Highs and Lows: The History of Roller Coasters

HIGHS 1o LOWS MC THE HISTORY ROLLER COASTERS From giant Russian ice slides to 121-degree inverted drops, roller coasters have had some high and lows in their history. Here we take a COASTING RECORDS closer look at the thrill seeker's favorite amusement park attraction. TALLEST STEEL COASTER KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE EL TORO, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE TALLEST WOOD COASTER UNITED STATES 456 FEET STEEPEST COASTER TAKABISHA, FUJI-O HIGHLAND JAPAN 121 DEGREES UNITED STATES 176 FEET MOST INVERSIONS COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK ENGLAND 10 INVERSIONS FASTEST COASTER FORMULA ROSSA, FERRARI WORLD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 149.1 MPH LONGEST ROLLER COASTER STEEL DRAGON 2000, NAGASHIMA SPA LAND JAPAN 8.114 FEET A HISTORY OF ROLLER COASTERS 17TH CENTURY RUSSIAN ICE SLIDES The roller coaster first emerged in Russia in the form of a giant 1784 slide. The structures were built of lumber, covered by a sheet of ice several inches thick, with a 50-degree drop. They were generally constructed around St. Petersburg. THE WHEEL DEBATE There is some debate over who was the first to place wheels on the slide cart. Some credit the Russians, and others 1817 credit the French. Large slides with wheeled carts appeared LES MONTAGNES around 1784. 1846 Two coasters called Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville and Promenades Aériennes are considered the LOOPTY LOOPS first coasters to lock the cars 1827 on a track by having the axles slide into a groove cut. The first coaster to loop was the coaster of Frascati Gardens in Paris. It was GRAVITY ROAD 43foot high with a 1878 13-foot-wide loop. A mining company in Summit Hill constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, by the 1850s it was used as a ride. 1884 INCLINED RAILWAYS Richard Knudsen patented CONEY ISLAND the "Inclined-Plane Railway", but never opened the coaster. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, the father of the American roller 1884 coaster, opened the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Broc The ride cost a nickle and FULL CIRCLE 1885 Thompson made hundreds of dollars a day. Charles Alcoke created a coaster THE LIFT HILL that made a complete circuit. Phillip Hinkle created the first coaster with a lift hill. It was initially pulled up by a chain and allowed for higher 1920s structures to be built. THE SPREAD OF ROLLER COASTERS There were anywhere 1930s between 1,500 and 2,000 coasters that operated during this time. This was due in large part to Frederick Ingersoll and the Electric Parks that opened GREAT DEPRESSION all over the United States. The great depression was 1959 particularly rough on amusement parks and coasters. The rising cost of insurance and a severe lack of raw materials, due to the Depression and World War II, left MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS many coasters on the verge of destruction. The first tubular steel coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, was created at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. This was also the first coaster 1960s THE ERA OF SIX FLAGS to use individual break zones. 1975 Started by Wynee,Jr. in 1961, the Six Flags amusement park chain revolutionized the roller coaster THE CORKSCREW industry. It quickly set the industry standard for thrill rides. 1980s The first "modern" coaster with inversion was developed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena III. Park, California. ROLLER COASTER INNOVATIONS The 1980s saw many new and innovative coasters. 1990s In 1981 the first suspended coaster, The Bat, was created. The first heartline roll came in NEED FOR SPEED 1985 in Japan. The first coaster with six inversions was created While the '80s saw many innovations, on Kings Island. the '90s were all about making roller coasters faster and scarier. The Tower of Terror Il at Dreamworld in Queensland Australia, traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. The Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, stood over 400 feet tall. The first floorless coaster, Medusa, opened in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. 2009 INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE FEAR Saw-The Ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England is the first roller coaster with a 100-degree free fall drop. THE FUTURE New materials such as carbon-fiber composites will allow coaster cars to be lighter and cause less stress on large supporting structures. Lifts greater than 90 degrees, multiple inversions, and the ability to launch cars at 100 miles an hour in under 2 seconds will be common features in future coasters. areavibes SOURCES: ULTIMATEROLLERCOASTER.COM I POPULARMECHANICS.COM I ACEONLINE.ORG HIGHS 1o LOWS MC THE HISTORY ROLLER COASTERS From giant Russian ice slides to 121-degree inverted drops, roller coasters have had some high and lows in their history. Here we take a COASTING RECORDS closer look at the thrill seeker's favorite amusement park attraction. TALLEST STEEL COASTER KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE EL TORO, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE TALLEST WOOD COASTER UNITED STATES 456 FEET STEEPEST COASTER TAKABISHA, FUJI-O HIGHLAND JAPAN 121 DEGREES UNITED STATES 176 FEET MOST INVERSIONS COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK ENGLAND 10 INVERSIONS FASTEST COASTER FORMULA ROSSA, FERRARI WORLD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 149.1 MPH LONGEST ROLLER COASTER STEEL DRAGON 2000, NAGASHIMA SPA LAND JAPAN 8.114 FEET A HISTORY OF ROLLER COASTERS 17TH CENTURY RUSSIAN ICE SLIDES The roller coaster first emerged in Russia in the form of a giant 1784 slide. The structures were built of lumber, covered by a sheet of ice several inches thick, with a 50-degree drop. They were generally constructed around St. Petersburg. THE WHEEL DEBATE There is some debate over who was the first to place wheels on the slide cart. Some credit the Russians, and others 1817 credit the French. Large slides with wheeled carts appeared LES MONTAGNES around 1784. 1846 Two coasters called Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville and Promenades Aériennes are considered the LOOPTY LOOPS first coasters to lock the cars 1827 on a track by having the axles slide into a groove cut. The first coaster to loop was the coaster of Frascati Gardens in Paris. It was GRAVITY ROAD 43foot high with a 1878 13-foot-wide loop. A mining company in Summit Hill constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, by the 1850s it was used as a ride. 1884 INCLINED RAILWAYS Richard Knudsen patented CONEY ISLAND the "Inclined-Plane Railway", but never opened the coaster. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, the father of the American roller 1884 coaster, opened the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Broc The ride cost a nickle and FULL CIRCLE 1885 Thompson made hundreds of dollars a day. Charles Alcoke created a coaster THE LIFT HILL that made a complete circuit. Phillip Hinkle created the first coaster with a lift hill. It was initially pulled up by a chain and allowed for higher 1920s structures to be built. THE SPREAD OF ROLLER COASTERS There were anywhere 1930s between 1,500 and 2,000 coasters that operated during this time. This was due in large part to Frederick Ingersoll and the Electric Parks that opened GREAT DEPRESSION all over the United States. The great depression was 1959 particularly rough on amusement parks and coasters. The rising cost of insurance and a severe lack of raw materials, due to the Depression and World War II, left MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS many coasters on the verge of destruction. The first tubular steel coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, was created at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. This was also the first coaster 1960s THE ERA OF SIX FLAGS to use individual break zones. 1975 Started by Wynee,Jr. in 1961, the Six Flags amusement park chain revolutionized the roller coaster THE CORKSCREW industry. It quickly set the industry standard for thrill rides. 1980s The first "modern" coaster with inversion was developed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena III. Park, California. ROLLER COASTER INNOVATIONS The 1980s saw many new and innovative coasters. 1990s In 1981 the first suspended coaster, The Bat, was created. The first heartline roll came in NEED FOR SPEED 1985 in Japan. The first coaster with six inversions was created While the '80s saw many innovations, on Kings Island. the '90s were all about making roller coasters faster and scarier. The Tower of Terror Il at Dreamworld in Queensland Australia, traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. The Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, stood over 400 feet tall. The first floorless coaster, Medusa, opened in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. 2009 INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE FEAR Saw-The Ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England is the first roller coaster with a 100-degree free fall drop. THE FUTURE New materials such as carbon-fiber composites will allow coaster cars to be lighter and cause less stress on large supporting structures. Lifts greater than 90 degrees, multiple inversions, and the ability to launch cars at 100 miles an hour in under 2 seconds will be common features in future coasters. areavibes SOURCES: ULTIMATEROLLERCOASTER.COM I POPULARMECHANICS.COM I ACEONLINE.ORG HIGHS 1o LOWS MC THE HISTORY ROLLER COASTERS From giant Russian ice slides to 121-degree inverted drops, roller coasters have had some high and lows in their history. Here we take a COASTING RECORDS closer look at the thrill seeker's favorite amusement park attraction. TALLEST STEEL COASTER KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE EL TORO, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE TALLEST WOOD COASTER UNITED STATES 456 FEET STEEPEST COASTER TAKABISHA, FUJI-O HIGHLAND JAPAN 121 DEGREES UNITED STATES 176 FEET MOST INVERSIONS COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK ENGLAND 10 INVERSIONS FASTEST COASTER FORMULA ROSSA, FERRARI WORLD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 149.1 MPH LONGEST ROLLER COASTER STEEL DRAGON 2000, NAGASHIMA SPA LAND JAPAN 8.114 FEET A HISTORY OF ROLLER COASTERS 17TH CENTURY RUSSIAN ICE SLIDES The roller coaster first emerged in Russia in the form of a giant 1784 slide. The structures were built of lumber, covered by a sheet of ice several inches thick, with a 50-degree drop. They were generally constructed around St. Petersburg. THE WHEEL DEBATE There is some debate over who was the first to place wheels on the slide cart. Some credit the Russians, and others 1817 credit the French. Large slides with wheeled carts appeared LES MONTAGNES around 1784. 1846 Two coasters called Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville and Promenades Aériennes are considered the LOOPTY LOOPS first coasters to lock the cars 1827 on a track by having the axles slide into a groove cut. The first coaster to loop was the coaster of Frascati Gardens in Paris. It was GRAVITY ROAD 43foot high with a 1878 13-foot-wide loop. A mining company in Summit Hill constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, by the 1850s it was used as a ride. 1884 INCLINED RAILWAYS Richard Knudsen patented CONEY ISLAND the "Inclined-Plane Railway", but never opened the coaster. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, the father of the American roller 1884 coaster, opened the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Broc The ride cost a nickle and FULL CIRCLE 1885 Thompson made hundreds of dollars a day. Charles Alcoke created a coaster THE LIFT HILL that made a complete circuit. Phillip Hinkle created the first coaster with a lift hill. It was initially pulled up by a chain and allowed for higher 1920s structures to be built. THE SPREAD OF ROLLER COASTERS There were anywhere 1930s between 1,500 and 2,000 coasters that operated during this time. This was due in large part to Frederick Ingersoll and the Electric Parks that opened GREAT DEPRESSION all over the United States. The great depression was 1959 particularly rough on amusement parks and coasters. The rising cost of insurance and a severe lack of raw materials, due to the Depression and World War II, left MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS many coasters on the verge of destruction. The first tubular steel coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, was created at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. This was also the first coaster 1960s THE ERA OF SIX FLAGS to use individual break zones. 1975 Started by Wynee,Jr. in 1961, the Six Flags amusement park chain revolutionized the roller coaster THE CORKSCREW industry. It quickly set the industry standard for thrill rides. 1980s The first "modern" coaster with inversion was developed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena III. Park, California. ROLLER COASTER INNOVATIONS The 1980s saw many new and innovative coasters. 1990s In 1981 the first suspended coaster, The Bat, was created. The first heartline roll came in NEED FOR SPEED 1985 in Japan. The first coaster with six inversions was created While the '80s saw many innovations, on Kings Island. the '90s were all about making roller coasters faster and scarier. The Tower of Terror Il at Dreamworld in Queensland Australia, traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. The Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, stood over 400 feet tall. The first floorless coaster, Medusa, opened in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. 2009 INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE FEAR Saw-The Ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England is the first roller coaster with a 100-degree free fall drop. THE FUTURE New materials such as carbon-fiber composites will allow coaster cars to be lighter and cause less stress on large supporting structures. Lifts greater than 90 degrees, multiple inversions, and the ability to launch cars at 100 miles an hour in under 2 seconds will be common features in future coasters. areavibes SOURCES: ULTIMATEROLLERCOASTER.COM I POPULARMECHANICS.COM I ACEONLINE.ORG HIGHS 1o LOWS MC THE HISTORY ROLLER COASTERS From giant Russian ice slides to 121-degree inverted drops, roller coasters have had some high and lows in their history. Here we take a COASTING RECORDS closer look at the thrill seeker's favorite amusement park attraction. TALLEST STEEL COASTER KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE EL TORO, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE TALLEST WOOD COASTER UNITED STATES 456 FEET STEEPEST COASTER TAKABISHA, FUJI-O HIGHLAND JAPAN 121 DEGREES UNITED STATES 176 FEET MOST INVERSIONS COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK ENGLAND 10 INVERSIONS FASTEST COASTER FORMULA ROSSA, FERRARI WORLD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 149.1 MPH LONGEST ROLLER COASTER STEEL DRAGON 2000, NAGASHIMA SPA LAND JAPAN 8.114 FEET A HISTORY OF ROLLER COASTERS 17TH CENTURY RUSSIAN ICE SLIDES The roller coaster first emerged in Russia in the form of a giant 1784 slide. The structures were built of lumber, covered by a sheet of ice several inches thick, with a 50-degree drop. They were generally constructed around St. Petersburg. THE WHEEL DEBATE There is some debate over who was the first to place wheels on the slide cart. Some credit the Russians, and others 1817 credit the French. Large slides with wheeled carts appeared LES MONTAGNES around 1784. 1846 Two coasters called Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville and Promenades Aériennes are considered the LOOPTY LOOPS first coasters to lock the cars 1827 on a track by having the axles slide into a groove cut. The first coaster to loop was the coaster of Frascati Gardens in Paris. It was GRAVITY ROAD 43foot high with a 1878 13-foot-wide loop. A mining company in Summit Hill constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, by the 1850s it was used as a ride. 1884 INCLINED RAILWAYS Richard Knudsen patented CONEY ISLAND the "Inclined-Plane Railway", but never opened the coaster. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, the father of the American roller 1884 coaster, opened the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Broc The ride cost a nickle and FULL CIRCLE 1885 Thompson made hundreds of dollars a day. Charles Alcoke created a coaster THE LIFT HILL that made a complete circuit. Phillip Hinkle created the first coaster with a lift hill. It was initially pulled up by a chain and allowed for higher 1920s structures to be built. THE SPREAD OF ROLLER COASTERS There were anywhere 1930s between 1,500 and 2,000 coasters that operated during this time. This was due in large part to Frederick Ingersoll and the Electric Parks that opened GREAT DEPRESSION all over the United States. The great depression was 1959 particularly rough on amusement parks and coasters. The rising cost of insurance and a severe lack of raw materials, due to the Depression and World War II, left MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS many coasters on the verge of destruction. The first tubular steel coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, was created at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. This was also the first coaster 1960s THE ERA OF SIX FLAGS to use individual break zones. 1975 Started by Wynee,Jr. in 1961, the Six Flags amusement park chain revolutionized the roller coaster THE CORKSCREW industry. It quickly set the industry standard for thrill rides. 1980s The first "modern" coaster with inversion was developed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena III. Park, California. ROLLER COASTER INNOVATIONS The 1980s saw many new and innovative coasters. 1990s In 1981 the first suspended coaster, The Bat, was created. The first heartline roll came in NEED FOR SPEED 1985 in Japan. The first coaster with six inversions was created While the '80s saw many innovations, on Kings Island. the '90s were all about making roller coasters faster and scarier. The Tower of Terror Il at Dreamworld in Queensland Australia, traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. The Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, stood over 400 feet tall. The first floorless coaster, Medusa, opened in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. 2009 INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE FEAR Saw-The Ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England is the first roller coaster with a 100-degree free fall drop. THE FUTURE New materials such as carbon-fiber composites will allow coaster cars to be lighter and cause less stress on large supporting structures. Lifts greater than 90 degrees, multiple inversions, and the ability to launch cars at 100 miles an hour in under 2 seconds will be common features in future coasters. areavibes SOURCES: ULTIMATEROLLERCOASTER.COM I POPULARMECHANICS.COM I ACEONLINE.ORG HIGHS 1o LOWS MC THE HISTORY ROLLER COASTERS From giant Russian ice slides to 121-degree inverted drops, roller coasters have had some high and lows in their history. Here we take a COASTING RECORDS closer look at the thrill seeker's favorite amusement park attraction. TALLEST STEEL COASTER KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE EL TORO, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE TALLEST WOOD COASTER UNITED STATES 456 FEET STEEPEST COASTER TAKABISHA, FUJI-O HIGHLAND JAPAN 121 DEGREES UNITED STATES 176 FEET MOST INVERSIONS COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK ENGLAND 10 INVERSIONS FASTEST COASTER FORMULA ROSSA, FERRARI WORLD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 149.1 MPH LONGEST ROLLER COASTER STEEL DRAGON 2000, NAGASHIMA SPA LAND JAPAN 8.114 FEET A HISTORY OF ROLLER COASTERS 17TH CENTURY RUSSIAN ICE SLIDES The roller coaster first emerged in Russia in the form of a giant 1784 slide. The structures were built of lumber, covered by a sheet of ice several inches thick, with a 50-degree drop. They were generally constructed around St. Petersburg. THE WHEEL DEBATE There is some debate over who was the first to place wheels on the slide cart. Some credit the Russians, and others 1817 credit the French. Large slides with wheeled carts appeared LES MONTAGNES around 1784. 1846 Two coasters called Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville and Promenades Aériennes are considered the LOOPTY LOOPS first coasters to lock the cars 1827 on a track by having the axles slide into a groove cut. The first coaster to loop was the coaster of Frascati Gardens in Paris. It was GRAVITY ROAD 43foot high with a 1878 13-foot-wide loop. A mining company in Summit Hill constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, by the 1850s it was used as a ride. 1884 INCLINED RAILWAYS Richard Knudsen patented CONEY ISLAND the "Inclined-Plane Railway", but never opened the coaster. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, the father of the American roller 1884 coaster, opened the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Broc The ride cost a nickle and FULL CIRCLE 1885 Thompson made hundreds of dollars a day. Charles Alcoke created a coaster THE LIFT HILL that made a complete circuit. Phillip Hinkle created the first coaster with a lift hill. It was initially pulled up by a chain and allowed for higher 1920s structures to be built. THE SPREAD OF ROLLER COASTERS There were anywhere 1930s between 1,500 and 2,000 coasters that operated during this time. This was due in large part to Frederick Ingersoll and the Electric Parks that opened GREAT DEPRESSION all over the United States. The great depression was 1959 particularly rough on amusement parks and coasters. The rising cost of insurance and a severe lack of raw materials, due to the Depression and World War II, left MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS many coasters on the verge of destruction. The first tubular steel coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, was created at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. This was also the first coaster 1960s THE ERA OF SIX FLAGS to use individual break zones. 1975 Started by Wynee,Jr. in 1961, the Six Flags amusement park chain revolutionized the roller coaster THE CORKSCREW industry. It quickly set the industry standard for thrill rides. 1980s The first "modern" coaster with inversion was developed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena III. Park, California. ROLLER COASTER INNOVATIONS The 1980s saw many new and innovative coasters. 1990s In 1981 the first suspended coaster, The Bat, was created. The first heartline roll came in NEED FOR SPEED 1985 in Japan. The first coaster with six inversions was created While the '80s saw many innovations, on Kings Island. the '90s were all about making roller coasters faster and scarier. The Tower of Terror Il at Dreamworld in Queensland Australia, traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. The Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, stood over 400 feet tall. The first floorless coaster, Medusa, opened in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. 2009 INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE FEAR Saw-The Ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England is the first roller coaster with a 100-degree free fall drop. THE FUTURE New materials such as carbon-fiber composites will allow coaster cars to be lighter and cause less stress on large supporting structures. Lifts greater than 90 degrees, multiple inversions, and the ability to launch cars at 100 miles an hour in under 2 seconds will be common features in future coasters. areavibes SOURCES: ULTIMATEROLLERCOASTER.COM I POPULARMECHANICS.COM I ACEONLINE.ORG HIGHS 1o LOWS MC THE HISTORY ROLLER COASTERS From giant Russian ice slides to 121-degree inverted drops, roller coasters have had some high and lows in their history. Here we take a COASTING RECORDS closer look at the thrill seeker's favorite amusement park attraction. TALLEST STEEL COASTER KINGDA KA, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE EL TORO, SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE TALLEST WOOD COASTER UNITED STATES 456 FEET STEEPEST COASTER TAKABISHA, FUJI-O HIGHLAND JAPAN 121 DEGREES UNITED STATES 176 FEET MOST INVERSIONS COLOSSUS, THORPE PARK ENGLAND 10 INVERSIONS FASTEST COASTER FORMULA ROSSA, FERRARI WORLD UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 149.1 MPH LONGEST ROLLER COASTER STEEL DRAGON 2000, NAGASHIMA SPA LAND JAPAN 8.114 FEET A HISTORY OF ROLLER COASTERS 17TH CENTURY RUSSIAN ICE SLIDES The roller coaster first emerged in Russia in the form of a giant 1784 slide. The structures were built of lumber, covered by a sheet of ice several inches thick, with a 50-degree drop. They were generally constructed around St. Petersburg. THE WHEEL DEBATE There is some debate over who was the first to place wheels on the slide cart. Some credit the Russians, and others 1817 credit the French. Large slides with wheeled carts appeared LES MONTAGNES around 1784. 1846 Two coasters called Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville and Promenades Aériennes are considered the LOOPTY LOOPS first coasters to lock the cars 1827 on a track by having the axles slide into a groove cut. The first coaster to loop was the coaster of Frascati Gardens in Paris. It was GRAVITY ROAD 43foot high with a 1878 13-foot-wide loop. A mining company in Summit Hill constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Gravity Railroad, by the 1850s it was used as a ride. 1884 INCLINED RAILWAYS Richard Knudsen patented CONEY ISLAND the "Inclined-Plane Railway", but never opened the coaster. LaMarcus Adna Thompson, the father of the American roller 1884 coaster, opened the Switchback Railway at Coney Island in Broc The ride cost a nickle and FULL CIRCLE 1885 Thompson made hundreds of dollars a day. Charles Alcoke created a coaster THE LIFT HILL that made a complete circuit. Phillip Hinkle created the first coaster with a lift hill. It was initially pulled up by a chain and allowed for higher 1920s structures to be built. THE SPREAD OF ROLLER COASTERS There were anywhere 1930s between 1,500 and 2,000 coasters that operated during this time. This was due in large part to Frederick Ingersoll and the Electric Parks that opened GREAT DEPRESSION all over the United States. The great depression was 1959 particularly rough on amusement parks and coasters. The rising cost of insurance and a severe lack of raw materials, due to the Depression and World War II, left MATTERHORN BOBSLEDS many coasters on the verge of destruction. The first tubular steel coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, was created at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. This was also the first coaster 1960s THE ERA OF SIX FLAGS to use individual break zones. 1975 Started by Wynee,Jr. in 1961, the Six Flags amusement park chain revolutionized the roller coaster THE CORKSCREW industry. It quickly set the industry standard for thrill rides. 1980s The first "modern" coaster with inversion was developed at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena III. Park, California. ROLLER COASTER INNOVATIONS The 1980s saw many new and innovative coasters. 1990s In 1981 the first suspended coaster, The Bat, was created. The first heartline roll came in NEED FOR SPEED 1985 in Japan. The first coaster with six inversions was created While the '80s saw many innovations, on Kings Island. the '90s were all about making roller coasters faster and scarier. The Tower of Terror Il at Dreamworld in Queensland Australia, traveled faster than 100 miles per hour. The Superman: Escape from Krypton coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, stood over 400 feet tall. The first floorless coaster, Medusa, opened in 1999 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. 2009 INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE FEAR Saw-The Ride at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England is the first roller coaster with a 100-degree free fall drop. THE FUTURE New materials such as carbon-fiber composites will allow coaster cars to be lighter and cause less stress on large supporting structures. Lifts greater than 90 degrees, multiple inversions, and the ability to launch cars at 100 miles an hour in under 2 seconds will be common features in future coasters. areavibes SOURCES: ULTIMATEROLLERCOASTER.COM I POPULARMECHANICS.COM I ACEONLINE.ORG