The last time I did a Top 10 Coasters List was in 2018 when I had ridden somewhere around 65 coasters. Since then, my count has almost doubled up to 125 unique rides. Since I've added a lot of big hitters, I thought it would be fun to revisit my rankings and talk about what makes them so unique and interesting and just a freaking blast to ride. On this specifically I am focusing on one thing only: How much I enjoy the ride, not how "objectively" good it is to the public at large. In cases where I was torn, I did try to defer to only having one of each "type" of coaster Here we go!
#10: Mystic Timbers - Kings Island
Spoiler alert: Only 1 pure wooden roller coaster made my Top 10, but there were two vying for the 10th spot. Mystic Timbers won the battle with Texas Stingray, but both are great rides and worthy of inclusion. Mystic Timbers is new to the list and has a fantastic out-and-back layout absolutely filled with airtime. In a park filled with giant coasters, this relatively small wooden coaster packs a hell of a punch and is glossy smooth for a wooden coaster, something that's all too uncommon. Some rides don't have eye-popping stats but still just deliver a fun-filled ride and this is definitely one of those coasters.
Stats:
Height: 109 ft.
Drop: 98 ft.
Speed: 53 mph
Stats:
Height: 109 ft.
Drop: 98 ft.
Speed: 53 mph
#9: Xcelerator - Knott's Berry Farm
Alright, confession time. I'm scared of heights. I know, it doesn't make sense, but they freak me out. As such, I've never been on Xcelerator's big brothers: Top Thrill Dragster or Kingda Ka. HOWEVER, that does not dampen the experience of the "little" 200-foot version of Intamin's Accelerator model.
Xcelerator packs one hell of a punch as you're launched up to 82 mph from the station up and over a top-hat element, all while being held in by one of the smallest restraints in the industry (obviously, it's still safe). It's one of those rides where you get back into the station shaking your head and asking what just happened. This one barely beat out it's cousin, Storm Runner at Hershey Park (My #11), which adds some inversions and other elements but also has shoulder restraints. This ride is an older prototype model and has some issues with downtime, so if you ever find yourself at Knott's Berry Farm and it's open, it's a must ride.
Stats:
Height: 205 ft.
Drop: 205 ft.
Speed: 82 mph
Acceleration: 0-82 mph in 2.3 seconds
Xcelerator packs one hell of a punch as you're launched up to 82 mph from the station up and over a top-hat element, all while being held in by one of the smallest restraints in the industry (obviously, it's still safe). It's one of those rides where you get back into the station shaking your head and asking what just happened. This one barely beat out it's cousin, Storm Runner at Hershey Park (My #11), which adds some inversions and other elements but also has shoulder restraints. This ride is an older prototype model and has some issues with downtime, so if you ever find yourself at Knott's Berry Farm and it's open, it's a must ride.
Stats:
Height: 205 ft.
Drop: 205 ft.
Speed: 82 mph
Acceleration: 0-82 mph in 2.3 seconds
#8: Maverick - Cedar Point
The first of my coasters that has stayed in my Top 10, although dropping a few spots, is Maverick. This is a roller coaster that has a bit of everything going on: a launched lift hill, beyond vertical drop, airtime hills, inversions, another crazy launch, some whippy transitions. Despite it being only about 100 ft tall, this ride packs a hell of a punch and regularly shows up on coaster enthusiasts Top 10 lists all the time. My biggest downside to this ride is that the line is almost constantly 2+ hours long and I don't think any ride is really worth it at that point. However, if you can get on it with a shorter wait this is definitely one of the best rides in the country.
Stats:
Height: 105 ft.
Drop: 100 ft. Beyond Vertical Drop (95°)
Speed: 70 mph
Inversions: 2
Stats:
Height: 105 ft.
Drop: 100 ft. Beyond Vertical Drop (95°)
Speed: 70 mph
Inversions: 2
#7: Griffon - Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Another hold over from my previous list, Griffon is an absolute beast at one of my favorite parks: Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Now dive coasters like Griffon are usually looked at as a one-trick pony, but if that trick is good enough, then who cares? Griffon offers a 200 ft. vertical drop at 90°, while also holding you over the edge for a few seconds before the free-fall.
Modern versions of this ride have vest restraints instead of the traditional over-the-shoulder style, but Griffon has the old school ones that let you really float in your seat until you hit the bottom. Despite its size, Griffon is a smooth, graceful coaster that can be a joy to ride... as long as you're not terrified of heights.
Stats:
Height: 205 ft.
Drop: 200 ft. Vertical Drop (90°)
Speed: 71 mph
Inversions: 2
Modern versions of this ride have vest restraints instead of the traditional over-the-shoulder style, but Griffon has the old school ones that let you really float in your seat until you hit the bottom. Despite its size, Griffon is a smooth, graceful coaster that can be a joy to ride... as long as you're not terrified of heights.
Stats:
Height: 205 ft.
Drop: 200 ft. Vertical Drop (90°)
Speed: 71 mph
Inversions: 2
#6: Banshee - Kings Island
I have no data to back this up, but outside of traditional sit-down coasters, I think I've been on more inverted coasters than any other type. Banshee had to beat out a myriad of competitors including Montu at Busch Gardens, Great Bear at Hershey Park, and the Fire Dragon (R.I.P.) from the defunct Dueling Dragons at Universal Islands of Adventure.
But let's talk about Banshee. It's a beast of a ride with some things that really set it apart from other rides of it's style. First of all, it has a killer first drop, especially in the back, and absolutely rips through the remainder of its course without a break run. The elements on the ride are interesting and unique, including a great zero-g roll, a pretzel knot inversion, and a slow inline twist that gives you a decent amount of hangtime. Now this ride does have the newer vest restraints, which I think are comfortable and don't allow for any head-banging, but some people loathe them. All-in-all, I think inverted coasters like this from B&M are almost always super solid rides and Banshee is just the cream of the crop, even though it has some major competition.
Stats:
Height: 167 ft.
Drop: 150 ft.
Speed: 68 mph
Inversions: 7
But let's talk about Banshee. It's a beast of a ride with some things that really set it apart from other rides of it's style. First of all, it has a killer first drop, especially in the back, and absolutely rips through the remainder of its course without a break run. The elements on the ride are interesting and unique, including a great zero-g roll, a pretzel knot inversion, and a slow inline twist that gives you a decent amount of hangtime. Now this ride does have the newer vest restraints, which I think are comfortable and don't allow for any head-banging, but some people loathe them. All-in-all, I think inverted coasters like this from B&M are almost always super solid rides and Banshee is just the cream of the crop, even though it has some major competition.
Stats:
Height: 167 ft.
Drop: 150 ft.
Speed: 68 mph
Inversions: 7
So that's it for my #10 through #6, check back soon for my new Top 5, featuring 3 brand new roller coasters!