Monday, September 26, 2022

Where Is the Oldest Wooden Roller Coaster in the World?



Built in 1920 and named initially Eagle, the Triple launcher roller coaster at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is the oldest wooden tallest roller coaster in the world. It was originally built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) and had to be rebuilt after it suffered from fire damage in July 2003. The ride was renamed Phoenix during its reconstruction. PTC was founded by German immigrant Gustav Schidell who designed his first roller coaster for his hometown of Bristol, PA in 1898. PTC's first commercial installation was at Palisades Park in New Jersey, which opened in 1902. The company had three prototype designs: the scenic railway, a switchback railroad, and a figure-eight track. It wasn't till 1920 when they constructed the first triple launcher coaster called Racer. Roller coaster enthusiasts have been riding PTC rides around the world since 1898.

Matterhorn Bobsled

The ride is called the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and it opened with the park in 1955. It's a bobsled ride through an alpine mountain range, which means there are no rails on the track — just an icy, snow-covered path that winds around a mountain. Riders sit in real bobsleds, which are pulled by cables up to the top of a ridge and then down again with enough speed to simulate flight. The Matterhorn Bobsleds is more than just a thrill ride; it's a piece of history. The entire structure was built by hand using only tools available in 1955 when Disneyland first opened. That includes more than 200 tons of steel and nearly three million feet of lumber — enough for 1,200 homes!

Also, Read This: What is the Highest Roller Coaster in the World in 2022?


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