During the past six months, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I miss from the days before quarantine. Many are simple things like going to a movie, taking my girls to school, and playing tennis. Looking beyond normal life, I’ve also considered rarer activities like visiting theme parks and traveling. Just focusing on roller coasters, there are so many that I still want to experience. My bucket list keeps growing and only seems more daunting today while at home.
I wouldn’t call this list my complete bucket list. I’d have to write a book to capture all those selections. Instead, I’ve chosen 15 rides that represent a wide range of coasters. Many come from regional parks that I hope to check out in the next few years (safety permitting). I’ve avoided international resorts at this point; that deserves its own list.
I’ve noticed that coasters do affect me more lately, so I’ve avoided the most intense examples here. If graying out is part of the fun, that won’t be on my list. All of these choices are rides that seem worth a shot at least once. A few may stretch my capabilities but not to a ridiculous extent. You can see from my top five that extreme thrills aren’t really the top draw. It’s more about the full experience and just having a good time. Let’s get to my selections!
15. Thunderhead, Dollywood
Like I mentioned in my intro, I’m not just looking for the fiercest roller coasters on this list. I’d much rather have a great time on a surprising ride. Thunderhead seems like the perfect example. Opening in 2004, this GCI wooden coaster includes countless twists and turns instead of giant drops. It also has a station flyby and is surrounded by the attractive woods of Tennessee. It reminds me of a stronger version of American Thunder at Six Flags St. Louis, which is my favorite coaster in my local park.
Dollywood is also near the top of my list of parks to visit, and Thunderhead isn’t the only roller coaster that I want to experience there. RMC’s Lightning Rod opened in 2016 with a launch, more speed, and greater thrills. Herschend Entertainment operates the park, and I really enjoyed the way they treat guests at Silver Dollar City. I’ve also heard great things from so many theme park fans about Dollywood.
14. Storm Chaser, Kentucky Kingdom
Kentucky Kingdom is only a four-hour drive from St. Louis, so I’ve had my sights on visiting that park for a while. The park’s six coasters include several that excite me, but Storm Chaser stands out as a Rocky Mountain Construction update. It was previously called Twisted Twins but is mostly a new coaster. It’s no long dueling but includes three inversions and a 78-degree drop. Yikes! I can’t wait to make the trip to experience what RMC can do with another cool re-do of a past coaster.
13. Prowler, Worlds of Fun
Here’s another example of a park that’s an easy drive away from St. Louis. Worlds of Fun sits outside Kansas City and less than four hours away. I could even do a day trip and return without an overnight stay. This GCI coaster opened in 2009 in the Cedar Fair park and is the type of wooden roller coaster that I enjoy. With a drop of 85 feet and a speed of just over 50 miles per hour, it’s also not too intense for me.
My brother lives in Kansas City, so that’s another reason to visit Worlds of Fun when it’s safer. Prowler doesn’t go fully into the woods like The Voyage, but it does take you through a natural setting. You aren’t just looking at concrete. I’m also interested to check out Timber Wolf, which is an older (and possibly rougher) wooden coaster. Mamba is the big hypercoaster that might test my limits. There’s enough within Worlds of Fun for at least a quick visit to ride Prowler and some other highlights.
12. Lightning Racer, Hersheypark
Hersheypark is another place that’s always near the top of my list. It was hard to pick just one coaster for this post. There are currently 14 roller coasters there, including this year’s addition of Candymonium. I love the idea of racing coasters, and Lightning Racer has just the right mix of fun and thrills. It’s another wooden GCI coaster that goes about 50 mph and has a drop just shy of 100 feet. This sounds familiar!
The Lightning and Thunder tracks are similar thought not identical. While they might not offer the speed and drops of Skyrush or the crazy launch of Storm Runner, I still can’t wait to ride Lightning Racer. Opening in 2000, this roller coaster has remained close to the top ten in the Golden Ticket Awards for woodies since the start. It’s never placed lower than #14, which reinforces how well Hersey has maintained this ride.
11. Black Diamond, Knoebels
I love indoor attractions that combine the thrills of a roller coaster with dark-ride theming. Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Orlando is a perfect example. I also enjoy old-school rides like Fire in the Hole at Silver Dollar City. Black Diamond at Knoebels interests me because it has such an interesting history. It was created by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters back in 1960 as the Golden Nugget at Dinosaur Pier.
Re-opening in 2011 as Black Diamond, the mix of creepy sets, fun effects, and other surprises is totally up my alley. It’s hard to see what’s happening in much of the online videos, and that’s a good thing. The top speed is only 12 miles per hour, which is a nice change of pace. I’d also like to visit Knoebels in general, which has free admission and separate fees per ride. I could have definitely listed Phoenix or Flying Turns on this list. Black Diamond made sense because it’s a different type of coaster.
10. Verbolten, Busch Gardens Williamsburg
In a similar vein is Verbolten, which isn’t the tallest or fastest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Apollo’s Chariot often ranks among the best steel coasters, and I can’t wait to ride it. The park’s latest coaster InvadR also has received solid reviews. I’m most interested in Verbolten because of its indoor section inside a show building. There are three different possible stories inside, which is a great added touch.
I’ve also never experienced a freefall, which is a rare effect on a coaster. Of course, I’ll talk more about it on another coaster later. It’s fun to see theming on a steel coaster that’s mixed well with thrills. Unlike Black Diamond, Verbolten still packs a punch with an 88-foot drop near the water. I visited Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 1983 when I was seven, but it’s basically an entirely different park today. I can’t wait to go there.
9. Manta, SeaWorld Orlando
I might be veering too much into thrills with this choice, but I wanted to include a few Orlando parks on this list. I’ve been to SeaWorld a few times but have only ridden Kraken from the big rollercoasters. Our last visit was in 2008, so it was before Manta and Mako were added to the park. SeaWorld focuses a lot more on thrills than it did when i was younger and will be adding Ice Breaker as its fourth coaster.
I selected Manta for this list due to its cool ride system as a flying roller coaster. My body does not love inverted coasters, so I’m curious to see how it would handle this different position. Manta includes four inversions and a 113-foot drop, but it also looks to have a smooth ride. The B&M design even takes you near water jets that offer a cool photo from off the coaster. I also like the idea of having the aquarium in the queue area. It may be a stretch, but I’m willing to give Manta a shot…at least once.
8. Cheetah Hunt, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Let’s continue our stop in Florida with a visit to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. There are many strong options in this park, which currently includes nine roller coasters and will add the highly anticipated Iron Gwazi soon. Kumba, Montu, and SheiKra all deserve attention as part of my bucket list. I’ve gone a different route by choosing a less-intense coaster with Cheetah Hunt.
The Intamin launched coaster does reach a speed of 60 miles per hour and include an inversion, so it’s hardly a ride for everyone. Even so, I appreciate having a different experience than the park’s other coasters. The three launches appear to be a lot of fun in the smooth ride. I also like the idea of having the Cheetah Run exhibit next to the coaster. It makes it part of a land instead of just it’s own thing at Busch Gardens.
7. GhostRider, Knotts Berry Farm
GhostRider was highly rated after it opened in December 1998 but had become a rough ride. The difference came with upgrades in 2015 from GCI that replaced the track and trains. The out-and-back wooden coaster now looks amazing as part of a revitalized Ghost Town area. The “scream shed” makes for a cool 108-foot first drop and sets up the interesting ride layout.
I visited Knott’s Berry Farm as a kid, but that trip was way back in 1985. The recent updates to the Timber Mountain Log Ride, Calico Mine Ride, and Calico River Rapids look amazing. Ghost Town feels like it’s part of a different park, and that’s a great thing. GhostRider is just one of many reasons why I hope to visit Knotts again in the future.
6. Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
I almost skipped Cedar Point on this list because it was too obvious. There are many possibilities from the park’s 17 roller coasters, including big names like Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force, and Magnum. My holdup with a lot of the options is wondering if I could handle the intensity. That’s also the case with Steel Vengeance, which received big acclaim when it arrived in 2018. In a consistent trend for this list, it replaced Mean Streak at the back of the park. Called the first hybrid hypercoaster and manufactured by RMC, Steel Vengeance uses both steel and wood for its structure.
Steel Vengeance set numerous records when it opened, including a 200-foot drop and top speed of 74 miles per hour. On second thought, maybe I’ll just watch this ride from the ground. Between its four inversions and other inventive ways to give more airtime, there’s a lot to enjoy with this coaster. The inversions remind me of riding Outlaw Run, and that’s high praise given where it falls on my Top 5. I’m unsure when I’ll get to Cedar Point, but Steel Vengeance will definitely be a part of that trip.
5. Thunderbird, Holiday World
Holiday World is only about a three-hour drive from St. Louis, so we’ve made two visits to Santa Claus, Indiana. The Voyage is my favorite roller coaster anywhere, and The Raven and The Legend are amazing too. It’s a great collection of coasters for a regional park. The missing piece for me is Thunderbird, a launched wing coaster that opened in 2015. It’s a quick ride but appears to pack a serious punch.
I love the way that Thunderbird crosses over The Voyage several times, which enhances the experience of both coasters. Constructed by B&M, the winged coaster would be my first. I haven’t experienced X-Flight, Wild Eagle, and Gatekeeper so far . I don’t do well with inverted coasters (well, at least Batman: The Ride), so I hope my stomach could handle Thunderbird. Regardless, I’m excited to get back to Holiday World to take a shot.
4. The Beast, Kings Island
The oldest coaster on this list (which hasn’t been upgraded), The Beast has retained its popularity for more than 40 years. What baffles me is how a roller coaster can maintain its excitement for four minutes. There are a lot of straight segments, but that’s not entirely bad. The slow lift hill builds up the anticipation and covers more than the first minute. The Beast also includes big thrills following the set-up.
I love wooden roller coasters in the woods, and The Beast is the perfect example. Another positive is the use of tunnels, which are never a bad thing on any coaster. I’m curious if the ride is rough; my back can barely take a ride on the Screamin’ Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis. The Beast even includes a second long lift hill back in the woods, and it helps to deliver a great finish. Kings Island also offers more than just this classic coaster, and I can’t wait to make that trip to Ohio to ride it all.
3. Time Traveler, Silver Dollar City
It was hard to visit Silver Dollar City last year and not ride Time Traveler. I don’t love spinning coasters but cannot wait to give this fun variation a chance. Mack Rides designed and built this coaster, which opened in 2018. Beyond the thrills, the otherworldly look of the queue and ride vehicles set just the right tone. You can barely see the actual ride from outside the queue, and that adds to the mystery. Once it’s safer to get back to the parks, Time Traveler will be one of the first coasters I’ll try.
2. El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure
El Toro stands right alongside The Voyage on many fans’ lists of their favorite wooden roller coasters. It opened in 2006 and has maintained its popularity ever since. The Intamin coaster reaches 70 miles per hour and includes multiple big drops in a ride that looks relentless. Pictures of El Toro like the one at the top of this article reveal its expansive scope.
The first drop of nearly 176 feet looks massive and on par with The Voyage, and the 76-degree incline is no joke. I usually don’t get too concerned with handling wooden coasters, but El Toro may be the exception. I’ve never visited Six Flags Great Adventure, which is located in New Jersey. Its other big coaster is Kingda Ka, and I may have to skip the 456-foot coaster. I can’t tell you how I would do with a ride that goes 128 miles per hour. Regardless, I’d love to see it at a minimum given the size and scale.
1. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Universal Islands of Adventure
This was the easiest choice in this entire bucket list. There’s a lot that I need to catch up with at Universal Orlando, and none are more exciting than Hagrid’s Magical Creatures. I love the way that Universal has added so many physical sets and animatronics into the attraction. It’s also refreshing to have a coaster that’s fun and thrilling but not as intense as others at the resort. Based on what I’ve heard so far, it sounds like a home run and one of the best new attractions in Orlando.
This bucket list is just a sample of a huge list of coasters and parks that I hope to experience. The first step is having a safe environment, and we’re a long way from that happening. Even so, I like the exercise of thinking about the future in this way. It helps me think positively about what’s to come instead of getting stressed about today.
What are the top choices on your roller coaster bucket list?
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