Wanderlust World Wanderlust World One of the most recognized roller coasters in the world is the Cyclone, located at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. The Cyclone is a wooden coaster built by Harry C. Baker and designed by Vernon Keenan. The estimated cost of constructing the Cyclone was $175,000. In 1988, the Cyclone became a city landmark in Brooklyn. In 1991, the Cyclone was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks.
Part of the thrill of a roller coaster is how high it takes you up before dropping you down. Six Flags is home to two of the tallest roller coasters in the United States: Kingda Ka and Superman: Escape From Krypton. Kingda Ka was first opened in 2005 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. The overall height of the coaster is 456 feet. The Kingda Ka is also the fastest steel-built roller coaster in the United States with a top speed of 128 mph. Superman: Escape From Krypton was opened in 1997 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The overall height of the Superman coaster is 415 feet. Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, is also home to two of the tallest coasters in the world: Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster. The Millennium Force coaster stands at 310 feet while the Top Thrill Dragster stands at 420 feet. The Millennium Force opened in 2000 and the Top Thrill Dragster in 2003.
The fastest wooden roller coaster in the United States is the Son of Beast, which opened in 2000 at Kings Island in Kings Mill, Ohio. The top speed of this coaster is 78 mph, which is 13 mph faster than the original Beast roller coaster. Six Flags is home to some of the fastest wooden roller coasters in the country as well. The El Toro, located at Six Flags Great Adventure, opened in 2006 and has a top speed of 70 mph. The American Eagle opened in 1981 at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. It has a top speed of 66 mph. The Boss also has a top speed of 66 mph and is located at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka, Missouri. The Boss opened in 2000.
The Leap The Dips coaster in Lakemont Park, Pennsylvania, is the oldest standing roller coaster in America. Constructed in 1902 by E. Joy Morris, the coaster has a top speed of 10 mph, a height of 48 feet, and a drop of 9 feet. Constructed out of wood, The Leap The Dips coaster was added to the National Register of Historic Places list in 1991. It was declared a National Landmark in 1996.