A Brief History And Progression Of Roller Coaster Rides

The first trace of roller coasters can be obtained from 16th century Russia, nonetheless they weren't the enjoyment rides we see today. The initial wood-framed slides employed using ice to send out sledders down slopes which can be as high as 70 feet. The mountains in Russia later provided a lot of summertime fun and attractions by making use of the use of wooden carts that had the ability to roll down ramps.

The very first commercial roller coaster ride was featured on Coney Island in the year 1884. Though one would think that the ride was a quick hit, that had been hardly the truth. Only truly daring individuals were willing to go on a ride, and yes it was reported that the first roller coaster yielded around $600 in profits daily. The ride was rather primitive, but also for its time, it had been a fantastic feat of early engineering employing using gravity. Over the years, the Gravity Switchback Railway (the initial roller coaster), gained public recognition and worldwide success, and it also started a worldwide craze for coasters.

The Golden Chronilogical Age Of Roller Coasters

Since the inception of the first roller coaster, the designs became, even more, innovative and daring. The progress of technology has helped launch the Golden Age of roller coasters which may be caused by the 1920s. During this period, coasters that employed shallow dips and speeds took over as the norm and set the building blocks for your roller coaster rides we percieve today.

In the 1920s, over 2,000 roller coasters were built worldwide. There were big names for example Coney Island's Cyclone and also the Crystal Beach Cyclone in Canada. Unfortunately, not many if some of these rides continues to be around today, but they forever changed the history of theme park rides.

The Decline And Rise In The Roller Coaster

Through the 1940s, all the way to the 1960s, social and economic changes put many amusement parks from business. These decades have generated the deterioration of once famous coaster rides. The coasters that had been not reclaimed by nature met devastating fates from the wrecking ball.

Though forgotten for years, the roller coaster has shown to be a timeless attraction. Around 1972, Cincinnati, Ohio was the initial place to unveil a whole new ride referred to as Kings Island Racer. "The Brady Bunch" show helped popularize the ride, and in many ways, it launched a whole new era for roller coasters. During the entire 1970s, many films were made that featured coasters, and near the end from the decade, a business was established to help you promote and preserve the public's passion for roller coasters.

Preserving Days Gone By

Throughout much of the 80s and 90s, people begun to recognize the value of saving historic wooden roller coaster structures. A lot of the first coasters that were still standing were relocated and set back in operation.

Throughout the years, roller coaster technology has significantly changed and evolved. But, one thing is for certain, the worldwide love affair with coasters isn't dying out in the near future.