Top 10 Steel Coasters in US

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave, do you ever get to Waldameer Park outside of Erie? It's small, but they just built a new wooden coaster. It is FAST, jerky, but you just fly on that thing!

Yup, I've been to Waldameer. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, and once in college we went up to Waldameer and Conneaut. My in-laws live just south of Erie, and have a cottage on Pymatuning Lake - so we're up in that area a lot. You know, I think I remember seeing them building that coaster when I was up there last year. I haven't been there in years. Might have to check it out this summer.

 

[dpuck1998]

Maverick should be on that list! I LOVE Millennium Force, but I think Maverick is a better overall coaster experience. I know these list are very biased based on locations, so take them for what its worth. A few peoples opinions. I for one would love to ride them all

 

[MrX8991]

Mean Streak has gotten worse, Dave, over the years. It will rattle the fillings out, it is rough, Blue Streak also.

I went in June 2008 and I though Blue Streak was fairly smooth. Mean Streak was not only unbearably rough (although not quite as awful as Gwazi) but threw splinters into my eyes while in the front row.

My personal top 10 steel coasters are...
1) Millennium Force (Cedar Point)
2) Maverick (Cedar Point)
3) California Screamin' (Disney's California Adventure)
4) Raging Bull (Six Flags Great America)
5) Space Mountain: De La Terre A La Lune (Disneyland Paris)
6) SheiKra (Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)
7) Manta (Sea World Orlando)
8) Top Thrill Dragster (Cedar Point)
9) Space Mountain (Disneyland)
10) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Disneyland Paris)

I think the Hulk is too rough and the second half is too boring to put it anywhere near the top 10.

 

[jeanigor]

Speaking of wooden coasters, I remember riding Mean Streak at Cedar Point the year it opened. That was a really good wooden coaster too.

It is great for length and classic ride appeal. And there is hardly ever a line of more than 5 minutes. The downside is you need a session in traction if you ride it too much. DP and I spent about 1.5 hours riding it over and over, just so we could ride in every seat in the train.

really? I always thought it was wood - well anyway, i love it....
it's got the real traditional design, with great air time..
i've ridden it multiple times in a row....that's what i call a coaster...

CP is a great park!! at least it was the last time we were there...
we always went for 2 days and there was more than enough to keep us busy and then some...

Gemini has always held a special place for me. It was my first 'real' roller coaster. I try to start and end each day riding it. Since it is thirty-something years old, it is not a headliner coaster, so lines are short for it as well.

Mean Streak has gotten worse, Dave, over the years. It will rattle the fillings out, it is rough, Blue Streak also.

Last fall when we rode Blue Streak close to the end of the season, we about flew out of the train on Blue Streak. Totally wicked. Like a good wine, some things get better with age.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Yup, I've been to Waldameer. I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, and once in college we went up to Waldameer and Conneaut. My in-laws live just south of Erie, and have a cottage on Pymatuning Lake - so we're up in that area a lot. You know, I think I remember seeing them building that coaster when I was up there last year. I haven't been there in years. Might have to check it out this summer.

If you are in the area it's worth stopping by I think. Especially if you are a wood coaster fan. Here is their description it.
=============================================
Try to relax as you climb to the first giant drop. Your flight lesson begins with a 60 degree dive into your first tunnel. Then you’ll fly over the arched bridge above a 4 lane highway through a second tunnel into an extreme banked turnaround while climbing a second enormous hill. Awesome! Another spectacular drop before blazing back across the highway then enduring air time through a pitch black tunnel. Suddenly you’re streaking uphill back into the Park on a twisted flight path down a third drop on a 90 degree bank. Unreal! In a millisecond you're racing back across the bottom of the hill and rocketing up to a high speed landing. Check your pulse ... you’ve earned your flight wings on this high tech flying machine. Now breathe.
==============================================

They also put in a new steel spinning coaster a couple years ago that I love. It's like Primevil Whirl but WAAAAAAY better, much smoother, more fun. We go to Waldameer every summer for a weekend during the Presque Isle Days Festival.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've done this post before on this board, but here goes again: my first coaster was at Edgewater Park....
a park that hasn't been around since the 70's or 80's (or maybe before?)..
i rode it in elementary school, in the 60's some time...

anyway, i rode this coaster - i'm sure it was a wooden coaster - nonstop....over and over and over.....until the inevitable...i had to make a dash for the bathroom where i proceeded to lose my lunch.....and then headed back for yet more airtime...

i'll go look it up....i know i've found the name before..

found it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2jU3eyjiY
apparently it was called different things over the years...i don't remember what the name was when i road it...maybe the big beast?...dunno...
it was a really great coaster - read the commentary of the person who posted this youtube video for a description...

 

[DisFhan]

I agree that mean streak is in terrible shape. After riding, your back and neck are in need for some treatment. I remember riding mean streak when it opened and it was not a bad ride. My fav woodie would have to be "The Beast" at Kings Island

 

[rotlex]

Cool list! Glad to see one of them is in my own backyard, well, OK, maybe an hour from me, but Nitro, at Six Flags Great Adventure, number 9 on the list, was a great ride back when it opened, I was there for it, and still is today. Cool post.