Coastin Carl
🎢 National ROLLER COASTER Day ORIGIN & HISTORY
National ROLLER COASTER Day is celebrated on the 16th Day in August.
Roller Coasters are the highlight of theme parks, amusement parks, and fairs. They’re the ride that gives the most wow factor! On August 16th take time to appreciate Roller Coasters and their legacy which is linked back to Catherine the Great from Russia. She called roller coasters Montana Russa or Russian Mountain. These Roller Coasters were made from wooden crates which people would use to slide similar to a toboggan but were not constructed well and in the process of sliding down snowy but often icy mountains would get hurt. People still found them entertaining.
The early 1900s had a boom in roller coasters; some of them are still around today. They are the Scenic Railway from 1912, Rutschebanen from 1914, Wild One from 1917, Jack Rabbit from 1920, Big Dipper 1923, and Thunderhawk from 1924. The reason for this was that people wanted to have fun and create enjoyment for themselves post-World War I. The growth of amusement parks and roller coasters was largely due to a man named Frederick Ingersoll and his family opening Luna Park in Pittsburgh this happened eight years after the opening of Coney Island which opened in 1895. In the 1920s there were between 1500 to 2000 coasters. In 1950 post World War the roller coaster industry dived as a result of the Great Depression and being cannabalized for the War effort.
Fast Forward to today and roller coasters remain the number one attraction at theme parks and amusement parks of today. This has a lot to do with the collaborative efforts of IAAPA. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Their initiative is to globally connect people in the Amusement Park and Attraction Industry. Major theme parks and amusement parks are part of IAAPA such as Disney, Universal, Legoland, and many others like the traditional parks of Knoebels or Kennywood.
🎢 HOW to Celebrate & Observe National ROLLER COASTER Day?
Not sure how to LOVE the day? We’ve got a few interesting ideas to consider that may help get you started.
Here are some activities that you can do on National ROLLER COASTER Day!
💙 Do some RESEARCH
Learn about Roller Coasters by visiting the RCDB Roller Coaster Data Base. This website was designed by the hard-working efforts of Duane Marden. He has the largest database for roller coasters. This database is user-friendly for entertainment and educational purposes. Many coaster enthusiasts help Duane by providing him with roller coaster statistics and wonderful roller coaster photography, which is both fun and informative.
💙 Join the CLUB
Get in on Roller Coaster action by joining the American Coaster Enthusiasts. Most people love roller coasters. ACE is a non-profit organization that helps to spread coaster joy, educate, and preserve roller coasters. They also recognize some as architectural and engineering landmarks.
Joining Ace gives you wonderful coaster privileges like private ERT (extended ride time), making coaster memories, and getting bi-monthly coaster magazines.
There’s also the RCCGB (Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain) and the ECC (European Coaster Club).
💙 WATCH a flick
Watch classic coaster movies Big, Annie, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and 1977’s Rollercoaster as a point of reference this movie was the preempting precursor to (ACE) becoming the American Coaster Enthusiast Association. It has grown to 6500 members worldwide.
💙 RAISE Social Awareness
Use social media posts with the hashtags #NationalRollerCoasterDay, #RollercoasterDay, #AmusementParks, #ThemeParks, #IAAPA, #FunHolidays, #AugustHolidays, #Holiday, #FindADayToLOVE, #iHEARTdays to support the importance of celebrating, promoting, and sharing with the world why you ❤️ National ROLLER COASTER Day.
LEARN more about ROLLERCOASTERS
IAAPA takes on the Iron Gwazi!
Learn about Roller Coaster Loops
FOUR Fun Facts you never knew about National ROLLER COASTER Day
- The first of its kind with a vertical drop was the 1884 Switchback Railway in Coney Island. It was 50 ft tall, and the maximum speed was 6 mph.
- Did you know you can ride roller coasters as a preventative care measure for Kidney Stones? After a study that was conducted at Disney’s Thunder Mountain on kidney stones, they discovered that coasters could dislodge kidney stones.The rattling of coasters might be effective at dislodging little kidney stones in the outer ducts of the kidney and propelling them toward the ureter, the tube connecting the kidneys and the bladder.
- Roller coasters were invented partially to distract Americans from sin and behaviors that were viewed as works of Satan. In the 1880s businessman, LaMarcus Thompson grew frustrated by people indulging themselves in visiting saloons and brothels. The roller coaster was a deterrent to Satan that people could do. They could ride roller coasters at Coney Island for 5 cents. Just good clean fun! Many could then ride the LA Thompson Railways.
- Roller coaster loops are NEVER circular, but more inverse teardrop-shaped. A circle was rejected early on as the cars moved too fast at the bottom of the loop and too slowly at the apex, creating more intense g-forces.
Future DATES for National ROLLER COASTER Day
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 16 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | August 16 | Friday |
| 2025 | August 16 | Saturday |
| 2026 | August 16 | Sunday |
| 2027 | August 16 | Monday |
🎢 Rollercoaster FAQ
What actually DEFINES a roller coaster?
- A roller coaster is a ride that uses an elevated railroad track that features tight turns, slopes, and sometimes inversions. Roller coasters are made up of two parts. The track remains stationary while the passengers are propelled through the loops, twists, turns, slopes, and sometimes inversions. Roller coasters vary in size and height from small kiddie models to hyper, giga, and strata coasters. Also, different materials and tracks are used to design coasters; commonly coasters are made from wood or steel.
How does ACE promote the PRESERVATION of wooden coasters?
- According to ACE, they work to establish “The ACE Preservation Fund which offers financial assistance to roller coaster owners and operators around the world to lend aid when needed. These funds may be available to assist with costs associated with needed repairs or refurbishment work to ensure a roller coaster continues to offer guests thrills, fun, and memories for years to come.”
Where can STUDENTS locate information on roller coaster data for school papers or projects?
- RCDB & UltimateThrillRide are very useful and informative websites on roller coasters.
Why we L💜VE National ROLLER COASTER Day
Roller coasters have been enjoyed by billions of people all over the world. They’re fun. Most people fall into three categories: those that MIGHT go on a roller coaster if the opportunity presents itself or perhaps a junior or never. There are those that enjoy going on them and find them part of the experience while visiting theme parks or amusement parks. And let’s not forget the die-hard coaster enthusiasts that live for the next white knuckle ride! Which roller coaster person are you?
Either way throughout time, roller coasters have been enjoyed and are a part of history. On this day take the time to appreciate and be a part of the legacy of roller coasters.
I love roller coasters because this is where I met my husband, who is my sweetheart and the love of my life on Apollo’s Chariot row six during ERT. I met him at the ACE 25th anniversary of Coaster Con. This was the place where ACE first held its event at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 1977.
