National ROLLER COASTER Day is celebrated on the 16th Day in August.
Roller Coasters are the highlight of theme parks, amusement parks, and fairs. Theyβre 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,Β 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.
Not sure how to LOVE the day? Weβve 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!
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.
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.
Thereβs also the RCCGB (Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain) and the ECC (European Coaster Club).
Watch classic coaster movies Big, Annie, National Lampoonβs Vacation, and 1977βs 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.
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 β€οΈ 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 |
Roller coasters have been enjoyed by billions of people all over the world. Theyβre 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 letβs 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 Apolloβs 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.
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