![]() ![]() You have to imagine that – before the ‘90s – roller coasters (and amusement parks in general) were only just re-emerging in the public consciousness after a half-century slumber post-Great-Depression. But when it comes to amusement parks, the 1990s are defined by a singular, global battle for thrill-ride supremacy: the Coaster Wars. For many of us, the 1990s will forever conjure images of Tamagotchi and Furbies the height of MTV Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and Beanie Babies the Slime Geyser outside of the Lost Legend: Nickelodeon Studios and the game shows it represented. To understand Top Thrill Dragster’s pedal-to-the-metal start (and its potential finish), you have to understand the world it was born into. How did Top Thrill Dragster launch onto the scene? What is it like to launch from 0 to 120 miles per hour, then rocket 420 feet into the sky? And more to the point, what brought the world’s one-time “tallest, fastest” roller coaster to an unexpected pitstop that many expected to be the final wave of the checkered flag until Cedar Point’s surprising announcements in 2023? “Arms down, head back, and hold on…”Īnd before we head off, remember that you can unlock rare concept art and audio streams in this story, access over 100 Extra Features, and recieve an annual Membership card and postcard art set in the mail by supporting this clickbait-free, in-depth, ad-free theme park storytelling site for as little as $2 / month! Become a Park Lore Member to join the story! Until then, let’s start at the beginning… Records Past And today, less than 20 years later, it’s standing but not operating… for now. Opened in 2003, the world’s first “stratocoaster” shattered expectations and pierced through the 400-foot coaster height record like it was tissue paper. Standing among the pantheon of the most recognizable coasters in the world is one of the planet’s most extraordinary rides: Top Thrill Dragster. Those are the roller coasters recognized across the globe known by their silhouette alone forever emblazoned in the record books renowned by generations, and even living on as legends beyond their time… From The Beast to Millennium Force the Incredible Hulk to Nemesis X2 to El Toro Steel Vengeance to VelociCoaster… These are rides so renowned, the mere mention of them conjures images in the minds of coaster enthusiasts the world over. Any thrillseeker worth their salt has a “best ” a “favorite ” a “classic.” But very, very few can agreeably be described as “landmarks.”
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