The 10 Craziest Roller Coaster Rides for Thrill Seekers
It’s time to set the record straight. We’ve taken into account the following criteria to find you the best roller coaster rides ever: G-forces, height, speed, track length, vertical angles and inversions. Whew! If you want daredevil, stomach-churning, anti-gravity induced thrills then get ready to raise your arms and scream your lungs out, ’cause what lies ahead are the 10 craziest roller coaster rides around the country (in no particular order). So ride on, thrill seekers!
1. Behemoth (Canada’s Wonderland): Etymologists associate behemoth to mean beast. Once you ride this animal, you may describe it as such! Behemoth features a seating arrangement that ensures an unobstructed view for every rider, which is a first for hyper coasters. This thrill lasts for three minutes and keep in mind, those rapid descents are not bunny hops! (via Halloween Alley)
2. Millenium Force (Cedar Point): America’s first Giga Coaster (a roller coaster that exceeds 300 feet in height) introduced riders to a whole new level of theme park thrills. Consistently rated as the number one steel coaster, the Millenium Force has been surpassed in height and speed, yet remains one of the most thrilling rides in the world. (via Cedar Point)
3. Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure): Forget about cheap thrills as you make your ascent on the world’s tallest roller coaster, raising upwards of 456 feet! At the top, there’s no time for sight-seeing, because Kingda Ka is powered by a hydraulic launch mechanism that shoots riders to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds. Hold on tight, this one’s an adrenaline junkie’s dream. (via Ultimate Roller Coaster)
4. Apollo’s Chariot (Busch Gardens): The world’s first hypercoaster doesn’t disappoint, with eight air-time hills accelerating toward a 210 foot drop at a 64 degree angle… phew! Don’t hold your breath, ’cause this chariot rides along for almost 5,000 feet. (via The Bored Zombie)
5. Intimidator 305 (Kings Dominion): The Intimidator 305 hurls riders forward at speeds of 90 mph. Get ready for a breathtaking view as you reach the crest, and keep in mind, when you look down, you’re higher than the observation deck on the Eiffel Tower. Talk about free-fallin’! (via Theme Park Review)
6. Full Throttle (Six Flags Magic Mountain): If you’re into loop-de-loops, this is the coaster for you. Full Throttle catapults and loops riders at a world record-breaking, 160 feet in the air. (via LA Times)
7. Maverick (Cedar Point): Some coasters have their own bag of tricks to ensure enthusiasts get a wild ride. Maverick is the first coaster to introduce the “Twisted Horseshoe Roll,” an element that corkscrews into a 180 degree banked turn and finishes with another corkscrew that rotates in the opposite direction as the first. Maverick’s motto is “The Old West Was Never This Wild” — and we fully agree. (via Suzy Greaves)
8. Boulder Dash (Lake Compounce): For wooden coaster aficionados, Boulder Dash is pretty sweet. Roaming through Lake Compounce’s natural terrain, riders are inches away from trees, mountainous terrain and boulders. All we can say is, hold on and SCREAM! (via Two in The Middle)
9. El Toro (Six Flags Great America): Spanish for “The Bull” this is one ride you can’t tame! One of the fastest and tallest wooden runs on Earth, El Toro blasts you over an area of insane hills at a whopping 70 mph. (via Nerd Wallet)
10. Coney Island Cyclone (Astroland): Even Hurricane Sandy couldn’t rip through the Cyclone. This historic wooden roller coaster has been riding the rails since 1927. If you’re a roller coaster junkie, we suggest paying your respects to this American legend. (via Today is The Day I)
Any twists, turns or dips we missed? Fill us in on the wild rides we need to add to our summer thrill list in the comments below.
