These are the oldest roller coasters still in operation. Would you walk them?

24/7 Wall St. Perspectives

• There are two kinds of people in this world: those who love a good adrenaline rush and those who don’t.
• Some people don’t have the intestinal fortitude to enjoy the thrill of a good roller coaster. Don’t judge.
• Also: Discover the next NVIDIA

Roller coasters: you either love them or you hate them. Those who fall in love with them can be quite passionate about their coaster experiences. The first roller coaster, designed by LaMarcus Thompson, was called the Switchback Railway and was built in Coney Island, New York in 1884. Thompson based his design on a German coal mining train. Although the Switchback Railway no longer exists, a handful of older coasters still exist, including its successor The Coney Island Cyclone. Read on to discover some of the oldest roller coasters still in operation and decide if you’d be willing to ride them! The 24/7 Wall St. list spans them from old to older to oldest!

Why it matters

The oldest roller coasters represent significant historical value and a strong brand identity for amusement parks. Older coasters can attract nostalgic visitors, generating steady footfall and revenue. Their established presence and enduring appeal can be a stable asset in a park’s portfolio and a good bet for investors.

Grand National Pleasure Beach

• Name: Grand National
• Location: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK
• Open year: 1935

The oldest in England

The Grand National roller coaster in Blackpool, England is a wooden roller coaster with a chain lift. The piece is placed in a Mobius loop. Opened in 1935, the Grand National has a horse racing theme. The Grand National consists of four three-car trains that will accommodate a total of 72 passengers.

Cyclone

• Name: The cyclone
• Location: Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York
• Open year: 1927

Coney Island Coaster

The Cyclone replaced the Switchback Railroad at Coney Island nearly 100 years ago! Designated a New York City landmark in 1988, Cyclone is a compact twister designed by Vernon Keenan. Speeding along the rails at 60 mph, the Cyclone can handle up to 1440 riders per hour!

The giant chariot

• Name: The giant chariot
• Location: The Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California
• Open year: 1924

Diving and diving

The Giant Dipper, a wooden coaster with a chain lift, has been a mainstay on the Santa Cruz boardwalk for 100 years! Opened on May 17, 1924, the Giant Carriage was built on the site formerly occupied by Thompson’s Scenic Railroad, the longest coaster in the United States in 1908. The Giant Carriage, designed by Frederick Church, survived a major earthquake in 1989. The Giant Carriage Dipper runs two trains with six cars per train, carrying up to 24 passengers.

Jack Rabbit

• Name: Jack Rabbit
• Location: Irondequoit, New York
• Open year: 1920

Seabreeze Thrills

Jack Rabbit is the name for two coasters that opened in 1920. There is the one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and the one in the photo, located in suburban Rochester, New York. The wooden coasters, manufactured and designed by Harry Baker and John Miller, are eerily similar, although the Kennywood coaster runs slightly faster (45 mph versus 42 mph) than the Seabreeze Jack Rabbit.

The great scenic railway

• Name: The Great Scenic Railway
• Location: Luna Park, Melbourne, Australia
• Open year: 1912

The Oldest Continuous Coaster

According to their website, The Great Scenic Railway at Luna Park Melbourne is the oldest continuously open roller coaster in the world. Over 100 years on, that’s quite an achievement. The wooden chairlift coaster runs three trains that each hold 20 riders. Ten years younger (newer?) than the oldest coaster on our list, the Giant Scenic Railway may soon be the oldest roller coaster in the world! Read on to discover why!

Leap-the-Dips

• Name: Leap-the-Dips
• Location: Lakemont Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania
• Open year: 1902

Fingers crossed for 2025

Leaps-and-Dips is technically the oldest operating roller coaster in the world. Unfortunately, although it is still operational, the coaster did not open in 2024 due to financial problems at Lakefront Park. Leaps-and-Dips, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993, is identified as temporary closed, suggesting it will be reopened. Fingers crossed!

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