"First" Rides

Last week I read something in a book about the history of Kennywood that surprised me a bit. When discussing the installation of Pitt Fall, it mentioned that this ride was the 7th (second gen Intamin) Drop Ride and that the first was Hellevator at Kentucky Kingdom. Hmmm. Many of you probably knew that but I found this tidbit interesting.

But it got me thinking about "firsts" - the first installation of a new ride or new type of coaster. I knew that the first modern/steel vertical loop was Revolution at KBF. I think the first invert was B:TR at SFGAm. First 200' drop? Magnum, right? Let's see...Stealth at PGA, first flyer.

Just to satisfy my curiosity, can anybody help rounding out my knowledge base? What was the first appearance/installation of the following...

1. Flume

2. Rapids

3. Vekoma Boomerang

4. Floorless (S:KC??)

5. Top Spin

6. Suspended

7. Stand up

8. SLC

9. Skycoaster

10. Steel inversion

11. Anything else a good enthusiast should know...

Well, first floorless was Medusa at SFGadv

Suspended: I think it was The Bat at PKI.

Revolution is at SFMM. I think that it was the first modern looping coaster. I alway forget if it was or if Corkscrew at KBF was.

Madusa at SFGAdv was the first Floorless.

I think Astroworld had the first Rapids.

King Cobra was the firs Stand Up in the US, but I'm not to sure if it was the first in the world. Iron Wolf at SFGAm was the first B&M Stand Up.

First SLC was Hangman at Opryland, Witch is now at Wild Adventures, I think.

About #11, There are so many interesting facts to know, That's one reason I like Coasterbuzz so much. Might I recommend a nice roller coaster book to let you in on the incredible history.

Bat at PKI was the first suspended.

Corkscrew at KBF was the first. And back then a corkscrew actually meant two inversions and thats would it did.

And I read on Coasterforce that there was an old ride that got torn down called Moonsault Scramble that was built in 1983 and was 207 feet tall located in Japan. That means the Magnum was not the first to break 200 feet.

Arghhh, typo about Revolution and KBF. And I'm a "Rollercoaster" fan to boot! I thought Corkscrew was the first, well, corkscrew as well. I think the Chicago Loop at Old Chicago opened one month later...but I've probably got it all wrong.

Really interested in the first installation of a modern Flume ride. The aforementioned Kennywood book mentioned Log Jammer was the first million dollar ride at KW and when discussing that ride, it seemed like it was very new technology in 1976.

I've got several roller coaster books on the shelf already but the only info that seems to stick in my brain is park history and wood coater stuff!

The first SLC is El Condor at Six Flags Holland.
I believe that the first Boomerang is the one at Six Flags Mexico. Is the first Togo standup the one at Yomiuriland or another Japanese park?

The first suspended was "Alpenflug" which opened exactly 30 years ago (to the day!) at Munichs Oktoberfest. Sadly it closed ten days later and met the wrecking ball. It had the same problems that "The Bat" would face some years later.

"Moonsault Scramble" in Japan was a Shuttle, so its a question of fefinition.

I think the first modern logflume was built at SFOT.

The fist Top Spin was a mobile version. If I am not mistaken it opened in 1984 on a german fair.

Knoebels got the very first Zamperla swing ride.

The first Flume ride was at Six Flags Over Texas. I believe it opened with the park in 1961.

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dexter said:
Revolution is at SFMM. I think that it was the first modern looping coaster. I alway forget if it was or if Corkscrew at KBF was.

King Cobra was the firs Stand Up in the US, but I'm not to sure if it was the first in the world. Iron Wolf at SFGAm was the first B&M Stand Up.

First SLC was Hangman at Opryland, Witch is now at Wild Adventures, I think.

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I think it was already said, but Revolution was the first modern vertical loop. KBF Corkscrew was the first modern invertign coaster.

King Cobra was the first American looping standup, but there were some (short lived) stand ups before that.

Hangman was the 2nd or 3rd SLC in America, but there were others in Europe (El Condor). Hangman is now Kong at SFMW.

Yes, I'm a coaster geek.

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I'm pretty sure Kumba had several firsts.

First B&M sitdown, first diving loop, first cobra roll (on B&M), first 4-across seating.

I'm pretty sure Kennywood got the first Skycoaster in a park, back around 1994. The Sea Serpent at Morey's Piers was the first US Boomerang, from 1984.

The top 3 SLC's were El condor at the former SFH,T-2 at SFKK & ME at SFA.

The first boomerang was indeed built at SFM sometime in the early to mid 80's.

Matterhorn bobsleds at Disneyland was the first coaster to use steel tubular track.

The Nelson character is correct. The first US SLC was T2 at Kentucky Kingdom. The first US park-mount Top Spin was the Texas Twister at Geauga Lake.

Er, a bit wrong Batwing. The SLC list in order in the US: T2, then the Great Nor'Easter, then Hangman, then MindEraser. Unlike Custom Coasters, Vekoma can install more than one at a time.

1. Flume-"El Aserradero" @ SFOT (1963)
2. Rapids-"Thunder River" @ SFAW (1980)
3. Vekoma Boomerang- "Escorpion" (now called "Boomeragn but still at the same park, same location) @ SFM (1982)
4. Floorless-"Medusa" @ SFGAdv (1999)
5. Top Spin- First in N. America-"Texas Twister" @ GL (1993) (couldn't find world's first)
6. Suspended-"Bisby's Spiral Airship @ Queens Park (1902); First MODERN Suspended Coaster- "Bat" @ PKI (1981)
7. Stand up-"Standing & Loop Coaster" @ Yomiuriland (1982)
8. SLC-"El Condor" @ SF Holland (1994)
9. Skycoaster-(sorry, couldn't find this one)
10. Steel inversion-"Revolution" @ SFMM (1976)

Any more? Interesting how many of those records belong to SF/Former SF parks...

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Coaster Lover said:

9. Skycoaster-(sorry, couldn't find this one)

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I agree with Ben that Kennywood received the first instalation of a sky coaster.

First upstop wheels on a roller coaster, which allowed the evolution of all modern wooden and steel coasters : Jackrabbit, Kennywood.

First log flume with two full lift hills : Kennywood.

First coaster to cross a public highway : Ravine Flyer, Waldameer.

First Looping Woodie : Son of Beast, PKI.

First Ferris Wheel : Chicago World's Fair.

I think (after searching on google) that the first skycoaster was built at Super Speed Fun Park in Panama City Beach. The first park skycoaster was at Kennywood, though.

So, every question has been answered except the first Top Spin, anybody know?