Roller Coasters

By hcmuhleman
  • Jan 1, 1400

    First roller coaster ever built

    The first Russian Mountains, the earliest form of a roller coaster was built In Russia.

  • Rides with Wheels

    The first rides designed with wheels were built and operated in France.

  • "Looping" Roller Coaster

    The world's first "looping" roller coaster is designed and built in Britain. The roller coaster is exported to Frascati Gardens Paris a 13 foot diameter Loop is at the base of a 43 foot drop

  • The Switchback

    The first Switchback Railway named the Switchback opens at Coney Island New York. The public for the first time pays to ride a car down a wooden track.

  • The Switchback Railway in San Francisco

    The first Switchback utilizing a change lifts open in San Francisco.

  • Europe's First "Switchbook Railway"

    Europe's first "Switchback Railway" opens at Blackpool pleasure Beach, England.

  • Leap-the-dips roller coaster

    Leap-the-dips, a side friction roller coaster open site Lake Mount Park, Atlanta, Pennsylvania. Today, leap-the-dips is the oldest operating roller coaster.

  • Drop-the-dips

    Drop-the-dips roller coaster open Center and is the first to use a lap bar style restraint.

  • Jack Rabit

    Clementon Park Jack Rabbit roller coaster opens in New Jersey. It was the oldest roller coaster operating in its original location until it lost the distinction when it closed in 2002.

  • Big Dipper

    Big Dipper at Blackpool pleasure beach in the United Kingdom opens.

  • Cyclose Roller Coaster

    The famous Cyclone roller coaster at Revere Beach in Massachusetts opens. It closes soon after due to lack of leadership.

  • Lightening Roller Coaster

    Harry Travers lightning roller coaster at Revere Beach open. But it closes only a few years later due to repeat accidents and lack of ridership.

  • The Rocket

    The Rocket opens at Playland Park in San Antonio, TX. It's significant since it is now the Phoenix at Knoebels in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. The Rocket was moved to Knoebels in 1985.

  • Crystal Beach Comet

    Crystal Beach Comet opens. In 1994 the Comet was relocated to The Great Escape in Lake George, NY where it operates today.

  • First Major Roller Coaster

    The first major roller coaster opens in Japan. It was designed and constructed by TOGO.

  • Walt Disney

    Walt Disney opens his first theme park, Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

  • World's First Tubular Track Steel Roller Coaster

    The world's first tubular track steel roller coaster, the Matterhorn Bobsleds opens at Disneyland.

  • Mister Twister

    John Allen's Mister Twister opens at Elitch Gardens in Denver, CO. Serpent of Fire at La Feria Chapultepec Magico in Mexico City becomes the first roller coaster to stand 100-feet tall. It remained the tallest ride in the world for over a decade. It was also the third and last coaster built with a mobius track.

  • Jet Star

    Anton Schwarzkopf opens his first "Jet Star" roller coaster at Prater Park in Vienna, Austria.

  • The Racer

    The Racer designed by John Allen opens at Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio.

  • World's First Looping Roller Coaster

    The world's first modern looping roller coaster opens at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. The Corkscrew designed by Arrow Dynamics featured two inversions. It was removed in 1989 and relocated to Silverwood Park in Athol, Idaho in 1990 where it continues to operate today.

  • Revolution

    Revolution at Magic Mountain in Valencia, California opens. Anton Schwarzkopf and Intamin designed the Revolution with the first vertical loop.

  • Shuttle Loop

    Anton Schwarzkopf introduces the first weight drop "Shuttle Loop" coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. King Kobra was removed in 1986. Since then it has operated at Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Alton Towers and now Hopi Hari in San Paolo, Brazil.

  • Shuttle Loops opening

    Irn-Bru Revolution an Arrow Dynamics "Shuttle Loop" coaster opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England. It was the first roller coaster in Europe with an inversion. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio opens the Corkscrew, the first roller coaster in the world to have three inversions. Anton Schwarzkopf's Looping Star, a transportable roller coaster with an inversion opens in Europe and is operated by Oscar Bruch.

  • World's Longest Roller Coaster

    The world's longest roller coaster The Beast (7,400 feet) opens at Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio. Today, The Beast is still the world's longest wooden roller coaster.

  • Carolina Cyclone

    The first roller coaster to have four inversions Carolina Cyclone, opens in March at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina. Orient Express at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City opens and is the first roller coaster in the world to feature a boomerang dual-inversion element. Orient Express closed on October 26, 2003.

  • Bat Roller Coaster

    The legendary Bat roller coaster opens at Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH. It was the first suspended roller coaster designed by Arrow Dynamics. Major design problems forced its closure only three years later.

  • Stand Up Roller Coaster

    The world's first stand-up roller coaster opens in Japan.

  • Viper at Darien Lake

    Viper at Darien Lake in Darien Center, NY opens. It is the world's first roller coaster to feature five inversions. The first of Vekoma's many Boomerang roller coasters opens at Reino Aventura park in Mexico City. This shuttle coaster features three inversions, but was the first roller coaster to send riders upside down six times. The train passes through the three inversions going both forwards and backwards during a cycle.

  • Stand-up coaster opens

    Arrow Dynamics failed stand-up coaster opens at Six Flags Mid-America in St. Louis.

  • Phoenix Opens

    Phoenix opens at Knoebels in Elysburg, PA. It was relocated from Playland Park in San Antonio, TX.

  • Vortex at Kings Island

    Vortex at Kings Island opens. Designed by Arrow Dynamics it was the first roller coaster to feature six inversions.

  • Shockwave at Six Flags

    Shockwave at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL opens. Designed by Arrow Dynamics it was the first roller coaster to feature seven inversions.

  • Worlds Longest Roller Coaster

    The Ultimate, the world's longest roller coaster (7,450 feet) opens at Lightwater Valley in England. The Beast at Kings Island previously held this record. Steel Phantom opens at Kennywood Park. Designed by Arrow Dynamics, Steel Phantom had the world's tallest drop at 225-feet. It was also the world's fastest at 78 mph

  • The Raptor

    Raptor opens at Cedar Point. Raptor is the tallest B&M Inverted roller coaster and the first to feature six inversions. Comet opens at The Great Escape in Lake George, NY. Nemesis, Europe's first B&M Inverted roller coaster opens at Alton Towers in England. Vekoma introduces their first "Suspended Looping" roller coaster at Walibi Flevo in Holland.

  • Dragon Kahn opens

    Dragon Kahn opens at Port Aventura in Spain and is the first roller coaster in the world with eight inversions.

  • Fujiyama at Fujiku Highlands in Japan opens

    Fujiyama at Fujiku Highlands in Japan opens as the world's tallest (259-feet) coaster and features the world's largest drop (235-feet).

  • Tower of Terror

    Tower of Terror opens at Dreamland in Gold Coast, Australia. It becomes the world's tallest and fastest (100 mph) roller coaster.

  • Monte Makaya

    Monte Makaya opens at Terra Encantada in Rio de Janeiro and is the second roller coaster to have eight inversions. Oblivion, the world's first vertical drop coaster from Swiss designers Bolliger and Mabillard, opens at Alton Towers in England.

  • Momentzum Opens in Brazil

    South America's first wooden roller coaster Montezum opens at Hopi Hari in San Paolo, Brazil.

  • Goliath Opens

    Goliath opens (Feb) at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It features the world's largest drop (255 feet) and is the tallest (235-feet) and fastest full-circuit roller coaster in North America.

  • The World's First Air Compressed Roller Coaster

    HyperSonic XLC, the world's first compressed air launched roller coaster opens at Paramount's Kings Dominion in Doswell, VA. It featured the world's fastest acceleration for a roller coaster at 0 - 80 mph in 1.8 seconds and the first over-the-top "Top Hat" element. It was also the first roller coaster designed by Utah based S&S Power.

  • First Flying Coaster

    Bolliger and Mabillard unveil their first Flying coaster, Air, at Alton Towers in England.

  • Top Thrill Dragster Opens

    Top Thrill Dragster opens at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH. The second Intamin "Rocket Coaster" debuts at the world's tallest (420-feet), fastest (120 mph) roller coaster. It also features the world's largest drop (400-feet).

  • Kingda Ka

    Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ opens. Designed by Intamin this "Rocket Coaster" takes the honor of being the tallest (456 feet), fastest (128 mph) roller coaster in the world. It also has the world's largest drop (418-feet).