Take a ride on America's best roller coasters
Nothing says summer like a trip to the amusement park and a ride on a roller coaster.
The loops, turns and drops are enough to make even the bravest of us scream. We scoured America to find some of the best and most classic coasters around and even took a ride on a few ourselves!
What we found is that summer 2014 has some new rides to offer, including the tallest drop ride in the world.
Click through to take a ride on some of the tallest, fastest and longest coasters in America. Warning: You may want to watch on an empty stomach.
The Thunderbolt
Luna Park in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, N.Y. introduced the Thunderbolt this summer. The park's latest edition sits in the same spot as the original wooden Thunderbolt coaster, which operated from the 1920s through the '80s.
The new coaster, made of steel, reaches speeds of 55 miles per hour and stands at 115 feet tall with 2,233 feet of track. The 2-minute ride begins with a 90-degree vertical drop, followed by a 100 foot vertical loop, a 80-foot zero-G roll and a 112-degree over-banked turn -- all with the ocean as a backdrop.
"That 90-degree drop is an amazing, amazing sensation," Nicole Purmal, Luna Park's marketing manager, told CBS News.
While not the fastest coaster in town, the Thunderbolt is worth a ride if for nothing else -- than for its classic surroundings. "I think the best reason to ride a ride at Coney Island is that you're at the historic birthplace of amusements," added Purmal.
We gave this coaster a whirl during a recent visit to Luna Park -- and yes, we screamed (just a little)!
Take a look at our adventure in the video and continue to click to see more coasters.
The Kingda Ka
The Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. is pretty much the "king" as far as U.S. roller coasters go. At 128 mph, it's the fastest in America.
Built in 2005, the coaster stands at 456 feet -- also making it the tallest coaster in the world, according to the Roller Coaster Database. If that weren't enough, this thrill-ride also features the largest roller coaster drop in the world -- at 418 feet.
We rode this one, too -- and boy, does it make your hand stand up. Give it a virtual try in the video above.
By the Numbers:
-Top Speed: 128 mph
-Elevation: 456 feet
-Length: 3,118 feet
-Duration: 50.6 seconds
Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom
The name says it all. Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, which opened in July 2014, towers over all other rides at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J. By a lot.
Sandwiched between the tracks of the Kingda Ka roller coaster, Zumanjaro marks the tallest drop tower in the world. Riders climb 415 feet only to rocket down at 90 miles per hour. Ahhhhhh!
We tested the Zumanjaro ourselves, and it's definitely scream-worthy. Check out the video to see for yourself.
By the Numbers:
-Tallest drop ride in the world
-415 feet
-Up to 90 miles per hour
-Blast to the top in 30 seconds
-Drop in less than 10 seconds
Coney Island Cyclone
Though not as advanced as some of today's steel roller coasters, the Coney Island Cyclone has definitely made an imprint on amusement park history.
Also located at Luna Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., the wooden roller coaster opened on June 26, 1927 and continues to take people for rides to this day. Fun fact: When the park opened a ride cost 25 cents. Today? It'll cost you $9 bucks for one ride.
It was also declared a New York City landmark in 1988 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places three years later. Luna Park took over operation of the Cyclone in 2011.
The 87-year-old coaster features a drop that reaches up to 60 mph. And in case you're worried about riding? Purmal says the coaster -- although old -- is safe.
"We have a crew that walks the track every single days. They go through and they look to see how that organic wood is dealing with the seaside air," said Purmal. "So for us, it's of utmost importance that we are abiding by safety regulations."
El Toro
Despite the introduction of steel coasters, wooden roller coasters haven't disappeared. Some parks continue to introduce new ones into the mix.
El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure may look like a classic wooden roller coaster, but it features enough drops and lots of speed (70 mph) to have you shaking in your boots.
Riders drop 176 feet, and with a 76 degree angle, it's the steepest drop of any wooden-style roller coaster in the country. And in case you weren't convinced, El Toro was voted the No. 1 wooden coaster in the world by the 2011 Internet Coaster Poll.
The Banshee
Mason, Ohio, is home to the Banshee, the world's longest steel inverted roller coaster -- new for 2014.
The female-inspired ride at Kings Island amusement park sends thrill-seekers through 4,124 feet of track and seven inversions at speeds up to 68 mph. Riders will go through the curved drop, dive loop, a looping interacting with the lift, a zero-G-roll, a Batwing, an outside Loop, spiral, in-line-roll and a carousel.
Got it? Good. Watch the video above to see what we mean.
Top Thrill Dragster
Speed, height and drops are the focus of the Top Thrill Dragster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
The coaster goes from zero to 120 mph in less than 4 seconds. Yes, you read that right.
A few seconds later, riders are soaring 420 feet in the air. In total, the ride is just 17 seconds -- but it ranks pretty high in coaster stats. The 400-foot drop ranks second in the U.S., and at 120 mph the Top Thrill Dragster right behind the Kingda Ka for speed.
In other words, this coaster doesn't mess around.
Millennium Force
There are so many coasters at Ohio's Cedar Point, it's hard to pick just two -- but the park's Millennium Force is really a force to be reckoned with.
This 2-minute-long coaster ranks in the Top 10 in the world when it comes to drop, length, height and speed. The 310-foot, 93 mph coaster features an elevator cable lift system to get riders to the top more quickly -- only to drop down at an 80-degree angle. Whoa.
Intimidator 305
Voted the best new roller coaster of 2010 by Amusement Today, the Intimidator 305, which lives at King's Dominion in Doswel, Va., is still one of the country's top coasters.
The ride stands 305 feet at its highest point with a first drop of 300 feet at an 85-degree angle. Which means it ranks among the best coasters for height. And at 90 mph, it's also pretty darn fast.
Superman: Escape from Krypton
You have to head to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif., to ride Superman: Escape from Krypton, a roller coaster made up of 1,315 feet of track that stretches 415 feet into the sky.
Riders shoot from zero to 100 mph in seven seconds -- in reverse, so there's hardly any time to even think (or see, for that matter) about how fast you're going. Once completely vertical, riders experience weightlessness for 6.5 seconds.
Then riders plummet 92 mph back down. It's the fifth fastest coaster in the world, according to the Roller Coaster Database. See what's in store with this coaster in the video above.
So, there you have it. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but one that will get your roller coaster juices flowing.
