What coaster revolutionized the coaster industry?

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double loop at SFWoA, first coaster to have 2 loops, magnum, millennium force, matterhorn, and revolution. I dont know why everyone says Coney Island Cyclone? It didnt really do anything for the industry, it was a clone too.

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case

I can't say the Switchback "revolutionized" the industry, but rather L.A. Thompson STARTED the industry as far as I'm concerned. Now, revolutionary is allowing us to actually achieve airtime...upstops! Also, allowing us to perform all these intricate aerobatics would have been impossible without the advent of...tubular steel track.

Corkscrew, Magnum, Revolution, Cyclone...all great rides that took advantage of these innovations, but Miller and Bacon/Toomer, those are the folks that brought us where we are today. John Allen's Racer REVIVED the industry, which was certainly nearing life-support at the time.

Id say:

1. Iron Wolf, The first B&M

2. Switchback Railway, The first "real" coaster

3. Carolina Cyclone, First to have four inversions and i had to have one from my home park in there somewhere!

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Is there somthing more, then what I've been handed, I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answers!- Hoobastank

I'm surprised Magnum has gotten as few votes as it has. It was the ride that sparked the "coaster wars" in which the parks compete to build the tallest, fastest coasters in the world. It proved that people are willing to ride just about anything, in addition to being the first of what is now the most popular type of roller coaster among enthusiasts: the hypercoaster.
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Erik Johnson
Theme Park New England
SFNE 2002: Bigger is not always better.

I'm totally with you Themeparkne,

I think Magnum definetly started everything. Without it we could still be seeing little rides instead of rides like Millenium Force and X.

It definetly sent a message saying we have the technology to do whatever we want to do!

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Cedar point, where else will you find 15 great coasters! NYankees1325, someone IM plese, i need to talk to someone bout coasters!

Well, Magnum's concept really wasn't all that revolutionary. It's basically a wood out and back that's made out of steel and is really tall. I would also argue that the "coaster wars" thing started with shockwave, cus then it went to GASM, then Viper, then Magnum, all from 1988-1991 (I think, correct me if I'm wrong). I would have to say the most revolutionary coaster in the past 20 years would probably be either Gemini or Batman: the ride at SFGAm for obvious reasons.

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Is it the roar of Kumba or the kumba of Roar? Discuss!

I would have to say the Vortex at PKI at the time it was built by arrow it had the most inversions.

*** This post was edited by FoF on 2/18/2002. ***

Probably Magnum,love that ride. It started the craze of hypers and boosted Arrow's popularity.
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Good Times!! Good Times!!
-Patrick

Batman: The Ride @ Sfgam, Definetly changed the Suspended Coaster Industry.

Iron Wolf, was the First B&M and I think is still one of the best:)

Future-

I think X will pave the way for a Massive coaster craze of 4D's.:)

Also, Raging Bull, and Apollo's Chariot, They were the First B&M's to cover 200 ft. Apollo's Chariot being the First Out and Back hypercoaster by B&M and Raging Bull is the first Hyper Twister by B&M. Personally I think B&M is the most successful Roller Coaster Manufacturer and Designers:)

SLFAKE said:
"I will second Jim Fisher's vote.

1956 - Matterhorn - first tubular steel tracked coaster. Argue all you want about
corkscrews and loops... with out tubular steel tracks even these simple elements would be hard (or impossible) to succesfully produce.
Matter horn all the way. Polyurathane wheels and tubular "steel" track.

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At least I dont call a vertical loop a "loopdie-loop"!

the first corkscrew at knott's berry farm by arrow. and the revolution at sfmm.

this may be out of the blue but i think that b&m designs have been revolutionary for coaster's every since they started and they just keep getting better and better with batman,kumba ,montu ,medusa ,nitro ,riddlers revenge all great designs when they came out so i dont think i can say it was the coaster that was revolutionized the industry but the designers who did it and i think it would \ have to be b&M with the first inverted the first floorless and the the koolest stand up and the hyper coasterand now a kool flyer. so i think the forum title should be what designer revolutionized the coaster industry.

For different reasons, ones I think revolutionized the industry are:
1. Matterhorn Bobsled (DL)- 1st use of tubular steel track
2. Racer (PKI)- Restarted the "Coaster Wars" and restarted Wooden coaster craze
3. Corkscrew (KBF)- 1st modern inverting coaster.
4. Revolution (SFMM)- 1st vertical loop.
5. Magnum XL-200 (CP)- 1st Hyper-Coaster
6. Batman The Ride (SFGAm)- 1st Inverted Coaster
7. Millennium Force (CP)- 1st full circuit coaster over 300' (Although not as big a deal as the previous 6 I listed)

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SFGAm Viper

That's a very good post 1950 list there, SFGAM Viper. The only thing that might be added would be the original Schwarzkopf shuttle loop for being the first launched coaster. That would take the place of # 6 and 7 for me, since they were more varitations on existing coasters.
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- Peabody

Loop the Loop at Coney Island was the first safe verticle looping rollercoaster. See number 12 on this list:
Coney
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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
http://www.woodencoaster.com

Every single thrill ride at Cedar Point. Of their 20 or so thrill rides 90% of them were either new, the tallest or fastest of their kind.
Magnum- First 200 ft.
MF- First 300 Ft.
Gemini- Tallest Woodie (When opened)
Blue Streak- Tallest Woodie (When Opened)
Cedar Creek Mine Ride- Tallest Woodie (When opened)
Meanstreak- Tallest, Fastest (When Opened)
White Water Landing- ( Tallest water when opened)
Snake River- Tallest water when opened
Corkscrew- First three looping coaster
Wicked Twister- First double twist, fastest impulse
Raptor- tallest inverted when opened
Mantis- Tallest stand up when opened
Iron Dragon- Tallest suspened when opened
Power Tower- Tallest S&S Tower
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What about S:UE at SFWoA? If Intamin didn't build that the V2's wouldn't be built or WT. Also S:UE was the first impulse in the U.S., and the first to have a twisted spike.
And I'll second pezmanguy3's response for CP.
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Are you ready to get Twisted. Cedar Point 2002

Shockwave @ SFMM
My first thought - You can stand up on a coaster, and it loops? That's too extreme for me.

Magnum XL-200
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Kevin is a coaster freak.