In 1959, the Matterhorn Bobsleds were introduced at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and the ride led to a new revolution of coasters--the use of tubular steel track instead of wooden track. With tubular steel track, the possibilities were endless. Roller coasters were made at heights, speeds, and forces that people could have never imagined. Wars began in the amusement park industry over which park had the tallest, fastest, and most intense rides. But have parks and ride developers pushed the limits too far? Are they making rides so tall, fast, and intense that they've feasibly been taken as far as they can go? Explore the coaster wars and how developers may have taken their rides to the max.

The Coaster Wars

During the year of 1959, ride developers opened their eyes to endless possibilities of using a steel track. Rides were popping up all over the place with greater heights and speeds than ever before. In 1964, the first coaster over the height of 100 feet was built. It was the Serpent of Fire at La Feria Chapultépec Mágico in Mexico City. From that time on, developers began to make rides higher, faster, and more extreme. Many years passed and rides were becoming more extreme and intense and guests loved them even more. What guests kept on begging for finally came true in 1989. At Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, a new coaster was built. Its name was Magnum XL-200 and it was the first coaster to reach a height of 200 feet. It was also the first hyper coaster, which today, is one of the most popular and most recognized coaster. A hyper coaster’s layout usually resembles a classic wooden one, but is taken to extreme heights, lengths, speeds, and forces.

Two more revolutionary coasters were introduced in 1996. They were Flight of Fear at Paramount Kings Dominion and Paramount Kings Island. Instead of using a traditional chain lift, these coasters used LIM launch systems to propel the trains forward at great speeds. Ride developers had endless ideas of what they could do with their new technology. Guests and parks wanted higher and taller rides. Having an “extreme” coaster was not only good for bragging rights, but they also drew more guests to the parks to brave the new coasters. Then, in 2000, Millennium Force at Cedar Point opened as the first coaster over 300 feet. It was also the fastest and longest full-circuit steel coaster in the world. But only a month later, Steel Dragon 2000 opened in Japan and set the record as the tallest, fastest, and longest coaster in the world.

As the coaster wars raged on, new types of rides were being introduced, but had their own uniqueness beyond height and speed. Even though some were not 300 feet, they delivered their own unique thrills and were just as popular with the crowds. Lastly, in 2003, Top Thrill Dragster opened as the first full circuit coaster over 400 feet. The crowds cheered and marched into Cedar Point to ride the new monster, but shortly after it opened, it broke down. Rides using launches (Top Thrill Dragster uses a hydraulic launch system) are usually not as reliable as chain-lift coasters. That was one of the major drawbacks of these new types of coasters. But, of course, the ride reopened and even though it was so quick that people didn’t realize what had happened, it got great reviews for being very intense. But, as the coaster wars raged on, Top Thrill Dragster was only able to hold its record for two years because in 2005, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey claimed the record of the tallest and fastest ride on the planet reaching heights of 456 feet and speeds of 128 mph. The coaster wars are still raging on today and rides are becoming as intense as ever.

Road Blocks

As we all know, nothing is perfect, and for the new rides that are so insane, they, too, are not perfect. Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure is a perfect example. Even though it is the tallest and fastest coaster in the world, shortly after it opened, it broke down--just as Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point did. It was closed for months and when it finally opened crowds rushed to ride it. However, just recently, a cell phone got stuck in Kingda Ka’s launch, and when the ride launched, its launch was almost ruined. It was then closed for a while but not as long as it was in the previous year. Also, even though it is very intense, the ride does not deliver the same pleasure that roller coasters have in the past. Reliability isn’t the only drawback to having an extreme coaster. Another drawback to having more extreme rides is their extreme price. These rides cost much more money than smaller rides and their reliability isn’t very good. Not long ago, a twelve-year old boy died after coming off Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster in MGM Studios at Walt Disney World. However, his death was not caused by the ride, but by an unknown heart defect that he had. The drawback of this situation is: Are rides becoming so intense that riders have to be afraid of an unknown heart defect while riding, and may not want to ride?

This is not the only time someone has died on a ride because of an unknown heart defect. Almost a year ago, a four-year-old boy died on Mission Space in Epcot for the same reason. This death also occurred in Walt Disney World, which is known for family attractions. Parks may be concerned guests will not want to ride because they have fears of an unknown illnesses. But coaster fanatics may not have to worry, because their bodies are used to the extreme forces and will not react as greatly as someone who has never ridden a coaster before. Even if coaster fanatics have less of a chance of getting hurt, if new coaster lovers start riding small rides--then go to bigger rides-- their bodies will more easily handle the force. Also, no one has to worry about dying on a roller coaster because they are very safe. Very few deaths occur at amusement parks and there is a very small chance of someone dying on a roller coaster because of malfunction of the coaster. Almost all the people who have died on roller coasters have had health problems.

End of the Wars?

Possibly the only way to keep the rides appealing, safe, and with good reliability is to develop more unique coasters rather than making them go higher and more extreme. On rides over 400 feet, it is not unusual for them to break down on a daily basis, which is not very good for the public. If ride developers come up with more unique than insane rides, then the rides may have better reliability and may even be better rides. Also, if the rides are not over 200 feet, but still deliver as much of an exhilarating feeling and have good reliability, then coaster lovers will love them just as much. Take the Bolliger and Mabillard flying coaster, for example. Even though the tallest, fastest, and longest flying coaster has a 111 foot drop, it is still as exciting as a bigger coaster — and is more unique. People who are afraid of unknown heart defects may even choose to ride a smaller version of the flying coaster; they might love it and then get into coasters. With more unique rides, the crowds may be more pleased and the rides may even be more exciting.

As we look back at the beginning of the steel revolution, we realize that the first steel coaster started out at a mere eighty feet and was just a normal sit-down coaster. We see how far ride developers have come with making new types of coasters like the inverted, floorless, flying, launched and many more. We can also see the great achievements we have made towards the “perfect” coaster — but perhaps; we still have a long way to go.