NEW TEXAS GIANT Six Flags Over Texas - Arlington, Texas (hybrid steel & wood)
LIGHTNING RUN Kentucky Kingdom - Louisville, Kentucky (Chance Rides steel)
WILD ONE Six Flags America - Largo, Maryland (Miller out & back)
WILDCAT Lake Compounce - Bristol, Connecticut (Schmeck/PTC figure 8) Built in 1927 and is one of the best rides on the east coast. A great compliment to the park's famous BOULDER DASH.
BLUE STREAK Conneaut Lake Park - Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania (Vettel out & back) This was the first coaster to be designated an ACE classic. Repainted in 2002 by volunteers.
WILDCAT Hershey Park - Hershey, Pennsylvania (GCI twister) GCI's first coaster, and a fantastic one at that.
LIGHTNING RACER Hershey Park - Hershey, Pennsylvania (GCI wood dueling) GCI returns to Hershey with this masterpiece. A memorable experience that constantly changes direction as the two tracks weave around and towards each other. It's just as impressive visually as it is physically.
SUPERMAN RIDE OF STEEL Six Flags America - Largo, Maryland (Intamin hyper) Just before they broke the 300' mark with Millennium Force, Intamin released the man of steel in hypercoaster form. Two others exist as well, with the one at SF New England incorporating a more compact (and supposedly better) layout. The feeling of flight and racing along the ground is enhanced by tiered trains with minimal restraint and great visibility.
BANSHEE Kings Island, Mason, Ohio (Vekoma flying)
FIREHAWK Kings Island, Mason, Ohio (Vekoma flying) One of the rare "flying" coasters in the US. A unique experience!
BATMAN THE RIDE Six Flags Great America - Gurnee, Illinois (B&M inverted) The world's first inverted coaster, using rigid seats below the track to allow for loops and elements at high speeds.
GEORGIA SCORCHER Six Flags Over Georgia - Atlanta, Georgia (B&M standup) My personal favorite of all stand up coasters, this 2 inversion beauty gives you a fast paced look at all the thrills of standing, without the extreme G's and long ride found on most others.
THUNDERHAWK Dorney Park - Allentown, Pennsylvania (Schmeck out & back) A gem and classic of Dorney, heres a nicely paced out & back with a few surprises.
MAD MOUSE Paramount's Great America - Santa Clara, CA & other locations (Arrow mouse) Arrow's take on the mad mouse includes roomier cars, smooth transitions and trick track!
STEEL PHANTOM/ PHANTOM'S REVENGE Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA (Arrow/Morgan hyper) A ghostly presence was encountered in the winter of 2000, and shortly thereafter the loops and original carbodies to this world record-breaking coaster were removed. An "offspring" of Arrow is responsible for the new train design, and graceful yet intense hypercoaster that followed. With the extreme elements gone, it can now be enjoyed by a wider range of ages.
RACER Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA (Miller continuous track racer) One of the last remaining continous track coaster, you'll end up on the opposite side from which you started. Everything is appealing on this classic racer, from the ride's dark red color to the one of a kind station, currently a recreation of the original.
JACK RABBIT Kennywood - West Mifflin, PA (Miller ravine) Can you tell I love Kennywood? Here's another old timer that continues to deliver some unexpected airtime. Famous for its double dip and classic trains, there's no bad seat on this one.
SEA DRAGON Wyandot Lake - Powell, OH (Allen junior) Originally named Jet Flyer, this was John Allen's first coaster design, and has been copied numerous times since its opening in 1956. It still uses original brakes and has no trims on the course. A great one for beginners!
FLIGHT OF FEAR Kings Island - Cincinnati, OH & KINGS DOMINION - Doswell, VA (Premier LIM launched) The first coasters to use an LIM launch, this nicely themed indoor journey is much more appealing now that it sports a lapbar restraint. A perfect example that shoulder harnesses aren't necessary for looping coasters. Outdoor versions can be ridden at other parks around the country.
VIPER Six Flags Great America - Gurnee, Illinois (Custom wood twister) A fantastic ride given that SF built it themselves! This is perhaps the best coaster at the park today, and if I hadn't grown up there it would certainly rank in my top 10. This is the silent killer of Great America, with relentless air hidden within its coiled track. Unfortunately a lot of people miss it due to the 200' hypercoaster towering above it.
WHIZZER Six Flags Great America - Gurnee, Illinois (Schwarzkopf speed racer) Everyone loves a good family coaster, and here's one that serves as a perfect step up for those who are ready to brave high banked turns and near misses! One of Great America's original 3 coasters when it opened in 1976, it's the last of its kind in the US. Because of its age it almost met the cutting torch in 2002, but was saved thanks to thousands of loyal fans. It seems to run better every year, and let's hope it continues to delight riders for years to come.
WOODSTOCK EXPRESS Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio (Vekoma junior) Another great family coaster, with a nicely themed train and a longer ride than most of its class. it may sound odd, but it's one I never miss on my CP trips! Kings Island (OH), Canada's Wonderland (Toronto) and Wild Adventures (GA) feature and inverted version of this.
GOLD RUSHER Six Flags Magic Mountain - Valencia, CA (Arrow Mine Train) the best mine train I have experienced, hands up! The layout seems to go on forever, and includes several lifts, quick turns, sudden drops, and some close calls with surrounding rides and scenery.
XCELERATOR Knott's Berry Farm - Anaheim, CA (Intamin Rocket coaster) Using a hydraulic cable launch, this odd-looking ride blasts you from 0-80mph in just a few seconds. After floating over the "tophat", you navigate banked turns at high speeds before magnetic brake fins stop you. A smaller version of Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster, which opened in 2003 and climbs 420' at 120mph.
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