Wooden roller coaster
Encyclopedia
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
en track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
lattice
Latticework
Latticework is a framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, typically wood or metal. The design is created by crossing the strips to form a network...
or truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design. Due to the limits of wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
, wooden roller coasters in general do not have inversions (when the coaster goes upside down), steep drops, or extremely banked turns (overbanked turns). However, there are exceptions; Son of Beast at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
has a 214 feet (65.2 m) drop and originally had a 90 feet (27.4 m) loop
Loop (roller coaster)
The generic roller coaster vertical loop is the most basic of roller coaster inversions. Specifically, the loop refers to a continuously upward-sloping section of track that eventually results in a complete 360 degree circle. At the top-most piece of the loop, riders are completely inverted.-...
until the end of the 2006 season, although the loop had metal supports. Other special cases are Hades
Hades (roller coaster)
Hades is the name of a wooden roller coaster located at Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The trains were built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. It is the largest roller coaster in the park. It was voted "Best New Ride" by Amusement Today magazine in 2005...
at Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park
Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park
Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park is a theme park and a waterpark complex in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Mt. Olympus consists of four areas of the park: Zeus' Playground , Neptune's Water Kingdom , The Parthenon , and Medusa's Indoor Waterpark. Mt. Olympus also has many lodging choices. All hotels...
in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Dells is a city in south-central Wisconsin, with a population of 2,418 as of the 2000 census. It straddles four counties: Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Sauk. The city takes its name from the dells of the Wisconsin River, a scenic, glacially formed gorge that features striking sandstone...
, featuring a double-track tunnel and a 90-degree banked turn, The Voyage
The Voyage (roller coaster)
The Voyage is a hybrid wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 2005 by The Gravity Group, with the help of designers Mike Graham, Korey Kiepert, Larry Bill, Chad Miller, and former park President Will Koch; it...
at Holiday World (an example of a wooden roller coaster with a steel structure for supports) featuring three separate 90-degree banked turns, Ravine Flyer II
Ravine Flyer II
Ravine Flyer II is a hybrid wooden roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. It was ranked as the best new ride of 2008 by Amusement Today Magazine. The Ravine Flyer II took place of the park's old Ravine Flyer, which was removed in 1938 due to a tragedy...
at Waldameer Park
Waldameer Park
Waldameer Park and Water World is an amusement / water park in Erie, Pennsylvania located at the base of Presque Isle. Waldameer is the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, and the tenth oldest in the United States. The park is admission-free, with a busy midway, well-appointed grounds,...
which has a 90-degree banked turn, and T Express
T Express
T Express is a wooden roller coaster at Everland in Yongin, South Korea. It is South Korea's first wooden coaster, Intamin's fourth wooden coaster with prefabricated track, the first ride of this type in Asia, and the first to utilize three trains. It is currently the world's steepest wooden...
at Everland
Everland
-External links:*...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
with a 77-degree drop.
Decline and revival
Once a staple in virtually every amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in America, wooden roller coasters appear to be on a slow decline in popularity for a number of reasons. Steel roller coasters, while having larger up-front costs, cost much less in ongoing maintenance fees throughout the years of operation. Wooden roller coasters, on the other hand, require large amounts of devoted funds annually to keep the ride in operating condition through regular re-tracking, track lubrication, and support maintenance.
Wooden coasters are also becoming less marketable in today's media-driven advertising world. Superlative advertising in which the "biggest", "tallest", or "fastest" ride is what brings in crowds often cannot apply to new wooden roller coasters, especially since a large majority of record-holding rides are steel. Amusement parks are always looking to add attractions which can be presented in commercials and ads as incredibly tall, fast, or extreme which eliminates many wooden roller coasters.
However, the arrival of several new wooden coasters has bucked the downward trend. In 2006, a trio of giant wooden coasters opened in the United States: The Kentucky Rumbler
Kentucky Rumbler
Kentucky Rumbler is a wooden roller coaster at Beech Bend Park in Warren County, Kentucky. It has a drop of 96 feet and a height of 80 feet.-Awards:...
at Beech Bend Park
Beech Bend Park
Beech Bend Park is an amusement park, campground and automobile race track located in Warren County, Kentucky, USA, just outside the limits of the city of Bowling Green.-History:...
, The Voyage
The Voyage (roller coaster)
The Voyage is a hybrid wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 2005 by The Gravity Group, with the help of designers Mike Graham, Korey Kiepert, Larry Bill, Chad Miller, and former park President Will Koch; it...
at Holiday World, and El Toro
El Toro (roller coaster)
El Toro, meaning The Bull in Spanish, is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure. It opened to the public on June 11, 2006. It was designed by Intamin of Switzerland. It had the steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world, at 76 degrees, until this record was broken by T...
at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
. Another wooden coaster, Renegade
Renegade (roller coaster)
Renegade is a wood roller coaster at Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota that was designed by Great Coasters International. It was one of the first coasters built by Great Coasters International to use their Millenium Flyer trains, which are designed to give a smoother ride...
at Valleyfair!
Valleyfair!
Valleyfair, sometimes stylized Valleyfair! is a 125 acre amusement park located in Shakopee, Minnesota, USA and is currently the largest amusement park in the Upper Midwest United States. The park has over 50 rides and water attractions and currently operates 8 roller coasters, one of the most...
, opened in 2007. It remains to be seen whether or not these new coasters mark the beginning of a wooden coaster revival, but they do indicate that amusement parks continue to show interest in wooden roller coasters. This may be owed to the fact that rides like El Toro
El Toro (roller coaster)
El Toro, meaning The Bull in Spanish, is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure. It opened to the public on June 11, 2006. It was designed by Intamin of Switzerland. It had the steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world, at 76 degrees, until this record was broken by T...
at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
actually feel like steel coaster, due to prefabricated track.
Golden Era
It is agreed on many that the Golden Era of coaster design was the 1920s. This was the decade many of the world's most iconic coasters were built. Some of these include Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Giant DipperGiant Dipper
The Giant Dipper is a historic wooden roller coaster located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. It opened on May 17, 1924. It is the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the United States; over 55 million riders have ridden it since its opening...
, the Coney Island Cyclone
Coney Island Cyclone
The Coney Island Cyclone is a historic hybrid roller coaster in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York City. On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert, owners of Astroland Park, contracted to operate the Cyclone under an agreement with New York City...
, and the Big Dipper
Big Dipper (Geauga Lake)
Big Dipper is a wooden roller coaster at Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio. Built in 1925, the Big Dipper is an ACE "Coaster Classic" and an ACE "Landmark Coaster." Until September 2007, it was the oldest operating wooden coaster in Ohio, and the 7th oldest operating roller coaster in the...
at Geauga Lake, The Thriller
The Thriller
The Thriller is a 2010 Malayalam thriller film written and directed by B. Unnikrishnan. It stars Prithviraj, Katherine Theresa, Siddique, Lalu Alex and Sampath Raj in pivotal roles. It was released on November 17. This film was a box office flop....
at Euclid Beach Park
Euclid Beach Park
Euclid Beach Park was a popular amusement park located on the shores of Lake Erie in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio....
.. This decade was the design peak for some of the world's greatest coaster designers, including John A. Miller, Harry Traver, Herb Schmeck, and the partnership of Prior and Church.
Unfortunately, the great depression ensured destruction of many of these great classics, but a few still stand as ACE classics and landmarks.
The popularity may have come to a short closing, but that didn't stop certain amusement parks from building scream machines again and again. Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
built Blue Streak
Blue Streak (Cedar Point)
Blue Streak is a wooden roller coaster following the out and back design, and is the oldest operating roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. According to park officials, the roller coaster has given over 54 million rides since its construction in 1964.-History:Blue Streak is a traditional...
in 1964, a Philadelphia Toboggan Company manufactured coaster designed by John C. Allen. This dead age of coaster design was brought to an end by The Racer at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
.
Revival
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
came back to the scene with The Beast, which currently holds the record for the longest wooden roller coaster in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(The Beast was also the longest roller coaster in the world overall until 1991, when The Ultimate
Ultimate (roller coaster)
The Ultimate is a steel roller coaster at Lightwater Valley amusement park, near the small Cathedral city of Ripon, in North Yorkshire England. In 1991 it took the record of longest roller coaster in the world from The Beast at Kings Island...
at Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley is a theme park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. The park is perhaps best known for being the home of Europe’s longest rollercoaster - The Ultimate....
opened). Judge Roy Scream
Judge Roy Scream
Judge Roy Scream is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas.This is a custom built out and back wooden roller coaster designed with families in mind. This attraction sits adjacent to the park's entry lake...
, a wooden roller coaster with a 71' drop, opened at Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is a major amusement park located in Arlington, Texas , east of Fort Worth and about west of Dallas. It is the oldest park of the Six Flags chain. The park opened on August 5, 1961 following just a year of construction and an initial investment of US$10 million by real estate...
in 1980, Grizzly
Grizzly (roller coaster)
Grizzly is a wooden roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. The grounds of the ride are densely forested, with the intended thrills heightened from the illusion of inadequate clearance between the track and trees. The attraction opened in 1982, and the double-figure-eight layout is...
, a wooden roller coaster patterned after the Cincinnati Coney Island Wildcat, opened in 1982 at Kings Dominion, and Raging Wolf Bobs
Raging Wolf Bobs
Raging Wolf Bobs is a wooden roller coaster at Geauga Lake amusement park in Aurora, Ohio. The coaster was originally based on the famous coaster The Bobs at Riverview Park in Chicago, Illinois....
(inspired by The Riverview Park Bobs) opened at Geauga Lake Park in 1988.
The 1980s would continue with The Beast leading the way for many new wooden coaster designs. In the 1990s, the popularity of large wooden twister roller coasters would come to the scene. With rides built by the Dinn Corporation such as Mean Streak
Mean Streak
Mean Streak is a wooden roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. Opened in 1991 and constructed using 1.7 million board feet of treated Southern Yellow Pine, it was one of the tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coasters in the world...
at Cedar Point and Texas Giant
Texas Giant
The Texas Giant is a hybrid roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. It is currently the tallest steel-hybrid roller coaster in the world at a height of which features a 79° drop of , and turns banked up to 95°. The coaster uses a brand new type of all steel track which...
at Six Flags over Texas, many wooden roller coasters have become as big as possible.
The popularity of traditional out-and-back designs also became popular throughout the 1990s, except they could be made bigger and better with new technology. Custom Coasters International (CCI), is responsible for creating a large number of out-and-back and twisting coasters such as Shivering Timbers
Shivering Timbers (roller coaster)
Shivering Timbers is a Wooden roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon County, Michigan. It was developed and built by Custom Coasters International. Opened in May 1998, Shivering Timbers debuted for the park's 30th year in operation and was a success. Construction for the ride began in...
at Michigan's Adventure
Michigan's Adventure
Michigan's Adventure is a amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon, Michigan and Whitehall, Michigan. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company since 2001...
, GhostRider
GhostRider
GhostRider is a wooden roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park in Buena Park, California. It is located in the Ghost Town section of the park, south of the main entrance. It is the longest wooden coaster on the West Coast.-Ride experience:...
at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
, The Raven
The Raven (roller coaster)
The Raven is a wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 1994 by the now-defunct roller coaster manufacturer Custom Coasters International, with the help of designers Dennis McNulty and Larry Bill; it opened on May...
at Holiday World, and its sister coaster, The Legend
The Legend (roller coaster)
The Legend is a wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 1999 by the now-defunct roller coaster manufacturer Custom Coasters International, with the help of designers Dennis McNulty and Larry Bill; it opened on...
.
Modern Designs
After CCI went bankrupt in 2002, the designers from the design team came together again to found The Gravity GroupThe Gravity Group
The Gravity Group, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an American based roller coaster design firm. The firm was founded in July 2002 out of the engineering team of the famed but now defunct Custom Coasters International. The design and engineering team has more expertise and experience than any other...
coaster manufacturing company. Intamin AG
Intamin AG
Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
, another well-known roller coaster company, came to the scene with their Prefabricated Wooden Roller Coaster (see below), though they have built traditional wooden coasters in the past like American Eagle
American Eagle (roller coaster)
American Eagle is a two track racing wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, United States. It was manufactured by Intamin of Switzerland and built in 1981 by the contracting firm Figley-Wright...
at Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America
Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
and White Cyclone
White Cyclone
is a wooden roller coaster at Nagashima Spa Land in Mie Prefecture, Japan. At 1,700 meters in length, White Cyclone is the fourth longest wooden roller coaster in the world, and is the longest wooden roller coaster outside of the United States...
at Nagashima Spa Land
Nagashima Spa Land
is a major amusement park in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It features several roller coasters, a giant Ferris wheel, and a water park.-Roller coasters:*Children Coaster*Corkscrew*Jet Coaster*Looping Star*Shuttle Loop*Steel Dragon 2000*Ultra Twister...
. And a new company named Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International, Inc. is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in...
has come to the scene with their new breed of wooden coaster designs, including Wildcat
Wildcat (Hersheypark)
Wildcat is a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The ride was named after a 1920s wooden roller coaster of the same name. The original Wild Cat was Hersheypark's first roller coaster, which operated from 1923 to 1945...
at Hersheypark
Hersheypark
Hersheypark is an amusement park located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, near the Hershey Chocolate Factory.Hersheypark was opened on April 24, 1907 as a leisure park for the employees of the Hershey Chocolate Company, an American confectionery company. Later, the company decided to open the park to the...
, the Lightning Racer
Lightning Racer
Lighting Racer is a wooden roller coaster located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Built by Great Coasters International in 2000, it was the first wooden racing and dueling roller coaster. The ride makes use of GCI's Millennium Flyer articulated trains for a smooth and comfortable ride...
(also Hersheypark), Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel (roller coaster)
American Thunder is a wooden roller coaster that opened June 20, 2008, at Six Flags St. Louis. The coaster was originally named after and themed to the famous motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel...
at Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis
Six Flags St. Louis , is an amusement park owned by Six Flags, Inc. It is located in Eureka, Missouri, USA . Opened in 1971 as the third theme park of the Six Flags chain, this was the last park that was built under the Six Flags name...
.
Also in 2000, Kings Island premiered the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, the Son of Beast. Until 2006, it was also the only wooden roller coaster with an inversion. Following an accident with the structure, the loop was removed before the 2007 season.
Newer wooden roller coasters often break the rules and restrictions traditionally associated with the type. Many new wooden roller coasters feature extremely steep drops (see El Toro
El Toro
El Toro, Spanish for "the bull", may refer to:* El Toro , a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, USA* El Toro , a class of sailing dinghy* El Toro , the highest hill in Minorca, Spain...
), 90-degree turns (see The Voyage
The Voyage (roller coaster)
The Voyage is a hybrid wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 2005 by The Gravity Group, with the help of designers Mike Graham, Korey Kiepert, Larry Bill, Chad Miller, and former park President Will Koch; it...
), and normally feature trains other than Philadelphia Toboggan Trains. Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International, Inc. is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in...
usually run their coasters with their signature Millennium Flyer trains. The Gravity Group
The Gravity Group
The Gravity Group, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is an American based roller coaster design firm. The firm was founded in July 2002 out of the engineering team of the famed but now defunct Custom Coasters International. The design and engineering team has more expertise and experience than any other...
has developed Timberliners to compete with Millenium Flyer trains. They are scheduled to be added to The Voyage
The Voyage (roller coaster)
The Voyage is a hybrid wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 2005 by The Gravity Group, with the help of designers Mike Graham, Korey Kiepert, Larry Bill, Chad Miller, and former park President Will Koch; it...
in the future and have been added to Gravity Group's newest coasters, Wooden Warrior at Quassy Amusement Park
Quassy Amusement Park
Quassy, which was once called Lake Quassapaug Amusement Park, was founded as an amusement park in 1908 and sits on the south shore of Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury, Connecticut, USA. On its plus, it boasts 22 rides....
and Twister at Grona Lund
Gröna Lund
Tivoli Gröna Lund or Grönan is an amusement park in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located on the seaward side of the Djurgården island and is relatively small compared to other amusement parks, mainly due to its central location, which limits expansion. Gröna Lund is a popular venue for concerts during...
.
At Upper Clements Park
Upper Clements Park
Upper Clements Parks is a seasonal amusement park located in Upper Clements, Nova Scotia, Canada. In 2011 a new "Aerial Adventure Park" will be opened and will feature ziplines, yurt camping, tree top bridges, and mountain bike trails.-History:...
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, a wooden roller coaster was built in 1980 that today still wins awards for the terrain that was used in dictating its design and the terrain that it still covers. Built using a natural setting beside the sea, the Tree-Topper curves its way over a river, through a marsh, up onto hills and into a forest. The coaster is one of the premier attractions at this park.
Prefabricated track
One of the most significant recent developments in wooden coaster design is Intamin AGIntamin AG
Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The U.S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an...
's use of prefabricated track. This design essentially applies the principles of steel coaster manufacturing to wood.
Traditional wooden coaster track is built on-site. It is nailed layer-by-layer to the support structure, then it is smoothed to the proper shape and steel running plates are mounted on top. Prefabricated track, on the other hand, is manufactured in a factory. It is made of many thin layers of wood that are glued together and then laser cut to the exact shape needed. The track is made in 25 feet (7.6 m) sections which have special joints on the ends that allow them to snap together like K'Nex
K'NEX
K'Nex is a brand name of a construction toy system invented by Joel Glickman, designed and produced by Industries of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA. Currently Michael Araten is the president of the organization. The name is, presumably, a phonetic variation of connects, and is pronounced the same way...
pieces. This process allows for far higher precision than could ever be achieved by hand. In addition, the train
Train (roller coaster)
A roller coaster train or car describes the vehicle which transports passengers around a roller coaster's circuit. More specifically, a roller coaster train is made up of two or more "cars" which are connected by some sort of specialized joint. It is called a "train" because the cars follow one...
s for a prefabricated wooden coaster have wheels with polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
s, just like a steel coaster. In contrast, traditional wooden coaster trains have bare metal wheels.
This design results in a ride that is nearly as smooth as the smoothest of steel coasters, and much smoother than any traditional wooden coaster. However, some coaster enthusiasts may find this smoothness to detract from the experience, as it would not have the same character as a traditional wooden coaster. Despite this, all four existing prefabricated wooden coasters are consistently rated among the best wooden coasters in the world.
Prefabricated wooden coasters also benefit from faster construction and reduced maintenance compared to a traditional wooden coaster. The track is simply bolted to the structure, which takes an insignificant amount of time compared to actually building the track. The track also stays smooth much longer than traditional track, which becomes rough rather quickly and eventually must be replaced.
Wooden versus steel
Wooden roller coasters provide a very different ride and experience from steel roller coasterSteel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
s. While they are technically less capable than a steel coaster when it comes to inversions and elements, wooden coasters instead rely on an often rougher and more "wild" ride as well as a more psychological
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
approach to inducing fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
. Their shaky structure
Structure
Structure is a fundamental, tangible or intangible notion referring to the recognition, observation, nature, and permanence of patterns and relationships of entities. This notion may itself be an object, such as a built structure, or an attribute, such as the structure of society...
s and track, which usually move anywhere from a few inches to a few feet with a passing train
Train (roller coaster)
A roller coaster train or car describes the vehicle which transports passengers around a roller coaster's circuit. More specifically, a roller coaster train is made up of two or more "cars" which are connected by some sort of specialized joint. It is called a "train" because the cars follow one...
, give a sense of unreliability and the "threat" of collapse or disregard for safety. Of course, this assumption is purely mental and wooden roller coaster supports and track systems are designed to sway with the force. If the track and structure are too rigid, they will break under the strain of the passing train. The swaying of the track reduces the force applied per second (see impulse), like a shock absorber.
Like steel roller coasters, wooden roller coasters usually use the same three-wheel design, pioneered by John Miller
John Miller (entrepreneur)
John A. Miller was a roller coaster designer and builder. He held over 100 patents, many of which were for roller coaster safety devices , that remain key components of present-day roller coasters...
. Each set of wheels includes a running wheel (on top of the track), a side friction wheel (to reduce side to side movement known as "hunting") and an upstop wheel (beneath the track to prevent cars from flying off the track). Some wooden coasters, such as Leap-The-Dips
Leap-The-Dips
Leap-The-Dips is the world's oldest operating wooden roller coaster and North America's last surviving side friction roller coaster. It is located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania and was built in 1902 by the E. Joy Morris Company. Leap-the-Dips operated until 1985, when it closed due to...
, do not have upstop wheels, and are therefore known as side friction
Side friction roller coaster
A side friction roller coaster is an early roller coaster design that does not have an extra set of wheels under the track to prevent cars from becoming airborne. Before the invention of up-stop wheels, coaster cars were built to run in a trough, with wheels under the car and side plates to help...
roller coasters. As a result, the turns and drops are more gentle than on modern wooden roller coasters. Scenic Railway roller coasters also lack upstop wheels, but rely on a brakeman to control the speed. A handful of wooden coasters use flange
Flange
A flange is an external or internal ridge, or rim , for strength, as the flange of an iron beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam; or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc., or on the lens mount of a camera; or for a flange of a rail car or tram wheel...
d wheels, similar to a rail car, eliminating the need for side friction wheels.
The debate rages as to which type of coaster is better: wood or steel. This is unlikely to ever be settled, however, because each category distinguishes itself from the other in a number of ways, in addition to also providing a substantially different and unique ride.
Examples of wooden roller coasters
- American EagleAmerican Eagle (roller coaster)American Eagle is a two track racing wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, United States. It was manufactured by Intamin of Switzerland and built in 1981 by the contracting firm Figley-Wright...
at Six Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
is the longest, tallest, and fastest racing coaster in the world. - Le MonstreLe MonstreLe Monstre is a wooden roller coaster at La Ronde amusement park in Montreal, Canada. Le Monstre is the largest wooden roller coaster in Canada and is also the tallest two-track wooden roller coaster in the world....
, at La RondeLa Ronde (amusement park)La Ronde is an amusement park in Montreal, owned and operated by Six Flags. It is the largest in the province of Quebec and the second largest in Canada after Canada's Wonderland, with about 2.5 million guests in 2006...
, MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
is the tallest double track wooden roller coaster in the world. - BalderBalder (roller coaster)Balder is a wooden roller coaster at the Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg, Sweden. It opened in 2003 and was an instant success. Balder has twice, 2003 and 2005, been voted Best Wooden Tracked Roller Coaster in the world in a major international - not because it is the biggest or fastest...
at Liseberg Amusement ParkLisebergLiseberg is an amusement park located in Gothenburg, Sweden, the park opened in 1923. Liseberg is one of the most visited amusement parks in Scandinavia, attracting around 3 million visitors annually. Among the noteworthy attractions is the wooden roller coaster Balder, voted twice as the Best...
, GothenburgGothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. This was the second "prefabricated" wooden coaster to be built. - ColossusColossus (Six Flags Magic Mountain)Colossus is a wooden roller coaster located in the Colossus County Fair area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. When it opened on June 29, 1978, it was one of the tallest and fastest wooden roller coasters in the world, and the first roller coaster in the world with two drops in...
at Six Flags Magic MountainSix Flags Magic MountainSix Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Was the world's tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster upon debut in 1978. - The Beast at Kings IslandKings IslandKings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Beast holds the world record for being the longest wooden roller coaster in the world. - Bjergrutschebanen (the Mountain Roller Coaster) at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark. Built 1914 and still run with brake men.
- Coaster at PlaylandPlayland (Vancouver)Playland is an amusement park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in Hastings Park and is the oldest amusement park in Canada....
in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. This signature attraction was built in 1958 and has speeds up to 75 km/h (47 mph). Featured in the movie Riding the BulletRiding the Bullet (film)Riding the Bullet is a 2004 horror/thriller film, directed by Mick Garris. It is an adaptation of a Stephen King novella of the same name. The movie, which received a limited theatrical release, was not successful in theaters, earning a domestic gross of $134,711.-Plot:Set in 1969, Alan Parker is...
. - ColossosColossos (roller coaster)Colossos is a wooden roller coaster at Heide Park in Soltau, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the first wooden roller coaster to use prefabricated track. Colossos is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Europe and the tallest running wooden roller coaster in the world...
at Heide ParkHeide ParkThe Heide Park Resort is a theme park in Soltau, Lower Saxony. With an overall area of over 850,000 m², it is one of the biggest German amusement parks and the biggest in Northern Germany....
, SoltauSoltau- Middle Ages :The region of the Lüneburg Heath had already been settled by the start of the New Stone Age about 4,000 years ago. The Soltau area was initially occupied by a few individual farms. The parish of Soltau was probably founded around 830 and the first wooden church Sante Johannis...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Colossos, built 2001, is one of the largest wooden coasters in the world. - The CometComet (Great Escape)The Comet is a wooden roller coaster located at The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George in Queensbury, New York, in the United States.-History:...
at The Great Escape & Splashwater KingdomThe Great Escape & Splashwater KingdomThe Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom is an amusement and waterpark located in Queensbury, New York. It is advertised as being located in Lake George, New York...
, Queensbury, New YorkQueensbury, New YorkQueensbury is a town in and the county seat of Warren County, New York, United States. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 25,441 at the 2000 census. The town is named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the consort of George III of Great Britain and Ireland. It...
. Originally built in 1927 for the amusement park in Crystal Beach, OntarioCrystal Beach, OntarioCrystal Beach is a community within Fort Erie, Ontario with a population of 3,800. It was named for the "crystal-clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie, across from Buffalo....
, it was purchased and relocated to Queensbury in 1993 after Crystal Beach closed down. It is commonly considered one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world. - The CycloneConey Island CycloneThe Coney Island Cyclone is a historic hybrid roller coaster in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York City. On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert, owners of Astroland Park, contracted to operate the Cyclone under an agreement with New York City...
at Coney IslandConey IslandConey Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- opened in 1927; one of America's most famous roller coasters containing one of the steepest drops found on a wooden roller coaster (60 degrees). - El ToroEl Toro (roller coaster)El Toro, meaning The Bull in Spanish, is a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure. It opened to the public on June 11, 2006. It was designed by Intamin of Switzerland. It had the steepest drop of any wooden roller coaster in the world, at 76 degrees, until this record was broken by T...
at Six Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
, Jackson, New Jersey, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- opened in 2006 with one of the steepest drops of any wooden roller coaster (76 degrees). - GhostRider at Knott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
, Buena Park, CaliforniaBuena Park, CaliforniaBuena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- It is the longest wooden coaster on the West CoastWest Coast of the United StatesWest Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. - Grand NationalGrand National (roller coaster)The Grand National is a wooden roller coaster at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool. It was designed and constructed by Charles Paige in 1935 and is now one of only three surviving Möbius Loop roller coasters in the world and the only one in Eurasia. It is themed and named after the Grand National; with...
at Pleasure Beach BlackpoolPleasure Beach BlackpoolPleasure Beach Blackpool is a family owned amusement park and resort situated along the Fylde coast in Blackpool, England. It is the most visited amusement park in the United Kingdom, and one of the top twenty most-visited amusement parks in the world with an estimate of 5.5 million visitors in...
, United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
- One of three Möbius loop roller coasters - Hullámvasút at Vidámpark, BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
- Wooden roller coaster built in 1922 after the plans of Ervin Dragon, is 17 m (55.8 ft) in height and travels 980 m (3,215 ft) in five minutes. It is one of the few remaining side friction roller coasterSide friction roller coasterA side friction roller coaster is an early roller coaster design that does not have an extra set of wheels under the track to prevent cars from becoming airborne. Before the invention of up-stop wheels, coaster cars were built to run in a trough, with wheels under the car and side plates to help...
s in the world, and is an ACEAmerican Coaster EnthusiastsThe American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Classic, operated since 1926, and still running. - Leap-The-DipsLeap-The-DipsLeap-The-Dips is the world's oldest operating wooden roller coaster and North America's last surviving side friction roller coaster. It is located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania and was built in 1902 by the E. Joy Morris Company. Leap-the-Dips operated until 1985, when it closed due to...
at Lakemont ParkLakemont ParkLakemont Park, located in Altoona, Pennsylvania, houses the world's oldest-surviving roller coaster, the Leap-The-Dips. The park opened in 1894 as a trolley park and became an amusement park in the summer of 1899. It is the 8th oldest in the United States...
, Altoona, PennsylvaniaAltoona, Pennsylvania-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- the world's oldest operating roller coaster (opened 1902). - ThunderboltThunderbolt (Kennywood)The Thunderbolt is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Originally built by John A. Miller in 1924, the ride's name was Pippin until 1967, when it changed to Thunderbolt beginning with the 1968 season, coinciding with an expansion of the...
at Kennywood Park, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
declared "King of the Coasters" by the New York Times. Kennywood is home to two other woodies: The RacerRacer (Kennywood)The Racer is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood Park, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. It is a racing, moebius loop coaster; one of only three in the world.-Beginnings:...
(a Moebius LoopMoebius Loop roller coasterA Möbius loop roller coaster can be either a racing roller coaster or a dueling roller coaster. Its unique feature is that there is one continuous track instead of two separate ones. As a result, the station that a train leaves is not the same one to which it will return.Only three of this type of...
) and the JackrabbitJack Rabbit (Kennywood)Jack Rabbit is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.Designed and built by John Miller in 1920, it is one of the oldest still-running roller coasters in the world, opening on June 18, 1920. The ride's three trains were manufactured by...
, featuring a unique double-dip. - The Scenic RailwayThe Scenic RailwayThe Scenic Railway is a wooden double out-and-back scenic railway located at the site of the former Dreamland Amusement Park, Margate, UK. It was built at the park in 1919/1920 and opened in March 1920. The ride is now almost unique, as a brakeman is still required to travel with the train to...
Opened 7/3/1920 The oldest wooden coaster in the BritainUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the 3rd oldest in the world is located at Dreamland MargateDreamland MargateDreamland Margate is an amusement park located in Margate, Kent, England. It is currently owned by Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company and is closed to the public...
, KentKentKent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In 2002 the ride became a Grade II listed building - the first UK amusement park attraction to achieve this status. It closed in 2005 and 25% of it was destroyed by fire on 7 April 2008, however, plans are afoot with English Heritage to restore it. - Rebel YellRebel Yell (roller coaster)Rebel Yell is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. It opened with the park in 1975.Rebel Yell is a racing roller coaster featuring two individual tracks that parallel each other. Its design was inspired by the Racer, another wooden racing coaster at Kings...
at Kings Dominion, Doswell, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
is a racing roller coaster, featuring two individual tracks that parallel each other. From 1993-2007 the Rebel Yell had one side of the tracks traveling forwards and one side traveling backwards. Named for the Civil War battle cry of the same nameRebel yellThe rebel yell was a battle cry used by Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War. Confederate soldiers would use the yell during charges to intimidate the enemy and boost their own morale, although the yell had other uses. The exact sound of the yell is unknown and the subject of much...
. - Scenic Railway at Luna Park, MelbourneLuna Park, MelbourneFor other amusement parks of the same name, see Luna Park; for other uses of the phrase, see Luna Park Melbourne's Luna Park is a historic amusement park located on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda, Victoria, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia...
Australia Built in 1912, the Scenic Railway is the oldest continually-operating roller coaster in the world, and one of only 8 in existence requiring a brakeman to operate brakes whilst the train. For these reasons, it is regarded as an American Coaster EnthusiastsAmerican Coaster EnthusiastsThe American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Classic. - Roller CoasterScenic Railway Roller CoasterThe Scenic Railway Roller Coaster, known simply as the Scenic or Roller Coaster, is a wooden triple out-and-back scenic railway at Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth, UK. The ride was built at the park in 1932 and has been operational ever since. It stands and operates as the only...
at Great Yarmouth Pleasure BeachGreat Yarmouth Pleasure BeachGreat Yarmouth Pleasure Beach is a historic free entry pleasure park located in the seaside resort town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on the English east coast. The park first opened in 1909 and has been operating ever since....
, built there in 1932 is another roller coaster requiring a brakeman to ride the train; and the only operational scenic railway in he UK. It is also an ACEAmerican Coaster EnthusiastsThe American Coaster Enthusiasts is an organization dedicated to the enjoyment and preservation of roller coasters. Membership is open to anyone with payment of yearly dues, and membership benefits may include discounted admission to certain amusement parks...
Coaster Classic. - Boulder DashBoulder Dash (roller coaster)Boulder Dash is a wooden roller coaster located at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. It first opened in 2000 and was built by Custom Coasters International...
Wooden roller coaster voted the world's #1 wooden roller coaster by the National Amusement Park Historical Association at Lake CompounceLake CompounceLake Compounce is an amusement park located in Bristol, Connecticut, United States and a part of the neighboring town of Southington, Connecticut; the lake itself lies completely in Southington. It is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America, having operated every year...
amusement park in Bristol, ConnecticutBristol, ConnecticutBristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
. - Shivering TimbersShivering Timbers (roller coaster)Shivering Timbers is a Wooden roller coaster at Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon County, Michigan. It was developed and built by Custom Coasters International. Opened in May 1998, Shivering Timbers debuted for the park's 30th year in operation and was a success. Construction for the ride began in...
Fourth longest wooden roller coaster in the world (behind The Beast, Son of Beast, and The Voyage) and consistently well-rated in the Golden Ticket awards. Located at Michigan's AdventureMichigan's AdventureMichigan's Adventure is a amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon, Michigan and Whitehall, Michigan. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company since 2001...
near Muskegon, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. - The VoyageThe Voyage (roller coaster)The Voyage is a hybrid wooden roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It was designed and built beginning in 2005 by The Gravity Group, with the help of designers Mike Graham, Korey Kiepert, Larry Bill, Chad Miller, and former park President Will Koch; it...
at Holiday World & Splashin' SafariHoliday World & Splashin' SafariHoliday World & Splashin' Safari is a family owned and operated combination theme park and water park, located near Interstate 64 and U.S. 231 in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. The theme park is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July with...
, Santa ClausSanta ClausSanta Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- features three 90-degree banked turns and is the third longest wooden roller coaster in the world behind Son of Beast and The Beast. - Zippin Pippin the second oldest rollercoaster in America formerly at LibertylandLibertylandLibertyland was Memphis, Tennessee's only amusement park. Opened on July 4, 1976, it was located at 940 Early Maxwell Blvd. It was structured under the nonprofit 5014 US tax code. It closed due to financial reasons in 2005.-History:...
, Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- was Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's favorite roller coaster. Elvis even rode the Zippin Pippin eight days before he died. The Zippin Pippin was moved and rebuilt at the Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin. - Son of Beast at Kings IslandKings IslandKings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
, the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, and was once the only wooden coaster to have an inversion (loop) before being removed in 2007 after an accident in July 2006. - GrizzlyGrizzly (roller coaster)Grizzly is a wooden roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. The grounds of the ride are densely forested, with the intended thrills heightened from the illusion of inadequate clearance between the track and trees. The attraction opened in 1982, and the double-figure-eight layout is...
at Kings Dominion, Doswell, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
The grounds of the ride are densely forested, with the intended thrills heightened from the illusion of inadequate clearance between the track and trees. Layout based on Cincinnati Coney Island Wildcat. - Giant Dipper Mission Beach Roller CoasterMission Beach Roller CoasterThe Giant Dipper, also known as the Mission Beach Roller Coaster, is a wooden roller coaster, built in 1925. The Giant Dipper is in Belmont Park, right on Mission Beach in San Diego...
and The Giant DipperGiant DipperThe Giant Dipper is a historic wooden roller coaster located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. It opened on May 17, 1924. It is the fifth-oldest roller coaster in the United States; over 55 million riders have ridden it since its opening...
are two original oceanfront roller coasters still operating on the west coast. They were built in 1925 and 1924, respectively. - The PhoenixPhoenix (roller coaster)The Phoenix is a wooden roller coaster located at the Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Prior to its purchase by Knoebels and its subsequent relocation in the mid-1980s, it was operated under the name "The Rocket" at Playland Park in San Antonio, TX.-History:Designed and built...
at Knoebels' Amusement Resort was the first large-scale wooden roller coaster to be relocated when it was moved from San Antonio, TX to its current location in Elysburg, PennsylvaniaElysburg, PennsylvaniaElysburg is a census-designated place in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,067 at the 2000 census. The area's biggest attraction is Knoebels Amusement Park, which has two wooden roller coasters.-Demographics:...
. - ViperViper (Six Flags Great America)Viper is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, which opened in 1995. Viper features a layout that is a mirror image of the Coney Island Cyclone and is the only roller coaster ever to be built directly by Six Flags...
at Six Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great AmericaSix Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
in Gurnee, IllinoisGurnee, IllinoisGurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- only wooden roller coaster originally built by Six Flags. Mirror image of the Coney Island Cyclone. - T ExpressT ExpressT Express is a wooden roller coaster at Everland in Yongin, South Korea. It is South Korea's first wooden coaster, Intamin's fourth wooden coaster with prefabricated track, the first ride of this type in Asia, and the first to utilize three trains. It is currently the world's steepest wooden...
at Everland ResortEverland-External links:*...
is a current record holder for the steepest wooden roller coaster (77 degrees). - Roller Coaster at Lagoon in Farmington, UtahFarmington, UtahFarmington is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,255 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Davis County...
. Built 1928. - ROARRoar (roller coaster)Roar is the name of two wooden roller coasters operated by Six Flags. The original coaster was built at Six Flags America in Mitchellville, Maryland in 1998 while the other was built in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California...
are two wooden roller coasters operated by Six Flags. The original coaster was built at Six Flags AmericaSix Flags AmericaSix Flags America is a family theme park and water park located in Mitchellville, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is situated east of Washington D.C. and southwest of Baltimore. The park covers , 131 of which is currently used for park operations...
in Mitchellville, MarylandMitchellville, MarylandMitchellville is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,611 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Six Flags America theme park, Country Club at Woodmore, and Freeway Airport. The Capital Centre was located in...
in 1998, while the other was built in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery KingdomSix Flags Discovery KingdomSix Flags Discovery Kingdom, formerly Six Flags Marine World, Marine World, The New Marine World Theme Park, and Marine World Africa USA, is an animal theme park located in Vallejo, California. The park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, along with a collection of...
in Vallejo, CaliforniaVallejo, CaliforniaVallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
.
External links
- Roller Coaster Data Base Guide to all coasters everywhere.
- History of Roller Coasters at Ultimate Rollercoaster.com, series on roller coaster history includes photos and historical information about wooden roller coasters.
- Pictures of the Scenic Railway at Tivoli Gardens in CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, showing the brakeman and the inner workings of the ride.