Top Ten Roller Coasters in the USA

This list came for America's Best and Top Ten. For details go to:
Top Ten Roller Coasters

Superman - Ride of Steel - Six Flags New England - Agawam, Massachusetts
Millennium Force - Cedar Point - Sandusky, Ohio
Nitro - Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson, New Jerseyride.
Montu - Busch Gardens - Tampa, Florida
Superman - Ride of Steel - Six Flags America – Largo, Maryland
SheiKra Busch Gardens – Tampa, Florida Superman - Ride of Steel - Six Flags - Buffalo, New York
Storm Runner - Hersheypark - Hershey, Pennsylvania
Apollo's Chariot - Busch Gardens - Williamsburg, Virginia
XCelerator - Knott's Berry Farm - Buena Park, California

The list is based on Mitch Hawk's poll. A popular poll among coaster enthusiast. Note this is a top ten list of American coasters not international coasters.

Not to get technical...

But it actually came from HERE, of which is Mitch Hawker's World's Best Roller Coaster Poll.

Somehow, his site doesn't look all that professional (comic sans font?!), not to mention I have no idea who this guy is anyway.

The site may not be professional, but the poll is well run and makes good sense. It is perhaps the only poll that is not determined almost solely by ridership.

I'm not sure how you could have been a member of CoasterBuzz for 4+ years and *not* know about Mitch's poll. Do you just skip over the annual whine-fest?

Edit: one doesn't swim in polls, or respond to pools. ;) *** Edited 2/15/2006 1:38:16 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

Suprisingly, I have no complaints about that list (though I've never ridden Sheikra...nor do I even know its layout). I could see how all of those coasters could be considered "great".

No argument that the list is pretty legit... but although I'm a casual-fan of parks & rides, I'm not a die-hard who knows the names that are "in the business" aside from the most well-publicized for better or worse (Paul Ruben for one).

I'm just surprised that the two cloned Superman's are still within the top 10, considering all the other great coasters that have come along since then.

Other than the name, SFNE's Superman isn't a clone of SFA's Superman. *** Edited 2/15/2006 2:11:59 PM UTC by coasterguts***

But the SFDL and SFA are both listed and are mirrors of each other, if I recall correctly. I haven't been to SFDL yet, but I have rode the SFA version.

I also think that list is pretty good even though I have only experience 5 of the 10. The 5 I haven't rode yet are on the hit ASAP list for the next few years.

I'm a little surprised at Xcelerator being up there. Having been on TTD and Xcelerator numerous times, I would ride TTD any day of the week over Xcelerator. But, to each his own.

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Brian Noble said:
I'm not sure how you could have been a member of CoasterBuzz for 4+ years and *not* know about Mitch's poll.

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Right?

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DawgByte II said:
I'm just surprised that the two cloned Superman's are still within the top 10, considering all the other great coasters that have come along since then.

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Further proof that you guys don't appreciate what you have in your backyard at SFDL. :)

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dragonoffrost said:
I also think that list is pretty good even though I have only experienced 5 of the 10.

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Anyone have all 10? I know a bunch of you have to. I'm stuck at 9 unless I get to BGT this year.

Uh, wheres the woodies?

It's just a trashy site that takes lists from other websites; the person running it probably just took the first coaster poll he found without realizing that Mitch separates the Wood and Steel lists.

^ I've only got 8, Supes @ SFDL might just come along this Spring since it was closed on my last visit (talk about whine-fests, LOL)...and I have NOT been back to Hershey since SR was built (*prepares for a beating from jeremy*)....

I don't necessarily agree with the list entirely (how could ANY list of America's best steel omit that Anton at SFoT is WAY beyond my grasp), but none of those are *unreasonable*...

SheiKra is really THAT good? Maybe I need a sick day to re-evaluate, LOL...;)
*** Edited 2/15/2006 4:10:41 PM UTC by rollergator***

6 for me. SheiKra isn't that good. It's a whole lot of fun, but not exactly top 10, even in a steel only poll.

Sirloindude, who asks, "Where's Kraken?"

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dragonoffrost said:
But the SFDL and SFA are both listed and are mirrors of each other, if I recall correctly.

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Correct.

"SheiKra isn't that good."

"It's a whole lot of fun..."

Um...please explain.

That would be the same as my view of Phoenix.
Half the coaster does basically nothing to get my goat, But overall it's a whole lot of fun.

Meaning, Its not among his favorites but he likes it more than most.

Not top ten, but definetly worth riding

Uh, Nevermind :)

Chuck

I agree with sirloindude. Sheikra only has those two outrageous drops and nothing extraordinary besides that IMO. Not enough to be in the top 10. I actually enjoyed Kumba more. I've got 8 of those coasters under my belt, and its gonna stay that way 4 a while. No plans to hit Buffalo and/or LA anytime soon.

LOL! Well thanks for explaining. I was confused by that. I always thought a coaster's ultimate goal was to entertain and be fun. Sometimes I forget enthusiasts are a much tougher crowd. ;)

Dweaver(I guess that's how I feel about Silver Bullet) *** Edited 2/15/2006 4:35:14 PM UTC by DWeaver***

Word of the day time....
Jaded - and yes, I resemble that remark! ;)