I do not give numerical or alphabetical ratings in any of my reviews. It detracts from the writing, oversimplifying what should be a complex analysis of many different factors considering the ride from different perspectives, in favor of steamrolling it all into a singular viewpoint for the sake of giving it a simple ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ for those with too little time or mental capacity to actually read the piece and arrive at their own conclusion. The mark of any truly good criticism should be that the reader has to wait for the number at the end of the review to discover if the writer personally liked it or not. Nevertheless, I feel it might be valuable to many readers to see condensed what my general opinion of different rides are, and where they should look first on this website for the full analyses of those rides most highly rated. Some of these rankings may even surprise some readers (i.e., many people seemed to assume my Millennium Force analysis was negative towards the ride, and yet it is still firmly planted in my top ten of steel), and for those attractions I’ve not reviewed yet, this will at least give a very basic idea of what my opinion of the ride is (but, fundamentally, lacking the why). So, without further introduction, here are the lists…
Top Twenty-Five Steel Roller Coasters
1. Magnum XL-200 – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
2. Maverick – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
3. Phantom’s Revenge – Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
4. Storm Runner – Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennslyvania
5. Nemesis – Alton Towers, Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK
6. Raptor – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
7. The Ultimate – Lightwater Valley, Ripon, Yorkshire, England, UK
8. Millennium Force – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
9. Dominator – Geauga Lake, Aurora, Ohio / Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia
10. Space Mountain: Mission 2 – Disneyland Paris, Marne la Vallée, France
11. Griffon – Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, Virginia
12. Vortex – Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
13. Blue Fire – Europa Park, Rust, Germany
14. Wildfire – Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri
15. iSpeed – Mirabilandia, Savio, Italy
16. Tennessee Tornado – Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
17. Led Zeppelin: The Ride – Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
18. Top Thrill Dragster – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
19. Steel Hawg – Indiana Beach, Monticello, Indiana
20. Loch Ness Monster – Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, Virginia
21. Afterburn – Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
22. Fahrenheit – Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
23. Powder Keg: A Blast in the Wilderness – Silver Dollar City, Branson, Missouri
24. Abismo – Parque de Atracciones Madrid, Madrid, Spain
25. Mantis – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
Top Twenty-Five Wooden Roller Coasters
1. The Beast – Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
2. Shivering Timbers – Michigan’s Adventure, Muskegon, Michigan
3. The Voyage – Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana
4. Thunderbolt – Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
5. Thunderhead – Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
6. The Raven – Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana
7. Lakeside Cyclone – Lakeside Park, Denver, Colorado
8. El Toro – Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey
9. Hades – Mt. Olympus Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
10. Grizzly – Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia
11. Jack Rabbit – Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
12. Cornball Express – Indiana Beach, Monticello, Indiana
13. The Legend – Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana
14. Georgia Cyclone – Six Flags over Georgia, Austell, Georgia
15. The Phoenix – Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania
16. Lightning Racer – Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
17. Ravine Flyer II – Waldameer, Erie, Pennsylvania
18. Ozark Wildcat – Celebration City, Branson, Missouri
19. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain – Indiana Beach, Monticello, Indiana
20. Twister – Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania
21. Megafobia – Oakwood Leisure Park, Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
22. Wildcat – Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
23. Wild Mouse – Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK
24. Tornado – Stricker’s Grove, Ross, Ohio
25. Roller Coaster - Pleasure Beach, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK
Comments