The first tubular steel-tracked coaster was Disney's Matterhorn Bobsled Ride, built in 1959. Steel rides were quieter — but more importantly, they allowed designers to build twists, turns and other thrills not possible with wood coasters.

The first roller coaster to utilize a modern tubular steel track was the Matterhorn Bobsleds, which opened at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, on June 14, 1959. Developed by Arrow Development and Walt Disney’s "Imagineers," the Matterhorn revolutionized the industry. Before its debut, roller coasters were primarily built of wood, which limited the types of maneuvers possible and often resulted in a "shaky" or "rough" ride experience. The use of tubular steel allowed the track to be bent in any direction, enabling smooth, tight curves and "intertwined" track layouts that were previously impossible. The Matterhorn was also the first coaster to use a "block system," allowing multiple bobsled cars to run on the track simultaneously with computerized safety brakes. While there were earlier "iron-track" rides in the 19th century, they were largely primitive and lacked the structural integrity of steel. The Matterhorn's success paved the way for the "Steel Coaster Revolution" of the 1970s and 80s, eventually leading to the massive, gravity-defying hyper-coasters and "Giga" coasters that dominate the theme park landscape in 2026.