National Roller Coaster Day

Life is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs. Sometimes it’s a little scary and intimidating, yet it’s oh-so exciting. It’s late summer and today is National Roller Coaster Day. Let’s not let this beautiful day go by without giving recognition to one of the great, summertime thrills. Gather the family. Text your friends. On this August 16 holiday, let’s go to the closest amusement park and ride a roller coaster or two. The more loops and vertical drops, the better! 

You’ll find people young and old riding roller coasters. You’re never too old to ride a roller coaster. This author had an aunt who rode them with joy well into her 80s! For some people, riding roller coasters is like a cult following. It becomes addicting. These thrill seekers travel the country, intent on experiencing every roller coaster they can find.

Several inventors created versions of the roller coaster or made notable improvements to existing designs. Among the notable inventions: The first known roller coaster was created in the 15th century Russia. It was made of a wooden car and was push-started down icy hills. In 1872, J.G. Taylor received a patent for an inclined railway. It was the first known roller coaster on rails. A few years late, in 1878, an Inclined Plane Roller Coaster was patented by Richard Knudsen.  On June 16, 1884, Coney Island, NY opened one of America’s first roller coasters. Designed and built by LaMarcus Thompson, it was known as a switchback railway. It costs a nickel to ride and traveled at 6 miles per hour. On August 16, 1898, Edwin Prescott patented the vertical loop roller coaster. Since these early days, roller coasters have only gotten faster and wilder.