Oldest operating coaster at Kennywood is the 70-foot-high Jack Rabbit, built in 1921. Last year, Kennywood became one of only two parks in the country to be named a National Historical Landmark. The park, located along Route 837 in West Mifflin, has had 11 coasters since its start in 1898. Thunderbolt is one of four large coasters at Kennywood, which calls itself the coaster capital of the world. How does the 51-year-old coaster expert pick his favorites? “I look for continuous thrills, non-stop entertainment, plenty of dips, a few moments of negative gravity – where you are lifted up off your seat – and a feeling I can let go, perhaps fearful for my safety, but knowing I am completely safe.” It’s a moment of free flight that gives me a feeling of complete exhilaration.” What is it about roller coasters that Ruben loves? “I find them not only beautiful to look at, but they provide an opportunity to let go, to be released from the cares of the world. He has ridden nearly all the 217 coasters in the United States, Canada and Mexico and has written about them for 12 years as editor of Rollercoaster magazine. Some of the other lists are older than that.”ĭesign News calls Ruben one of the true experts on roller coaster riding. My top three are coasters built since 1979. He agreed such rankings are subjective, but added, “In my list are a half dozen that most coaster enthusiasts would agree belong on everyone’s Top 10 list. His list is just the latest of many Top 10 coaster rankings that have been done. Twister at Elitch Gardens, Denver, Colo.ġ0. Big Bad Wolf at The Old Country, Williamsburg, Va.ĩ. Comet at Crystal Beach Park, Crystal Beach, OntarioĨ. Texas Cyclone at AstroWorld, Houston, Texasħ. Thunderbolt, Kennywood amusement park, PittsburghĦ. Cyclone at Astroland in Coney Island, N.Y.ĥ. Riverside Cyclone at Riverside Park, Agawam, Mass.Ĥ. Le Monstre, La Ronde Park, Montreal, Quebec, Canadaģ. You sense the imagined danger of going into the water.”ġ. But it follows with a 100-foot twisting plunge, virtually into the St. “The first drop is 75 feet, at which point you think the worst is over.
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