Coasters I Have Ridden: By Theme Park

• Family Kingdom, Myrtle Beach, SC

  Swamp Fox

  The oldest wooden coaster in the state, and the first wooden rollercoaster I ever rode. Nothing spectacular, but not a bad ride. I haven't ridden it since they restored it in 1991, though.

• Ghost Town in the Sky, Maggie Valley, NC

  Red Devil

  A one-of-a-kind coaster, built on the side of a mountain. However, it's one of the roughest steel coasters I've ever ridden. Its lap bar is sufficient for its single, vertical loop, but the lack of any sort of head rest or shoulder harness allows your head to bang around more than you want.

• Myrtle Beach Pavilion and Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, SC

  Corkscrew

  The first upside-down rollercoaster I ever rode. Its two corkscrew loops and relatively short first drop are tame compared to some of the newer coasters out there, but not bad for the only upside-down steel coaster on the "Grand Strand".

  Galaxi

  This ride was (I believe) closed down last year, but it was a good "intermediate" coaster. No loops, but lots of drops and banked curves. A little rough, but OK. Good for young and old alike.

  Mad Mouse

  The newest coaster at this amusement park, and one of the first in a relatively new trend of intermediate coasters. There are relatively sharp drops, and the turns are not banked at all, making for a rather rough ride. Don't know if I would recommend this or not.

• Paramount's Carowinds, SC-NC Border (between Charlotte, NC and Rock Hill, SC)

  Carolina Cyclone

  "Big Sister" of the Corkscrew, this coaster adds two vertical loops along with the two corkscrews. Not a bad coaster. Very nice ride. One of my favorite coasters at the park. But if you're looking for a heart-stopper, this isn't it.

  Carolina Gold Rusher

  There's nothing extremely spectacular about this mine train. However, it's a very smooth ride and quite fun if you give it a chance. A nice change of pace.

  The Hurler

  The newest wooden coaster at Carowinds. It sits in the themed area "Wayne's World". It truly lives up to its name. Not only does it hurl you around the track, up and down hills, and around banked curves, but it could also make you "hurl". Not for those with a weak stomach. But an "excellent" ride none the less.

  Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster

  Though this is actually a "Kiddie Ride", don't be fooled. It's extremely fun and quite a ride for children and adults alike. Give it a chance. You may be surprised.

  Thunder Road

  The park's first wooden rollercoaster, it features racing trains and lots of hills. A few years ago, they turned one train around so you could ride backwards. I really like this coaster, and I'm not sure which direction (backwards or forwards) I like better. If you've never been on a coaster backwards, this is a good one to do it on.

  Vortex

  The first stand-up coaster I ever rode, and the first stand-up coaster in the southeast. Quite an experience. By far my favorite coaster at the park, and one of my favorites overall.

• Paramount's Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA.

  Anaconda

  My favorite (non-standup) steel coaster. This features one vertical loop, two corkscrew loops, a sidewinder loop, and the only butterfly loops in the U.S. Add to that an underwater tunnel on the first hill (the hill is 128 feet high, with a 144 foot drop!) and you have one of the best coasters around. A must for any avid coaster fan.

  Avalanche

  The only bobsled coaster I've ever ridden. The cars do not stay on a set track but slide back and forth around a curved "trough". An interesting ride, just for the sake of riding a bobsled coaster. Not a heart-stopper ( for that, go halfway across the park for The Outer Limits or right next door for Volcano), but an extremely good ride.

  Grizzly

  A very good, very fast wooden coaster. The banked turns and steep drops will pull you off your seat, and can be a little rough the first time you ride it. But if you love wooden coasters, you should like this one as well.

  The Hurler

  Exactly the same as its Carowinds counterpart, this coaster is not for the weak-stomached.

  The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear

  The first Linear-Induction coaster I've ever ridden, and the first ever built (well, another "Outer Limits" opened simultaneously in Kings Island, also a Paramount park). The ride is totally enclosed within a hexagon-shaped warehouse. The train is launched out of the station, from 0 to 54 mph. in 4 seconds. Then the rest of the ride is spent hurtling through darkness around dozens of curves and loops at break-neck speed. Not for the faint-hearted. Extremely scary, and extremely thrilling. I personally love it, but would only recommend it to those who love sheer thrill rides.

  Rebel Yell

  Quite similar to Thunder Road at Carowinds. A wooden coaster with racing trains and one train turned backwards.

  Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster

  Almost identical to the Carowinds version of the same ride. Suprisingly fun.

  Shockwave

  One of the first stand-up coasters. It's actually quite rough for a steel coaster. The one vertical loop and the horizontal loop are OK, but the turns and the bumps in the track are rougher than they need to be. Add to this uncomfortable and seemingly un-padded shoulder harnesses, and you have a ride that I believe isn't worth the wait in line.

• Six Flags over Georgia, Atlanta, GA

  Dahlonega Mine Train

  Yet another mine train. Nothing is very different between this and other mine trains, but I believe mine trains are still worth riding. Not only are they realatively "easy" rides, they are also part of coaster history, a category that is often overlooked by "thrill seekers".

  Georgia Cyclone

  A fast and furious wooden coaster. This coaster, patterned after the famous Coney Island Cyclone, is a must for classic wooden rollercoaster lovers.

  Great American Scream Machine

  My favorite wooden rollercoaster, and one of the longest and tallest wooden coasters in the United States. It has racing trains and (I believe they still have it this way) one train turned around backwards. (A new craze for wooden coasters.) Very exciting, and a much longer ride than people have gotten used to since the steel coasters entered the scene.

  Mind Bender

  Another classic. This steel coaster was the first coaster in the United States to have three loops. Not as thrilling as some of the other coasters, but quite a ride regardless. And the scenery around it is quite nice as well.

  Ninja

  After five loops, countless tight turns, and several places where you think you have to duck to keep from being decapitated, you will have one of two reactions: either "I love this thing", or "I never want to ride it ever again!" Luckily I belong to the former category. But not everyone will.

• South Carolina State Fair, Columbia, SC

  Doppel Looping

  The first portable upside-down rollercoaster I have ever seen or heard of. It's an OK ride, but (like several others) not having a shoulder harness or much padding behind your head could leave you with a sore neck and a headache. An interesting design, though, with the track curving through one of the two vertical loops and curving again within inches of the people waiting in line. Try it if you want. I'd do it again, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.

  Galaxi / Wildcat / Mark 1

  A design extremely similar to the Galaxi at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion and Amusement Park. Good for a fun time, but by no means a "thrill ride".

• Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL

  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

  A nice "themed" mine train. The train races through canyons, dodging buildings, and curving in and out of caves. Again, mine trains are not really "thrill rides", but are quite fun, and this one is exciting for young and old.

  Space Mountain

  An enclosed coaster with a "space flight" theme. Two tracks mirror each other inside the building, though one is said to be faster than the other. No loops or extremely fast drops, but a very good ride none the less. Disney did a good job pulling this one off.

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Page last updated Wednesday, April 7, 1999.