Most people have at least one ride they would go on while at an amusement park. Believe it or not, amusement parks, although perhaps not as scary as we have now, have been around since the 1550s. That's almost 500 years of happy adrenaline junkies and screaming people with acrophobia. Some rushed to amusement parks a lot quicker back then than they do now, and it could be because of the higher and more dangerous-feeling rides we get to experience today. Let's walk down memory lane and see how many of these thrilling rides you think would make you squeal.
2010: Formula Rossa, Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
In 2010, the Formula Rossa ride opened up in Ferrari World, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Going hand-in-hand with the Ferrari theme, it only seems right that this is the fastest ride in the world. After putting on protective goggles, in case of a collision, you can enjoy all 149 miles per hour this ride will give you. With a g-force of 4.8, we bet this ride will knock the air out of you.
Luckily the Formula Rossa isn’t that high, only reaching 170.6 ft. So if you don’t like heights but love speed, this ride would be the perfect one for you to try.
2006: Steel Dragon 2000, Nagashima Spa Land, Nagoya, Japan
After taking a ride on the fastest ride in the world, you could head over to Nagashima Spa Land in Nagoya, Japan, and take a rather quick, but daring ride on the longest roller coaster in the world, the Steel Dragon 2000. This ride opened up in 2006 and although it covers a whopping length of 8133 feet, it will only take you about 4 minutes to complete the ride.
At a much slower rate than the Formula Rossa, this ride would still be thrilling at a speed of 95 miles per hour. And there is a drop of 307 feet that you’ll get to.
2005: Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
The Kingda Ka, which opened in 2005, can be found at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackon, New Jersey. This ride is definitely not for the faint-hearted. This ride is not only the tallest ride in the world, at a height of 456 feet, but it also has the tallest drop in the world called the Zumanjuro: Drop of Doom which is a 418-foot drop that is bound to leave you screaming.
We think this one is a no from us, but we are sure there are some daredevils out there who would love this feeling of dropping out of the sky.
2003: X-Scream, Stratosphere, Las Vegas, Nevada
In Las Vegas, Nevada, there is a ride perfect for people who are adrenaline junkies as well as gamblers, and not in the way you think. The X-Scream at Stratosphere is a ride that hangs over the top of the Stratosphere Hotel. Once you are dangling from above, there is an 866-foot drop over the side, and it’s not the ride continuing. If you like gambling with life, perhaps try this ride.
The ride only takes 8 people and was tested with 300-pound dummies. So they say it is very safe, but with life hanging on the edge, we doubt we would give it a try.
1998: The Giant Drop, Dreamworld, Coomera, Australia
Between 1998 and 2012, The Giant Drop at Dreamworld in Coomera, Australia, held the record of being the tallest drop in the world. The ride pulls up a row of seated people 377 feet high and holds them in anticipation for about 37 seconds before it drops all the way back down at 83.9 miles per hour. It all happens within a couple of seconds and comes with a ton of screams.
The ride's record was later beaten by the Lex Luthor: Doom of Drop ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain, in California which reaches up to more than 40 stories high.
1994: Shockwave, Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire, England
In 1994 the Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire, England, made waves with its unique type of ride. The Shockwave, which is still open today, is a stand-up roller coaster, the only one of its kind. If sitting wasn’t bad enough on these things, imagine how it must feel to stand while going round and round at 53 miles per hour. The ride goes as high as 170 feet and includes a 155 feet drop.
Not only can you stand on this ride, which would’ve been enough for us, but it also includes a zero-gravity roll. Meaning while you stand it twists 360° while it rises and falls in elevation.
1989: Magnum XL-200, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Compare to some of the rides today, this ride may not seem too bad, but up until 1994, it was known as the tallest rollercoaster in the world. The Magnum XL-200 at Ceder Point in Sandusky, Ohio opened up back in 1989. At its time of opening, it was known for its steepest drop. This was one of the world's first rollercoasters higher than 200 feet, known as a hypercoaster.
The ride has a 60° angle, which when thinking about it seems much more doable than some of the other straight-dropping rides there are today. 33 years later, you can still give it a try.
1985: Alpine Slides and Cannonball Loop, Action Park, Vernon, New Jersey
In 1985 a ride that could have been found at the Action Park in Vernon, New Jersey, was given some nicknames which may have better described it than its actual name. The Alpine Slides and Cannonball Loop rides were better known as “Accident Park” or “Class Action Park” because they lead to more injuries than fun. The Alpine Slides led to people's skin ripping off and the Cannonball Loop got people stuck before the end.
The park closed in 1996 because there was a very poor safety record attached to the rides. The story is so crazy that HBO even did a documentary on this park in 2020.
1975: Space Mountain, Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
What could be worse than being on a roller coaster ride and not being able to see what's going on around you? Well, thanks to Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida, there is a ride you could take which could help you find out. The Space Mountain ride, which opened in 1975 was the first indoor roller coaster ride. It would keep the riders in darkness so they could not anticipate dips and turns.
The ride however was not as scary as they may have thought, because if you cannot see the steep drops or twirling rails, you aren’t as scared as you would be if you did see.
1963: Double Ferris Wheel, Gwynn Oak, Gwynn Oak, Maryland
In 1963 the Double Ferris Wheel in Gwynn Oak, Maryland opened up, and for that time, it was something very unusual and thrilling. Obviously, a turning Ferris wheel was not enough so another one was added joined by a mechanical arm which too would spin around. The Gywnn Oak Park was closed in 1973, but many other parks later have gone on to add this ride into their parks too.
In the 1988 version of the movie Hairspray, this ride was the inspiration for the Tilted Acres Theme Park. Its extraordinary makes were good for the screens as well as the screams.
2014: The High Roller Observation Wheel, The LINQ Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Digging deep into the 50s, there was a very peculiar ride that could be found. The Flying Cars at Riverview Park, Chicago, Illinois were quite the sight to see, and you could watch them from a very close sight. The ride opened in 1954 and offered people a chance to sit in little cars that went round in a loop. Because of safety concerns though, the ride and the park closed down in the mid-60s.
This ride looks all too perfect for the 50s style we remember, nothing like the monstrosities we see today. What could be more rideable than little cars in a loop?
1954: Flying Cars, Riverview Park, Chicago, Illinois
Ferris wheels are one of the calmer rides that one could experience, they are usually a manageable height and go fairly slowly so you can enjoy the view. But The High Roller Observation Wheel at The LINQ Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada had other ideas. This Ferris Wheel reaches a height of 550 feet and takes half an hour to complete its full rotation while enjoying some spectacular Las Vegas views.
There has been an unspoken battle for the highest Ferris Wheels records as it has been broken 4 times since 2000. The High Roller beat the Singapore Flyer by 9 feet.
1951: The Rotor, Festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens, Battersea, England
In 1951, The Rotor ride opened up, which is nothing new now, but was something amazing back then. The ride, found at the Festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens in Battersea, England, was a rotor that would spin people around at such a force that they would be pinned to the walls. As familiar as this may sound, The Rotor could spin someone horizontally, just like in the picture, unlike today's rotor rides,
Having fun in the 50s seemed so simple, but was probably a lot safer than some of the ways people have fun today. The Rotor however started a ripple effect for calmer rides.
1951: Big Dipper, Festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens, Battersea, England
Back in 1951, in Battersea, England there was a fun amusement park called the festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens. This was the place where children could spend their time having fun with different rides and activities. The park held the coaster called the Big Dipper, which was only about 50 feet high and had a mid-way water section as it came down. The ride stopped operating in the 70s though.
This ride is well known because of the tragedy that stuck with it. The coaster derailed in 1972 which landed up killing 5 children and injuring 13 other people as well.
1949: Stand-Up Swing, Park Unknown
This photo was taken in 1949 and the ride was known as the Stand-Up Swing. Although it is not known where the location of this ride was, it seems like something that is both fun and thrilling, and perhaps slightly dangerous too. It was a swing than allowed riders to stand up instead of sitting down, and the only safety part you had was to hold on to the bars.
We are sure that this ride was fun, but the chances of your hands slipping or you losing your footing would be too high to deem this safe. Perhaps that's why the location is unknown.
1949: The Looper, Rockaways' Playland, Rockaway Beach, New York
The 1949 Looper was a ride that was found at The Rockaways’ Playland in Rockaway Beach, New York. This specific ride closed in 1987, but there is also one in Elysburg, Pennsylvania at Knoebels which you can still try today. The swing wheel lets you rock the wheel as much as you want until it spins all the way around, so you basically have control over how much thrill you want.
This ride may make you sick to your stomach if you swing yourself too much, but then the ride supervisors are not at fault for that. It is a great ride for kids today.
1941: Parachute Jump, Coney Island, New York
One of the coolest rides there ever was the Parachute Jump at Coney Island in New York. In 1941, this ride gave people the experience of a parachute jump, without the fear of the parachute not opening. The ride would take you up in a parachute attached to a seat and was attached to wires. It then dropped you down, letting the parachute do the slowing, all still while attached to wires.
This ride is no longer available, but the power where the parachutes were pulled up is still there as a landmark. It's a pity this ride was not one someone decided to remake today.
2016: Sky Cycle, Washuzan Highland, Kurashiki-Shi, Japan
* (39 in link) If you’re in the mood for something different, the Sky Cycle in Washuzan Highland, Kurashiki-shi, Japan, would be the right ride for you. This ride is a pedal-powered roller coaster that allows you to pedal at the pace that you feel most comfortable. It’s a completely low-tech machine. The ride is only about 4 stories above the ground and if you want to annoy those behind you, you can stop and take some pictures too.
This ride opened in 2016 and in the midst of uniques rides, we think this one would rate quite high. Rather than thinking high and fast, the designer thought about how people could enjoy rides.
1930s: Loop-O-Plane, Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
The Lop-O-Plane, also known as “The Salt and Pepper Shakers” by those who knew it in the 30s, was a ride that had many moves to it. The ride was found in Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania and it would take riders in a loop that went over and over, upside down and back, and flipped and flopped them round too. But as fun, as it sounds, it was unfortunately taken down for newer rides.
The older these rides get the weirder they sound, but for people back then, this was all the fun they had. If we didn’t have cellphones, we too would find this fun.
1930: Helter Skelter, Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure, Moscow, Russia
One of the more simpler rides from the 1900s are the ones that were plain slides that were often shaped in a twirl down motion. The 1930 Helter Skelter slide was not much different from that but had a unique design for more fun. The ride, which was opened in Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure in Moscow, Russia, was designed in the shape of the Tower of Babel.
This meant that the tower was higher and had more turns, which would make you go a little faster. In fact, it made you go down as fast as the Russian economy is going down lately and its international respect.
1930s: Auto Race, Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
The Auto Race cars were a 1930s classic. The ride was in Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania and they were simply just electric-powered cars that would travel along a wooden track with small hills and turns, but the hills we removed about 10 years later because when it rained the cars couldn’t get over the hills. The ride was popular amongst children who were just growing out of that young child phase.
The ride also adapted to what people enjoyed more during that time, which was sporty cars. So the headlights and windshields were also removed eventually making them look like sports cars.
2014: Sochi Swing, Skypark AJ Hackett Sochi, Sochi, Russia
Russia holds a unique ride that comes with an extra bonus too. In 2014 the Sochi Swing was opened in Skypark AJ Hackett Sochi, Sochi, Russia for the Olympics. The swing is 558 feet high before you fall down into a 1640-foot canyon, attached to a safety harness of course. It is an amazing sight to see if you are able to keep your eyes open long enough as you swing or much rather plunge down.
Fund fact the Sochi Olympics was one big construction scam supported by Putin's regime. Oh, and the guy who exposed it, Boris Nemtsov, got killed right outside The Kremlin for doing so.
1927: Derby Racer, Playland, Rye, New York
One of the older rides around is the Derby Racer at Playland, Rye, New York. The ride opened in 1927 which makes people feel like they are riding a smaller derby-type race. The horse goes at such a speed that riders have to remember to balance themselves to avoid falling. In 2019 the ride was damaged by a fire but was luckily restored in 2019 making it 95 years old.
The horses alone cost the county $1.3 million to restore after the fire and it showed how important this ride was to many. Even 95 years later, it's still bringing joy to people.
1927: Racer, Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
The 1927 Racer is a ride that is still in use today in Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The ride is basically as its name suggests as it is two separate trains that start at the same time just as if they were racing. The weird thing with this ride is that the two trains land up being on the opposite sides as if they have switched along the way somehow.
This is because the trains are on one track which is called a mobius loop roller coaster. This means the track is all one and each train only travels on half the track.
1923: Bumper Cars, Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, Maryland
Bumper cars are no surprise to us today, but did you know they date back as far as 1923? Although they worked a little differently back then, the fun they ensued was still the same. These Bumper Cars were pictured at Echo Park, Glen Echo, Maryland. Today we would not see three people hanging off the cars like this though, and at least we have protective padding, unlike back then.
These cars provided a lot of fun back then for children and adults it seems. We just wonder how many times they cause more pain to people than they do today.
1920: Wonder Wheel, Coney Island, New York
In 2020, this Wonder Wheel in Coney Island, New York, celebrated its 100th anniversary. You may think that it is the oldest Ferris Wheel, but surprisingly it is not. The wonder wheel was different in the sense that it had an inner section of wheel carts that moved back and forth as the bigger wheel went around. It created an opportunity for double the fun for just as many people.
This wheel still operates today, although it is not the oldest one, but still pretty old. Wiener Riesenrad in Vienna, Austria is the oldest Ferris Wheel that is still around.
1910: The Human Pool Table, Steeplechase Park, Brooklyn, New York
By just looking at the picture of this ride, it doesn’t look like anything more than a woman lying on the floor. But don’t be fooled by that because this ride could leave you running to the bathroom for a good vomit after going through it. The Human Pool Table found in Steeplechase Park, Brooklyn, New York was created in 1910. another one of those simple olden days, but fun rides.
The point of the ride was to slide from one side to the other without being thrown in another direction by turning platforms. It seems like so much fun when explained like that.
1908: The Tickler, Chester Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
The Tickler, a ride from 1908, was a ride that had a track-like trail that carts attached to. Once the ride started the carts would twist and turn down the track until they got to the bottom. The Tickler was at Chester Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the time of this photograph, it had a sign up saying “Remodeled: Not as rough as last season”, which explains just how fun the ride could be.
By the looks of it, we don’t think this ride did much tickling, rather it did a long of throwing around. They probably gave it a nicer name so people would actually go on it.
1908: Devil's Wheel, Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
This Devils Wheel is not new to any Oktoberfest goers. This crazy ride has been used at Oktoberfest for years, and considering how much people drink at this event, we don’t understand how it is still around. This wheel starts off with people sitting in the middle and it spins until everyone is flung off into the outer barrier. We are sure the kid loves it, and we hope drunk adults aren’t allowed on.
The ride was first seen at Oktoberfest in Munich Germany in 1908. So for over 114 years, Germans have been getting amusement from swinging people around into the outer barriers.
1908: Flip-Flap Ride, Franco-British Exhibition, White City, London
This 1908 Flip-Flap Ride is one we could go on. It wasn’t fast, swinging, doing crazy twists and turns, it just simply just gave people a slow ride to the top so that they could see the amazing view of the Franco-British Exhibition in White City, London, where it was stationed. The ride could hold 50 people at a time and would take them up 200 feet above the ground.
Rides like this one should be at all exhibitions, as it's something most people would be happy to go on and there is no screaming involved. Just great sights and slow movements.
1903: Loop the Loop, Luna Park, Brooklyn, New York
The loop the loop is also not a strange ride to see, however, we do see these more within roller coaster rides than as a ride on its own. This loop the loop was photographed at Luna Park in Brooklyn, New York and it was more oval-shaped than round. This meant the rider was more comfortable and could only fit a very little amount of people on at a time.
With such few people able to go on the ride, the operators did not make a profit on the ride. Perhaps that's why it was added to roller coasters for more fun and more money.
1895: Flip-Flap Railway, Sea Lion Park, Brooklyn, New York
This Flip-Flap Railway coaster was the first looping roller coaster in the United States. It opened up in 1895 at the Sea Lion Park in Brooklyn, New York. At the same time this opened, parks were working on the “Cannon Coaster” type rides, where the cars would jump gaps, but this did not make it to being a ride…thank goodness. The Flip-Flap was a fun ride, as it also had an added circular track.
Looping tracks came with a price back then, as the ride left a few people walking out of there with some whiplash. That’s the price you pay for going on something that throws you around.
1893: The Original Ferris Wheel, Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois
This is The Orginal Ferris Wheel which was assembled at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. People also knew this wheel as the Chicago Wheel. The wheel was 264 feet and because of that was the main attraction at the World Fair, just like the wheels usually always are. There was something special about how this wheel was built though because not even tornado winds could get it down.
Besides Ferris Wheels at amusement parks, when you see a wheel at a fun fair or in a city center today, you really cannot miss it. They are always the main attraction.
1897: The Steeplechase, Brooklyn, New York
Before technology and engineering advanced to what it is today, some of the rides back in the day were gravity-powered. This 1897 ride, The Steeplechase, was wooden horses that you could ride on that raced each other over a 1000-foot-long race track. All without the use of electric power. This ride was founded in Brooklyn, New York, and latest a while before it was taken down by Fred Trump in 1966.
Funnily enough, in some countries, you can still see the use of gravity-powered rides which brings back a sense of nostalgia for some. And they are also usually safer than electric rides.
1846: Centrifugal Railway, Manchester, England
This ride is so old that it is not even photographed, it is drawn. 176 years ago, this is what people had at their fun fairs. The Centrifugal Railway, from Manchester, England, was a roller coaster, believe it or not. These looping-type roller coasters were not that great though, because they would leave riders feeling very uncomfortable from the natural g-force it would build up over time from the rolling circles.
But, if it were not for these strange inventions back then, then we would not have better and more enjoyable rides today. The uncomfortableness of those in the 1800s led to our fun today.