2 Rollercoasters That Changed Everything!

Every year, many rollercoasters are built, each one trying to capture the spirit that these 2 rollercoaster gave to the Amusement Park industry.  These 2 rollercoasters changed everything and once they were put into service, everyone wanted one, but only better.  The funny thing is, no rollercoaster has even come close to capturing what these 2 rollercoasters did.........

The first is the American Revolution built during the mid 70's at Magic Mountain.  This is the first rollercoaster put into service that took you upside down and everyone accross the planet wanted some part of this ride.  This Intamin coaster was so successful it ushered in the era of looping coasters.  Coasters with 2 loops, 1 loop & 2 corkscrews, and even coasters with 2 loops going through each other.  Every amusement park wanted to capture the exact feeling that American Revolution gave to its riders.  Today the rollercoaster is a walk-on, with no waiting, back in the 70's people waited for hours to ride this classic. What made this rollercoaster so special, is the layout of the track winding through the terrain and landscape of Magic Mountain. This rollercoaster was designed and built when Atari was the hot item in stores, this goes to show you how impressive this ride really is. 

The second rollercoaster is Magnum XL 200, built during the late 80's at Cedar Point.  As with the American Revolution, the "Magnum" is a rollercoaster that changed everything.  Once built, people waited well over 3 hours to ride this 200' footer and when you got off, you felt you conquered the world.  This Arrow coaster ushered in the era of the hyper coaster, every amusement park wanted a "Magnum" in their backyard, something over 200' tall giving people the exciting feeling of overpowering the ride.  What gives this ride something that no other ride can ever take away is its awesome view of Lake Erie and layout along the beach of Lake Erie.  Another park may want one, but never will get one.  The "Magnum" was designed at a time where if you mentioned windows, you thought of a glass window not Microsoft.  This shows you how impressive this ride really is when it debuted. 

Today, you look back at some of the accomplishments that these 2 rollercoasters gave the amusement park industry, and you soon realize that without them, there would be no amusement park industry like we have today.  What will be the next rollercoaster to usher in a new era, the Millenium Force at Cedar Point, X at Magic Mountain, or maybe some new rollercoaster at an amusement park that we dont' know too much about.  It will certainly be exciting to see what new coaster ushers in a new era, what-ever that coaster may be.

Just Coasting.../~\...

I think Stealth played a preety big role in the start of flying coasters, since now B&M and arrow (does 4-d count for flying?) got into this new type of ride

I couldn't agree with you more.
-----------------
Nitro: The Most Explosive Coaster on the Planet explodes at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2001.

Well I think MF, X and the TA2K are three new coasters that are going to change the future of roller costers.
MF opened the door to xtreme height and speed
TA2K opend the door to Xtreme launching (speed)
X has opened the door to creating a coaster with endless element's b/c of the flipping seats.
Now let's combine them all together...............year 2010 The Worlds first Air Launched 500 foot 4th demension coaster lol.
P.S.
 What about the Matterhorn (sp) if it wasn't for Arrow comming up with the tublar steel track we probably wouldn't have Revolution, and Magnum.
*** This post was edited by rob4420 on 8/25/2001. ***

*** This post was edited by rob4420 on 8/25/2001. ***

Actually, Revolution wasn't the first coaster to go upside down.  The Arrow corkscrew coaster (not sure which one, Knott's maybe?) was the first.  The Revolution was the first vertical loop.  Also, Revolution was a Schwarzkopf creation, not an Intamin.  I think Batman: The Ride really played a large roll in the industry as well, since it jump started the inverted coaster craze and really got B&M booming.
-----------------

I agree with those choices. Intamin really took a lot from Schwarzkopf's designs. Mainly the track design, side mounted brake fins, friction wheel drives for positioning trains. Its easy how a ride like Revolution could be thought to have come from Intamin.

As for Revolution being a walk-on. Not really, usually it does have a line while usually never over 30 minutes, it still attracts crowds (its too painful for me so I skip it).

-----------------
"ok everyone go ahead and pull down on your shoulder restraint so you feel nice and stuck!"

I don't agree, you really can't say 2 coasters changed Everything. Magnum was a big step in coaster history but I don't know if you can say it changed everything. Same with Revolution. I mean if you say that, then you have to also name SOB for its height and loop, King Cobra, Batman. All of those were firsts. If you are saying those 2 coasters made the biggest impact, I would agree to a point.
-----------------
You are the Weakest Link, Goodbye.

revolution is still a great ride

Actually, neither Revolution nor an Arrow corkscrew was the first coaster with an upside-down inversion.  It was Flip Flap, a wooden coaster with a loop, built in the late 1800's.  This coaster, however, did not last too long.

If I had to choose one coaster that changed the industry, Id also go with Revolution.

-----------------
Acrophobia--High Alititude Attitude

This is what happened.  Back in the day, Intamin was responsible for the fabrication of Schwarzkopf coasters, and I believe were somewhat involved in the design.  That is why revolution is credited mainly to Schwarzkopf, but also Intamin.

*** This post was edited by V² Fiend on 8/25/2001. ***

Actually, Flip Flap was a steel coaster.  There were an number of steel caosters early in the 20th century.  However, they used conventional steel rails not tubular rails as are used today.  None of the turn of the century inverters changed anything though since they were failures.

My personal votes for coasters that changed everything are:

The Coney Island Scenic Railway - It started it all.

The first safety coaster - Does anyone know it's name.  I've never been able to find it.  Possibly several were built at the same time.

The Matterhorn - Introduced tubular steel track that has made much of modern coaster development practical.

I honestly think that SOB has ushered a new era into the coaster age. This marvel was a test dummy for the world of hyper woodies, and I believe that more will be built accross the world. Just my opinion.

-------------
http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den

I think Stealth is one of the coasters that changed everything, but then again, look at the number of people that have riddden Stealth, and don't say they want it in they're backyard, and then look at the amount of people who haven't ridden X, and want it in they're backyard...(I'm saying stealth deserves more recognition)I'd say Magnum is a coaster that did change everything, because it was the first 200 footer, Revolution, is also the first succesful vertical loop, but I'd also say that The corckscrew at Knotts (i think it was the first coaster to invert you succesfully) is the one responsible for inversioons, so it is a first, and SOB, because its the first wooden hyper with a succesful loop. Matterhorn has the tubular track, so that also deserves recognition, and I'd say X, because it combines the "hyper-twister" which RB introduced, and adds the unique seats, and if it is a success, then i expect this to be a coaster that changed everything.

-------------
"Thank you for challenging the Raging Bull. We hope you enjoy the rest of you're day, here at Six Flags Great America."

*** This post was edited by RagingBullGuy on 8/25/2001. ***

I believe Moonsault Scramble in Japan was the first coaster to reach 200ft, not Magnum.

For some reason, people just recognize Magnum as the first to reach 200ft.

Personally one coaster that had a great impact was Big Thunde Mountain. It wasn't the first to use steel, but it was the first to use tubular steel, which gave manufacturers new ideas for future coasters

People are forgetting the PKI Racer.  It may not look like much now, but this high-profile, photogenic coaster pretty much single-handedly made coasters popular with the GP again when it opened.  It started the modern coaster "renaissance" and led to more coasters, especially John Allen out-and-backs, being built all across the country throughout the 70's. 

I agree with the importance of Magnum, though.  I was only 7 years old when it opened, but I remember it being a HUGE deal.  In fact, I don't even think the hype surrounding Millennium Force was as big as the hype surrounding Magnum it opened.

-----------------
It's a simple equation: CCI + CP = #1 Wooden Coaster!

Justin, on the Moonsault Scramble only the first car goes above the 200 foot mark... and its a shuttle coaster. When Magnum, every car goes over 200 feet.

I would have to agree that Magnum is the one that started it all... the coaster wars that is. Even up to 1999(and to some people it still) it was a big deal if you rode the Magnum.

-------------
Andrew Hyde
http://www.experiencethepoint.com
Author- Experience The Point: The Unofficial Guidebook To Cedar Point

Magnum and Revolution are definately the two who changed everything.  After that the new designs sparked and lots came after that.  Magnum showed everyone "hey look at me I can go over 200ft." and Revolution proved to be the first succesfull vertical looping coaster.  Intamin and everyother company have learned from these designs and made now even more original desgins but these are the two behind it all.
-----------------
Go To:
http://www.geocities.com/socalcoasters/

Yes, Revolution was the first with the loop, it opened in 76.  Lets not forget Corkscrew at CP, which also opened in 76, it also had a loop and a corkscrew.  Revolution gets more credit becuase it opened first that year. 
Justin, Magnum was the first to take people over 200'.  Moonsault Scramble's track reached up that high, the train never went past the 200' mark.  (Someone beat me to posting this as I was typing it)
Magnum certainly changed things alot. Racer at PKI is also a big time player in reviving rollercoasters.

*** This post was edited by InCLinE LoOpER on 8/25/2001. ***

---

StarCoasters said:
Actually, Revolution wasn't the first coaster to go upside down.  The Arrow corkscrew coaster (not sure which one, Knott's maybe?) was the first.  The Revolution was the first vertical loop.  Also, Revolution was a Schwarzkopf creation, not an Intamin.  I think Batman: The Ride really played a large roll in the industry as well, since it jump started the inverted coaster craze and really got B&M booming.
-----------------

---

You're right, the Knott's Berry Farm Corkscrew that debuted in 1975 was the first modern day coaster to turn riders upside down. The following year, Magic Mountain's The Great American Revolution became the first to maneuver a successful vertical loop. But Revolution (as it is known now) was a combined effort of Anton Schwartzkopf and Intamin AG.

PKI's Racer is credited w/ saving wooden coasters, and starting the boom in the early 70s.

I think the Matterhorn deserves a lot of credit for giving us tubular steel rails.