National Roller Coaster Day
See if any of the amusement parks or fairgrounds near you offer a special deal on Rollercoaster Day, and get your adrenaline pumping on that stomach-dropping dive.
National Roller Coaster Day is celebrated annually on the 16th August. The origins of the celebration are not completely clear, however, the most widely believed explanation for National Roller Coaster Day is that the date was chosen to mark the 16th August, 1898.
Which was when the very first patent for a rollercoaster ride was issued. The date has been marked by fairgrounds and fans of rollercoasters all over the world since the eighties.
Learn About National Roller Coaster Day
National Roller Coaster Day was created in order to celebrate these fun and thrilling rides that you can enjoy when you go to a theme park. It is the perfect opportunity for you to have some fun and take a ride on a rollercoaster near you.
Rollercoasters tend to be found in theme parks and amusement parks all around the world. They employ some sort of railroad track, which is elevated and designed with inversions, steep slopes, and tight turns. People ride along the track in open cars, enjoying a thrilling experience.
Most rollercoasters will have a number of different cars whereby passengers sit inside of them and are restrained. However, there are Wild Mouse rollercoasters and other types of rollercoasters that run with a single car.
Fun facts about rollercoasters
There are some great facts about the rollercoasters of today and the past. For example, in Pennsylvania, there is a wooden rollercoaster that was built in 1902 and it is still in operation today.
It is called Leap-The-Dips and you can find it at Altoona. It does not have headrests, lap bars, or seatbelts, but don’t worry, as it only goes ten miles per hour.
Have you ever wondered why some people love rollercoasters and other people hate them? Well, it could be to do with the chemical makeup of your brain.
From the spirals to the drops, dips, speed, turns, hills, and loops; there is no denying that rollercoasters are thrilling! However, those with higher levels of dopamine tend to prefer sensation-seeking activities. Dopamine are neurotransmitters that are linked to reward-motivated behavior.
If you want to go on the world’s longest rollercoaster, you are going to need to take a trip to Japan. Here, you will find Nagashima Spa Land, and the longest rollercoaster here is the Steel Dragon 2000. When it opened, it was the longest, tallest, and fastest rollercoaster in the world.
This was back in 2000. Since then, it has had a couple of its crowns stolen, yet it is still the world’s longest rollercoaster.
Today, the fastest rollercoaster in the world can be found in Abu Dhabi at Ferrari World. It’s called Formula Rossa. The tallest rollercoaster in the world today is in Jackson, New Jersey. It is called Kingda Ka and it is found at Six Flags Great Adventure.
The future of rollercoasters certainly looks exciting as well, as it promises roller coaster-water slide mashups, as well as cars that rotate.
Amusement park technologies are being patented all of the time, and this can help you to get a good understanding of what lies ahead in the world of rollercoasters.
History of National Roller Coaster Day
The day has been chosen because it commemorates the first vertical loop rollercoaster, which was patented on this date in 1898 by Edwin Prescott. In order to appreciate National Roller Coaster Day, it is worth digging deeper into the history of this popular theme park ride.
It is believed that the oldest rollercoasters have come from the Russian Mountains, which are a number of hills of ice that were specially constructed in what is now known as Saint Petersburg.
These rollercoasters were constructed in the 17th century. They were reinforced with wooden supports, had a 50-degree drop, and were built to a height of somewhere between 21 and 24 meters.
It was on the 8th of July in 1817 that the first modern rollercoaster was created. It opened in Paris, in Parc Beaujon, and it was called Promenades Aeriennes.
It featured wheeled cars, which were locked onto the track securely, offering higher speeds and guide rails to keep them on course. Half a dozen imitators were created as a consequence, yet their popularity dwindled rather quickly.
Nevertheless, rollercoasters quickly returned to fashion during Belle Epoque. Co-founder of the Moulin Rouge music hall, French entrepreneur Joseph Oller, constructed the Russian Mountains of Belleville in 1887, known locally as the Montagnes Russes de Belleville.
It featured 656 feet worth of track that was laid out in a double-eight, which was later made bigger, creating four figure-eight shaped loops.
The popularity and decline of rollercoasters have varied over the years. The golden age of theme parks, and consequently rollercoasters, came to end during the Great Depression.
This lasted until 1972 when The Racer at Kings Island was an instant success. Of course, it would not be right to talk about rollercoasters and theme parks without mentioning Disneyland. The park had a breakthrough in terms of design with Matterhorn Bobsleds.
This is because it was the first-ever rollercoaster to utilize a steel track. This was important because tubular steel can be bent in any direction, which is obviously not the case with wooden coaster rails.
This means that steel rollercoasters enable designers to incorporate corkscrews, loops, and a lot of other maneuvers into their designs. Most of the different rollercoasters that are available around the world today are still made of steel, yet hybrids and wooden coasters are still being created.
How to Celebrate National Roller Coaster Day
Many of the biggest amusement parks and fairgrounds across the USA and beyond choose to offer special deals to visitors on the 16th August. These often involve a reduction in ticket prices or the chance to buy one ticket and get another free.
Some parks promote the celebration in order to attract more people in on this particular date. For many of the world’s biggest rollercoaster fans, this is a celebration that can not afford to be missed! As such, enthusiasts will take a take off work in order to make sure they ride a rollercoaster on the 16th August!
If you are not going to be able to make it to a theme park on this date, there are still some other ways that you can celebrate National Roller Coaster Day.
Why not spend some time online finding out more about some of the world’s most popular rollercoasters? You will find that there are some pretty incredible rollercoasters in theme parks all over the world, and so you can even make a bucket list of the different rollercoasters you would most like to go on.
National Roller Coaster Day also presents you with a good opportunity to learn more about rollercoasters. Dig deeper into the science behind these incredible structures and the curves that defy gravity. It is really interesting to learn about how they work.
National Roller Coaster Day FAQs
Why were early roller coasters inspired by Russian ice slides?
Early roller coasters were modeled after Russian ice slides, which were wooden ramps covered in ice.
Riders would slide down these ramps in sleds, experiencing thrilling speeds. French engineers later adapted this concept by using wheels, paving the way for modern coasters.
What is the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the world?
Leap-The-Dips in Altoona, Pennsylvania, holds this title. Built in 1902, it’s a wooden side-friction coaster that lacks modern features like a chain lift.
Despite its simplicity, it remains a nostalgic favorite and a historical gem in the amusement world.
Are there roller coasters themed after unusual concepts?
Yes, some coasters have quirky themes! For instance, in Indiana, a gravy-themed roller coaster called “Good Gravy!” takes riders through Thanksgiving-inspired decor.
Parks use creative themes like this to stand out and entertain guests.
How do roller coasters tie into physics education?
Roller coasters are often used to teach concepts like potential and kinetic energy.
The climb to the top builds potential energy, which transforms into kinetic energy during the drop. Educators even use coaster simulations to make physics exciting for students.
What are some world records held by roller coasters?
The Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure holds the record as the tallest coaster, standing 456 feet tall.
Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan is the longest coaster, stretching over 8,100 feet. These rides attract thrill-seekers from around the globe.
Why are some coasters deliberately designed to feel unsafe?
Designers create “near-miss” elements to give riders a heightened adrenaline rush.
For instance, a coaster might appear to skim past walls or objects at high speed. These illusions create excitement without compromising actual safety.
What psychological effects do roller coasters have?
Riding coasters triggers a rush of adrenaline and endorphins, creating feelings of excitement and euphoria. The thrill can even reduce stress for some people, while for others, the fear amplifies the exhilaration.
How are roller coasters tested before opening to the public?
Before opening, engineers rigorously test coasters with weighted dummies to simulate human riders.
They monitor structural integrity, speed, and safety features to ensure the ride meets all standards. These tests can last months.
Are there coasters that defy traditional designs?
Yes! The “Flying” coasters allow riders to experience the sensation of flight by lying face-down. Coasters like Taron in Germany use magnetic launches instead of traditional chain lifts to add unique twists.
What are some myths about roller coaster safety?
Many think roller coasters are dangerous, but statistically, they’re safer than driving a car. Rigorous inspections, redundant safety features, and strict regulations ensure that accidents are extremely rare.
See what else is happening…
There’s always more going on every month at Days Of The Year. Here are our favorites this month!
Also on ...
View all holidays
National Rum Day
Yo ho ho! Channel your inner pirate and let loose with a bottle of rum and a Pirates of the Caribbean marathon…or just the rum. That’s the important part.
World Bratwurst Day
Hit up your local grocery store or meat market and bring home some delicious bratwurst, a high-quality type of German sausage made of pork, beef, or veal.
World Honey Bee Day
These little creatures are nature's buzzworthy superstars! They're responsible for pollinating a third of our food supply and creating delicious honey.
We think you may also like...
Chinese Language Day
Fire up Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, or sign up for a language class to learn the world’s second most widely spoken language, which dates back as far as 1250 BCE.
