The second part to my ranking of all 102 roller coasters I have gotten a chance to ride, here’s a look at the coasters I have ranked 90-81.
Part 1 can be found here.
Below is a continuation of my ranking of all 102 roller coasters I have rode over the course of my lifetime:
90. The Fairly Odd Coaster – Nickelodeon Universe (Mall of America)
Gerstlauer, 54 ft tall, 34 ft drop, 31 mph, 1,345 ft length
Another steel spinning coaster, this family ride at the Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America is a solid step up from Sidewinder Safari at Discovery Kingdom – but still a good deal below some of the other spinning coasters I’ve been on over the years.
Riders are seated four to a car on this one, with two riders placed on each side of the car. Following a lift hill, the train traverses through a few twists and turns after a short drop, while the car spins rather mildly throughout.
While your car will spin right from the beginning on this coaster, it doesn’t give the out-of-control feeling that a few other spinning coasters do, resulting in the ride to be relatively forceless despite having some potential.
I got several rides on this during a visit to Mall of America in August 2011, and I left with it being my least favorite of the three coasters there at the time.
Of course, I wouldn’t be expecting a family coaster to rip my face off – but it could offer a bit more than what we see here.
89. Carolina Goldrusher – Carowinds
Arrow Dynamics, 43 ft tall, 34 ft drop, 30 mph, 2,397 ft length
The first mine train to appear on this list, this old Arrow coaster has been in operation since 1973, serving as the first and oldest operating roller coaster at Carowinds.
All of these rides are around or over 50 years old today, making their rough track something to be expected. This coaster, like many Arrow mine trains, features multiple lift hills and stays close to the ground throughout, utilizing its terrain to build energy for many of the ride’s turns.
This coaster ultimately ended up being pretty forgettable when compared to a lot of its counterparts. While some mine trains will actually leave you with some positive Gs during the helices, Carolina Goldrusher takes its turns at a pretty slow speed – and the drop at the end of the ride isn’t quite enough to make up for it.
My wife and I got a ride on this coaster back in June, and both felt that it was among the weaker mine trains we’ve been on.
Still, this is a solid coaster for beginners and families, showing there is still a place for Arrow mine trains in large amusement parks.
88. Cedar Creek Mine Ride – Cedar Point
Arrow Dynamics, 48 ft tall, 30 ft drop, 42 mph, 2,540 ft length
Continuing with another Arrow mine train, the Cedar Creek Mine Ride has been operating at Cedar Point since May 24, 1969 – making it the second-longest operating coaster at the park only behind Blue Streak, which began serving up thrills in 1964.
This coaster is quite similar to Carolina Goldrusher, but packs a bit more of a punch with some more interesting scenery – traveling over some water while also including a bit of a longer ride that reaches top speeds of 42 mph, a bit on the fast side for a mine train.
Considering it’s Cedar Point as well, this coaster is the mildest option there for adults – meaning you’re likely to get on without having to wait much, with this coaster being a good cooldown ride from many of the high-octane thrill attractions the park has under its belt.
I snagged a ride on this during my last visit to Cedar Point in August 2013 and would love to catch another ride on this classic mine train – even if there are several better mine trains out there.
87. Adventure Express – Kings Island
Arrow Dynamics, 63 ft tall, 35 mph, 2,963 ft length
Yet another Arrow mine train, this one can be found at Kings Island as one of the more forgotten coasters in a stacked park, standing out as a great choice for families and beginners.
Opening much later than the last two mine trains in April 1991, this coaster features some noticeable differences – forgoing a formal drop while packing plenty of turns and a pair of low-to-the-ground helices that pack in some decent lateral forces, albeit with a good dose of roughness.
The coaster’s final lift hill at the end of the ride takes riders through a decorated tunnel that took some loose inspiration from the Indiana Jones franchise. While this is a nice touch to have that certainly adds some character and uniqueness, it also makes riders think they’re in for something else when it is merely just the end of the ride.
My ride on this in June 2024 with my wife was rather rough, but I still appreciated the coaster’s setting and theming, which both help set itself apart from other Arrow mine trains.
86. Dahlonega Mine Train – Six Flags Over Georgia
Arrow Dynamics, 37 ft tall, 29 mph, 2,327 ft length
You guessed it – yet another Arrow mine train!
This one has been in operation since June 16, 1967, making it the oldest coaster at the park and among the oldest that you could find at a major theme park. Similar to many other Arrow mine trains, you’re in for the same kind of deal on this one – multiple chain lift hills, plenty of twists and turns low-to-the-ground and a good dose of roughness to go along with it.
Although this coaster doesn’t have the bite that Cedar Creek Mine Ride and Adventure Express do, the way this coaster utilizes its terrain, tucked away from the rest of the park, is really enjoyable – particularly the long stretches of the ride where the track is virtually on the ground, giving an authentic mine train experience.
Still, this track has plenty of potholes that will toss you around on turns despite the ride’s low speed – something that was especially felt towards the back of the train on the ride my wife and I got in May 2024. It’s an enjoyable coaster from yesteryear, but don’t be expecting a whole lot of thrills or comfort.
85. Iron Wolf – Six Flags Great America
Bolliger & Mabillard, 100 ft tall, 90 ft drop, 55 mph, 2,900 ft length
The lowest ranked B&M coaster on this list is also the very first B&M coaster – a stand-up that opened at Six Flags Great America in 1990 as Iron Wolf.
I got one ride on this in June 2010, just over a year before the coaster was removed from the park and relocated to Six Flags America, where it would later be converted into a floorless coaster.
This coaster never had a great reputation during its time at Six Flags Great America, and with good reason. The growing pains of one of the world’s best manufacturers were noticeable on this coaster, which was incredibly rough for a B&M coaster with bulky restraints that would leave most riders with some headbanging.
Not to mention, as a rather short 14-year-old at the time of me riding this, this stand-up coaster was uncomfortable for….well…other reasons.
Still, it wasn’t a total dud. The track traveling through the ride’s vertical loop was always a nice touch, while the corkscrew on the back half of the ride provides some potent positive Gs that you’re unlikely to feel on a similar inversion while sitting down.
With that said, I don’t think many enthusiasts or regular park attendees are missing Iron Wolf all that much.
84. The Dark Knight Coaster – Six Flags Great America
Mack Rides, 45 ft tall, 30 mph, 1,213 ft length
An indoor coaster that speaks to the incredible depth of Six Flags Great America’s lineup, The Dark Knight Coaster is a Mack Rides wild mouse-inspired ride that features some of the best theming you’re going to come across in a Six Flags park.
Riders are seated four to a car before being sent up a 45-foot tall lift hill that then takes guests through a series of hairpin turns and short drops in the dark.
References to the Batman series and The Joker are plentiful throughout, which hits riders immediately in a queue line that immerses riders into Gotham City right away.
While this coaster is a great step-up from the kiddie and junior coasters in the park, don’t be expecting all that much force on this one – with most of the appeal of this ride coming with its theming and indoor setting.
Furthermore, this coaster’s individual car seating leads to some pretty abysmal capacity – which means very long lines for a coaster that isn’t all that thrilling. If you’re intent on getting the credit, I would hit this one early on in your visit.
83. Ragin’ Cajun – Six Flags Great America
Zamperla, 42.7 ft tall, 29.1 mph, 1,377.9 ft length
An oft-relocated Zamperla spinning wild mouse that is now known as Barrels O’Fun at Six Flags Great Adventure, I got multiple rides on this while it was at my former home park of Six Flags Great America as Ragin’ Cajun.
I didn’t start riding larger roller coasters until June 2010, meaning Ragin’ Cajun was one of the few coasters I felt comfortable enough to get on as a young kid, thanks to its unimposing height and speed.
Yet I would advise riders to not be fooled by the coaster’s small size and relatively slower top speeds – this coaster packs quite the punch for how it looks.
Being everything that a ride like Sidewinder Safari or Fairly Odd Coaster should be, Ragin’ Cajun sends riders on a series of hairpin turns and short drops at the top of the ride before the cars begin to freely spin around halfway through.
Unlike Sidewinder Safair, the free spinning doesn’t come too late on this coaster, leading to some very sharp turns taken at unconventional angles and a few short drops that you may be taking sideways or backwards – giving a bit of a stomach drop despite only being a few feet off the ground.
A fun family ride that provides a communal experience, even the experienced coaster junkies will probably get off this one at least mildly impressed.
82. Corkscrew – Cedar Point
Arrow Dynamics, 85 ft tall, 65 ft drop, 48 mph, 2,050 ft length
The first roller coaster ever with three inversions, this was my first upside-down roller coaster ever despite Six Flags Great America being my home park growing up, with a 10-year-old me viewing the height of Corkscrew as a bit less imposing when compared to Demon.
There isn’t a whole lot to this Arrow looper, a model that swept through theme parks across the country throughout the late 1970’s and 1980’s. After a short lift hill, riders descend down a 65-foot drop that leads directly into a bunny hill, providing a solid pop of ejector airtime in what is arguably the highlight of the ride before the vertical loop.
After the loop, the coaster traverses through a pair of the namesake corkscrews – one of which inverts over the midway of the park, providing an iconic look that has long been seen as a hallmark of the coaster and a signature sight to see when walking around Cedar Point.
While a great first inverting coaster for a beginner, there isn’t a whole lot to write home about with Corkscrew. It’s a short ride that usually has a short line, and it continues to serve its purpose as an entry-level thrill ride with a small footprint in a stacked park.
81. Disaster Transport – Cedar Point
Intamin, 63 ft tall, 50 ft drop, 40 mph, 1,932 ft length
An indoor bobsled coaster that operated from 1986 to 2012 at Cedar Point, Disaster Transport remains the only bobsled coaster I’ve ever been on, catching a ride on it during a family visit to the park in July 2006.
The craziest thing about it looking back on it is that I had no idea this even was a bobsled coaster when I rode it – something that probably would have freaked me out at 10 years old if I knew the train wasn’t actually attached to the track I was riding on.
While I don’t remember a whole lot about my ride experience, this was a pretty basic entry-level thrill ride that was popular among park guests for its indoor, air conditioned waiting area – meaning you were probably waiting a while to get on this one on a hot day.
Reaching top speeds of 40 mph, Disaster Transport did a solid job of keeping its momentum throughout the course of the ride, adding another element of thrill with riders not really being able to see where they’re going.
After closing in July 2012, Disaster Transport was demolished to make way for GateKeeper, a B&M wing coaster that opened at the park the following year.
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