Summer is just about here, and as the thermostat rises, it’s time to get your adrenaline pumping too with the country’s best new roller coasters. If a theme park visit is on your travel list, jump into a seat on one of these new roller coasters.
Goliath, Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Illinois
Six Flags Great America is going retro with the upcoming debut of a new wooden roller coaster — but don’t let Goliath’s wooden appearance fool you into thinking this will be a tame ride. Expected to break records as the world’s fastest wooden coaster with the steepest and longest drop, Goliath will be anything but boring. Riders will reach speeds of up to 72 miles per hour as they fly through two inversions and a 180-degree zero-G roll. This is definitely one for the thrill-seekers.
El Loco, Circus Circus, Las Vegas, Nevada
Once upon a time, the Adventuredome at Circus Circus was beloved for its arcade, circus acts and rather mild, kid-friendly rides, but that’s all changing now with the introduction of El Loco, Adventuredome’s latest roller coaster that’s anything but mild. The ride is just over one minute long, but it packs a few hard-hitting punches that are sure to get your heart pumping. A dive drop puts you through a G-force of 1.5, then you’re swung through doughnut rolls, a 180-degree turn and a barrel roll before a 240-degree reverse roll plummets you into a reverse drop. Who says the Adventuredome is just for kids?
Banshee, Kings Island, Ohio
Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out how a coaster gets its name, but with this new addition to Kings Island, there’s no doubt the world’s longest inverted roller coaster was named for the bloodcurdling screams its riders will inevitably produce. Banshee opened in April and sends riders upside-down through a dive loop, zero-G roll, batwing and curved drop. Seven inversions and speeds of up to 68 miles per hour make this a can’t-miss for adrenaline junkies.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Disney World, Orlando, Florida
No, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride won’t be breaking records for speed, drops or turns, but Disney more than makes up for the absence of adrenaline-pumping thrills with its signature magic. This family-friendly steel coaster is the star of Disney World’s New Fantasyland, and it’s laced with all the animation, musical elements and interaction you’d expect from a Disney ride. The coaster takes guests of all ages through a magical forest and into the Dwarves’ mine on a musical, gem-laden journey.
Which rides will you be checking out this summer? Let us know in the comments!
(Featured image: Jeremy Thompson)
