What is the oldest wooden roller coaster in the US still operating today?

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.



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Leap-the-Dips in Lakemont Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest operating roller coaster.

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Located at historic Seabreeze Amusement Park outside Rochester, the Jack Rabbit is the oldest continuously operating coaster in North America.

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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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Opened to the public as of May 6, 2006, The Voyage roller coaster, at the date of publication, is the second longest roller coaster in the world and sixth in height. This roller coaster is aptly themed after the infamous voyage of the Mayflower ship to North America by the pilgrims.

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As of January 2023, the oldest running roller coaster in the world was Leap the Dips, located in Lakemont Park, Pennsylvania (USA), which was opened in 1902. Meanwhile, the world's second oldest coaster, Scenic Railway, opened 10 years later in Melbourne, Australia.

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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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Contact The Author One person was killed and several others were injured when they plunged from a roller coaster Sunday — after it partially careened off its tracks in a terrifying accident inside Sweden's oldest amusement park.

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Leap the Dips in the small town of Altoona, Pennsylvania has the honor and distinction of being the oldest roller coaster that's still operating. The Lakemont Park wooden coaster was built in 1902. It's only 41 feet tall and goes about 10 miles an hour.

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Bakken is an amusement park in Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune, Denmark, (near Klampenborg (Gentofte Kommune (municipality), approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of central Copenhagen. It opened in 1583 and is the world's oldest operating amusement park.

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Bakken is an amusement park in Lyngby-Taarbæk Kommune, Denmark, (near Klampenborg (Gentofte Kommune (municipality), approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of central Copenhagen. It opened in 1583 and is the world's oldest operating amusement park.

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Altoona, Pennsylvania Listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic Landmark and declared by the park as the oldest wooden roller coaster in the world, Leap the Dips has serious old-timey cred.

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On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in America opens at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York. Known as a switchback railway, it was the brainchild of LaMarcus Thompson, traveled approximately six miles per hour and cost a nickel to ride.

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If you're wondering whether old, wooden roller coasters such as the Cyclone are any more dangerous than today's steel speed demons, there probably isn't much, if any, difference, safety expert Randy King told Yahoo Travel. “What happens is they replace the wood on the ride every year,” King said.

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Steel coasters far outnumber wooden ones, but purists and more casual park fans alike still love wooden coasters. Dating back to the late 1800s, even modern-day woodies have a retro feel.

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As of January 2023, the oldest running roller coaster in the United States was Leap the Dips, located in Lakemont Park, Pennsylvania, which was opened in 1902.

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Kingda Ka is a hydraulically-launched steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States. Manufactured by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel, Kingda Ka opened as the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world on May 21, 2005, surpassing Top Thrill Dragster.



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Goliath at Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL) It holds the distinction of being the world's tallest and steepest wooden coaster. At 72 miles per hour, it is second only to Lightning Rod for the fastest wooden coasters. Goliath climbs 180 feet before dropping 85-degrees down and whipping around a 180-degree curve.

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