3. Kings Island

Here’s a question. Why does Ohio of all places claim two of the best amusement parks in the world? It’s fairly random and yet any respectable list of the best places for coaster enthusiasts will include Cedar Point and Kings Island. Located in the suburbs of Cincinnati, this park made a splash when it debuted in the 1970s. Its signature ride experience, The Racer, is given credit for reinvigorating the entire roller coaster industry.

Fast forward to today and Kings Island offers an eclectic mix of 14 coasters. Its trio of upper tier thrill rides is comprised of an old-timer, a relative newcomer, and a brand spanking new endurance test. The ancient but much beloved ride is The Beast, which debuted in 1979, back when Jimmy Carter was President and Three’s Company was the number one television show. This wooden coaster was so far ahead of the curve that it is still consistently ranked as one of the ten best such coasters in the world despite being 35 years old. To this day, it is still the longest wooden roller coaster in the world. Let’s all tip our cap to some fearless Ohio architects in the 1970s.

The relative newcomer is Diamondback, which was ranked as the fourth best steel roller coaster in the world last year. While the specs on this ride aren’t impressive in terms of height or velocity, its twin helixes are marvels of innovation. One is 323 degrees while the other is 287 degrees, which means that if you don’t suffer from vertigo right now, you may by the time Diamondback is finished with you.

Finally, the newcomer is Banshee, which Golden Ticket named the second best new ride of 2014. This inverted coaster is the first of its kind in America since 2006, and your dangling feet will be the least of your worries as you get hurled onto the track at almost 70 miles per hour. Banshee’s innovations include a tongue-in-cheek reminder that that it is located in the former space of the failed Son of Beast, as there is a memorial to it during the line for Banshee. I admire Kings Island’s ability to have a sense of humor about a situation that garnered a lot of negative publicity.

2. Canada’s Wonderland

The Simpsons may reference our friends to the north as America Junior, but this 18-coaster park is no joke. It is the largest amusement park in Canada while also offering the tallest and faster roller coaster, Leviathan. Another fairly recent Cedar Fair addition, it is the most trafficked seasonal amusement park in North America. It has to be seasonal because…Canadian weather.

Tied with Cedar Point for the second most roller coasters with 16, Canada’s Wonderland has benefited from the same attention to detail as the other parks on this list. The company’s dedication to the hypercoaster concept explains why their parks comprise 80 percent of this list. The Canadian choice for best steel coaster is Leviathan, which rises to 306 feet before thrusting the rider down the track at an incomprehensible 92 miles per hour. It’s the best ride in the best park in Canada. If you want to go north of the border for an adrenaline rush, Canada’s Wonderland is the clear choice.

1. Carowinds

The pride of the Carolina border, Carowinds has been in existence since 1973. It was originally intended to be part of a hub including an NFL stadium, which means that its inventor’s ambition has never quite been matched by its actual achievements. Since its acquisition by Cedar Fair, however, Carowinds has become a much more significant player in the industry. It currently houses 14 roller coasters, the most famous of which debuted less than five years ago.

Intimidator pays tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, whose famous nickname provides the ride its name. The ride even begins with a fitting announcement of “Gentlemen, start your engines!” It was recognized as one of the ten best roller coasters in the world last year. However, it will lose its status as the best coaster at the park when Fury 325 debuts later this year. That ride will immediately become the tallest giga-coaster in the world, and it will offer a breathless 81-degree drop during the course of the ride. So, Carowinds may be a fringe choice for this list today, but it will be a no-brainer by the end of 2015.