Roller coasters are populare amusement rides developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. It is based off of a specialized railroad system, and it consists of a track that rises in designed patterns, with inversions (loops) that run the rider briefly upside down. Some rides, such as shuttle roller coasters, do not complete a complete circuit, but most roller coasters do complete a circle. Many coasters have multiple cars hooked together called a train of cars, but this is not necessarily true for all coasters.
Believe it or not, roller coasters had a 50-year down period where they were not popular starting in the 1920s. It lasted up until 1972 when The Racer was built in the Kings Island, in Mason, Ohio. This roller coaster single handily cause a second golden age of roller coasters that is still existent in the present day. While most roller coasters are made of steel today and defy the laws of conventional physics, the roller coasters of yesterday were not quite as thrilling. Roller coasters used to be made of wood, and would use momentum to carry the carts throughout the tracks. Looking back on it, roller coasters have made a huge improvement.
Today’s rollercoasters are much more intense and thrilling. The possibility of inversions alone changes the game completely. Loops and corkscrews are things not dreamed of in the past world of roller coasters. The tallest coaster in the world is Steel Dragon 2000, which is an amazingly tall 318 foot roller coaster that twists and turns just like all the others. Some parks such as the older Lakeside Amusement Park have only wooden rollercoasters (as they were built nearly 70 years ago!).
Roller coasters are hopefully going to be around for amusement parks to have for generations to come. They are the highlight of many parks, and the main reason for people to even go to an amusement park. It has gotten to the point that if an amusement park does not have a roller coaster, then it should not be able to be considered an amusement park at all, perhaps an exhibition would be more suiting. Regardless of the size or location, most rollercoasters are worth the time and effort to go on, especially the tall ones!
