Biggest hidden gem coaster?

There are a lot of overlooked coasters in the country and while I myself have not done many (my current credit count is only at 21). I do have one ride that I feel is a very underrated coaster myself and that is Excalibur at Valleyfair. It is a very short ride but it packs a huge punch to it. I think it may have the strongest airtime in the entire park and certainly the strongest out of any coaster I have been on. I do not think it is better than Renegade but it certainly has a lot of qualities that make it a firm number 2 in the park for me.

I rode Texas Stingray at Sea World San Antonio last year and came away impressed. I feel like this coaster got overlooked because it opened right before the pandemic hit.

It may not be a hidden gem as much as it is over-shadowed but Copperhead Strike at Carrowinds... I'd have to ride it again but I remember liking it nearly as much as I do Maverick at the time.

I think that's a fair one.

Copperhead Strike gets overlooked (literally) by Fury 325, but was a completely different and very fun ride.

The flip right out of the station was a phenomenal feeling.

Gemini at Cedar Point never gets the credit I feel it deserves.

Avalanche at Timber Falls in Wisconsin Dells was such a fun ride. Tons of air time and tight turns. We rode it back in 2005 near the beginning of its life. My understanding is that it didn't age well. It was demolished in 2018. :(

So hidden it’s not there anymore.

BrettV:

Gemini at Cedar Point never gets the credit I feel it deserves.

I love that coaster. Just pure fun.

BrettV:

Gemini at Cedar Point never gets the credit I feel it deserves.

It's so hidden Cedar Point isn't paying any attention to how its run.

Third vote for Gemini. Such a fun ride, smooth, and back seat rides give some good airtime. Is CP really ignoring how it's run? On our last trip (late June 2022)we were in the park three different days and they had it racing the whole time, even with station/walk on waits.

Polar coaster at Story Land, New Hampshire. One of the smoothest, best riding steel coasters I’ve been on. More of a family ride but still…

The trains track so well. The seats are flat so you get fun laterals the way they were meant to be enjoyed; preferably sliding over to squish/Moosh your riding partner.

The station is themed to a penguin colony… and the trains are walruses Wally and Wilbur (think I got those right).

I’ll second CoasterPenguin on Excalibur. May not be smooth but what variety in such a short ride. Easily my favorite at Valleyfair.

Gemini not racing = sucks

Gemini racing, with strangers in the other train = fun

Gemini racing, with your dumbass, goofball friends in the other train = awesome

I really enjoyed Wildfire at SDC. The view coming off the top of the lift, looking out over Table Rock Lake, is hard to beat, and it has that old school B&M feel.

I always had a fondness for Tennessee Tornado. I rode it quite a few times when I first visited Dollywood in 2002...when it was the largest coaster there (of two, the other being Blazing Fury). My 16 year old son and I rode it last year and it wasn't quite as smooth (or maybe it's me that's gotten 20 years rougher), but was still pretty fun. And the setting is unique with that completely underground first drop.

If by hidden gem you mean something that very few people even know about, but is totally worth the trip, Dragon Mountain at Marineland Canada. Right across the border of Niagara Falls. It's a very large, old school Arrow Looper that is just so much fun to ride and probably won't exist for very much longer.

Yeah, that's a fun one. I remember hearing about that ride from my best friend in 5th grade (1983 or 84). Then on a trip to Niagara in 2005, my wife and I rode it and it was exactly as my friend had described it, which was surreal. The ride is kind of surreal in and of itself, actually. In fact I'd consider the park a hidden gem in its own right.

+1 for the old Avalanche/Hellcat. Really miss that ride.

Speaking of the Niagara Falls area, another overlooked ride is the Silver Comet at Niagara Amusement Park (formerly Martin's Fantasy Island). Good medium-size woodie with a surprising amount of variation in forces (airtime, laterals, etc.)

However, the two major rides I'd put in the "Hidden Gem" category are Zippin Pippin up at Bay Beach in Green Bay, and the Comet at Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George, NY. Both phenomenal woodies, both with great airtime aplenty. I often refer to the Lake George Comet as an upscale version of Phoenix. Yes, it's THAT good

Pippin I understand being out-of-the-way and not much else to do up in Packerland, but I am still surprised that the Comet is so under-the-radar given its rich history and proximity to NYC....

Later,
EV

Mulfinator:

Avalanche at Timber Falls

Oof, that ride. I guess I got it in the "not aged well" era. Although to be fair, it was less painful than their log flume.

I think we were two of approximately six customers there at the time, so it is not especially surprising it is no longer with us.

My vote is for Wooden Warrior. Does it still count as "hidden"? Better than Boulder Dash in my book.

I have not even heard of it and I am only a few hours from where it was.

Wooden Warrior is definitely the real deal. Not better the Boulder Dash (though I didn't get night rides on it), but surprisingly good for such a small package in an innocuous park.

I've never seen a park referred to "innocuous."