Are there anymore wooden roller coasters?

All these big, classic wooden coasters closing makes it feel as though we're losing woodies for good. But if we look at the stats, what's interesting is that in the last six years, 12 new wooden coasters have opened in the US, an average of two per year (though only 4 are taller than 100 feet).



Yes, wooden roller coasters (or "woodies") are seeing a major resurgence in 2026 as parks lean into the "visceral and raw" experience they provide. While steel dominates for height and inversions, wood offers a unique rumbling sensation and "airtime" that enthusiasts crave. Famous examples still operating in 2026 include The Beast at Kings Island (the world's longest wooden coaster), El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure, and the classic Blue Streak at Cedar Point. Furthermore, companies like Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) and Gravity Group have modernized the genre; RMC's "I-Box" track has converted many aging wooden coasters into high-performance "hybrids," while new all-wood builds like Wildcat's Revenge or Texas Stingray use advanced engineering to provide a smoother, yet still traditional, wooden ride experience with modern safety features.

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A small amusement park named Lakemont Park in Altoona is where the world's oldest operating coaster is located. This roller coaster, called Leap the Dips opened in 1902 and is one of the last “side friction” coasters. A side friction coaster is one that usually has a wooden track and a lack of up-stop wheels.

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The Beast is a wooden roller coaster located at Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. Designed and manufactured in-house for approximately $3 million, the ride opened in 1979 as the tallest, fastest, and longest wooden roller coaster in the world.

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Kings Island's wooden roller coaster lineup is highlighted by the legendary Beast, which opened in 1979 and still stands today as the world's longest wooden roller coaster at 7,359 feet. Literally millions of guests have visited Kings Island over the past four decades for the singular challenge of “taming” The Beast.

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That said, wooden rides present their own set of safety challenges. If you don't look after wood carefully, it can rot. We fight against that by coating the tracks with weather-resistant wood stain. We also check on the wood's condition every week, replacing any parts that are showing signs of rot.

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The swaying of the track reduces the maximum force applied, like a shock absorber. Like steel roller coasters, wooden roller coasters usually use the same three-wheel design, pioneered by John Miller.

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If the track and structure were too rigid, they would break under the strain of the passing train. The swaying of the track reduces the maximum force applied, like a shock absorber. Like steel roller coasters, wooden roller coasters usually use the same three-wheel design, pioneered by John Miller.

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The Beast Wooden Roller Coaster at Kings Island Come face-to-face with The Beast – the longest wooden roller coaster in the world!

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The oldest operating roller coaster is Leap-The-Dips at Lakemont Park in Pennsylvania, a side friction roller coaster built in 1902.

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Dominator: The Longest Floorless Roller Coaster Holds the world record as the longest floorless roller coaster at 4,210 feet. Great ride experiences delivered in the front, middle and back rows of the train.

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Rutschebanen, simply called the Roller Coaster by Tivoli Gardens is the oldest roller coaster in Europe, dating back to 1914.

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It is a wooden roller coaster owned by Lagoon. Built in 1921 and operating ever since, the Roller Coaster is the seventh oldest roller coaster in the world and the fourth oldest in the United States.

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Roster of the World's Oldest Roller Coasters
  • Giant Dipper, Belmont Park, San Diego, CA 1925.
  • tie Wildcat, Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT 1927.
  • tie Cyclone, Luna Park at Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY 1927.
  • tie Racer, Kennywood, West Mifflin, PA 1927.
  • Kiddy Coaster, Playland, Rye, NY 1928.


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The roller coaster has its origins in St. Petersburg, Russia, as a simple slide that took thrillseekers down an icy ramp past a variety of colored lanterns. Catherine the Great gave this custom a boost when she fitted her imperial sleigh with wheels for summer use.

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