Today, August 16, 2024, is National Roller Coaster Day! Many may not realize that the holiday actually commemorates Edwin Prescott being awarded a patent in 1898 for a vertical loop on the Loop the Loop or Loop-de-Loop Roller Coaster at Coney Island. Loops did exist as early as the 1950’s on “centrifugal railways”, but Prescott’s resembled the modern teardrop design which has less intense g-forces and is easier on riders. However, even with the lessened forces the park found more people would rather watch than ride the new coaster.

Today parks have fully embraced National Roller Coaster Day. Our local park, Six Flags Over Georgia, has great Coaster Fest event featuring behind the scenes tours, lift hill walks and even a Roller Coaster 5k medal for for riding all of the park’s 16,404 feet of coaster track in a single day.

These events are great but it’s also important to remember the history. I’m a big fan of ACE’s “The World’s Largest Ride” to celebrate the anniversary of LaMarcus Thompson’s Switchback Railway, the first modern roller coaster.  On June 16th at 2pm participating parks simultaneously dispatch coasters to celebrate and I took part in an event at Wild Adventures this year. Our great modern coasters have humble roots over 100 years old now and I’m thankful for people like Edwin Prescott for the innovations that helped create the rides we enjoy today.