25. Space Mountain
Space Mountain is an attraction located at 5 out of the 6 Disney Resorts around the world (sorry, Shanghai!) and it is one of the best known roller coasters worldwide. It is not as fast as you would imagine, but the outer-space scenery of asteroids and stars that you are able to see at 28 mph really make the whole experience worthy!
24. Millennium Force
Located at the Cedar Point Amusement Park, in Ohio, the Millennium Force roller coaster was created in the year 2000 as a commemoration to the new Millennium. The opening date was on May 13, and with its 310-foot-tall, it was considered the tallest roller coaster around the world, but the record was beaten later that year, in August, with the inauguration of the Steel Dragon 2000. (Slide forward to #23).
23. Steel Dragon 2000
Located at Nagashima Spa Land in Japan, this mega roller coaster opened on August 1, 2000. According to the Chinese Zodiac, it was the year of the Dragon, so, the roller coaster was named after it. The construction of this 318-foot-tall steel "monster" costed more than 50 million dollars, and is still today one of the fastest roller coasters with a lift hill, and it remains to be one of the longest with 2,479 meters.
22. The Cyclone
The Coney Island Cyclone started functioning on June 26, 1927 and it costed only 175,000 dollars. In spite of the fact that it was on the brink of deterioration and destruction many times, this wooden coaster was upkeep time after time and it was finally declared a NYC landmark. If you go to Brooklyn, be sure to charge your sugar reserves and enjoy a ride on The Cyclone... or two, or three!
21. Superman: Escape From Krypton
Located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, this steel coaster was the first to use LSM technology and was one of the fastest in 1997 (when it opened) reaching a speed of 100 mph. It is the only remaining reverse free-fall coaster in operation in 2020 and the third-tallest roller coaster in the world. For more INCREDIBLE coasters, check #18!
20. Formula Rossa
Located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, the Formula Rossa roller coaster (AKA, "F1 Coaster") is, of course, the fastest in the world, reaching a speed of 149.1 mph (240 km/h). Its shape is supposed to recreate the Italian racetrack Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Even the carts mimics the racing cars of Ferrari. Two Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers, Alonso and Massa, visited the roller coaster and said that it was the most similar thing to racing that they experienced in their lives!
19. Giant Dipper
Designated a National Historic Landmark and located at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Giant Dipper is a wooden roller coaster that was inaugurated on May 17, 1924! Oldie but goldie! It isn't neither the fastest, the tallest, nor the longest, but it is one of the few coasters still operating from "the Golden Ages", and it is in perfect conditions. Many film scenes were shot in the Giant Dipper, as it is the case of Dangerous Minds and The Lost Boys.
18. The Incredible Hulk
Located at Universal's Islands of Adventure, The Incredible Hulk coaster opened to the public in 1999 and it rapidly became one of the people's favorite since it was the first coaster theme to a Marvel Comics superhero. At night, amazing green lights illuminate the attraction and the water underneath it, making it not only funny but very appealing to see and enjoy!
17. Top Thrill Dragster
Located at Cedar Point, in Ohio, this coaster reaches a speed of 120 mph. The whole circuit of 2,800 foot-length is completed just within 17 seconds, but the ride is really worthy, since you are launched up in a 90-degree slope of 420 feet, which instantly falls back down to the ground. Certainly, Top Thrill Dragster's motto "Race for the Sky" do justice to this amazing coaster.
16. Goliath
Located at Walibi Holland in Biddinghuizen, Netherlands, it is the highest, longest and fastest roller coaster in all the Benelux area. And also, the most beautiful with its green and purple colors! It was inaugurated in 2002. The whole ride takes 1'10" to be completed and it is extremely exciting!
15. Montu
Located at Busch Gardens, Tampa, in Florida, by the time of its opening in May 1996 it was the tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster. For a duration of 3 minutes you are literally hanging from the track, in an upside down position, going through loops and "almost touching the ground". This coaster named after an Egyptian God had a cost of 20 million dollars.
14. Takabisha
Located at the Fuji-Q Highland Theme Park in Fujiyoshida, Japan, it had a cost of ¥3 billion. When it opened in July 2011, it was granted the Guinness World Record for the steepest drop. With a drop angle of 121º it is, as of October 2019, the second best after TMNT Shellraiser with 121.5º! Well, at least both were manufactured by Gerstlauer and the record remains in the same hands!
13. The Beast
Located at Kings Island in Ohio, this wooden roller coaster opened to the public in 1979. At that time, it was the longest, tallest and fastest. Nowadays, it remains being the longest roller coaster around the world with 7,359 feet length. The ride duration is also the longest with 4'10". It was designated a Roller Coaster Landmark in 2004... So, if you have the chance, don't miss the opportunity to ride this incredible gem of amusement and fun!
12. Kingda Ka
Located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, the Kingda Ka opened its doors in 2005. With a similar structure to that of the Top Thrill Dragster (see slide #17), the Kingda Ka became the tallest and fastest roller coaster of the moment, surpassing its Cedar Point "rival". The whole ride of 3,118 foot-length takes 28 seconds to be completed and it reaches a speed of 128 mph. As you queue up to ride the attraction, amazing "safari-themed" music will be played for a whole jungle experience!
11. El Toro
Located at Six Flags Great Adventure just in front of the Kingda Ka, you will find El Toro, which is a 4,400 foot-length wooden roller coaster. "El Toro" means literally "The Bull" in Spanish, and that is why the train cars are featured with bull horns to show the force and fierce of this roller coaster. But, El Toro is not a mere wooden roller coaster, as it is made out of pre-fab and laser-cut wood, its surface is as smooth as steel, thus, providing riders with a comfortable and heart-beating experience!
10. GateKeeper
Located at Cedar Point in Ohio, the GateKeeper was the most expensive roller coaster created up to that moment, it costed 30 million dollars. GateKeeper has it all: the speed, the length, the highs and drops, the twists and the view! From it, you get to see a beautiful sight of Lake Erie. As it is a "wing coaster", riders do not have nothing beneath or above them, making the whole experience completely thrilling and electrifying!
9. Lightning Rod
Located at Dollywood in Tennessee, Lightning Rod was the first launched wooden roller coaster on Earth. It costed 22 million dollars and it opened on June 13, 2016. Unfortunately, due to technical problems the attraction remained closed for the following three months until it was fully operational on September 5, 2016. The ride trains are featured as if they were hot rod cars from the 1950s.
8. Magnum XL-200
Located at Cedar Point and created by Arrow Dynamics, "Magnum" was the first hypercoaster in the world. This term was coined by its manufacturers because of the magnificent characteristics of the coaster: from its length, its height, its drops, to its steepness, and (of course) its speed. When it opened in 1989 it was the best in all those categories, and its creation supposed the start of a never-ending period known as the Roller Coaster Wars among amusement parks. Among all the prices received, its inspirational value is the greatest award, because it will always be the first!
7. Nitro
Located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, this coaster will be celebrating its 19th birthday this month, in April 2020! From the year 2007 to 2012 it was consecutively awarded the Golden Ticket Awards for the Best Steel Roller Coaster. The most interesting fact about Nitro is it does not have a backup restraint, so if you are willing to give it a try, be prepared because you are gonna need air to scream your lungs out! You are going to enjoy it... if you survive... (just kidding!)
6. The Smiler
Located at Alton Towers in the United Kingdom it was awarded a World Record for most loops, with a total of 14 inversions! (Another record for the people at Gerstlauer). It started functioning on May 31, 2013 and its creation costed £18 million. The most amazing feature regarding The Smiler is the Marmaliser, a system prepared for make you laugh at all costs. Interaction with the riders from tickling to lights and water vapors are designed to exalt the rider's experience!
5. T Express Everland
Located at Everlane in Yongin, T Express Everland is the first wooden roller coaster in South Korea, which opened to the public in 2008. Surprisingly, it remains to be the only roller coaster of the kind in that country. The T Express Everland costed 36 billion Won! It is worldwide, as April 2020, the ninth fastest, fourth tallest, fourth steepest and third longest wooden roller coaster. During the ride, visitors navigate 5,417 feet of track in approximately 94 seconds.
4. Behemoth
Located at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario, Behemoth is a B&M hypercoaster which opened to the public on May 4, 2008. (Some would say May the fourth be with you, and it certainly is!) At the moment of its creation and until 2012, Behemoth was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in all Canada -with a heart pumping at a speed of 77 mph- but then it was beaten by the B&M Leviathan. So, as the second best, are you ready to conquer this powerful and gigantic beast for a total ride of 3'10"? Remember that only those brave enough and taller than 137 centimeters will be admitted!
3. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
Located at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, this attraction is the newest "baby" of Universal Studios. It opened in June 2019 and it costed around 300 million dollars!! Once you are on Hagrid's motorcycle, your journey through the Forbidden Forest begins, so, prepare your wands to experience the magic before your eyes! Of course, the coaster is targeted to fans of the HP franchise, but anybody can enjoy this magical adventure... even Muggles! (I mean, "No-Majs"!)
2. Wicked Twister
Located at Cedar Point, Ohio, Wicked Twister is an steel inverted roller coaster which consists of two vertical spiral tracks of 215 feet tall each. The ride only takes 40 seconds to be completed, but the experience is mind-blowing: it is as if you were being corkscrewed to the top of the coaster and then plummeted again to the ground at a speed of 72 mph. Apart from the seat belts, Wicked Twister has four additional safety systems to protect brave guests from accidents in case of an emergency. If something occurs, the train will automatically stop at any point of the ride!
1. Twisted Colossus
Located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, this steel dual-tracked roller coaster was the refurbishment of the old wooden Colossus that was operational from 1974 to 2014. Hybrid retrofitting is a popular technique to overhaul old roller coasters and bring them to the 21st Century! Twisted Colossus dispatches two trains almost at the same time in two different direction in two tracks, one green and the other blue. Each of the trains twirls and turns randomly until a point where both meet: the blue track passes exactly above the green track and the scream fight begins! Our humble recommendation: try both tracks right away, they are good from start to finish!
