National Roller Coaster Day: Experience theme park history on these century-old rides
From monorails to virtual reality experiences to wacky mechanical behemoths that subject passengers to extreme forces, amusement parks and theme parks often feature the latest whiz-bang technology.
Many parks have been around for a long time, however, and offer antique carousels and other classic rides as well. As much as they can’t wait to hop aboard the newest sensation at parks, visitors also frequently enjoy reveling in nostalgia and rekindling fond memories of past visits that can span many generations in their families. That’s part of theme parks’ unique, multi-pronged appeal.
National Roller Coaster Day, which celebrated on Monday, puts the long-reigning king of the amusement park midway in the spotlight. Sure, there are plenty of wacky, cutting-edge thrill machines to try. But, there are a surprising number of vintage coasters out there as well.
In honor of Coaster Day, consider reveling in nostalgia and rekindling some fond memories by riding the rails of the country’s oldest, still-operating coasters. All of them date back to the 1920s or earlier and are wooden. (The first tubular steel coaster didn’t debut until 1959.) Ready to roll?
Leap The Dips
Opened in 1902 at Lakemont Park
Altoona, Pennsylvania
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic Landmark and declared by the park as the oldest wooden roller coaster in the world, Leap the Dips has serious old-timey cred. With a drop of 9 feet and a measly top speed under 20 mph, it doesn’t exactly get pulses racing. Nevertheless, how cool is it to take a ride from the Roosevelt administration? (That’s Teddy Roosevelt, by the way.)
Wild One
Opened in 1917 at Paragon Park, Hull, Massachusetts
Reopened at Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro, Maryland in 1986
If Leap the Dips is something of a historical curiosity, Wild One, which opened just 15 years later, is light years ahead in thrills. Climbing 98 feet, dropping 88 feet, and revving up to 53 mph, passengers are in for a wild ride that holds up remarkably well. Originally known as Giant Coaster, it was the star attraction at Paragon Park in Massachusetts until the seaside amusement haven closed in 1984. The ride was dismantled and moved in 1986 to its current location near Washington, D.C.
Jack Rabbit
Opened in 1920 at Kennywood
West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Boasting three beloved "woodies" on the list, Kennywood is an amusement park shrine (that also has some great, newer rides among its arsenal. Older parks typically remove most of their early rides, but Kennywood takes great care keeping its venerable trio coasting along. The oldest of the bunch, Jack Rabbit is a terrain coaster that uses the natural topography of a ravine. Although it climbs 40 feet, it features a surprising 70-foot double-dip drop into the ravine.
► Kennywood: Pittsburgh park takes amusement park lovers back in time
Jack Rabbit
Opened 1920 at Seabreeze
Rochester, New York
It opened the same year and has the same name as the Kennywood ride, but the similarities end there. This Jack Rabbit rises and falls 75 feet and sends passengers soaring along a series of airtime-filled hills known, appropriately enough, as “bunny hops.” The ride also careens through a tunnel for its lights-out finale.
Roller Coaster
Opened in 1921 at Lagoon
Farmington, Utah
It may not have an especially original name, but Lagoon’s Roller Coaster offers a satisfying double out-and-back layout, which is, essentially, two side-by-side ovals. The ride delivers a not-too-shabby 45-mph top speed.
Thunderbolt
Opened in 1924 at Kennywood
Another ride that takes advantage of Kennywood’s hilly terrain, Thunderbolt delivers a big drop right out of the station. Its lift hill is in the middle of the circuit, and passengers get to experience the biggest drop, a 90-foot doozy, for the finale. Originally known as The Pippin, Kennywood redesigned some of it and renamed it in 1968.
Thunderhawk
Opened in 1924 at Dorney Park
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Located at one of the country's few remaining trolley parks, Thunderhawk features a figure-eight layout, climbs 80 feet and reaches a top speed of 45 mph. Until the late 1980s, it was known by the more generic name, Coaster.
Giant Dipper
Opened in 1924 at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk lovingly preserves its National Historic Landmark. With a 65-foot drop and a 55-mph top speed, Giant Dipper really gets the party started and delivers some potent doses of out-of-your-seat airtime. Before it hits the lift hill, the coaster’s train travels through a dark tunnel.
Giant Dipper
Opened in 1925 at Belmont Park
San Diego
This Giant Dipper is like the same-named coaster in San Diego and was designed and built by the same team. It also whizzes along at a top speed of 55 mph while offering arresting views of the shoreline.
Coney Island Cyclone
Opened in 1927 at Luna Park
Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York
Yet another ride recognized as a National Historic Landmark, Cyclone is one of the most famous coasters in the country. Along with the Wonder Wheel and other living pieces of Americana, it stands as a testament to Coney Island’s resilience. Cyclone climbs 85 feet, drops at a steep 59-degree angle, reaches a spry 60 mph, and delivers a satisfying if herky-jerky ride. Interestingly, the hybrid ride features a traditional wooden coaster track atop a steel lattice structure.
Racer
Opened in 1927 at Kennywood
Adding some suspense to the ride experience, two trains leave Racer's station at the same time and compete against one another. Using a "Möbius" layout, Racer actually has one continuous track instead of separate, twin tracks.
Wildcat
Opened in 1927 at Lake Compounce
Bristol, Connecticut
The lovely Lake Compounce, which opened in 1846, has the distinction of being the country's oldest continuously operating amusement park. Its Wildcat makes a stunning statement at the park's main entrance. The coaster climbs 85 feet and hits a top speed of 48 mph.
Kiddy Coaster
Opened in 1928 at Playland Park
Rye, New York
The last two coasters on the list are located at Playland Park, a municipal park operated by Westchester County. Its Kiddy Coaster, which opened with the park, is so small, no one over 4-foot-5 is allowed to ride on it.
Dragon Coaster
Opened in 1929 at Playland Park
After plunging into a 75-foot drop, Dragon’s train enters a coiled tunnel designed to look like its namesake creature for a few disorienting moments. Upon getting spit out by the beast, passengers finish the route by twisting and turning in and out of the ride’s wooden structure.