Interlocking Loops Explained – Theme Park Definition

Interlocking loops are two vertical loops positioned so their structural planes intersect, typically at roughly perpendicular angles. The result is a striking visual configuration in which one loop appears to pass through the other when seen from certain angles, resembling a chain link or an oversized figure-eight rising out of the ground. The structural engineering required to make two loops cross without the tracks actually touching is considerable, but the visual payoff makes the element a crowd-pleasing focal point in a park's skyline.

Interlocking loops are most commonly associated with B&M inverted coasters and sit-down looping coasters designed for high inversion counts. Dragon Khan at PortAventura, long one of Europe's most famous coasters, features interlocking loops as part of its eight-inversion layout, and the crossing loops are one of the most photographed sections of the ride. The element appears on a number of other high-inversion coasters around the world. From a riding perspective, the experience of passing through an interlocking loop sequence is similar to two closely spaced vertical loops, though the compressed structural geometry can make the transitions feel unusually rapid.