AMERICA'S TOP 10 Roller Coasters
Sep 22 '00
For the true Adventure seeker, a vacation needs to involve more than a trip to the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. I would have to say that no vacation is complete for me without at least one ride on a monster Roller Coaster.
During the past 2 weeks, I have had the chance to travel with a group of fellow Coaster enthusiast, on a quest to rank the Top 10 American Roller Coasters.
From one end of the United States to the other, I rode and rode, at times putting my life on line (he he) just so that my fellow epinionaters would know which American coaster are the best!
To make my personal Top Ten List, a Coaster has to meet the following criteria:
1. I would have to want to repeat the ride.
2. The ride has to be long enough to justify the wait in line.
3. I disqualify any coasters that result in whiplash or sore back.
4. It has to be FAST.
5. I like variety in loops, spins and the ride in general.
6. The best coasters offer something unique.
7. The best coasters offer a great climax, that you anticipate for the whole ride.
8. It has to be fun!
The following list, are my favorite 10 Roller Coasters in the United States. The vary from, brand new high-tech looping steel coasters, to classic wooden giants, and my list even includes some sentimental favorites.
10. SPACE MOUNTAIN.
LOCATION: Disneyland, Anaheim California.
ADMISSION PRICE: Adult $41.00 Child $31.00
RIDE TYPE: An indoor Rocket Type ride. The Track is Steel, but a bit primitive compared to today's new looping coasters.
TOP SPEED:30 mph.
RIDE LENGTH: 2:30.
BUILT: Early 1970s.
OVERALL: This is sentimental favorite. It may have been the first coaster that I ever went on. Two passengers sit side by side, and ride through a planetarium, in total darkness. The darkness makes the ride seem a bit more fast than it really is. Recent updates have places headphones in each car, so that you get a sound show along with your ride!
Space Mountain uses the Fast Pass system, which allows riders to reserve a time to ride, without waiting in line!
9.THE STEEL PHANTOM.
LOCATION: Kennywood, West Mifflin PA, near Pittsburgh.
ADMISSION: $22.95.
RIDE TYPE: Steel Coaster with passengers in classic coaster seats.
TOP SPEED:80 mph.
RIDE LENGTH:1:45.
BUILT:1991.
OVERALL: This is a Monster Coaster. With a 225 foot drop, it is a heart stopper! It is a bit jerky in spots, but it still ranks in my top 10. The climax is at the point when the Steel Phantom track, heads right through the bottom of the THUNDERBOLT Roller Coaster, which is next to it. You just miss hitting the other track! Watch out for the second drop, it is deeper than the first.
8. THE LIGHTNING RACERS.
LOCATION: Hershey Park, Hershey, PA.
ADMISSION: Adult $32.95, Child $17.95.
RIDE TYPE: Wooden Dueling Racing Coasters.
TOP SPEED:51mph.
RIDE LENGTH: 2:20.
BUILT:2000.
OVERALL: This is actually 2 separate roller coasters. Riders get to choose which one they want to ride. The tracks run right next to each other for about 95% of the ride. There are many highlights, including a 90 foot plummet, and a near miss through a water fall. Most wooden coasters shake when you ride them, but this one is smooth. I must confess to riding the 2 coasters for a total of 12 times, in just under 4 hours.
7. ROCKIN ROLLERCOASTER STARRING AEROSMITH.
LOCATION: Disney MGM Studios, Lake Buena Vista, FL.
ADMISSION: Adult $46.00, Child $37.00
RIDE TYPE: Steel looping coaster, indoors, and in the dark!
TOP SPEED: At Take Off, 60 mph.
RIDE LENGTH: Approx. 2:00.
BUILT:1999.
OVERALL. This is the most original coaster in America. You board in a silver limousine, on your way to an Aerosmith concert, and you blast off at 60 mph, through the city of Los Angeles.
This is no tame coaster, it includes 3 inversions, 2 roll over loops, one big corkscrew and lots of speed. Each seat has it's own sound system, which plays Aerosmith music.
This ride is part of the Fast Pass system, which allows riders to reserve a time to ride, without waiting in a long line.
6. MEAN STREAK.
LOCATION: Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio.
ADMISSION: Adult $38.00, Child $10.00.
RIDE TYPE: Classic Wooden Coaster.
TOP SPEED: 65 mph.
RIDE LENGTH: 2:45.
BUILT:1991.
OVERALL: This is a fun coaster, not to menacing, but the creaking of the wooden giant would scare anyone. The 161 foot hill is the high point (literally). This is a very scenic coaster, your car goes under and through the wooden structure, the wooden beams are just feet from the top of your head. You are only held into your seat by a lap bar, which adds to the fear factor.
5. MAGNUM XL 200.
LOCATION: Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio.
ADMISSION: Adult $38.00, Child $10.00.
RIDE TYPE: Steel Coaster. The train resembles the Space Shuttle.
TOP SPEED: 72 mph!
RIDE LENGTH: 2:00.
BUILT:1989.
OVERALL: The is one crazy coaster. It has one of the steepest drops in the world. It offers a 205 foot drop at a 60 degree angle! There are three tunnels, and pretzel loops. The ride also offers a scenic view of Lake Eerie, if you keep your eyes open. For an extra scare, ride on the right side of the car, you pass near the beams of the coaster, a couple of times, you feel like you will run into them.
4. RAPTOR.
LOCATION: Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio.
ADMISSION: Adult $38.00, Child $10.00.
RIDE TYPE: Steel Looping Coaster, the Car hangs from the track, which is above the riders.
TOP SPEED: 57 mph.
RIDE LENGTH:2:16.
BUILT:1994.
OVERALL. This Lime Green Steel Coaster has lots to offer! My favorite part is the 180 degree Cobra Roll, which is a loop, which twist riders in two different directions, and then repeats in the reverse order. A 137 foot drop, the spirals, twist, and corkscrews make this one of the best in America.
3.THE BEAST
LOCATION: Paramount's King's Island, Near Cincinnati Ohio.
ADMISSION: Adult $38.99, Child $19.50.
RIDE TYPE: Wooden Giant!
TOP SPEED:65 mph!
RIDE LENGTH: 3:40 !!!!!!!
BUILT:1979, an oldie, but a goodie!
OVERALL: Oh My gosh, where do I start. This ride offers one scream after another. It is just non stop action. some of the highlights are a 135 foot drop at a 45 degree angle, and trips through 3 tunnels. Your train goes through trees! The view is amazing, You feel like you are in the woods. This coaster has actually spawned a sequel, SON OF THE BEAST!
2.KUMBA.
LOCATION: Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, FL.
ADMISSION: Adult $45.68, Child $36.74.
RIDE TYPE: Steel Looping Coaster.
TOP SPEED: Over 60 mph.
RIDE LENGTH:2:54.
BUILT:1993.
OVERALL: Having over 100 trips on this coaster under my belt, I feel qualified to name this one of America's Top 2! At speeds of over 60 mph, this one is heart stopper. It offers 3 full seconds of weightlessness after the first loop. There is a 110 foot diving loop to start you off, a 135 foot drop, and a 360 degree spiral! This coaster has all of the best element that a coaster should have. It would have ranked number one, if the ride were smoother. The one fault that it does have, is that it is jerky. This one gives me a sore neck at least half of the time that I ride on it. The ride seems to smoother when the weather is hot.
1. THE INCREDIBLE HULK COASTER.
LOCATION: Universal Studios, Island of Adventure, Orlando, FL.
ADMISSION: Adult $46.00, Child $37.00.
RIDE TYPE: Seated Steel Coaster, With a Cannon Take Off.
TOP SPEED: Over 60 mph at Take Off.
RIDE LENGTH: 2:15.
BUILT:1999.
OVERALL: The ride starts off with a cannon blast out of a tunnel, then immediately into a dive roll with 0 gravity. There are 7 inversions. There is an underwater tunnel, and fog effects which make this an even better ride after dark. The riders get to choose which seat that they want to ride in, on this ride. The front seats are the most popular, and there is a separate line to wait for those seats. The ride operators tell me that the back seats offer the most gravitational pull, and you get the best feeling of weightlessness in those seats.
For the Adventure vacation of a life time, you really don't need to hop all over the United States, the best 10 coasters seemed to be packed into only 3 stated, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Disneyland is in California, but Space Mountain has a sister coaster at the Magic Kingdom in Florida, but the ride is not a wild.
HONORABLE MENTION: It was really hard to narrow my list down to only 10 coasters. There were a few that I just have to mention. You won't be disappointed with the ride on any of these.
1. THE TEXAS CYCLONE, Astro World, Six Flags in Houston Texas, A Wooden Giant.
2. MONTU, Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, Florida, A Hanging Smooth Steel Looping Coaster.
3. SON OF BEAST, Paramount's King's Island, Near Cincinnati Ohio, A Wooden Giant, with a Loop!
I have had a blast (literally) in compiling this list for you. It was a labor of love! If you want to make a 12 year old kid happy, take him on a Roller Coaster Trek, across the USA!
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