down several sets of stairs to reach GeoPanic.

Geopolis’ main hall. If you look towards the center, you will see GeoPanic’s sign. There is a collection of fake rocks there, behind the fake rocks is the station to GeoPanic. Also, towards the top left is a partially dissected tube. Inside that tube is GeoPanic’s track, and that is the only part of the ride you actually see daylight

Main hall from ground level. GeoPanic’s station is actually behind the photographer. The tube on the right actually has GeoPanic’s track inside of it. Any time you were in the main hall, you could hear GeoPanic (and its’ riders) echoing throughout the hall, it was a surreal experience to say the least!

Old marquee for GeoPanic. When we rode it, the restraints were redesigned so they sported steel cages that went over the riders’ faces.

GeoPanic’s Station.

GeoPanic in the station, the cages swing forward to hold the riders in as the ONLY restraint, not even a normal seat belt! Safe, but definitely weird feeling!

One of GeoPanic’s trains diving through the partially dissected tube.

GeoPanic’s station after it was rethemed GeoPanic Marvel Heroes

Safety alert showing how the restraints come down on the riders.

Close up of the front of GeoPanic’s train.

The next section of pics give a rare lighted look at the inside of GeoPanic, thanks to Kikuo-san

Just leaving the station.

First lift hill (of 2) with fake rock walls.

section of track later in the ride, leading up to the second lift hill.

at the bottom of one of the hills…

set of visual effect rings, some go around the track while the rest go off to the side, making riders think they will go through all then they suddenly make a left hand turn. In the video below, you can see the effect the intended way very clearly.

part of the second lift hill.

close up of the dissected tube.

aboard GeoPanic, and about to dive through the dissected tube.

If I remember correclty, this is right before you re-enter the station (it switches from a earthy cavern theme to a futuristic industrial theme right at the very end).

more special effects lighting.

a banked turn

breaking section at the end, that turn up ahead leads directly into the station.

entering the station.

Now, Yatsuyuuen’s on ride video of GeoPanic, in all its’ former glory!!!!