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114-422: A wooden roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its wooden track , which consists of running rails made of flat steel strips mounted on laminated wood. The support structure is also typically made of wood, but may also be made of steel lattice or truss , which has no bearing on a wooden coaster's classification. The type of wood often selected in the construction of wooden coasters worldwide

228-517: A structural engineering and architecture firm located in Cincinnati. Summers was tasked with designing the roller coaster footings – underground, steel-reinforced concrete pillars that support the weight of the structure – as well as a cable system for the coaster's helix finale. The collaboration between Dinn and Summers would later lead to the pair teaming up and forming the Dinn Corporation ,

342-537: A 90-foot (27 m) vertical loop , which was made of steel. The ride was well-received but was plagued by a number of incidents, including two that were serious, eventually leading to its demise in 2012. In the 2010s, a new era of wooden roller coasters came about with the introduction of Topper Track developed by Rocky Mountain Construction. The new technology replaced the flattened steel strip and upper two layers of wood traditionally used in wooden track design with

456-527: A basis, LaMarcus Adna Thompson began work on a gravity Switchback Railway that opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn , New York , in 1884. Passengers climbed to the top of a platform and rode a bench-like car down the 600-foot (183 m) track up to the top of another tower where the vehicle was switched to a return track and the passengers took the return trip. This track design was soon replaced with an oval complete circuit. In 1885, Phillip Hinkle introduced

570-443: A bracket came off the top of the ride and hit a woman in the head while she was waiting in line. The woman did not die, and she reached a settlement with Cedar Point amusement park in 2023. The ride was subsequently refurbished and modified, and it reopened in 2024 as Top Thrill 2 . Kingda Ka closed on November 10, 2024. Superman: Escape From Krypton , a 415-foot (126 m) coaster, opened in 1997 at Six Flags Magic Mountain . It

684-473: A construction firm that designed and built eleven coasters in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The initial land grading prep work began in May 1978. Vertical construction of the coaster officially began the following month on June 10. By November 9, 1978, approximately 60 percent of the ride was complete, which included both of the ride's lift hills and its three tunnels. By March 1979, the remaining construction work

798-584: A dozen imitators, but their popularity soon declined. However, during the Belle Epoque they returned to fashion. In 1887, Spanish entrepreneur Joseph Oller , co-founder of the Moulin Rouge music hall, constructed the Montagnes Russes de Belleville , "Russian Mountains of Belleville" with 656 feet (200 m) of track laid out in a double-eight, later enlarged to four figure-eight-shaped loops. In 1827,

912-409: A few inches to a few feet with a passing train , give a sense of unreliability and the "threat" of collapse or disregard for safety. Of course, this assumption is purely mental, since wooden roller coaster supports and track systems are designed to sway with the force produced by the coaster. If the track and structure were too rigid, they would break under the strain of the passing train. The swaying of

1026-443: A few set coaster records. Hercules at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom , built in 1989, had the tallest wooden coaster drop at 150 feet. Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas and Mean Streak at Cedar Point were large wooden coasters with similar layouts, with the later opening as the tallest wooden coaster in the world at 161 feet. After a dispute during construction of Pegasus at Efteling , Dinn Corporation closed down and

1140-404: A left turn and a double down. After the second lift hill, passengers would approach a trick track element and a right-handed double helix. This helix is a mirror image of the one that is used today. Primary design and construction was handled internally by Kings Island Engineering and Construction under the direction of Dinn. Part of the design work was subcontracted to Curtis D. Summers, Inc. ,

1254-405: A lift hill, however. A train may also be set into motion by a launch mechanism such as a flywheel, linear induction motor (LIM), linear synchronous motor (LSM), hydraulic launch, or drive tire. Some launched roller coasters are capable of reaching greater speeds using less track when compared to traditional coasters that rely on a conventional lift hill. A brake run at the end of the circuit

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1368-402: A little carriage and one stands behind, for more there are in it the greater the swiftness with which it goes; it runs on castors and in grooves to keep it on its right direction, and it descends with a wonderful rapidity. Under the hill, is a machine worked by horses for drawing the carriages back again, with the company in them. Such a work as this would have been enormous in most countries for

1482-522: A magnetic launch of 45 mph up a 200' hill, similar to the magnetic lift on Maverick . In 2000, Kings Island opened Son of Beast . Designed by Werner Stengel and built by the Roller Coaster Corporation of America , the roller coaster broke many world records. With a height of 218 feet (66 m), it was the first wooden roller coaster to top 200 feet (61 m). It was also the first modern wooden roller coaster to feature an inversion,

1596-534: A mining company in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania constructed the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway , a downhill gravity railroad used to deliver coal to Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania – now known as Jim Thorpe . By the 1850s, the "Gravity Road" (as it became known) was selling rides to thrill seekers. Railway companies used similar tracks to provide amusement on days when ridership was low. Using this idea as

1710-427: A new era of roller coaster enthusiasm, which led to a resurgence across the amusement park industry over the next several decades. There are several explanations for the name roller coaster . It is said to have originated from an early American design where slides or ramps were fitted with rollers over which a sled would coast. This design was abandoned in favor of fitting the wheels to the sled or other vehicles, but

1824-536: A press release on July 10, 1978, announcing plans for a new roller coaster. The statement read, "Kings Island Family Entertainment Center will open America’s champion roller coaster in the spring of 1979." It was the first official announcement from the park, who had been secretly planning the new ride for three years. Looking to replicate the national exposure received from popular rides such as The Racer and record-breaking events including Evel Knievel's nationally televised bus jump in 1975, Kings Island sought to keep

1938-471: A rail car, eliminating the need for side friction wheels. The following list is in alphabetical order. Roller coaster Tracks are typically built and designed as a complete circuit in which trains depart from and return to the same loading station . One variation, a shuttle roller coaster , reverses at some point throughout the course of the ride to traverse the same track backwards. The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from

2052-406: A ratchet and pawl. When riding a roller coaster with a ratchet and pawl system, the sound of clicks can be heard when pulling down the restraint. Hydraulic restraints use a piston and cylinder. Unlike mechanical restraints, there is no feeling of physical or sound of clicks from the restraint being locked in place. Most modern day roller coasters have sensors that are used to make sure each restraint

2166-534: A ride. Also, "In a typical year, more than 385 million guests enjoyed in excess of 1.7 billion rides at approximately 400 North American fixed-site facilities". IAAPA is required to report annual ride incidents to the National Safety Council. Roller coasters are divided into two main categories: steel roller coasters and wooden roller coasters . Steel coasters have tubular steel tracks, and compared to wooden coasters, they are typically known for offering

2280-446: A roller coaster's computer system. Multiple PLCs work together to detect faults associated with operation and automate decisions to engage various elements (e.g. lift, brakes, etc.). Periodic maintenance and visual inspection by ride engineers are also important to verify that structures and materials are within expected wear tolerances and functioning correctly. Effective operating procedures further enhance safety. Roller coaster design

2394-434: A sharp left turn into a 63-foot-tall (19 m) airtime hill with a 72-foot (22 m) drop at a 32-degree angle. The train climbs upward, makes a right turn, and speeds into a covered brake shed. A series of magnetic trim brakes engage and slow the train as needed, followed by a turn to the right through a heavily wooded area. Veering left, the track enters a second tunnel that spans 269 feet (82 m). A quarter of

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2508-611: A significant legacy on the coaster industry. The high number of wooden coasters they constructed, 34 over their decade of operation, helped to rekindle interest in the wooden roller coasters and allowed modern wooden coaster designers to thrive. Designers from CCI went on to form modern wooden coaster design firms, like Great Coasters International , The Gravity Group , and the wooden coaster department at S&S Worldwide . Many of their coasters rank highly in wooden coaster polls, including Shivering Timbers at Michigan's Adventure and Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce . In 2013, Boulder Dash

2622-416: A smoother ride and their ability to turn riders upside-down. Wooden coasters have flat steel tracks, and are typically renowned for producing "air time" through the use of negative G-forces when reaching the crest of some hill elements. Newer types of track, such as I-Box and Topper introduced by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), improve the ride experience on wooden coasters, lower maintenance costs, and add

2736-657: A steel box, which led to rides like the triple-inverting Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City in 2012. Others like Wildfire at Kolmården Wildlife Park and Goliath at Six Flags Great America soon followed. Topper Track provides the added benefit of smoother rides and lower maintenance costs. The Gravity Group also designed five wooden coasters with a single inversion: these include coasters at each of three Oriental Heritage theme parks in China, all named Jungle Trailblazer , as well as Mine Blower in Fun Spot Kissimmee and

2850-498: A steel coaster. Wooden roller coasters provide a very different ride and experience from steel roller coasters . While they are traditionally less capable than a steel coaster when it comes to inversions and elements (except for the chain lift hill), wooden coasters instead rely on an often rougher and more "wild" ride (depending on train speed and/or track layout), as well as a more psychological approach to inducing fear . Their structures and track, which usually move anywhere from

2964-407: A train attempts to enter an occupied block, the stopping mechanisms in all blocks are engaged. Restraints are another critical aspect to roller coaster safety. Roller coasters usually have two different types: Over-the-shoulder-restraints and lap bar restraints. With both, either hydraulic or mechanical safety mechanisms are used within the restraints. Mechanical restraints use a system known as

3078-430: A variety of different experiences. More focus is being placed on the position of riders in relation to the overall experience. Traditionally, riders sit facing forward, but newer variations such as stand-up and flying models position the rider in different ways to change the experiences. A flying model, for example, places riders lying down and facing forward with their chests and feet strapped in. Other ways of enhancing

3192-417: A walkway that winds left. One or two smaller queue areas may be active depending on the number of guests waiting to ride. The path eventually leads up a ramp, in which signs are on display containing historical facts about The Beast. The inside of the station resembles an old mining facility. Warning signs are displayed stating to secure loose articles, along with promotional material with ominous warnings about

3306-495: A wider audience. A wooded area in the southeast corner of the park spanning 35 acres (14 ha) was selected as the site for the new project. The area's naturally-occurring, rugged terrain consisted of cliffs, hills, and ravines. Utilizing the landscape, as opposed to leveling it, saved money and allowed for more investment in the layout itself. Beginning in 1976, chief engineer and surveyor Al Collins, along with his assistant Jeff Gramke, spent two years researching and designing

3420-455: A wood track and steel structure. Other older examples include mine train roller coasters , many of which were built by Arrow Dynamics . The term hybrid became more prominent after the introduction of New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas in 2011. Many in the industry, however, continue to classify coasters strictly by their track type only, labeling them either steel or wood. Modern roller coasters are constantly evolving to provide

3534-408: Is southern yellow pine , which grows abundantly in the southern United States, due to its density and adherence to different forms of pressure treatment . Early wooden roller coaster design of the 19th century featured a single set of wheels running on top of the track, which was common in scenic railway rides. John A. Miller introduced side friction coasters and later underfriction coasters in

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3648-408: Is about five or six feet lower, just sufficient to allow for the friction and resistance; and so on to the last, from which they are conveyed by a gentle descent, with nearly same velocity, over a piece of water into a little island. These slides, which are about a furlong and a half in length, are made of wood, that may be used in summer as well as in winter. The process is, two of four persons fit in

3762-458: Is another important aspect that requires a working knowledge of basic physics to enhance ride comfort and avoid harmful strain to the rider. Ride designers must carefully analyze the movement a ride subjects its riders to, ensuring it is within a reasonable tolerance. The human body needs sufficient time to react to sudden changes in force in order to control muscle tension and avoid harmful consequences such as whiplash . Designers typically stay in

3876-423: Is currently the tallest wooden coaster in the world at 183 feet tall. While only having built 4 wooden coasters, all are praised by coaster enthusiasts, with all 4 being within the top 20 wooden coasters in the world on Mitch Hawkers poll. Since 2010, El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure , which opened in 2006, has been ranked the number one wooden coaster in the world on Mitch Hawkers poll. Notable designers from

3990-404: Is locked. If all the restraints are locked, it will send a signal to the ride computer letting it know that it is clear for dispatch. If all restraints are not locked, the train will not be able to move out of the station until each restraint is locked. Braking systems such as pivoting pawls are used on the bottom of the train and on the inclined lift hill. While the cart goes up the lift hill, it

4104-458: Is made in 25-foot (7.6 m) sections, which have special joints on the ends to allow them to snap together. The result is generally higher precision than what could be achieved by hand, leading to a smoother ride and reduced cost surrounding construction and maintenance. In addition, unlike traditional wooden coasters which feature bare metal wheels, the trains for a prefabricated wooden coaster have wheels made of polyurethane treads, similar to

4218-415: Is not typically classified as a strata coaster due to its shuttle coaster design, where trains do not travel a complete circuit. An exa coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least 600 feet (180 m). The term exa was first introduced by Intamin for Falcon's Flight, a 640-foot (200 m) coaster expected to open at Six Flags Qiddiya in 2025. Upon completion, it will be

4332-514: Is referred as "mountain-and-valley railway". German has the word Achterbahn , stemming from Figur-8-Bahn , relating to the form of the number 8 ( acht in German). This is similar to the Dutch Achtbaan , in which acht also means "eight". Roller coaster trains are not typically powered. Most are pulled up a lift hill by a chain or cable and released downhill. The potential energy accumulated by

4446-514: Is the most common method of stopping a roller coaster train as it returns to the station. One notable exception is a powered roller coaster , which instead of relying on gravity uses one or more motors to propel the trains along the course. In 2006, NASA announced that it would build a system using principles similar to those of a roller coaster to help astronauts escape the Ares I launch pad in an emergency, although this has since been scrapped along with

4560-401: Is usually pulled by a chain. The pawl moves over bumps that are separated closely apart. In the event that the train ever becomes disconnected from the chain, the anti roll-back system will engage and it will fall back into the nearest downhill stop preventing the train from falling down the lift hill. Another key to safety is the programmable logic controller (PLC), an essential component of

4674-679: The Catherine Park . Two roller-coasters were built in France in 1817. Les Montagnes de Belleville ( Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville ) in Belleville, Paris had wheels attached to carriages and locked on tracks. The Promenades Aériennes , opened in Parc Beaujon in Paris on July 8, 1817 had wheeled cars securely locked to the track, guide rails to keep them on course, and higher speeds. It spawned half

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4788-499: The kiddie coaster , is a roller coaster specifically designed for younger riders. Following World War II, parks began pushing for more of them to be built in contrast to the height and age restrictions of standard designs at the time. Companies like Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) developed scaled-down versions of their larger models to accommodate the demand. These typically featured lift hills smaller than 25 feet (7.6 m), and still do today. The rise of kiddie coasters soon led to

4902-494: The 1920s, specifically those by Fred Church and Harry Traver, and the company focuses on making the structures of their coasters aesthetically appealing and artistic. In 2001, Swiss steel coaster designer Intamin began producing wooden roller coasters using prefabricated track. Their wooden coasters are known for large amounts of airtime (including ejector airtime), smooth ride experiences, and steep drops. T Express in Everland

5016-509: The 2010s. The design borrows the principles of steel coaster manufacturing and applies them to wood. Traditional wooden coaster track is typically built on site. It is cut as needed, bent to the proper shape, and mounted layer-by-layer to the support structure with steel running plates. Prefabricated track, on the other hand, is manufactured in a factory, temperature-controlled setting. It is made of many thin layers of wood that are glued together and then laser cut to exact specifications. The track

5130-420: The 40th anniversary of The Beast, each of its three trains were restored to their original "flame-themed" paint scheme, and the painted paw prints that once lead up to the ride's entrance were also restored. Following the 2021 season, approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) of track was refurbished by The Gravity Group . Two of the ride's signature elements were reprofiled to provide a smoother ride. The first drop

5244-763: The Golden Age of coaster design. This was the decade when many of the world's most iconic coasters were built. Some of these include the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and its counterpart at Belmont Park , the Cyclone at Coney Island , the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake , The Thriller at Euclid Beach Park , and the Roller Coaster at Lagoon . All of these rides were built during this time. The decade

5358-510: The Golden Age. This aside, roller coasters were still built with varying success from location to location. In May 1932, the Scene Railway witnessed somewhat of a revival in the UK, including the opening of the roller coaster at Great Yarmouth . Today it is one of only two scenic railways still in operation in the UK. In 1959, Disneyland introduced a design breakthrough with Matterhorn Bobsleds ,

5472-688: The Great Depression was brought to an end by The Racer at Kings Island , which opened in 1972 and sparked a second "Golden Age" of wooden coaster design. After their success with the Racer at Kings Island, the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) constructed another 9 roller coasters over the next decade. About half were small family coasters, two were racing coasters similar to the Racer, and two were out and back coasters with custom designs. One of these, Screamin' Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis ,

5586-435: The ability to invert riders. A third classification type is often referred to as a hybrid roller coaster , which utilize a mixture of wood and steel elements for the track and structure. Many, for example, have a track made out of steel and a support structure made from wood. RMC has notably redesigned wood coasters that have either deteriorated from age or been deemed by parks as too costly to maintain. RMC often replaces

5700-548: The annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today . It has also earned a favorable reputation across the industry, including praise from American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), which held one of its first official events at Kings Island in 1979. ACE awarded the ride its Roller Coaster Landmark designation in 2004. After more than 40 years, it also remains one of the most popular rides at Kings Island, having accommodated over 54 million riders. Ruth Voss, public relations manager for Kings Island amusement park, issued

5814-411: The banking of curves. Wheels are a critical part in rollercoaster design. The purpose of wheels is to keep the train on the track and to prevent it from flying off. A majority of roller coaster wheels are made from polyurethane. There are 3 kinds of roller coaster wheels which include road wheels, side friction wheels, and up-stop wheels. Road wheels ride on top of the track. Side friction wheels ride on

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5928-399: The base of the first drop and two more approximately a third of the way into the track layout. The trains were manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters , Allen's employer, who also implemented their " buzz bar " restraints. An early iteration of the train's design was based on the traditional mine car concept, which employed headlamps at the front of each train. Late changes scrapped

6042-503: The coaster in lieu of retirement, Kings Island built the coaster themselves, with the coaster designed by Al Collins and Jeff Gramke and construction overseen by Charlie Dinn. Rather than a typical out and back layout, the coaster sprawled over the woods at the back of the park, using the terrain to create an elevation change from lowest to highest point of 201 feet, even though the coaster was only 118 feet tall. The coaster also had two lift hills which, while common for mine train coasters at

6156-483: The coaster's track was relatively close to the ground and large cranes were not needed. In the late 1970s, engineers didn't have the benefit of computerized devices that could measure force, and they didn't use test dummies which are common in modern-day construction. Instead, crew members of The Beast's construction team had to board the ride for test runs and push the train back to the station whenever it stalled. Several months before its scheduled opening as construction

6270-575: The conversion of their existing Hades 360 in Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park . The common choice of wood selected for modern wooden roller coasters worldwide is southern yellow pine , a softwood abundant in the southern United States from eastern Texas to Virginia . It is known for its strength, which comes from its extremely dense properties. Southern pine is also easy to cut and responds well to pressure treatment . Companies like Intamin and Rocky Mountain Construction began using prefabricated track in

6384-468: The defunct Geauga Lake ; Hurricane: Category 5 at the defunct Myrtle Beach Pavilion ; and The Legend at Holiday World ). CCI's coaster designs included both out and back layouts like Hoosier Hurricane at Indiana Beach as well as more twisted layouts like Megafobia at Oakwood Theme Park . Megafobia was also the company's first coaster outside the United States. CCI coasters were also unique at

6498-541: The development of "junior" models that had lift hills up to 45 feet (14 m). A notable example of a junior coaster is the Sea Dragon – the oldest operating roller coaster from PTC's legendary designer John Allen – which opened at Wyandot Lake in 1956 near Powell, Ohio. A hypercoaster , occasionally stylized as hyper coaster, is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least 200 feet (61 m). Moonsault Scramble , which debuted at Fuji-Q Highland in 1984,

6612-482: The early 20th century, which added additional sets of wheels running along multiple sides of the track to allow for more intense ride design with sharper turns and steeper drops. The underfriction design became commonplace and continues to be used in modern roller coaster design. Traditionally, wooden roller coasters were not capable of featuring extreme elements such as inversions , near-vertical drops, and overbanked turns commonly found on steel roller coasters after

6726-416: The experience involve removing the floor beneath passengers riding above the track, as featured in floorless roller coasters . Unique track elements, such as new inversions, are often introduced to provide entirely new experiences. Several height classifications have been used by parks and manufacturers in marketing their roller coasters, as well as enthusiasts within the industry. One classification,

6840-494: The first full-circuit coaster with a lift hill , the Gravity Pleasure Road , which became the most popular attraction at Coney Island. Not to be outdone, in 1886 Thompson patented his design of roller coaster that included dark tunnels with painted scenery. "Scenic railways" were soon found in amusement parks across the county. By 1919, the first underfriction roller coaster had been developed by John Miller . Over

6954-404: The first of two chain lift hills , along with a slow climb to 110 feet (34 m). Dramatic music is played over a speaker as a recorded announcement reminds guests to remain seated throughout the ride. After cresting the top, the train plunges 135 feet (41 m) at a 53-degree angle, entering a 125-foot-long (38 m) underground tunnel and passing an on-ride camera . This is followed by

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7068-432: The first permanent roller coaster to use a tubular steel track. Designed by Arrow Development , the tubular track was unlike standard rail design on wooden coasters, allowing the track to bend in sharper angles in any direction, leading to the incorporation of loops, corkscrews, and inversion elements into track layouts. A little more than a decade later, the immediate success of The Racer at Kings Island in 1972 sparked

7182-480: The first to ride. After more than three years of planning, design, and construction, The Beast opened to the public on April 14, 1979, the first day of Kings Island's 1979 operating season. At the time, The Beast was the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world. Within a few years of the ride's opening, the configuration of the original trains were modified. They were originally longer, consisting of five cars with four rows each (20 rows), but

7296-561: The first to use the term "roller coaster". The term jet coaster is used for roller coasters in Japan, where such amusement park rides are very popular. In many languages, including most Romance languages, the name refers to "Russian mountains". Conversely, in Russian, they are called "Американские горки" ( Amerikanskiye gorki , "American hills"). In the Scandinavian languages , the roller coaster

7410-509: The former Custom Coasters International formed The Gravity Group and in 2005 opened Hades (now Hades 360) at Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park . The coaster features highly unique elements, including an airtime filled pre-lift section, an 800-foot tunnel underneath a parking lot, and a 90 degree banked turn. In 2006, The Gravity Group built The Voyage at Holiday World , a large wooden coaster which stands 163 feet tall, has over 6,442 feet of track, three 90 degree banked turns, and has been ranked

7524-407: The helix finale until 1980. Ruth Voss, the park's public relations manager who would often overhear construction crews calling it "a beast of a project", is credited with coming up with the ride's name in early 1979. The record-breaking coaster was well-received at a press event preview held on April 13, 1979. Since its opening, The Beast has consistently ranked in the top ten among wooden coasters in

7638-577: The introduction of tubular steel track by Arrow Development in 1959. Son of Beast at Kings Island made history in 2000 by incorporating the first successful attempt of an inversion on a wooden coaster, a vertical loop made of steel. A decade later, the introduction of Topper Track by Rocky Mountain Construction allowed for new possibilities, with corkscrews , overbanked turns, and other inverting elements appearing on wooden coasters such as Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City and Goliath at Six Flags Great America . The 1920s are generally considered

7752-478: The labour and expense in cost, as well as the vast quantity of wood used in it. At the same place, there is another artificial mount which goes in a spiral line, and in my opinion, for I have tried it also, is very disagreable; as it seems always leaning on one side, and the person feels in danger of falling out of seat. Katalnaya gora was dismantled in 1792–1795. Currently in its place is the Granite Terrace in

7866-553: The left as the train enters a double helix that features a highly banked turn to the left. The drop is the longest on the ride, measuring 141 feet (43 m). The signature double helix features two long tunnels and turns riders counterclockwise twice at high speeds while ascending. After exiting, the train dips through another small hill into the final brake run before returning to the station. When it opened in 1979, The Beast set several world records among roller coasters including height, speed, and track length. It still retains

7980-411: The longer length negatively impacted navigation along the track and caused a conflict with the ride's safety control system. The trains were shortened to six cars with three rows each (18 rows), reducing the number of riders from 40 to 36. Guests waiting to board in the station will notice that some of the queue gates do not match up to the rows on the train, which is an anomaly that has been present in

8094-421: The mine car theme in favor of a flame-colored paint scheme, and a sculpted logo was attached at the front in place of the headlamps. The logo, created by national advertising firm Lawler Ballard Little, would receive an award from The Advertising Club of New York later that year. Early testing revealed issues in the design of the final helix track element. The amount of side acceleration the trains experienced

8208-557: The modern wooden coaster. In 2011, they renovated the Texas Giant, which had become very rough and hard to maintain, into a steel roller coaster. This treatment became popular and was later applied to other aging roller coasters such as Iron Rattler and Twisted Colossus . In addition, RMC designs and builds their own original wooden coasters. In 2016, the company opened the world's first launched wooden roller coaster, Lightning Rod which opened at Dollywood in 2016, and until 2024 featured

8322-641: The momentum going by introducing another record-breaking attraction. Original plans focused on building a replica of the Shooting Star, a popular roller coaster which once operated at Coney Island in Cincinnati . Charles Dinn – director of the Kings Island's construction, maintenance and engineering division – had recorded measurements of the Shooting Star's layout and dimensions prior to its demolition in 1971. The park later selected an area near The Racer where

8436-469: The name endured. Another explanation is that the phrase originated from a ride located in a roller skating rink in Haverhill , Massachusetts in 1887. A toboggan -like sled was raised to the top of a track which consisted of hundreds of rollers. This Roller Toboggan then took off down gently rolling hills to the floor. The inventors of this ride, Stephen E. Jackman and Byron B. Floyd, claim that they were

8550-431: The new roller coaster with the help of Dinn and his team, who surveyed major roller coasters across the country. Collins and Gramke would progress through tens of thousands of formulas needed to produce record-breaking results without the assistance of scientific calculators or computers. "Everything had to be calculated by hand", recalled Gramke in 2014. John C. Allen , world-renowned coaster designer behind The Racer,

8664-483: The next decade, roller coasters spread to amusement parks around the world and began an era in the industry often referred to as the "Golden Age". One of the most well known from the period is the historical Cyclone that opened at Coney Island in 1927. The onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s, however, significantly impacted the amusement park industry and brought an end to the rapid growth experienced during

8778-541: The number one wooden coaster in the world by Amusement Today five times. Many of the Gravity Group's coasters are highly unique and custom built for the park, such as Twister at Gröna Lund , which has a highly compact layout to fit in the parks small footprint. Their coasters have become very popular in China , in which 12 coasters have been built since 2009. Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) has recently been revolutionizing

8892-407: The park. It became the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world, as well as the first modern-day wooden coaster to feature an inversion. Although Son of Beast set several new records, The Beast retained its wooden coaster records for length and ride duration. Son of Beast was demolished in 2012 following a series of incidents that halted operation in 2009. In 2019, to commemorate

9006-472: The partnership ended. Custom Coasters International was formed in 1991 by Denise Dinn-Larrick (daughter of Charlie Dinn), her brother Jeff Dinn, and her husband Randy Larrick. After the closure of Dinn Corporation, several other designers joined CCI. The company's first coaster, Kingdom Coaster at Dutch Wonderland , was a small family coaster that stood only 55 feet high. As time went on, they began to design larger coasters. One of their earlier coasters that

9120-430: The range of 4–6 Gs (40–60 m s ) as a maximum for positive g-force acceleration, which increases the feeling of weight and pushes riders downward into their seat. For negative g-force, or the feeling of weightlessness, the target is 1.5–2Gs (15–20 m s ) as a maximum. These fall into a range considered safe to a majority of the population. Lateral acceleration is also typically kept under 2Gs using various techniques including

9234-544: The record for length among wooden coasters at 7,361 feet (2,244 m), which continues to be recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records . The Beast is also known to have one of the longest ride times at 4 minutes and 10 seconds. The Beast has held world records for the following: The Beast has been well received since its debut. Members of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), an organization that held one of its first official events at Kings Island in 1979, ranked

9348-513: The relocation of The Rocket from Playland Park to Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania . It now operates as the Phoenix and is ranked highly on wooden coaster polls. In 1988, Charlie Dinn started a partnership with Curtis D. Summers to design and build new wooden coasters. Between 1988 and 1991, they designed and built ten new wooden coasters. While most were of typical wooden coaster size,

9462-411: The replica would be built. Eventually, park management decided to suspend plans for the Shooting Star replica in favor of building a bigger design. The Shooting Star would later be resurrected as Mighty Canadian Minebuster at Canada's Wonderland , which opened in 1981. For the 1979 coaster, Kings Island set a goal to build an attraction that would transcend the Shooting Star's nostalgia and appeal to

9576-463: The rest of the Ares program . Some sources have shown concern over the ability of roller coasters to cause head trauma and serious injury such as the tearing of axons and damaging of blood vessels. A variety of safety mechanisms protect riders on roller coasters. One of these is the block system . Most large roller coasters have the ability to run two or more trains at once, and the block system prevents these trains from colliding. In this system,

9690-591: The ride's duration of more than four minutes, which also ranks as one of the longest among roller coasters. A refurbishment in 2022 increased the angle of the first drop and lengthened the ride by 2 feet (0.61 m). The Beast was designed over the course of two years without assistance from scientific calculators or computers. Lead engineers Al Collins and Jeff Gramke consulted with well-known coaster architect John C. Allen , who shared design formulas and strategies to assist during development. Issues discovered during early testing delayed plans to build an enclosure over

9804-466: The rise in height is transferred to kinetic energy , which is then converted back into potential energy as the train rises up the next hill. Changes in elevation become smaller throughout the track's course, as some mechanical energy is lost to friction and air drag . A properly-designed, outdoor track will result in a train having enough kinetic energy to complete the entire course under a variety of stressful weather conditions. Not all coasters feature

9918-436: The roller coaster as the "most outstanding thrill ride" in 1981. Additionally, the coaster ranked second on Roller Coaster magazine's list of the top ten rides in 1988. The Beast has also consistently ranked among the top wooden roller coasters in the world in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today , placing in the top 10 consecutively for more than two decades. In 2004, ACE designated The Beast

10032-456: The side of the track to keep the train on the track throughout turns. Up-stop wheels ride below the track and prevent the train from lifting off the track. Roller coasters are statistically very safe when compared to other activities, but despite all the safety measures in place, accidents still occur. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) reports that a rider has one chance in 15.5 million of being injured on

10146-698: The so-called "Russian Mountains", specially constructed hills of ice located in the area that is now Saint Petersburg, Russia . Built in the 17th century, the slides were built to a height of between 21 and 24 m (70 and 80 feet), had a 50-degree drop, and were reinforced by wooden supports. Later, in 1784, Catherine the Great is said to have constructed a sledding hill in the gardens of her palace at Oranienbaum in St. Petersburg. The Riding Mountain (a.k.a. La Grande Glisade ) entertainment pavilion designed by Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli for Tsarskoye Selo royal residence

10260-442: The station ever since this change was made. The ride also originally featured three underground tunnels, but the second and third were joined together by the second season of operation. The previously-unfinished double helix was also enclosed in time for the second season, resulting in the addition of two separate tunnels. Kings Island unveiled Son of Beast in 2000, marketed as a "sequel" to The Beast, located in another area of

10374-452: The surge in the 1970s, wooden coasters construction became stagnant due to the steel roller coaster being much more popular. Most original coasters during this time were designed by William Cobb , such as Monstre at La Ronde . Another trend during the 1980s was relocating old wooden coasters in danger of being destroyed. Charlie Dinn, who formed Dinn Corporation after leaving Kings Island in 1984, oversaw some of these relocations, including

10488-556: The tallest roller coaster in the world. The Beast (roller coaster) The Beast is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio , United States. Designed and manufactured in-house for approximately $ 3 million, the ride opened in 1979 as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world. Decades later, it is still the longest, spanning 7,361 feet (2,244 m) across 35 acres (14 ha) of hilly terrain. Two lift hills contribute to

10602-412: The term strata was first introduced by Cedar Point with the release of Top Thrill Dragster, a 420-foot-tall (130 m) roller coaster that opened in 2003. Kingda Ka was the second strata coaster, and it opened at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2005 as the tallest roller coaster in the world with a height of 456 feet (139 m). Top Thrill Dragster closed in 2021 following a serious incident in which

10716-554: The time for sometimes featuring angle iron support structures rather than wooden beams (the track remains the same as other wooden coasters). Most CCI coasters ran Philadelphia Toboggan Company trains, although some, like The Boss at Six Flags St. Louis, run trains from the German manufacturer Gerstlauer . In 2002, Custom Coasters declared bankruptcy while building the New Mexico Rattler at Cliff's Amusement Park . The company left

10830-454: The time, was uncommon for wooden coasters. Opening in 1979, the coaster was, and still is, the longest wooden roller coaster in the world at 7,361 feet. Another significant wooden coaster of this era was the racing American Eagle at (now) Six Flags Great America , built by Intamin in 1981, which still holds the records for racing wooden coasters of height (127 ft), length (4650 ft), speed (66 mph), and drop (147 ft). After

10944-410: The track is divided into two or more sections known as blocks. Only one train is permitted in each block at any given time. There is a section of track at the end of each block where a train can be stopped if necessary, such as preventing dispatch from the station, stopping a lift, or applying brakes. Sensors detect when a train passes so that the system's computer is aware of which blocks are occupied. If

11058-425: The track reduces the maximum force applied, like a shock absorber. Like steel roller coasters, wooden roller coasters usually use the same three-wheel design, pioneered by John Miller . Each set of wheels includes a running wheel (on top of the track), a side friction (or "guide") wheel (to guide motion in the lateral plane and reduce excessive side-to-side movement known as " hunting ") and an upstop wheel (beneath

11172-472: The track to prevent cars from flying off the track). Some wooden coasters, such as Leap-The-Dips , do not have upstop wheels and are known as side friction roller coasters . As a result, the turns and drops are more gentle than on modern wooden roller coasters. Scenic Railway roller coasters also lack upstop wheels but rely on a brake operator to control the speed so that upstop wheels are not necessary. A handful of wooden coasters use flanged wheels, similar to

11286-403: The tunnel is underground, and the train exits above ground gaining speed and veering right, which leads into another hard right turn on a slight incline. The train descends downhill, rises uphill, and then passes over a set of trim brakes before entering the second lift hill. After climbing 107 feet (33 m), the train turns left and begins a gradual drop at 18.5 degrees. The track tilts to

11400-400: The upcoming Beast encounter. Guests proceed through one last sub-queue within the station before boarding. The train exits the station making a winding right turn and traveling through a switch track – used to divert trains to a covered storage area. A small prop area designed to resemble a mineshaft can be seen on the right as the train passes. A small left turn then leads the train into

11514-409: The wood track with their patented steel I-Box track design, while reusing much of the ride's wooden structure, resulting in a smoother ride with the incorporation of new design elements, such as inversions, sharper turns, and steeper drops. Although the term wasn't widely used or accepted until the 21st century, one of the oldest examples is Cyclone at Luna Park , which opened in 1927. It features

11628-407: Was also the design peak for some of the world's greatest coaster designers, including John A. Miller , Harry Traver , Herb Schmeck , and the partnership of Prior and Church . Many wooden roller coasters of this time were demolished during the Great Depression , but a few still stand as American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) classics and landmarks. This relatively quiet age of coaster design following

11742-467: Was asked to lead the design but declined due to pending retirement. He shared design formulas, however, and acted as a consultant throughout development. Among his important contributions were the design of several components, including a tire-driven launch system that increased capacity above 1,000 riders per hour. The original plans for the Beast featured an airtime hill after the first tunnel followed by

11856-457: Was built in 1754–1757. In Russian it was known as Katalnaya gora (Катальная гора, literally "Mountain for riding") It was a huge building in the shape of rotunda . It had a trail with five hills which can be covered with ice in winter. In the summer time the trails used trolleys on wheels secured in the steel grooves mounted on the wooden trails. Due to a pendulum-like motion based on inertia all five hills could be traversed in one ride. The ride

11970-477: Was coined during the construction of the Millennium Force , a roller coaster built by Intamin on Cedar Point amusement park. Although Morgan and Bolliger & Mabillard have not used the term giga , both have also produced roller coasters in this class. A strata coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least 400 feet (120 m). As with the other two height classifications,

12084-565: Was completed. Materials used throughout the project included 650,000 board feet (200,000 m) of lumber, 82,480 bolts, 5,180 washers, 37,500 lb (17,000 kg) of nails, and 2,432 square yards (2,033 m ) of poured concrete. The ride cost at least $ 3.2 million, equivalent to $ 14.9 million in 2023. The Beast's final design featured two vertical drops of 135 and 141 feet (41 and 43 m), and it incorporated an overall elevation change of 201 feet (61 m). Its three underground tunnels were designed by Jim Kiosky, with one at

12198-415: Was engineered by Russian scientist Andrey Nartov . The Anglican clergyman John Glen King mentioned that some Englishmen visiting Russia called them "Flying Mountains" and described them as follows: You will observe that there are five mounts of unequal height: the first and the highest is full thirty feet perpendicular altitude; the momentum with which they descend this carries them over the second, which

12312-406: Was increased from 45 to 53 degrees, affecting the transition from the first tunnel into the second drop, and the helix finale was modified to improve the distribution of force. 1,090 feet (330 m) was completely re-tracked, and the overall length of the ride was slightly increased by 2 feet (0.61 m) to 7,361 feet (2,244 m). After entering through the main entrance, guests proceed down

12426-410: Was more than the design intended, so the entire helix was reconstructed with a wider diameter. The delay forced Kings Island to forego the enclosing of the helix, which would eventually happen the following off-season. Also at the first tunnel's exit, it was discovered that additional banking was needed to reduce stress on the structure. Engineers managed to complete the feat overnight, considering most of

12540-419: Was nearing completion, the attraction was still without a name. Voss often overheard construction crews referring to the project as "a monster" or calling it "a beast of a project". She pitched the idea of naming it "The Beast" to executives who unanimously agreed. To promote the new ride, an animated commercial was released, along with a number of radio contests that granted winners the opportunity to be among

12654-687: Was rated the number one wooden roller coaster in the world by Amusement Today . Great Coasters International (GCI) was formed in 1994 by Mike Boodley and Clair Hain, Jr, the former of whom was a designer at Custom Coasters prior to GCI. The first coaster was Wildcat at Hersheypark which opened in 1996. Since then, they have become one of the major wooden coaster designers in the industry, with award-winning coasters like Lightning Racer at Hersheypark and Thunderhead at Dollywood . GCI's coasters feature highly twisted layouts with many crossovers, and usually use GCI's own wooden coaster trains called Millennium Flyers. Their designs are inspired by coasters from

12768-438: Was the first to break this barrier, though the term hypercoaster was first coined by Cedar Point and Arrow Dynamics with the opening of Magnum XL-200 in 1989. Hypercoasters have become one of the most predominant types of roller coasters in the world, now led by manufacturers Bolliger & Mabillard and Intamin . A giga coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least 300 feet (91 m). The term

12882-423: Was the last coaster designed by John Allen before his retirement. After these coasters, PTC stopped producing roller coasters, but continues to produce wooden roller coaster trains as Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. Their distinctive rectangular cars are widely used on wooden coasters around the world. A notable non-PTC coaster built during this time was The Beast at Kings Island. After John Allen refused to design

12996-408: Was well received was The Raven at Holiday World . Custom Coasters took on increasingly high numbers of wooden coaster projects, including 7 coasters in 2000 alone ( The Boss at Six Flags St. Louis , which was the largest with a 153-foot drop and almost a mile of track; Medusa at Six Flags Mexico ; Mega Zeph at the defunct Six Flags New Orleans ; Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce ; Villain at

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