From humble beginnings to dominating modern theme park skylines, roller coasters are steeped with a rich history of technical advancements. Here’s a timeline of many highlights that influenced the development of roller coasters throughout the years.
Son of Beast at Kings Island in Ohio featured a vertical loop section made of steel. The coaster opened on May 26, 2000, but the loop was removed in 2006 following an accident and the coaster permanently closed in 2009.
Intamin debuted the 310 feet (94 m) tall Millennium Force on May 13, 2000 at Cedar Point in Ohio, USA. The coaster reaches a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h) and was the first to feature a cable lift.
Intamin debuted two magnetic LSM Launch shuttle coasters in 1997, Tower of Terror at Dreamworld in Gold Coast, Australia and Superman The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, USA. The latter stands 415 feet (126.5m) tall with a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h).
In the 1990’s people became interested in wooden coasters again when Custom Coasters International (CCI) started to build them using modern technology, which led to the company building 34 woodies over the decade.
In 1996, Outer Limits: Flight of Fear opened at Kings Island in Ohio and Kings Dominion in Virginia, USA, as the world’s first magnetic LIM Launch roller coasters. Premier Rides built the coasters, which are often described as resembling a “spaghetti bowl.”
Designed to give a sense of flight, B&M opened Batman The Ride on May 9, 1992 at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, USA, which provided large, sweeping inversions and intense g-forces. B&M inverted roller coasters remain one of the most popular coasters in the world.
Featuring more than 1.4 miles (2.25 km) of track, the Ultimate opened at Lightwater Valley in the UK, on July 17, 1991.
Magnum XL-200 opened at Cedar Point in Ohio, USA, on May 6, 1989 as the tallest, fastest, steepest full-length steel roller coaster in the world. The 205 foot (62m) tall coaster would be Arrow Dynamics’ fourth and final installment for Cedar Point.
In 1984, Vekoma began by building the first Boomerang roller coaster at Six Flags Mexico in Mexico City. Since then, over 50 have been constructed, making it one of the most popular coaster designs in the world.
Standing 233 feet (71 m), Moonsault Scramble, built by Sanoyas Hishino Meisho, became the first roller coaster to break the 200 feet (61 m) limit when it opened on June 24, 1983 at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Japan.