Desperado Roller Coaster

We made a pit stop on the way into Vegas JUST to ride this coaster. It was so much more fun than I expected. It went faster, longer, and crazier than I had anticipated. If you need to make a pit stop and have 10 extra minutes heading to or from the strip, carve out a spot for this little devil.

I’ve been to this place multiple times and this ride is always under construction. Another chance missed. Lame.

This is one of my FAVORITE roller coasters… The drop after a long climb up is AWESOME! As you go through door ways, it looks like they may not be wide enough for the coaster, but it always seems to fit… lol.
Why only 4 stars? As some other Unilocalers have mentioned this roller coaster has gotten a bit jerky over the past several decades. Nothing a healthy person can’t handle, but if you have ANY neck/​back issues you’re better off to sit this ride out.

It has now been over a week since I rode this roller coaster and my neck still is in pain daily. This after a 30 minute neck/​back massage which came a couple days after a trip to my chiropractor. Haven’t been to my chiropractor in over a year, yet I’ll be going again this week.
This ride may be fun for some, but if you’re not a huge fan of jerking and whiplash I would stay away.
Not impressed.

Could ride, closed ride. The track looks nice and wraps around the hotel. So really can’t give a review on this ride.

I heard about this coaster from a coaster blog somewhere. Anyways, I was driving to California and I wanted to stop in to check it out. The coaster from the hwy was amazing!!! The entrance is located inside the casino in the far left back side from the main entrance.
You must purchase a ticket from the desk before entering the coaster upstairs. I paid $ 10 for 1 ride. I thought it was reasonable. You can get a few hour pass for unlimited rides for about $ 22. They also have other rides to check out too.
There was no one in line here except 2 people who were just seated on the coaster. The train car is very long. I sat in the very back row on the coaster. I didn’t know what the dropped looked like or how far the track was. You start in the casino and work your way up to the top outside. Beautiful view from the top. I liked the drop because it takes a few moments to get started going down. It was scary! As you go on, the second drop is just as high. It does go very fast and has some awesome turns.
I thought overall the ride was amazing because it was so long, thrilling, nice views, went around the whole casino, and had some tunnel action in some parts. The only downfall I thought was the roughness of it. Yes, your head will bang back and forth. Overall, I would highly suggest it for at least 1 ride for the coaster enthusiastic people.

I do not recommend this ride to anyone. I was really excited to ride. The ride is too rough. It wasn’t even scary, it was just painful. I would’ve expected it to be rough if it was a wooden roller coaster. I’m sure this will come off as an exaggerating statement, but I felt like my brain was hitting the inside of my skull. I definitely do not, I repeat DO NOT recommend this to anyone who is not in good health.

Like many other reviews state: I love roller coasters. This one is $ 10 a ride. Not terrible, but a bit pricey. He first drop is awesome, the coaster is taller than you’d think. After the first drop, things are very very bumpy and a little uncomfortable. For a metal coaster, it doesn’t feel like it’s as smooth as it should be. I probably wouldn’t go on it again.

Fast. Expensive. Worth it.
The first drop might actually give you a heart attack, seriously. If you don’t hit this roller coaster up at least once in your life, you’re an idiot. DO NOT RAISE you arms towards the end! You might need to duck also.

Amazing! It’s a must-​visit every time I drive to and/​or from Vegas. I think I read somewhere that this is the 9^th fastest coaster in the country, hitting ~90 mph at the bottom of the first drop.
I gave it 4 stars because you do have to pay for it, and $ 10 is a bit steep for a one-​time-​ride.

The price is great for the location and the quality of the ride. In Vegas you will pay double to ride the new York new York roller coaster and it doesn’t have the high reviews that this on does. I recommend gibing this a try.

This is definitely one of those attractions you should hit up at least once in your life.
Like another reviewer pointed out — it’s not always running. They will sometimes close it because of high winds, rain or other reasons, but it’s always best to call first before finding parking and trekking across the casino only to be disappointed.
Besides the roller coaster, there isn’t really much of a reason to stop here. I’ve been here a few times in the past ten years, and each time it was pretty dead. You literally walk up, buy a ticket and then hop right on the ride. I feel sorry for some of those workers because it must get pretty damn boring at times.
The roller coaster itself is a bit rickety, but worth the drop at the very beginning. You already know you’re in for a treat as you start making the climb to the top. There’s a slight pause and away you go. You weave in circles around the hotel and parking lot, taking a variety of twists and turns before finally making your way back to the station. It’s not a new coaster, so the ride is a little bumpy.
I personally think it’s a fun stop and I’m always game to go again whenever a friend of mine wants to try it. Tickets are about $ 10. Yeah, it’s a little pricey, but it’s not something you’ll do all the time. I heard it’s more fun in the evening since it’s dark. That might be a new way to try it the next time I go when the sun’s not out.

8.29.14 Update: Just rode this bad boy and it is A LOT jerkier than I remember! No bueno!
The first drop was SWEET but then I just wanted the ride to be over with. We sat in the last seat and it was so jerky and the lap bar kept digging into my thighs. Ouch!

I braved this roller coaster by myself. Maybe I would have enjoyed it if I had a partner in crime. My mom and dad were too chicken to ride it with me. I think they were actually smart for making that decision!
If you’re driving from LA and pass by this monstrosity frequently… There will come a time when you have to ride it for $h!ts and giggles. Quick warning though, it’s not always running so I’d advise calling before you actually make a stop. I’ve made that mistake quite a few times.
I think it’s fair to compare this coaster to something like Revolution at Six Flags or that big wooden one at Knotts. Ghostrider? I think that’s what it’s called! DPC is on the older side. Smooth sailing is not an adjective I’d use for this thing. It has seen better days for sure! Must MUST agree with the couple of reviewers who said they left a little banged up. I kept my arms bent and didn’t let go of the bar in front of me. It was all fun and games until the end of the drop. I felt like that’s where the cart rocked me around like a rag doll.
It’s a thrill ride, yes. Was I scared? You betcha! And that’s all I have to say ’bout that.

I am giving this 5 stars because we love roller coasters!
Note: it is $ 10 to ride, but they have wrist band options as well for people staying in, where you can ride however long you want as many times as you would like. Awesome!
The ride was extremely jerky. You definitely needed your eyes open. However, when we were going up, it started to rain, and we thought «HEY THIS IS COOL!!» ya, until we went down. Rain drops on a roller coaster feel like tiny bullets being shot at your face. Hard to keep your eyes open through the pain. LOL, but hey, this has nothing to do with the roller coaster itself.
Would definitely do this again! It was a great coaster and a fabulous experience!

This normally would of been the most difficult review that I ever wrote. To write this review, I would have to on the spot overcome my discomfort of dropping 200 feet at 80 miles an hour. Fortunately, I was hanging out in Buffalo Bills re-​hydrating with Blue Hawaiins after a 5 hour hike on Ivanhoe Dry Lake in 100 degree temps. Thanks to my true friend Christie O’s encouragement through a public check-​in comment and the Blue Hawaiins, I was going to experience the Desperado Hyper coaster.
From the center casino bar, I walked through the western town themed food court. Near the arcade, I handed over $ 10 for one ride on the Desperado. At 9:30 P.M., I walked up a flight of stairs and boarded one of the last rides for the night.
Before the ride started, the attendant instructed me to leave my camera and prescription glasses on the walkway floor to the right of the track. Talk about trusting strangers! The Blue Hawaiins mellowed me to the point that I was not stressing over the fact that my glasses and camera could me a memory by the time I finished the ride.
After three Blue Hawaiins, lets just say that I was feeling very mellow. Instead of approaching this hyper roller coaster with fear, I treated it as a mellow adventure up in the Primm sky. Where I would normally be participating in the anticipation of fear during a 200-​plus drop and massive g-​forces, I was laughing and just taking in the lights and dark sky of the Primm Valley.
So why did I feel that three Blue Hawaiins were beneficial? With a length of 5,843 feet and ride time of 2:43, the Desperado is one hard core roller coaster. The Desperado is so hard coree that it is categorized as a hyper coaster. It is to roller coasters what Frenchman Mountain is to Las Vegas hiking trails. Right from the time that the train pulls out of the gate, it climbs very slowly up to 200 feet, at a height far above the Buffalo Bill’s hotel tower (over 14 stories). What makes it creepy is hearing the sound of the train being pulled up. Suddenly the train careens down a 70 degree elevation drop of 225 feet and through a tunnel. The train is picking up speed of 80 miles per hour. Zoom! Suddenly the train careens down another 155 feet drop. Like a bat out of hell, it is careening through camel backs, twisting at angles, and up and down and around and around Buffalo Bills. Toward the end of the ride, a great moment is when it looks like it is about to collide with the log flume plunge, to turn suddenly toward the western themed mountain. One of the best moments near the end of the adventure is the helix through another tunnel.
When I got off the train, there was no dizziness, bruises, or nauseousness. And there was still my camera and prescription glasses. I came off the Desperado learning a lesson that in life it is important to get over your fears and be adventurous. Sometimes it just takes encouragement from a true friend and three Blue Hawaiins.
The Daniel. S Unilocal 100 Challenge. This is review 80.

3 STARS JUST FOR THE FIRST DROP!
This big yellow roller coaster is always gonna be one of the distinguishing landmarks that lets you know you are just 45 minutes away from Vegas or another 3 hours away from LA.
Just like the Manhattan Express at New York New York and the Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus Adventure Dome, this steel coaster has been around for a while. From the freeway, the first drop doesnt look too high until you are actually on it making your way up. The very best part is when you reach the very top at its highest peak. Thats when you realize you were either crazy to ride this or you’re just an adrenaline junkie altogether.
After that initial first drop, the rest of the track is just your basic twists, turns, and camel humps. Of course its very shaky and bumpy so always make sure to keep yourself from hitting your head on the head rest.
I rode this free because it was National Roller Coaster Day. The normal price is 10 bucks. Like I said earlier, it does get pretty bumpy but not as bumpy as the Manhattan Express and that coaster is 14 bucks to ride.
Overall, out of all the coasters you will find in the Vegas area, I would recommend this one because of the highest first drop and the shakiness factor is not as bad as the other two.

This is such a fun roller coaster!
It’s been a few years since I have been here, but it’s still just as thrilling. Sure the Desperado might not have any loops, corkscrews, or any of that Fancy Shmancy Roller Coaster but it doesn’t need it when it’s got speed and awesome drops! Not only that… it’s also about a good 5 minutes long which is totally Awesome when you think that most roller coasters are only about 2 minutes long if that.
On this lovely occasion, I was in town with my girlfriend and one of her best friends who recently had an Augmentation Surgery. That was an experience, when you think that her screaming was probably louder than everyone else on the coaster put together. I am a bit taller and way heavier than my girlfriend, so I think that on every turn and twist I probably leaned into her side (not by choice) of the car a little too much and probably crushed her. *Sorry Babe!
As I said before, it’s been a few years since I have been here but hope it won’t be so long to ride again!

$ 10 is expensive but I didn’t pay so 4*. I was a bit hung over and I’m not sure if riding a roller coaster was the best thing to do at that moment but it looked pretty cool from the freeway. Just a word of caution though: this casino has the highest concentration of ugly, fat people you may ever encounter. Don’t make eye contact; just keep walking until you get to the rides section.
We waited for the first set of cars to go so we could sit in the front. The whole time we were waiting, I was talking about how great roller coasters are and how we should to go to Six Flags soon. I was informed in advance that the drop would be high but somehow I didn’t believe it until I was at the top of the hill. On the way down the first drop, all I could think about is how I really DO NOT want to go to Six Flags after all. I’m getting old (almost late 20s) and my body can’t take this type of beating anymore.
Anyway, after the 2 minute ride, my hair was totally messed up but I didn’t throw up so I consider that a victory.

For a 17-​year-​old coaster, Desperado is holding up well. Yes, it’s bumpy. But honestly, it’s no bumpier than it was about ten years ago when I last rode it. Except this time, I don’t have a baseball-​sized bruise on my elbow to show for it.
My coworker and I jumped in his car after work and made the drive out to state line today. In celebration of National Roller Coaster Day, Primm Valley Resorts had the coaster running for free to all visitors. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
I remember the first drop being awesome and the rest of the ride being not so awesome. It’s good to have tempered expectations. It allowed me to enjoy the ride much more than I thought I would.
The first drop is still awesome. I’ve always been a back seat coaster rider. I love the feeling of being pulled over the crest of the lift hill, really getting some air time, and hitting that drop with some serious velocity.
After the initial plunge, the train manages to maintain its speed pretty well. Yes, the elements are not all that interesting and the transitions are ungraceful to say the least. But it’s still a fun ride. I especially enjoy the little bunny hops right before the mid-​course brake run. You get some great air time in the back car.
Once you leave the brakes, it’s the home stretch on this nearly 3-​minute ride. The helix at the end could be more forceful. Compared to Goliath’s at Six Flags Magic Mountain or Ghost Rider’s at Knott’s Berry Farm, Desperado’s finale is downright lame.
Luckily, that really doesn’t detract too much from an overall fun ride.