What is the History of the Roller Coaster?
Rollercoasters are one of the most popular types of fairground rides around, and people all over the world flock to theme parks to try out their twists and turns. No doubt you have been on rollercoasters yourself, but how much do you know about their origins? What you learn may just surprise you.
First of all, rollercoasters are probably far older than you thought. The very first rollercoasters originated in Russia during the 18th Century. These early prototype rollercoasters were known as "Russian Mountains" and involved brave participants riding a sled down hills of ice. Despite this low-tech method, passengers could still reach speeds of 50 miles per hour!
However, the rollercoaster that looks like something we might more recognise as the sort we see in theme parks, funfairs and fairgrounds today first appeared in France in 1817. Unlike the Russian Mountains this ride had trolleys secured on tracks. But, surprisingly, the rollercoaster initially wasn't very popular and didn't last long. It wasn't until towards the end of the 19th century that they really caught the imagination of the general public and became fashionable.
The 20th century was the time when amusement parks and rollercoasters took off and became the hugely popular leisure activity that we know and love today. The 1920s was something of a Golden Age of innovation, with the USA leading the way with increasingly large and impressive rides. One of the most famous from this era which is still operational is the Cyclone ride in Coney Island. It features numerous U-turns and an 85-foot-tall lift hill. The lift hill is the section where the rollercoaster train slowly climbs to a peak, before descending at a great speed. Riders often consider one of the most tense and fun parts of a rollercoaster.
Rollercoaster Rides after WW2
Unfortunately, this period Golden Age was interrupted by the Great Depression in the 1930s and then following that, the Second World War. After this it wasn't until the 1950s that growth began again, with the opening of huge and famous amusement parks such as Disneyworld. The latter half of the 20th century saw rollercoasters spread across the world to every continent. The development of rollercoasters is continuing all the time, and as we move through the 21st century they're sure to get bigger, taller, faster and longer.
Today the tallest rollercoaster in the world is the Kingda Ka, located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. It towers at an incredible 465 feet and reaches speeds of 128 mph. However, that's not the fastest rollercoaster. For that we have to look at the Formula Rossa at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. This ride goes travels at an intense 149mph. Quite a difference from the Russian Mountains!
There are also rollercoasters for all age ranges and at a wide variety of intensity levels. From children's fairground rides to intense ones for full-grown daredevils, there's something for everyone these days.
At We Are Tricycle we have a superb range of white knuckle rides to really add excitement to your next event. Alternatively, harness the power of technology to transport your guests to a virtual rollercoaster with our incredible Motion Simulator. It's so realistic that everyone will feel like they are really there. We even have the capacity to help you develop your own bespoke fairground ride. Turn your concept into reality with us!