FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Are you a roller coaster superfan? Does the mere thought of g-force make your heart race and your blood pump aggressively? Loving roller coasters is what unites us as ride enthusiasts. Since you are a hardcore theme park tourist, you want to visit amusement parks that best fit your needs.

Here are five of the best non-Disney/Universal parks for adrenaline junkies. Note that these parks are listed in no particular order. If I could only pick one, however, let’s just say that my heart belongs in Sandusky, Ohio.

5. Six Flags Magic Mountain

Image © Six Flags

While my heart belongs to another amusement park, Six Flags Magic Mountain stakes a claim as the mecca for coaster lovers. There are an almost unimaginable 19 of them at the park. To put that number in perspective, consider that Magic Mountain is open for 11 hours during most of the summer. You would need to ride a coaster every half hour or come back on consecutive days to have any chance of putting a checkmark beside every thrill ride at the park.

Choosing the best coaster at Six Flags in Valencia, California, is akin to selecting your favorite child. You shouldn’t answer too quickly, if you are forced to answer at all. Still, the basic law of roller coaster engineering applies. The newer rides generally feature more technologically advanced and therefore better thrills.

LEX LUTHOR: Drop of Doom, which debuted in July of 2012, held the record of largest drop for any amusement park ride for a full two years. It elevates the rider 40 stories in the air and then pulls the ground out from under you, causing a freefall at an unconscionable 85 miles per hour. Drop of Doom is also integrated with the park’s Superman: Escape from Krypton, meaning that you can choose good or evil, depending on your mood when you visit Six Flags.

4. Cedar Point

Image © Cedar Fair

Oddly, not every park is bound by the doctrine that newer is better. Perhaps the best example resides in Sandusky, Ohio. Cedar Point has been in operation since 1870, making it the second oldest amusement park that is still open to the public. Considered by many to be the roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point offers 16 of the best thrill rides in the industry, tying it for second-most of any amusement park in operation. Among its many claims to fame is that this is the only park that currently offers four coasters taller than 200 feet.

The best part about Cedar Point is that its rides are built to last. Consider that the debut of Magnum XL-200 in 1989 created the hypercoaster war. It was the first such coaster, becoming the first to reach a height in excess of 200 feet. Over a decade later, Magnum XL-200 was still winning awards as the best steel roller coaster in existence. In fact, the only reason why it stopped being the king of the category is that Cedar Point beat itself.

In 2000, Millennium Force Debuted to historically positive reviews, and not much has changed in the interim. The world’s first gigacoaster was selected as the best steel coaster in the world the first two years of its existence. Since that time, it has sustained its claim as one of the best roller coasters in the world. To wit, it has NEVER finished lower than second place in the category of best steel roller coaster since its inception. Despite 15 years of technological advances, all other roller coasters can do is mimic Millennium Force rather than surpass it.

Simply stated, Cedar Point is the gold standard in the ongoing roller coaster wars. Any self-respecting adrenaline junkie should make plans to visit the mecca of thrill rides.

 
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Comments

In reply to by Paul (not verified)

Six flags ohio has been closed for a while now. As well, the top 4 on this list are all owned by cedar fairs. Not saying they r not worthty of the rank (I am a cedar point junky) i just thought this should be brought to attention.

In reply to by Paul (not verified)

Six Flags Ohio... you just lost all credibility, Paul.

In reply to by Paul (not verified)

Paul..... "Six Flags Ohio?????" Six Flags let the park go to Cedar Fair in 2004 and was only known as Six Flags Ohio from 2000-2001 so obviously your facts are ancient and you need to revisit some parks.

In reply to by Paul (not verified)

He said in no particular order. Also, this is best in North America so Canada should be considered for this list. Canada's Wonderland is clearly well-suited to this list: second most coasters in the world (seventeen last season before the closure of SkyRider) and an amazing selection of flat rides, not to mention the atmosphere. I'm not saying it's better than other parks on this list, but it is certainly well placed amongst their ranks. Don't believe me? Come up and check it out for yourself!

In reply to by Tyler (not verified)

I agree. CW is an amazing park. And the thing I like about it is half of the park actually still feels like a theme park. Definitely deserves a spot on this list.

View More Comments

Add new comment

About Theme Park Tourist

Theme Park Tourist is one of the web’s leading sources of essential information and entertaining articles about theme parks in Orlando and beyond.

We are one of the world’s largest theme park guide sites, hosting detailed guides to more than 80 theme parks around the globe.

Find Out More About Us...

Plan Your Trip

Our theme park guides contain reviews and ratings of rides, restaurants and hotels at more than 80 theme parks worldwide.

You can even print them.

Start Planning Now...