ACE Coaster Landmarks
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Lets' save the Vancouver PNE Coaster before its'too late!
There are a lot that I feel could bear this designation. Off the top of my head I'll add a "few" to your list:
Lakeside Cyclone, SCBB's Giant Dipper, Belmont Park's Dipper, CLP's Blue Streak, Idlewild's Rollo Coaster, CP's Blue Streak, SFWoA's Big Dipper, Bell's Zingo, Joyland's Coaster, Knoebel's Phoenix, Compounce's Wildcat, SFNE's Thunderbolt, all the Kennywood Woodies.
Some of those may already hold ACE Classic status, and I'm sure I've left off quite a few others that could/should hold the ACE Landmark status.
Moosh
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Sig under construction - announcement coming soon!
Unlike the "classic" status, the Landmark designation does not require the coaster be wooden or "classic". Only that it has some significance either historical or as a landmark. The above three coasters mentioned, Leap the Dips, Cyclone and Revolution have already received their ACE Landmark Plaques. (Yes, got MY ACE newsletter this weekend too).
I would nominate Magnum XL-200 as the first coaster to break the 200 ft mark.
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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.
PKI's Racer and Beast, and The Bat deserve some sort of special recognition IMO. Add to the list Matterhorn, Space Mountain and Revolution for their respective contributions. I realize Revolution HAS been honored, and before the WHY arises, SM has been the first coaster for SO many people....I guess my "criteria" is rather broad....;)
Also, I'd like to add the "relocated" nominees of Phoenix, Wild One, and Arkansas Twister.....SO much better than the alternative...
While I recognize that Beast had some *influence* on the industry, I personally would not consider SOB a forerunner for an ACE Coaster Classic status.
IMO saying SOB has some sort of historical importance is like saying 7-11s should be written into history books for their contribution of the big gulp. :-)
Also the existance of the"Bat" was definitely a unique and fascinating moment in the past... but many forget that the thing was junk and failed miserably. I crack up at the response PKI officials give each time they are questioned about it... they respond with a simple "It didn't work."
I would, however, support Racer at PKI as having a distinct historical significance in the world of coastering. IMO it is the most noteworthy coaster at the park.
Shaggy
Why do I have the distinct impression that this could very easily turn into a "Nominate Your Favorite" coaster thread?
My list of likely suspects:
Leap The Dips (Oldest operating coaster)
Coney Island (Astroland) Cyclone (possibly most famous coaster in the US)
Kennywood's Racer (one of a few Mobius coasters in existance)
PKI's Racer (some consider it the coaster that started the "2nd Golden Age")
SFMM's Revolution (First MODERN loop)
Disneyland's Matterhorn (First Tubluar steel tracked coater)
Some may add many more to this list (Magnum... first 200fter... MF = First 300ftr... one of the Batman's = First inverted... etc)... but were these truely revolutionary or history changing... or simply a continuation of earlier trends and innovations?
Practically every coaster has something that makes it stand out as unique for some reason. You could argue IOA's Hulk for its launch... Dutch Wonderland's Sky Princess because it was CCI's first... Hersheypark's Lightning Racer because it is the only dueling/racing... Also Hershey's sooperdooperlooper because it is the east coast's first looping coaster... SOB because it is the first modern wooden looping coaster... etc etc etc... however... Truely land mark coasters? If they are in your home park, maybe... or if you are a "coater techno geek" maybe... but in the grand scheem of things... Not really.
Before I would give the nod to any of the above, I more quickly go along with any coaster that is over 50 years of age, based on sheer longevity and survivability. I give more credit for those that survived to be the last of a breed rather than those that were created to be the first. Those that have stood the test of time impress me far more than some of the newer innovations.
Then again... what the heck do I know. I'm simply a member of the General Public (as many refer to with disdane as "GP") who happens to likes coasters and not a card carying "enthusiast".
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 10/14/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 10/14/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 10/14/2002. ***
MF... not yet.
The first B:TR (SFGam?) is also a tempting choice.
My opinion, exactly. Savaq. I guess I didn't make that clear. A coaster that not only broke records, but has been rated in the top for as many years as it has, deserves that kind of recognition.
SFLake, three of the coasters you mentioned (Leap the Dips, Cyclone and Revolution) have already received this honor. I think the confusion is the initial thread said "nominated".
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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
Chaos at Opryland...that thing rocked your sox.
But they prolly dont give it do defunct coasters.
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Kennywood Park, America's finest traditional amusement park.
My nominees would be:
1) Matterhorn - first tubular steel track.
2) Magnum XL200 - not just the first 200' coaster, but the start of a new type of steel coaster.
3) Phoenix - the epitome of the out and back airtime woodie.
While I agree that Matterhorn deserves the landmark honor, I don't think Disney would ever allow that plaque anywhere on their property.
They don't even allow the S&S Imprint on the Maliboomer restraints, much less an ACE plaque. ;)
I think that Magnum should get this landmark status. It really seems like a significant achievement in coaster technology.
Magnum. No question. The hypercoaster totally re-defined coasters, bringing them out of the Schwartkopf/Arrow pure looping period, and into the 90's zaniness.
Batman: The Ride at SFGAm. The inverted coaster has generally been recognized as an incredible experience, and the prototype is still a popular attraction in it's own right. I think this was defineitly a milestone in coaster history.
Well, if you include the Revolution, you have to include the very first safe inversion, I think. While corkscrews may not hold the publics imagination like loops do, the corkscrews on the Corkscrew at Silverwood were the very first (back when the ride was at Knott's Berry Farm).
The Matterhorn. First tubular steel rail coaster. Enough said.
The Racer at King's Island. Pretty much universaly regarded as the coaster that started the coaster rennisance. Without it, there might not be many, if any, coasters today (okay, maybe that's an exageration, but you get the idea).
Those are the ones I think deserve it without question. Here's my honorable mention, which I think might deserve it, but am not sure about.
Superman: The Escape. The first coaster to go over 100 mph. An incredible feat in and of itself, but I think we need something more. Now, does anyone know if Superman was the first coaster to be launched with magnets? If it was, I think there is no question that this ride deserves it. While it may not use the LIM's we're familiar with today, I think introducing the concept of magnets is crucial. Magnets, in the form of both accelerators and brakes, are going to play a huge role in the future of roller coasters.
Project: Stealth. First flying coaster. Even though it looks like the B&M version is going to be the standard for this type of coaster, Vekoma was first. But I think the whole flying concept needs to be around for a while longer before we can judge it as a true milestone.
And the two I'm going to get flamed for: American Eagle and The Whizzer. The Eagle was the last wooden coaster to hold the world records for speed and longest drop. In it's way, it signifies the final blow to wooden coasters as the dominant type. Whizzer, 'cause it's the only one of it's kind on the continent, and is a classic.
And now, my comments on SOB: No need. first loop on a wooden coaster isn't anythig remarkable, 'cause it's just the same concept as a loop on a steel ride, transposed to different settings. And even if it was a significant achievment, it's not going to start any trends, that's for sure.
Well, there they are, off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more for each category, so you'll probably be hearing from me down the line.
(to any mods listening, I think this a great topic. I, at least, am not bored at all. Please don't close it.)
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