Trips to the carnival are always a delight, with the bright lights, loud music, and, most importantly, the rollercoasters. Whether you are a thrill-seeker or not, there is no denying that rollercoasters are an integral part of any amusement park experience. These rides have evolved tremendously over the years, from classic wooden to modern steel. There are plenty of rollercoaster models you should consider riding today. This guide looks into each one of them.
Rollercoasters can be a lot of fun, but some can be pretty underwhelming. However, a few models will leave you screaming for more. These models tend to have some of the best engineering designs in the industry. These are some of the best rollercoaster models you should try out.
Steel Vengeance – Cedar Point
Steel Vengeance, located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, is one of the most thrilling rollercoaster models you should experience. It’s known as the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest hybrid roller coaster. A hybrid roller coaster combines the smooth, speedy ride of a steel roller coaster with the exciting drops and airtime hills traditionally found on wooden coasters. Steel Vengeance stands at a towering 205 feet and boasts a track length of 5,740 feet. With a top speed of 74 mph and four inversions, it’s a ride guaranteed to thrill even the most hardened coaster enthusiasts. What sets Steel Vengeance apart is its world-record-breaking airtime, offering 27.2 seconds – more than any other roller coaster. It’s often praised for its intense pacing and the frequency of its airtime moments, making for a thrilling and unforgettable ride.
While enjoying the thrilling rides, remember to use the amusement park’s local portable storage service for storing your belongings. This service ensures the safety of your items while you are busy experiencing the adrenaline rush. These portable storage options are usually convenient, secure, and easy to access, so you can ride with peace of mind, knowing your belongings are safe.
Twisted Colossus – Six Flags Magic Mountain
Twisted Colossus, a gem at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, is another rollercoaster model that deserves recognition. This coaster is known for its unique ‘dueling’ design, where two coaster trains travel on the track simultaneously, creating thrilling near-miss moments. The ride underwent a significant transformation in 2015, evolving from the original wooden structure into a steel-wood hybrid coaster, resulting in a smoother, faster, and more exciting ride.
Twisted Colossus features a series of breathtaking drops, extreme turns, and airtime moments that will leave riders breathless. The coaster boasts a height of 121 feet and a top speed of 57 mph over a track length of 4,990 feet. It is famous for its 80-degree first drop and the thrilling ‘Top Gun Stall’– an inversion where the coaster slows while riders are upside down. This exciting feature alone makes Twisted Colossus an absolute must-ride for rollercoaster enthusiasts. Like other rides, Six Flags Magic Mountain offers secure storage options for your belongings. Consider storing your items in an RV garage if you’re visiting the park in your vehicle. These garages are spacious and secure and offer additional protection for items larger than what typical amusement park lockers can hold.
Fury 325 – Carowinds
Fury 325 at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, stands as a titan among rollercoaster models. Aptly named after its towering height of 325 feet, this giga coaster reigns as one of the tallest and fastest in North America. Its innovative design and adrenaline-pumping speed have earned it the title of ‘Best Steel Coaster’ in the Golden Ticket Awards for several consecutive years since its debut in 2015.
Daring riders experience a heart-stopping 81-degree initial drop, followed by high-speed twists and turns at up to 95 mph over its 6,602-foot-long track. The ride’s design was inspired by a hornet, symbolizing the state’s historic ‘Hornet’s Nest of Rebellion’ nickname, and it’s not unusual for riders to feel like they’re part of a furious hornet swarm as they zoom down the track.
Fury 325 is not just about high-speed thrills, though. The coaster also offers beautiful views of the Charlotte skyline, making it a must-ride for thrill-seekers and sightseers alike. Similar to other parks, Carowinds provides reliable storage options for your belongings. For post-adventure refreshments, several local restaurants around Carowinds offer a variety of delicious meals, ensuring a complete and satisfying day of fun.
Cannibal – Lagoon Amusement Park
Cannibal, located in Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah, takes rollercoaster innovation to unprecedented heights. With a staggering $22 million budget, this rollercoaster model stands out for its sheer size, thrilling elements, and strong emphasis on safety. It’s a safe option for those worried about the potential accidents associated with other rollercoaster models.
Launched in 2015, Cannibal instantly made headlines with its record-breaking 208-foot elevator lift and a terrifying 116-degree drop, the steepest in the world at its opening. This initial plunge sends riders plummeting at an impressive 70 mph, kicking off a thrilling sequence of inversions, rolls, and dives. Notably, Cannibal was built in-house, a rarity in the rollercoaster industry, which typically relies on specialized manufacturers. This choice gave Lagoon full control over every facet of Cannibal’s design, construction, and safety measures, resulting in a thrilling ride that is as secure as possible.
Safety was paramount in the design and construction of Cannibal. The ride features state-of-the-art restraint systems and regular maintenance checks and strictly adheres to stringent international safety standards. Each train has comfortable, secure seating that keeps riders safely in position, even during the ride’s most intense moments.
SheiKra – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Named after an African hawk known for its swift and precise dive, SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a rollercoaster that offers a bird’s-eye view before a swift plunge, much like its namesake. Launched in 2005, SheiKra redefined rollercoaster models by implementing an ‘Immelmann loop,’ a simultaneous loop and roll named after a famous German pilot. This rollercoaster also boasts an exciting 90-degree drop, a rollercoaster industry-first feature when SheiKra was introduced.
The design team behind SheiKra placed a great deal of emphasis on rider safety. The coaster’s cars have cutting-edge safety features, including a state-of-the-art harness system and reinforced safety barriers. For added security, the rollercoaster undergoes daily safety checks by experienced technicians to ensure all parts function correctly and safely.
Despite these safety precautions, if an accident does occur, a highly skilled injury lawyer can provide invaluable assistance. The legal counsel can guide victims through the complex process of seeking compensation, ensuring their rights are protected. Hence, while rollercoasters like SheiKra are designed with safety in mind, having access to an experienced injury lawyer is beneficial for the unfortunate event of an accident.
Storm Chaser – Kentucky Kingdom
Storm Chaser, located in the Kentucky Kingdom, is a thrilling rollercoaster model that redefines the traditional coaster experience. Its cutting-edge design and unique features provide an adrenaline rush that keeps rollercoaster enthusiasts returning for more. Launched in 2016, Storm Chaser is a part of the growing trend of rollercoasters that incorporate inversions, changes in direction, and sudden drops as part of their course.
This rollercoaster stands out for its innovative ‘barrel roll drop,’ a feature that sends riders into a barrel roll as they descend the first drop. Few other rollercoasters offer a moment of weightlessness, making Storm Chaser a must-ride for thrill-seekers. The roller coaster’s design prioritizes safety, with a state-of-the-art harness system and reinforced safety barriers, much like SheiKra.
In addition to the excitement on the tracks, Kentucky Kingdom also caters to the needs of its patrons off the tracks with an excellent catering service. The Kentucky Kingdom offers a variety of food options, aiming to please every palate. From traditional amusement park fare to healthier alternatives, the park ensures everyone can refuel and continue their adventure comfortably. This seamless blend of adrenaline-pumping rides and top-notch amenities makes Kentucky Kingdom a favored destination for amusement park lovers.
The Beast – Kings Island
The Beast is an iconic rollercoaster model stationed at Kings Island in Ohio, commanding respect and fascination among rollercoaster enthusiasts worldwide. Its unique moniker is not without reason. The Beast launched in 1979, holding the title of the longest wooden rollercoaster in the world for several years. Its course stretches a remarkable 7,359 feet, weaving through the park’s natural terrain and serving up a ride time exceeding four minutes.
Unlike most modern rollercoasters, The Beast’s design deeply embraces its wooden construction. Its tracks, largely constructed from southern yellow pine, give the ride a distinct rustic charm and a rough-and-ready ride experience that contrasts sharply with the smoother rides of contemporary steel coasters. While this may deter some, many enthusiasts cherish The Beast’s undiluted, classic coaster experience.
Safety is always a priority at Kings Island, and The Beast is no exception. Its design incorporates solid fences and gates at the entrance and exit, ensuring riders’ safety while embarking and disembarking the ride. Plus, an automatic braking system is in place to control the ride’s speed, helping prevent sudden jolts that could harm riders.
Goliath – Six Flags Great America
Goliath, ensconced in Six Flags Great America in Illinois, United States, is another legend regarding rollercoaster models. Unveiled to the public in 2014, Goliath instantly caught global attention by breaking three world records simultaneously — being the tallest, steepest, and fastest wooden rollercoaster. Designed and built by the illustrious engineering firm Rocky Mountain Construction, Goliath’s towering height of 165 feet, staggering drop at an 85-degree angle, and breathtaking top speed of 72 mph distinguish it as an unrivaled titan in the world of wooden roller coasters. Its tracks, made of wood and steel composite, impart a unique blend of traditional wooden coaster aesthetics with the smoother, more intense ride experience of steel coasters. Up to this day, engineering firms are in awe of the construction of this engineering marvel.
Goliath’s design and layout testify to its creators’ innovation and technical prowess. The ride features a series of gravity-defying inversions, including a 180-degree zero-G stall and an overbanked turn that gracefully twists riders through the air, offering a thrilling sensation of weightlessness. These aspects are rarely seen in wooden coasters, making Goliath a truly unique and exhilarating ride.
Wicked Cyclone – Six Flags New England
Wicked Cyclone, located at Six Flags New England in Massachusetts, United States, is distinguished by its assortment of rollercoaster models. This steel rollercoaster, born from a transformation of the original wooden Cyclone coaster, was introduced in the summer of 2015, instantly making headlines in the theme park industry. The Wicked Cyclone is a product of the acclaimed Rocky Mountain Construction firm, known for its innovation among other rollercoaster models. With a height of 109 feet, a maximum speed of 55 mph, and an impressive 78-degree initial drop, this rollercoaster packs a punch that belies its modest size. One of the standout features of the Wicked Cyclone is its inversion-filled layout, featuring a multitude of thrilling elements such as a 200-degree stall, a double reversing bank airtime hill, and two zero-G rolls. These elements, combined with the coaster’s relentless pacing and airtime-filled ride experience, make it a must-ride for enthusiasts. Furthermore, Six Flags New England offers custom branded apparel for Wicked Cyclone, allowing fans to take a piece of the rollercoaster experience home with them. From graphic t-shirts showcasing the coaster’s striking logo to hoodies and hats, these merchandise items are a tangible reminder of the adrenaline-filled adventure the Wicked Cyclone provides.
Intimidator 305 – Kings Dominion
Lastly, Intimidator 305 is located at Kings Dominion in Virginia, United States. This steel rollercoaster was named after NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt and opened in 2010 as one of the tallest and fastest rollercoasters on the East Coast. With a height of 305 feet and a top speed of 90 mph, it lives up to its name by providing an intense and exhilarating ride experience.
But it’s not just the height and speed that sets Intimidator 305 apart. The coaster also features a unique layout with sharp twists and turns, including a heartline roll and an overbanked turn reaching 85 degrees. Combined with its incredible speed, these elements make for a truly unforgettable ride. When it comes to safety, local handyman services are known to check the rollercoaster every closing time to ensure that its safe for public use.
There are plenty of rollercoaster models and designs to choose from when designing a thrilling ride experience. From classic wooden coasters to modern steel monsters, amusement parks continue to push the limits and create new and innovative ways to entertain their guests. Whether you’re a fan of high speeds, inversions, or intense airtime, there’s something for everyone in the world of rollercoasters.
