4. Diamondback – Kings Island
When I listed the best theme parks in the world for adrenaline junkies, I specifically mentioned that one of the reasons I ranked Kings Island is Diamondback. This $22 million build soars 230 feet in the air, reaching maximum velocity of 80 miles per hour during its three-minute journey. Amusingly, none of that is why Diamondback is so popular, though.
The crown jewel of Kings Island features a pair of twin helixes that spin theme park tourists in a virtual circle at maximum velocity. The two twists occur at 323 and then 287 degrees, creating an unprecedented head rush and sinking feeling in your stomach. You’ll want to experience this one for yourself by heading to the suburbs of Cincinnati. In the interim, enjoy this first person perspective of the ride, paying special attention to the hard turns on the helixes.
5. Nitro – Six Flags Great Adventure
The final three entries on this list all have something in common. While Intamin claims the top three coasters at the Golden Ticket Awards, Bolliger & Mabillard designed the other selections on the list. Nitro in Jackson, New Jersey, features one of the longest tracks for any steel roller coaster in North America, running almost 5,400 feet. Like Bizarro above, it slowly pulls the rider up in the air. At 230 feet, it proceeds to drop them 215 feet on a supercharged 80 mile per hour race to the finish line. Along the way, it delivers a lot of air-time thanks to several consecutive, but the highlight of the ride occurs quickly. Nitro is legendary for its Hammerhead turn, which capitalizes on the extreme momentum of the ride cart by thrusting hard right, performing an effective U-turn at maximum velocity. It’s a paralyzing, fear-inducing moment of pure adrenaline. You can check it out here.
6. Leviathan – Canada’s Wonderland
The final ride on the list is the other non-American one. Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario, Canada, represents the second gigacoaster on this list, which means that like Millennium Force above, it’s over 300 feet tall. It’s also the longest ride on this list, featuring 5,486 feet worth of track. Leviathan also happens to be fast, running at 92 miles per hour at peak velocity. You don’t have to work for Intamin or Bolliger & Mabillard to understand that tall, fast, and long is a great combination for a steel roller coaster.
The other way that Leviathan is anomalous relative to the other selections on the list is that it’s still relatively new. In fact, it’s the only ride on this list built in the last five years. It debuted in May of 2012 and immediately took the Great White North by storm. Canada’s Wonderland has enjoyed consecutive years of record attendance in the wake of Leviathan’s debut, which isn’t coincidental. The anchor update cost $28 million, and it’s been worth every penny for Cedar Fair thus far. Enjoy the ride video, paying particular attention to the clever color scheme at the start.
Comments
Sorry guy but your number one choice should be number two.. Fury 325 in Carowinds is 325 feet tall compared to 310 for Millennium Force and reaches a speed of 95 Miles an hour compared to the 93 miles an our of Millennium Force. It is being promoted as the tallest, and Fasted Giga Coaster on the Planet. And if that is not enough the Max Vertical Angle of Fury 325 is 81 degrees. Millennium Force is 80