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.

The record for the oldest operating roller coaster in the world is held by Leap-The-Dips, located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Built in 1902 and designed by Edward Joy Morris, it is the last remaining "side friction" figure-eight coaster. Unlike modern coasters that use tubular steel rails and "under-friction" wheels to lock the train to the track, Leap-The-Dips relies on a wooden trough and gravity, with small side wheels to keep the car from sliding off. The ride is a high-fidelity time capsule of Edwardian engineering, reaching a modest top speed of 10 mph and featuring a maximum drop of only nine feet. It was nearly lost to history when it fell into disrepair in the 1980s, but a dedicated preservation effort led to its restoration and reopening in 1999. It is now a National Historic Landmark. Riding it in 2026 is less about the "thrill" and more about the "mechanical history," providing a rickety, authentic experience that predates the invention of the modern lap bar and steel support.