4. Switchback

If you like rooting for the little guy, you’re going to love Switchback. It’s the largest endeavor yet by ZDT’s Amusement Park in Seguin, Texas. It is billed as the world’s only wooden shuttle coaster, and its roots are unmistakable. The throwback design takes inspiration from the original roller coaster, Switch Back Railway at Coney Island. Of course, the surprise during the ride is described in the name of the coaster. Midway through the journey, the shuttle cart suddenly reverses course, providing a thrilling backwards portion to the proceedings. Switchback is equal parts retro and forward thinking, demonstrating that ZDT’s Amusement Park is one to watch in coming years.

5. The Joker: Chaos Coaster

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like for your pet hamster if it somehow made it to the top of the wheel? The Joker: Chaos Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia is like that as a roller coaster. In fact, it’s best described as that old pirate ship ride premise taken to another level by putting the same premise in action on a roller coaster track. Watch the video and you’ll understand what I mean. What this has to do with the Batman’s mortal enemy escapes me, but since I still experience night terrors from a space shuttle-style pirate ship ride that went all the way around the full 360 degrees, I need to ride this just to beat my fear. Then again, night terrors aren’t so bad…at least in comparison to having your entire world inverted by an amusement park ride.

Note that there are slight variations of this ride cropping up at Six Flags parks across the country. The Looping Dragon at Six Flags Great Adventure is one while the Bourbon Street Fireball, something I’m pretty sure I drank once at Mardi Gras, is another. That one is hosted at Six Flags America. So, pirate rides on coaster tracks are very in this summer.

6. Fast & Furious Supercharged

Fittingly, Furious 7 recently became the fastest film to earn a billion dollars, reaching that mark in only two weekends of domestic release. All land speed records are fair game for Vin Diesel and his crew, after all. Universal Studios anticipated that the latest film would become the iconic one in the franchise, and they have readied Fast & Furious Supercharged as one of their seminal summer ride experiences this year. This is a tram ride intended to provide the user with the experience of wandering onto the street of a racing showdown between the characters from the film, Paul Walker excluded for obvious reasons. Vin Diesel, The Rock, Tyrese Gibson, and Michelle Rodriguez are all featured in the ride as well as this promotional video. Supercharged is scheduled to debut in June of 2015. Prove you’re a good driver, bro.

7. Tempesto

Busch Gardens Williamsburg finally acknowledged in late March that the giant construction that they’d worked on for over a year was in fact a roller coaster, which is kind of like acknowledging you’re pregnant when you’re in the delivery room. People already know.

How late was this announcement? Tempesto is only days away from debuting, meaning that about 30 days will have passed since the confirmation. I’m guessing all of the people involved with Tempesto do all of their holiday shopping on December 24th.

Anyway, Tempesto is a white-hot concept similar to The Zombie Ride from the last article as well as Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. The Williamsburg take on the premise includes three different launch elements that are on full display in this excellent POV video. Suffice to say that the riders are in the moment when they’re on Tempesto. 

BONUS: The Skyscraper

Finally, since so many people asked about its exclusion, I’ve added this one. It technically doesn’t quality and isn’t even close since it’s not due to debut until 2017. Still, these articles are about giving the people what they want. Judging from your comments, what you want is an excuse to watch video of the future tallest roller coaster in the world. You don’t have to twist my arm, because The Skyscraper is insane in the best possible way.