Wooden roller coasters are a classic thrill ride that have been around for over a century. They are known for their rickety charm, airtime hills, and intense turns. While some people may prefer the smoothness and inversions of steel coasters, wooden coasters have a loyal fan base that appreciates their nostalgic appeal and unique character.
Top 10 wooden roller coasters in the world
In this article, we will rank the top 10 wooden roller coasters in the world as of 2023, based on their popularity, ratings, and reviews. We will also provide some facts and trivia about each coaster, as well as some tips on how to enjoy them to the fullest.
Let’s get started!
10. The Beast at Kings Island
The Beast is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world, with a track length of 7,359 feet. It opened in 1979 and has been thrilling riders ever since with its high-speed drops, tunnels, and helixes. The Beast is especially famous for its night rides, when the coaster plunges into the dark woods with only minimal lighting.
The Beast has a top speed of 64.8 mph and a height of 110 feet. It has four trains that can accommodate up to 36 riders each. The ride duration is about four minutes, making it one of the longest roller coaster experiences in the world.
Some tips for riding The Beast are:
- Sit in the front row for the best view and the least amount of shaking.
- Hold on tight to the lap bar and brace yourself for the sudden turns and bumps.
- Enjoy the scenery and the sounds of nature as you zoom through the forest.
9. El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure
El Toro is one of the most intense wooden roller coasters in the world, with a steep drop of 76 degrees and a top speed of 70 mph. It opened in 2006 and was the first wooden coaster to use prefabricated track, which allows for smoother and faster rides. El Toro is also known for its strong airtime, which makes riders feel weightless as they soar over the hills.
El Toro has a height of 181 feet and a track length of 4,400 feet. It has three trains that can seat up to 36 riders each. The ride duration is about one minute and 42 seconds, making it one of the shortest but most exhilarating roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding El Toro are:
- Sit in the back row for the most airtime and the most intense drop.
- Keep your hands up and scream as loud as you can.
- Don’t eat or drink anything before riding, as this coaster may make you feel nauseous.
8. Lightning Rod at Dollywood
Lightning Rod is the world’s first launched wooden roller coaster, meaning that it uses a magnetic propulsion system to accelerate from zero to 45 mph in just 3.5 seconds. It opened in 2016 and was inspired by hot rod cars from the 1950s. Lightning Rod features a quadruple down element, where riders go down four consecutive drops in rapid succession.
Lightning Rod has a height of 165 feet and a track length of 3,800 feet. It has two trains that can hold up to 24 riders each. The ride duration is about two minutes and five seconds, making it one of the most fast-paced and thrilling roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Lightning Rod are:
- Sit in the front row for the best launch experience and the best view of the Smoky Mountains.
- Hold on tight to the lap bar and prepare for some serious airtime.
- Wear sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes from bugs and dust.
7. Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort
Phoenix is a historic wooden roller coaster that was originally built in 1947 at Playland Park in Texas. It was relocated to Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pennsylvania in 1985 and has been delighting riders ever since with its smooth ride and abundant airtime. Phoenix is widely regarded as one of the best wooden coasters in terms of fun factor and re-rideability.
Phoenix has a height of 78 feet and a track length of 3,200 feet. It has two trains that can seat up to 24 riders each. The ride duration is about one minute and 45 seconds, making it one of the most enjoyable and satisfying roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Phoenix are:
- Sit anywhere you like, as every seat offers a great ride experience.
- Keep your hands up and enjoy the feeling of flying over the hills.
- Ride it multiple times, as this coaster never gets old.
6. Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce
Boulder Dash is a unique wooden roller coaster that follows the natural terrain of a mountain. It opened in 2000 and was voted as the best wooden coaster in the world by Amusement Today for five consecutive years. Boulder Dash features several drops, turns, and tunnels that take riders through the woods and over the lake.
Boulder Dash has a height of 110 feet and a track length of 4,725 feet. It has two trains that can accommodate up to 28 riders each. The ride duration is about two minutes and 30 seconds, making it one of the most scenic and immersive roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Boulder Dash are:
- Sit in the back row for the most speed and the most airtime.
- Hold on tight to the lap bar and enjoy the twists and turns.
- Ride it at night, when the coaster is lit up by LED lights.
5. Voyage at Holiday World
Voyage is a massive wooden roller coaster that spans over 1.2 miles of track. It opened in 2006 and was themed after the voyage of the Pilgrims from England to America. Voyage features three 90-degree banked turns, five underground tunnels, and a record-breaking 24.3 seconds of airtime.
Voyage has a height of 173 feet and a top speed of 67.4 mph. It has three trains that can seat up to 32 riders each. The ride duration is about two minutes and 45 seconds, making it one of the longest and most intense roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding a Voyage are:
- Sit in the middle row for the smoothest ride and the best balance of airtime and lateral forces.
- Keep your head back and your eyes open as you go through the tunnels.
- Ride it during Halloween, when the park hosts a special event called HoliWood Nights.
4. Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City
Outlaw Run is a groundbreaking wooden roller coaster that features three inversions, including a double barrel roll finale. It opened in 2013 and was the first wooden coaster to have a 153-degree overbanked turn. Outlaw Run is also known for its steep drop of 81 degrees and its high speed of 68 mph.
Outlaw Run has a height of 107 feet and a track length of 2,937 feet. It has two trains that can hold up to 24 riders each. The ride duration is about one minute and 27 seconds, making it one of the most innovative and thrilling roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Outlaw Run are:
- Sit in the front row for the best view of the inversions and the drop.
- Keep your hands up and enjoy the sensation of being upside down.
- Ride it during Christmas, when the park is decorated with millions of lights.
3. Mystic Timbers at Kings Island
Mystic Timbers is a mysterious wooden roller coaster that takes riders through an abandoned lumber company. It opened in 2017 and was voted as the best new ride of the year by Amusement Today. Mystic Timbers features several airtime hills, sharp turns, and a surprise ending that involves a mysterious shed.
Mystic Timbers has a height of 109 feet and a track length of 3,265 feet. It has three trains that can seat up to 24 riders each. The ride duration is about two minutes and five seconds, making it one of the most fun and suspenseful roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Mystic Timbers are:
- Sit in the back row for the most airtime and the most speed.
- Don’t spoil the shed for others who haven’t ridden it yet.
- Ride it during Halloween Haunt, when the park adds some spooky elements to the ride.
2. Wildfire at Kolmården
Wildfire is a stunning wooden roller coaster that overlooks a lake and a forest in Sweden. It opened in 2016 and was designed by Rocky Mountain Construction, a company known for creating hybrid coasters with steel supports and wooden tracks. Wildfire features four inversions, including a zero-g stall and an inline twist.
Wildfire has a height of 183 feet and a top speed of 71 mph. It has two trains that can hold up to 24 riders each. The ride duration is about two minutes, making it one of the most beautiful and exhilarating roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Wildfire are:
- Sit on the right side for the best view of the lake and the forest.
- Keep your hands up and enjoy the smoothness and gracefulness of the ride.
- Ride it during summer, when you can also enjoy other attractions at Kolmården, such as a safari park and a dolphin show.
1. Zadra at Energylandia
Zadra is a colossal wooden roller coaster that towers over Poland’s largest amusement park. It opened in 2019 and was also designed by Rocky Mountain Construction. Zadra features three inversions, including a zero-g roll and an outer-banked airtime hill. Zadra has a height of 206 feet and a top speed of 75 mph. It has two trains that can seat up to 24 riders each. The ride duration is about two minutes and 25 seconds, making it one of the most impressive and thrilling roller coaster rides in the world.
Some tips for riding Zadra are:
- Sit in the front row for the best view of the park and the inversions.
- Keep your hands up and enjoy the airtime and the smoothness of the ride.
- Ride it during winter, when the park is covered with snow and ice.
Conclusion
Wooden roller coasters are a timeless attraction that offers a different kind of thrill than steel coasters. They are more than just rides, they are pieces of history and art that showcase the creativity and craftsmanship of their designers and builders. Whether you prefer the classic or the modern, the smooth or the rough, the simple or the complex, there is a wooden coaster for you.
We hope you enjoyed our ranking of the top 10 wooden roller coasters in 2023. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. And if you ever get a chance to ride any of these coasters, let us know what you think!
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: What is the difference between a wooden coaster and a hybrid coaster?
A: A wooden coaster is a roller coaster that has both wooden tracks and wooden supports. A hybrid coaster is a roller coaster that has either steel tracks and wooden supports, or wooden tracks and steel supports.
Q: What are some advantages and disadvantages of wooden coasters?
A: Some advantages of wooden coasters are that they are cheaper to build and maintain, they have more character and charm, and they can be modified or retracted easily. Some disadvantages of wooden coasters are that they are rougher and noisier, they have less variety and flexibility, and they can be affected by weather and aging.
Q: What are some factors that affect the ranking of wooden coasters?
A: Some factors that affect the ranking of wooden coasters are popularity, ratings, reviews, awards, statistics, design, theme, location, and personal preference.
Q: What are some ways to measure the quality of a wooden coaster?
A: Some ways to measure the quality of a wooden coaster are smoothness, speed, height, length, drop, airtime, inversions, turns, transitions, intensity, fun factor, re-rideability, scenery, story, and originality.
Q: What are some tips for riding wooden coasters? A: Some tips for riding wooden coasters are to choose your seat wisely, to hold on tight or keep your hands up depending on your preference, to keep your head back and your eyes open, to scream or laugh as much as you want, to avoid eating or drinking too much before riding, to wear comfortable clothes and shoes, to check the height and safety requirements before riding, and to have fun!
Q: What are some common myths or misconceptions about wooden coasters?
A: Some common myths or misconceptions about wooden coasters are that they are unsafe or unstable, that they are boring or outdated, that they are all the same or similar, that they are only for kids or old people, that they cause headaches or injuries, and that they cannot go upside down or fast.
Q: What are some trends or innovations in wooden coaster design?
A: Some trends or innovations in wooden coaster design are prefabricated track technology, launched lift hills, inversions and other elements previously exclusive to steel coasters, hybrid conversions of old wooden coasters into new hybrid coasters, interactive features such as sound effects or special effects, and environmental integration such as using natural terrain or vegetation.
Q: What are some challenges or difficulties in building wooden coasters?
A: Some challenges or difficulties in building wooden coasters are finding suitable land and space, obtaining permits and approvals from authorities, dealing with environmental issues such as noise pollution or deforestation, ensuring safety and quality standards, balancing cost and performance, and satisfying customer expectations.
Q: What are some benefits or impacts of wooden coasters?
A: Some benefits or impacts of wooden coasters are that they attract visitors and generate revenue for parks, they create jobs and opportunities for workers, they preserve history and culture, they inspire creativity and innovation, they provide entertainment and education, and they foster social interaction and community.
Q: What are some future possibilities or opportunities for wooden coasters?
A: Some future possibilities or opportunities for wooden coasters are expanding to new markets and regions, collaborating with other industries such as media or tourism, experimenting with new materials and technologies, exploring new themes and stories, creating new experiences and emotions, and breaking new records and boundaries.