Universal Studios Hollywood officially opened its new 72-mph outdoor roller coaster on Wednesday. Riders are thrilled, but longtime Toluca Lake neighbors say the sound of screaming passengers is destroying their quality of life.
Universal Studios Hollywood's Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift officially opened on Wednesday, and riders are calling it the best coaster in Southern California. But for the neighbors across the street in Toluca Lake, the new attraction has brought a new kind of problem that is proving far harder to ride out.
The coaster, the park's first major outdoor ride, features spinning, drifting cars that travel 4,100 feet of track and reach speeds of up to 72 miles per hour, the fastest in Universal's global portfolio. The attraction went through a soft launch in late July before Universal declared it ready for daily operation. A private ribbon-cutting, in this case a metal chain to match the garage grit of the Fast & Furious franchise, took place Tuesday evening.
"It elevates us to a new level," Jon Corfino, the park's lead creative executive, said. "It changes the complexion of who we are."
For Toluca Lake residents, the change in complexion is the source of a growing dispute.
Longtime homeowners have described the rider screams as "untunable," "disturbing" and "like someone is getting murdered." On opening day, a number of residents sent a media alert and hosted reporters in their neighborhood to demonstrate how disruptive the noise can be.
Colby Jensen, 55, who has lived in Toluca Lake for 26 years, called the sound "a constant stress." Some residents, he said, have begun exploring legal options, citing both emotional duress and a fear that property values may drop.
"It's not just a noise, like the freeway, which is in the background," Jensen said. "It'll be quiet for a minute, and then you'll hear this cacophony of screams. It inherently raises your blood pressure and stress level, and it's unnatural to hear that."
Sofia S., a 22-year-old who recently returned to Toluca Lake after graduating from Indiana University, said the coaster has made it difficult to work from home. She added that her small dog barks more often because she thinks people are trying to enter the house.
The coaster was designed as one of the quietest thrill rides ever built. Its track is filled with pea gravel to dampen rumbles, and multiple walls and glass-equipped curved shields have been placed along the layout. Universal has also said it can rotate the cars so that riders scream away from the neighborhood during the most intense moments.
Those measures have been welcomed by some neighbors, but many say they are not enough. Universal has scheduled a community meeting with residents for Sept. 30 and last month pledged to build additional sound barriers.
At Tuesday's media event, executives declined to discuss the concerns directly, but later issued a statement. "Testing completed to date confirms the attraction is operating in compliance with sound ordinances applicable to Universal property, which are more stringent than city and county codes," the statement reads.
Residents push back on the idea that this is simply the cost of living next to a theme park, noting that for much of its history Universal has focused on indoor attractions. The park has previously worked with the community, including adjusting the audio on its WaterWorld stunt show.
"People say, 'If you don't like it, it's your choice to live next to a theme park,'" said Fred Iberri, who has lived in his inherited Toluca Lake home since the early 1970s. "That's not true. Universal hasn't had a coaster outside until three months ago. I've been here for 52 years, my family for 90, and Toluca Lake has been a peaceful neighborhood until three months ago."
This article was generated with AI assistance.