List of roller coaster rankings

Looking along Formula Rossa's launch track where a train is being launched
Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world

Roller coasters are amusement rides developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. During the 16th and 17th centuries, rides consisting of wooden sleds that took riders down large slides made from ice were popular in Russia. The first roller coasters, where the train was attached to a wooden track, first appeared in France in the early 1800s.[1] Although wooden roller coasters are still being produced, steel roller coasters are more common and can be found on every continent except Antarctica.[2]

Ranked by height, speed, length, inversions, and steepness, roller coasters are also rated through public opinion polls. Amusement parks often compete to build the tallest, fastest, and longest rides to attract thrill seekers and boost overall park attendance.[3] However, many records do not usually last long. When Magnum XL-200 opened in 1989, it began a new era of roller coasters and increased competition among parks to set new world records. The Magnum XL–200 was the first complete-circuit roller coaster built over 200 feet (61 m).[4][5] Other notable roller coasters include Formula Rossa which reaches a top speed of 149 miles per hour (240 km/h),[6] Kingda Ka which stands at 456 feet (139 m) tall,[7] and Steel Dragon 2000 which measures 8,133 feet (2,479 m) in length.[8]

Key

Key
Key Meaning
1 Record holder
** Under construction
* Standing but not operating (SBNO)

Height rankings

Tallest steel roller coasters

View from the ground up the 456-foot-tall structure of Kingda Ka
Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster in the world
Tallest steel roller coasters
Rank Name Park Country Height Manufacturer Record held
1 Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Adventure United States 456 ft (139 m) Intamin May 2005 – Present
2 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point United States 420 ft (130 m) Intamin May 2003 – May 2005
3 Superman: Escape from Krypton[note 1] Six Flags Magic Mountain United States 415 ft (126 m) Intamin March 1997 – May 2003
4 Tower of Terror II[note 1] Dreamworld Australia 377 ft (115 m) Intamin January 1997 – March 1997
** Unknown Ferrari Land Spain 367 ft (112 m) Intamin
5 Fury 325 Carowinds United States 325 ft (99 m) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
6 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land Japan 318 ft (97 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing N/A
7 Millennium Force Cedar Point United States 310 ft (94 m) Intamin N/A
8 Leviathan Canada's Wonderland Canada 306 ft (93 m) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
9 Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion United States 305 ft (93 m) Intamin N/A
10 Thunder Dolphin Tokyo Dome City Attractions Japan 262 ft (80 m) Intamin N/A

Source:[9]

Longest steel roller coaster drops

Longest steel roller coaster drops
Rank Name Park Country Drop length Manufacturer Record held
1 Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Adventure United States 418 ft (127 m) Intamin May 2005 – present
2 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point United States 400 ft (120 m) Intamin May 2003 – May 2005
3 Superman: Escape from Krypton[note 1] Six Flags Magic Mountain United States 328 ft (100 m) Intamin March 1997 – May 2003
Tower of Terror II[note 1] Dreamworld Australia 328 ft (100 m) Intamin January 1997 – May 2003
4 Fury 325 Carowinds United States 320 ft (98 m) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
5 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land Japan 307 ft (94 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing N/A
6 Leviathan Canada's Wonderland Canada 306 ft (93 m) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
7 Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion United States 300 ft (91 m) Intamin N/A
Millennium Force Cedar Point United States 300 ft (91 m) Intamin N/A
9 Shambhala: Expedición al Himalaya PortAventura Spain 256 ft (78 m) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
Coaster Through the Clouds Nanchang Wanda Park China 256 ft (78 m) Intamin N/A

Sources:[10]

Tallest wooden roller coasters

An overview of the station and lift hill of Colossos at Heide Park
Colossos, the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world
An overview of the Mean Streak roller coaster in the background with the Maverick roller coaster in the foreground
Mean Streak opened as the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world in 1991.
Tallest wooden roller coasters[note 2][note 3]
Rank Name Park Country Height Manufacturer Record held
1 Colossos Heide Park Germany 197 ft (60 m) Intamin June 2009 – present
2 Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park Sweden 187 ft (57 m) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
3 T Express Everland South Korea 184 ft (56 m) Intamin N/A
4 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure United States 181 ft (55 m) Intamin N/A
5 Goliath Six Flags Great America United States 165 ft (50 m) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
6 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari United States 163 ft (50 m) The Gravity Group N/A
7 Mean Streak Cedar Point United States 161 ft (49 m) Dinn Corporation May 1991 – March 1992
8 White Cyclone Nagashima Spa Land Japan 139 ft (42 m) Intamin N/A
9 Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park United States 136 ft (41 m) The Gravity Group N/A
10 Wodan Timbur Coaster Europa-Park Germany 131.3 ft (40.0 m) Great Coasters International N/A

Source:[13]

Longest wooden roller coaster drops

Longest wooden roller coaster drops[note 3]
Rank Name Park Country Drop length Manufacturer Record held
1 Goliath Six Flags Great America United States 180 ft (55 m) Rocky Mountain Construction June 2014 – Present
2 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure United States 176 ft (54 m) Intamin June 2009 – June 2014
3 Lightning Rod Dollywood United States 165 ft (50 m) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
4 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City United States 162 ft (49 m) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
5 Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park Sweden 161 ft (49 m) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
6 Colossos Heide Park Germany 159 ft (48 m) Intamin N/A
7 Mean Streak Cedar Point United States 155 ft (47 m) Dinn Corporation May 1991 – May 2000
8 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari United States 154 ft (47 m) The Gravity Group N/A
9 T Express Everland South Korea 151 ft (46 m) Intamin N/A
10 The Boss Six Flags St. Louis United States 150 ft (46 m) Custom Coasters International N/A

Source:[14]

Speed rankings

Fastest steel roller coasters

In 1997, Tower of Terror became the fastest roller coaster in the world and the first to reach 100 mph (160 km/h).
Fastest steel roller coasters
Rank Name Park Country Speed Manufacturer Record held
1 Formula Rossa Ferrari World United Arab Emirates 149 mph (240 km/h) Intamin November 2010 – present
2 Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Adventure United States 128 mph (206 km/h) Intamin May 2005 – November 2010
3 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point United States 120 mph (190 km/h) Intamin May 2003 – May 2005
** Unknown Ferrari Land Spain 112 mph (180 km/h) Intamin
4 Dodonpa Fuji-Q Highland Japan 107 mph (172 km/h) S&S Worldwide December 2001 – May 2003
5 Superman: Escape from Krypton[note 1] Six Flags Magic Mountain United States 100 mph (160 km/h) Intamin March 1997 – December 2001
Tower of Terror II[note 1] Dreamworld Australia 100 mph (160 km/h) Intamin January 1997 – December 2001
* ring°racer Nürburgring Germany 99.4 mph (160.0 km/h) S&S Worldwide N/A
7 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land Japan 95 mph (153 km/h) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing N/A
Fury 325 Carowinds United States 95 mph (153 km/h) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
9 Millennium Force Cedar Point United States 93 mph (150 km/h) Intamin N/A
10 Leviathan Canada's Wonderland Canada 92 mph (148 km/h) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A

Source:[15]

Fastest wooden roller coasters

An overview of El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure
El Toro, formerly the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world
A train ascending American Eagle's lift hill
American Eagle opened as the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world in 1981.
Fastest wooden roller coasters[note 3]
Rank Name Park Country Speed Manufacturer Record held
1 Lightning Rod Dollywood United States 73 mph (117 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction June 2016 – present
2 Goliath Six Flags Great America United States 72 mph (116 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction June 2014 – June 2016
3 Wildfire Kolmården Wildlife Park Sweden 70.2 mph (113.0 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
4 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure United States 70 mph (110 km/h) Intamin June 2009 – June 2014
5 Colossos Heide Park Germany 68.4 mph (110.1 km/h) Intamin N/A
6 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City United States 68 mph (109 km/h) Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
7 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari United States 67.4 mph (108.5 km/h) The Gravity Group N/A
8 The Boss Six Flags St. Louis United States 66.3 mph (106.7 km/h) Custom Coasters International April 2000 – May 2000
9 American Eagle Six Flags Great America United States 66 mph (106 km/h) Intamin May 1981 – April 2000
10 Mean Streak Cedar Point United States 65 mph (105 km/h) Dinn Corporation N/A

Source:[16]

Length rankings

Longest steel roller coasters

Steel Dragon 2000 from outside Nagashima Spa Land's boundary
Steel Dragon 2000, the longest roller coaster in the world
California Screamin' in 2009 showing the two main hills and the vertical loop
California Screamin', the seventh-longest steel roller coaster in the world
Longest steel roller coasters
Rank Name Park Country Length Manufacturer Record held
1 Steel Dragon 2000 Nagashima Spa Land Japan 8,133 ft (2,479 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing August 2000 – present
2 The Ultimate Lightwater Valley United Kingdom 7,442 ft (2,268 m) British Rail July 1991 – August 2000
3 Fujiyama Fuji-Q Highland Japan 6,709 ft (2,045 m) TOGO N/A
4 Fury 325 Carowinds United States 6,602 ft (2,012 m) Bolliger & Mabillard N/A
5 Millennium Force Cedar Point United States 6,595 ft (2,010 m) Intamin N/A
6 Formula Rossa Ferrari World United Arab Emirates 6,562 ft (2,000 m) Intamin N/A
7 California Screamin' Disney California Adventure United States 6,072 ft (1,851 m) Intamin N/A
* Vertigorama Parque de la Ciudad Argentina 5,958 ft (1,816 m) Intamin
8 Desperado Buffalo Bill's United States 5,843 ft (1,781 m) Arrow Dynamics N/A
9 Mamba Worlds of Fun United States 5,600 ft (1,700 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing N/A
Steel Force Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom United States 5,600 ft (1,700 m) D. H. Morgan Manufacturing N/A

Source:[17]

Longest wooden roller coasters

Longest wooden roller coasters
Rank Name Park Country Length Manufacturer Record held
1 The Beast Kings Island United States 7,359 ft (2,243 m) Charles Dinn / Al Collins April 1979 – present
2 The Voyage Holiday World & Splashin' Safari United States 6,442 ft (1,964 m) The Gravity Group N/A
3 White Cyclone Nagashima Spa Land Japan 5,577 ft (1,700 m) Intamin N/A
4 Mean Streak Cedar Point United States 5,427 ft (1,654 m) Dinn Corporation N/A
5 T Express Everland South Korea 5,383.8 ft (1,641.0 m) Intamin N/A
6 Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure United States 5,383 ft (1,641 m) Custom Coasters International N/A
7 Jupiter Kijima Amusement Park Japan 5,249 ft (1,600 m) Intamin N/A
8 Python in Bamboo Forest Nanchang Wanda Park China 5,111 ft (1,558 m) Great Coasters International N/A
9 The Boss Six Flags St. Louis United States 5,051 ft (1,540 m) Custom Coasters International N/A
10 Wood Coaster Knight Valley China 4,817 ft (1,468 m) Great Coasters International N/A

Source:[18]

Inversion rankings

This listing contains all types of roller coaster inversions.

Steel roller coasters

Most inversions on a steel roller coaster
Rank Name Park Country Inversions Manufacturer Record held
1 The Smiler Alton Towers United Kingdom 14 Gerstlauer May 2013 – Present
2 10 Inversion Roller Coaster Chime-Long Paradise China 10 Intamin February 2006 – May 2013
Altair Cinecittà World Italy 10 Intamin N/A
Colossus Thorpe Park United Kingdom 10 Intamin March 2002 – May 2013
Crazy Coaster Locajoy Holiday China 10 Intamin N/A
** unknown Hopi Hari Brazil 10 Intamin
** unknown Wonder Island Russia 10 Intamin
** unknown Ankapark Turkey 10 Intamin
6 Avalancha Xetulul Guatemala 8 Intamin N/A
Dragon Khan PortAventura Spain 8 Bolliger & Mabillard May 1995 – March 2002
Flight of the Phoenix Harborland China 8 Intamin N/A
** unknown Mirabilandia Brazil 8 Intamin

Sources:[19]

Wooden roller coasters

Most inversions on a wooden roller coaster[note 3]
Rank Name Park Country Inversions Manufacturer Record held
1 Outlaw Run Silver Dollar City United States 3 Rocky Mountain Construction March 2013 – present
Wildfire Kolmården Sweden 3 Rocky Mountain Construction June 2016 – present
2 Goliath Six Flags Great America United States 2 Rocky Mountain Construction N/A
3 Hades 360 Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park United States 1 The Gravity Group N/A
Jungle Trailblazer Oriental Heritage, Ningbo China 1 The Gravity Group N/A
Jungle Trailblazer Oriental Heritage, Wuhu China 1 The Gravity Group N/A
Jungle Trailblazer Oriental Heritage, Jinan China 1 The Gravity Group N/A

Source:[20]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 A shuttle roller coaster, not complete-circuit
  2. ↑ Record was held by The Rattler from March 1992 – May 2000. Its height was 179 feet (55 m).[11]
  3. 1 2 3 4 Record was held by Son of Beast from May 2000 – June 2009. Its height was 218 feet (66 m), its drop distance was 214 feet (65 m) and its speed was 78 miles per hour (126 km/h).[12]

References

  1. ↑ Harris, Tom. "How Roller Coasters Work". Discovery Communications. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Census Report". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ Martín, Hugo (March 13, 2012). "Thrill ride designers compete to push the limits". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ "It's opening weekend for Cedar Point". Associated Press. May 15, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Magnum XL–200 20th anniversary ceremony". PointBuzz. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  6. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Formula Rossa  (Ferrari World Abu Dhabi)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  7. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Kingda Ka  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Steel Dragon 2000  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Height". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  10. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Drop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Iron Rattler  (Six Flags Fiesta Texas)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  12. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Son of Beast  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
  13. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Height". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  14. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Drop". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  15. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders – Steel – Speed". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  16. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Speed". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  17. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders – Steel – Length". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  18. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Length". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  19. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Steel Record Holders – Most Inversions". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  20. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Wood Record Holders – Most Inversions". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
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