This blog is the first part of a four-part mini-series where I re-ranked all of my coaster credits after 2020. I wasn’t happy with my original rankings when the site launched, which you can read about in the “Preview – 2021 Favorite Coasters Listings,” blog.
Here it is. The final revamped list. All six Mountain Coaster credits. All 69 Wooden Coaster credits. And all 301 Steel Coaster credits. All three lists have now been combined into my Overall Favorite listing. This wasn’t easy and just like with the three previous listings, I fought myself on which rides I truly find to be my favorites.
Just like with my steel coaster listing, I have broken the list into sections below. The breakdown goes as follows: 1-100, 101-200, 201-300, and 300-370. Now, onto the Top 100:
Roller Coasters 1-100
Numbers found at the end of each listed coaster below represent where the coaster ranked in the original 2020 list. If there is no number present, that coaster failed to meet the Top 5, 25, or 50 ranking used for the category. All new credits that were not ranked are also noted.
- Steel Vengeance – Cedar Point (1)
- El Toro – Six Flags Great Adventure (2)
- Lightning Rod – Dollywood (3)
- Fury 325 – Carowinds (4)
- Twisted Timbers – Kings Dominion (5)
- Skyrush – Hersheypark (18)
- Voyage – Holiday World (11)
- Wicked Cyclone – Six Flags New England (6)
- Alpengeist – Busch Gardens WIlliamsburg (14)
- Mystic Timbers – Kings Island (7)
- Iron Rattler – Six Flags Fiesta Texas (9)
- Millennium Force – Cedar Point (8)
- Superman the Ride – Six Flags New England (12)
- Beast – Kings Island (10)
- Nitro – Six Flags Great Adventure (13)
- Intimidator 305 – Kings Dominion (19)
- Storm Chaser – Kentucky Kingdom (15)
- Diamondback – Kings Island (16)
- Cheetah Hunt – Busch Gardens Tampa (21)
- Phoenix – Knoebels (22)
- Twisted Cyclone – Six Flags Over Georgia (25)
- Maverick – Cedar Point (20)
- Phantom’s Revenge – Kennywood (27)
- Ravine Flyer II – Waldameer (29)
- Great Bear – Hersheypark (34)
- Afterburn – Carowinds (24)
- Apollo’s Chariot – Busch Gardens Williamsburg (23)
- Top Thrill Dragster – Cedar Point (35)
- Intimidator – Carowinds (26)
- Kumba – Busch Gardens Tampa
- New Texas Giant – Six Flags Over Texas (36)
- Candymonium – Hersheypark (17)
- Thunderbird – Holiday World
- Volcano The Blast Coaster – Kings Dominion (38)
- Magnum XL-200 – Cedar Point (32)
- Raptor – Cedar Point (33)
- Gatekeeper – Cedar Point (50)
- Dominator – Kings Dominion (45)
- Banshee – Kings Island (44)
- Lightning Run – Kentucky Kingdom
- Storm Runner – Hersheypark (46)
- Talon – Dorney Park (43)
- Fahrenheit – Hersheypark
- Twister – Knoebels (37)
- Comet – Hersheypark (28)
- Goliath – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Blue Streak – Conneaut Lake Park (30)
- Comet– Great Escape (41)
- Raven – Holiday World (42)
- Cyclone – Luna Park (40)
- Legend – Holiday World (48)
- Griffon – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Sheikra – Busch Gardens Tampa
- Thunderbolt – Kennywood (39)
- Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast – Six Flags Over Texas
- Superman Krypton Coaster – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Rougarou – Cedar Point
- Valravn – Cedar Point
- Tennessee Tornado – Dollywood
- Batman The Dark Knight – Six Flags New England
- Flight of Fear – Kings Dominion
- Flight of Fear – Kings Island
- Joker’s Jinx – Six Flags America
- Poltergeist – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Titan – Six Flags Over Texas
- Hoosier Hurricane – Indiana Beach (47)
- Dragon Coaster – Rye Playland Park
- Cannon Ball – Lake Winnepesaukah (49)
- Verbolten – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Ride of Steel – Six Flags Darien Lake
- Superman Ride of Steel – Six Flags America
- Batman the Ride – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Batman the Ride – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Goliath – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Batman the Ride – Six Flags Over Texas
- Wild One – Six Flags America
- Sandy’s Blasting Bronco – Nickelodeon Universe, NJ (new)
- TMNT Shellraiser – Nickelodeon Universe, NJ (new)
- Hydra The Revenge – Dorney Park
- Wild Eagle – Dollywood
- Thunderhead – Dollywood
- Bizarro – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Loch Ness Monster – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Big Bad Wolf – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Lightning Racer (Lightning) – Hersheypark (31)
- Lightning Racer (Thunder) – Hersheypark (31)
- Kingda Ka – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Shock Wave – Six Flags Over Texas
- Mindbender – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Superman Ultimate Flight – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Superman Ultimate Flight – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Batwing – Six Flags America
- Firehawk – Kings Island
- Steel Force – Dorney Park
- Canyon Blaster – Adventuredome
- Green Lantern – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Georgia Scorcher – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Jack Rabbit – Seabreeze
- Jack Rabbit – Kennywood
- Mantis – Cedar Point
The Top 100 spots feature a ton of movement. You can see numerous coasters that rose and/or dropped a few spots in either direction. I chalk most of that up to this listing being more honest in regards to which coasters are truly my favorites. I didn’t talk myself out of putting something I’m fond of higher on the list, no matter what other coasters are found around it in the listing.
For those of you who read my explanations of why both Skyrush (6) and Alpengeist (9) rose from their former standings on my steel coaster listing, I won’t re-tread all of that information. Check out that blog for all that information. Instead, I want to focus a little bit on some of the other movers on this list, namely Kumba (30) from Busch Gardens Tampa (BGT).
Okay, in all honesty, I think I might have forgotten to rank Kumba on my lists back in 2020. It didn’t appear on either my favorite 50 overall or my favorite 25 steel listings. There is no way I would have ranked this coaster lower than those standings on those lists. I was under the gun to get those lists finished before launching the site, so I’m almost certain it was an oversight on my part. Just know that I didn’t just magically bump this coaster up, or ride it for my first time. Now the elusive Montu credit isn’t here because it was being power washed during my lone visit to BGT. I know… I know… You’ve heard be complain about that too many times. I won’t do it again.
As for the coasters that are now in my Top 50 that were not before, the same holds true. I was just more honest with myself this time around. The lone exception would probably be Fahrenheit (43) at Hersheypark.
In 2020 I got more rides on Fahrenheit that I probably had in my entire lifetime. I always liked this coaster, but this past year I really got to give it some serious re-rides. That’s always been hard to do in the past as this coaster is a slow mover and always gets a line. So like Skyrush, Fahrenheit moved up some for me because I found myself liking it more than ever.
Another Hershey coaster that made some moves, albeit in the opposite direction, was Lightning Racer (85/86). This is easily the biggest movement among the coasters above. In my 2020 listing, I feel like I relied too heavily on memories instead of the ride itself. I’ve always enjoyed this dueling/racing coaster, but do I really love it as much as all the Batman the Ride Clones (72-75) and the Premier Rides LIM coasters (61-64) I’ve experienced? The answer to that is no.
Roller Coasters 101-200
- Great Nor’Easter – Morey’s Pier
- Fire Chaser Express – Dollywood
- Cornball Express – Indiana Beach
- Steel Hawg – Indiana Beach
- Blue Streak – Cedar Point
- Wooden Warrior – Quassy
- Daredevil Dive – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Bat – Kings Island
- Sky Rocket – Kennywood
- Impulse – Knoebels
- Phobia Phear Coaster – Lake Compounce
- Tempesto – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Vortex – Kings Island
- Anaconda – Kings Dominion
- Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain – Indiana Beach
- Blue Hawk – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Viper – Darien Lake
- Switchback – ZDT’s Amusement Park
- InvadR – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Racer (Right) – Kennywood
- Racer (Left) – Kennywood
- Racer 75 (South) – Kings Dominion
- Racer 75 (North) – Kings Dominion
- Racer (Blue) – Kings Island
- Racer (Red) – Kings Island
- Thunder Road (South) – Carowinds
- Thunder Road (North) – Carowinds
- Great American Scream Machine – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Boulder Dash – Lake Compounce
- Laser – Dorney Park
- Batman Robin Chiller (Batman) – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Batman Robin Chiller (Robin) – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Wicked Twister – Cedar Point
- Possessed – Dorney Park
- Hypersonic XLC – Kings Dominion
- Thunder Run – Kentucky Kingdom
- Thunderbolt – Luna Park
- Grizzly – Kings Dominion
- Mind Eraser – Six Flags America
- Mind Eraser – Darien Lake
- T3 – Kentucky Kingdom
- Apocalypse – Six Flags America
- Firebird – Six Flags America
- Vortex – Carowinds
- Nighthawk – Carowinds
- Kingdom Coaster – Dutch Wonderland
- Hydrus – Casino Pier
- Tantrum – Six Flags Darien Lake
- Big Thunder Mountain – Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
- Space Mountain (Alpha) – Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
- Space Mountain (Omega) – Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
- Back Lot Stunt Coaster – Kings Dominion
- Back Lot Stunt Coaster – Kings Island
- Skyliner – Lakemont Park
- Gemini (Blue) – Cedar Point
- Gemini (Red) – Cedar Point
- Great White – xxx
- Shredder – Nickelodeon Universe, NJ (new)
- Adventure Express – Kings Island
- Silver Comet – Fantasy Island
- Mystery Mine – Dollywood
- Mean Streak – Cedar Point
- Hercules – Dorney Park
- Disaster Transport – Cedar Point
- Exterminator – Kennywood
- Sidewinder -Hersheypark
- Dragonflier – Dollywood
- SooperDooperLooper – Hersheypark
- Road Runner Express – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Riddler Revenge – Six Flags New England
- Golden Nugget – Dinosaur Beach
- King Kobra – Kings Dominion
- King Kobra – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Sky High Mountain Coaster – Holiday Valley Resort
- Nor’Easter Mountain Coaster – Greek Peak Mountain Resort
- Rocky Top Mountain Coaster – Rocky Top Mountain Coaster
- Alpine Coaster– Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
- Lightning Loops (Upper) – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Lightning Loops (Lower) – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Python – Six Flags America
- Laff Trakk – Hersheypark
- Blazing Fury – Dollywood
- Mountain Coaster – Camelback Mountain Adventures
- Black Diamond – Knoebels
- Skull Mountain – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Merlin’s Mayhem – Dutch Wonderland (new)
- Mountain Coaster – Wisp Resort (new)
- Leap the Dips – Lakemont Park
- Thunderhawk – Dorney Park
- Flying Turns – Knoebels
- Flyer – Dinosaur Beach
- Thunderbolt – Six Flags New England
- Moto Coaster – Darien Lake
- Steeplechase – Luna Park
- Judge Roy Scream – Six Flags Over Texas
- Cyclone – Six Flags New England
- Ragin’ Cajun – Six Flags America
- Iron Dragon – Cedar Point
- Invertigo – Kings Island
- Stinger – Dorney Park
The 101-200 range sees a lot of “love or hate coasters” for some of you out there. For example, I have Boulder Dash (129) at Lake Compounce ranked lower than Anaconda at Kings Dominion (114). Believe me, I fought with myself asking if this is really true from my experiences. Sadly, if you read the blog entry about my favorite wooden coasters list, then you know why Boulder Dash is so low. If you read “Influential Coasters of My Childhood – Anaconda,” then you know why I rank that one higher than most. But putting them head to head, is that really the case?
I’ve had a bunch of rides on Anaconda. Some of those rides were amazing probably because I was a kid and for the first time, really getting into this hobby. Later in life, some of those rides on Anaconda were a bit of a banger. Still, for me, none of those rides were nearly as bad as the bangers I’ve had on Boulder Dash. With that being the case, could I honestly rank it higher? I say no. Maybe one of these years Boulder Dash will make some jumps for me. Believe me, I pray that it does. I want to love that terrain coaster. I’m a sucker for coasters going through the woods.
Speaking of coasters going through the woods, you find all six of my mountain coaster credits in this number range. While they’re certainly not as tall, fast, or intense as some of the coasters I ranked 201 and lower, I love those scenic, unique experiences. I’m so glad I rode my first one back in 2019. I was late to the game with these being a part of my credit list. Nowadays, I want to ride every single mountain coaster I find myself traveling anywhere near. Believe me, as my credit list grows, so will the number of mountain coasters.
Roller Coasters 201-300
- Two Face The Flip Side – Six Flags America
- Goliath – Six Flags New England
- Sea Serpent – Morey’s Pier
- Hurler – Kings Dominion
- Hurler – Carowinds
- Wildcat – Hersheypark
- Steamin’ Demon – Great Escape
- Harley Quinn Crazy Train – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Roar – Six Flags America
- Pandemonium – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Pandemonium – Six Flags New England
- Pandemonium – Six Flags Over Texas
- Nickelodeon Slime Streak – Nickelodeon Universe, NJ (new)
- Catwoman’s Whip – Six Flags New England
- Bobsleds – Seabreeze
- Cedar Point Mine Ride – Cedar Point
- Great American Scream Machine – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Star Jet – Casino Pier
- Jumbo Jet – Morey’s Pier
- Carolina Goldrusher – Carowinds
- Runaway Mine Train – Six Flags Over Texas
- Canyon Blaster – Great Escape
- Dahlonega Mine Train – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Rolling Thunder (Left) – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Rolling Thunder (Right) – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Trailblazer – Hersheypark
- Predator – Six Flags Darien Lake
- Woodstock Express – Kings Dominion
- Woodstock Express – Kings Island
- Woodstock Express – Carowinds
- Comet – Waldameer
- Runaway Mine Train – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Steel Dragon – Waldameer
- Whirlwind – Seabreeze
- Tig’rr Coaster – Indiana Beach
- Avalanche – Kings Dominion
- La Vibora – Six Flags Over Texas
- Sarajevo Bobsled – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Runaway Mountain – Six Flags Over Texas
- Dark Knight – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Mini-Mine Train – Six Flags Over Texas
- Woodstock Express – Cedar Point
- Wild West Express – Adventure Park USA
- City Jet – Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Runaway Train – Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Hellcat – Clementon Park
- Tidal Wave – Trimper Rides
- Zoomerang – Lake Compounce
- Boomerang Coaster to Coaster – Darien Lake
- Flashback – Great Escape
- Boomerang – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Flashback – Six Flags New England
- Flying Cobras – Carowinds
- Joker – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Batman the Ride – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Joker – Six Flags New England
- Wildcat – Lake Compounce
- Demon Drop – Dorney Park
- Freefall – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havoc – Nickelodeon Universe, NJ (new)
- Corkscrew – Cedar Point
- Kamikaze – Dinosaur Beach
- Time Twister – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Big Apple Coaster – New York, NY Hotel & Casino
- Shockwave – Kings Dominion
- Devil’s Den – Conneaut Lake Park
- Viper – SIx Flags Great Adventure
- Soarin’ Eagle – Luna Park
- Super Flight – Rye Playland Park
- Python – Playland’s Castaway Cove
- Looping Star – Jolly Roger at the Pier
- Looping Coaster – Funtown Pier
- Carolina Cyclone – Carowinds
- Kiddie Hawk – Carowinds
- Flying Ace Aerial Chase – Kings Island
- RC-48 – Morey’s Pier
- Zyklon – Morey’s Pier
- Rollie’s Coaster – Morey’s Pier
- Wildcat – Cedar Point
- Wildcat (Initial)– Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Wildcat (Rebuild)– Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Wildcat – Adventure Park USA
- Wildcat – Steel Pier
- Zyclone – Morey’s Pier
- Flitzer – Jolly Roger at the Pier
- Flitzer – Morey’s Pier
- Flitzer – Playland’s Castaway Cove
- Racing – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Jet Star – Morey’s Pier
- Firecracker – Jolly Roger Amusement park
- Joker Funhouse Coaster – Six Flags Over Georgia
- Avalanche – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Mighty Mouse – Funtown Pier
- Mighty Mouse – Playland’s Castaway Cove
- Wilderness Run – Cedar Point
- Bubbles the Coaster – Storybook Land (new)
- Python Pit – Go-Karts Plus (new)
- Kozmo’s Kurves – Knoebels
- Grover’s Alpine Express – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Air Grover – Busch Gardens Tampa
If you think it gets easier to rank the coasters down this far, you’d be mistaken. I had a lot of internal debate about some of the coasters in the 201-300 range. A lot of junior sized woodies, bobsleds, Vekoma Boomerang models, and boardwalk coasters start popping up here. For the most part, there are things I enjoy about many of these coasters. A lot of these also have some shortcomings for me. however.
Rides like Clementon Park’s Hellcat (246) come to mind. I love the ride’s setting. It’s also photogenic. The course is also more interesting than a number of other wooden coasters I’ve ridden. Riding Hellcat, however, was painful. It’s the roughest wooden coasters I’ve ridden, although I only got to ride it once. Even with all this being said, the prospect of riding Hellcat does sound better to me than jumping on Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havok (260) at Nickelodeon Universe in the American Dream Mall. Yes, Timmy’s is way smoother. WAY smoother. I just find Timmy’s to be tremendously boring. It’s a one trick pony for me. I’ve had much better experiences on the Disc-O rides in all honesty. More spinning, and similar drops.
Roller Coasters 301-370
- Apple Zapple – Kings Dominion
- Wild Lightnin’ – Lake Winnepesaukah
- Doo Wopper – Morey’s Pier
- Wild Mouse – Casino Pier
- Wild Mouse – Dorney Park
- Gotham City Gauntlet Escape from Arkham Asylum – Six Flags New England
- Tickler – Luna Park
- Wild Mouse – Hersheypark
- Wild Mouse – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Wild Mouse – Trimper Rides
- Ricochet – Carowinds
- Sand Serpent – Busch Gardens Tampa
- Wild Maus – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Crazy Mouse – Steel Pier
- Crazy Mouse – Dinosaur Beach
- Crazy Mouse – Fantasy Island
- Crazy Mouse – Rye Playland Park
- Wilderness Run – Carowinds
- Ravine Flyer 3 – Waldameer
- Hoot n Holler – Darien Lake
- Circus Coaster – Luna Park
- Streamliner Coaster – Six Flags Fiesta Texas
- Wile E. Coyote’s Grand Canyon Blaster – Six Flags Over Texas
- Joust – Dutch Wonderland
- Roller Skater – Kentucky Kingdom
- Cocoa Cruiser – Hersheypark
- Great Chase – Six Flags America
- Whistle Punk Chaser – Dollywood
- Frankie’s Mine Train – Great Escape
- Lil’ Phantom – Kennywood
- Little Dipper – Quassy
- Tumbleweed – Adventure Park USA
- Great Chase – Six Flags New England
- Sea Serpent – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Little Leaper – Lakemont Park
- Funtown Family Coaster – Funtown Pier
- Woodstock Express – Dorney Park
- Great Pumpkin Coaster – Kings Dominion
- Great Pumpkin Coaster – Kings Island
- Sea Serpent – Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
- Kiddie Coaster – Lake Compounce
- Sea Serpent – Playland’s Castaway Cove
- Toboggan – Trimper Rides
- Toboggan – Lakemont Park
- Spinning Parrot – Island at Pigeon Forge
- Twist-n-Shout – Funland of Fredericksburg
- Spinning Coaster – Trimper Rides
- Pirate’s Hideaway – Casino Pier
- Great Alonzo’s Cannonball Coaster – Six Flags America
- Max’s Doggy Dog Coaster – Fantasy Island
- Miller’s Gold Mine – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Wacky Worm – Trimper Rides
- Wacky Worm – Jolly Roger Amusement Park
- Wacky Worm – Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Wacky Worm – Baja Amusements
- Wacky Worm – Lake Winnepesaukah
- Miner Mike – Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Howler – Holiday World
- Family Flyer – Rye Playland Park
- Hot Tamales – Casino Pier
- Road Runner Railway – Six Flags Great Adventure
- Dragon Wagon – Funtown Pier
- Dragon Wagon – Casino Pier
- Dragon Flight – Fantasy Island
- Dragon Coaster – Dorney Park
- Dragon Wagon – Indiana Beach
- Fiesta Express – Gillian’s Wonderland Pier
- Miner Mike – Adventuredome
- Roller Coaster – Huck Finn’s Playland
- Roller Soaker – Hersheypark
Welcome to the portion of my overall favorite coasters where you’re going to find mostly Wild Mouse, kiddie coasters, two Toboggans, a few SBF Visa spinners, and of course, Hersheypark’s yucky Roller Soaker. I won’t get into why I dislike that coaster again. If you want to know, just go back and look at the revamp of my favorite steel coasters.
For most of the coasters above, I ending up ranking model types against one another. Most of the Wild Mouses are all in succession, as are Wacky Worms and Dragon Wagons. These are mostly toss ups on which of each I liked the best. If there was something that stuck about about one of them in the bunch, like Kings Dominion’s Apple Zapple (301), then I put it ahead of the others. Why Apple Zapple, you ask? Well, I’ve probably ridden that more than most other Wild Mouse coasters so it’s easily the most memorable.
A couple of kiddie coasters did rank ahead of all these in the 201-300 range. Those coasters were pretty much ones my flight crew members and I have adopted as some of our guilty pleasure rides – namely Bubbles the Coaster (296) at Storybook Land and Python Pit (297) at Go-Karts Plus in Williamsburg, Va. Those coasters don’t really offer a better ride per se than the other kiddie coasters. I just have some fun memories with those two that make me want to ride them more than other kiddie coasters and the slew of Wild Mouses found above. Sometimes it’s just that simple, especially when we get down this far.
Well, my lists are now all revamped. I don’t think you’ll be seeing any type of future blogs like these again moving forward. This was all done to better represent my favorite coasters. My plan is to insert my newest credits as I go from now on. It might not happen right away if it’s a new coaster/credit I know I’ll be able to ride again and again. If its one I know I might not get to re-ride for some time, or ever, then it might go up based on whatever ride experiences I had – good or bad. That’s just how things play out sometimes. Isn’t that right, Boulder Dash?
