I remember a few moments in time, growing up, that included roller coasters throughout Southern California (SoCal) that sparked my intrigue and got my butterflies swirling. These memories brought me to be an enthusiast as an adult, and my passion has grown even more over the years.”
Rollercoaster Experiences Over Time
Disneyland
Disneyland offered a mild and somewhat boring kind of magic. While not known for extreme or thrilling rides, coasters like Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad introduced me to the idea that a ride could be wrapped with storytelling, attempting to make the ride enjoyable. The immersive environments made each ride feel like a journey, not the rush I believe I was actually seeking.
Del Mar Fair
One summer, I got to experience the Del Mar Fair, where temporary rides popped up like colorful dreams. The fairground coasters were raw, rough, and unpredictable, adding a layer of excitement that was different from the polished established parks. The sounds, the smells, the energy did obviously add to the allure.
Marriot’s California’s Great America
But one of the most vivid memories was visiting Marriott’s Great America in California shortly after it opened. My mom, stepdad, and I flew up to San Jose to visit my aunt, uncle, and two cousins one summer which provided us the chance to visit local sites. I remember standing near the roller coaster (later learning it was a clone from Arrow called Corkscrew), watching the trains roar by, startled by how readily willing people climbed aboard. There was something mesmerizing about their trust in the ride, their willingness to embrace the unknown. That moment stuck with me, and it was the first time I truly experienced the draw of roller coasters.
Knott’s Berry Farm
From a single, early visit, to Knott’s Berry Farm I became captivated by the blend of old Western charm and thrilling rides. That part left lasting impressions because of that type of atmosphere surrounding the guests was rare. It was more than just an amusement park; it was an experience almost approaching theme park status.
Magic Mountain
Then came Magic Mountain, a place that felt like a roller coaster paradise. I remember standing in awe watching the loop of Revolution and towering heights of Colossus, wondering how people could just hop on without hesitation. Their excitement and fearlessness fascinated me, planting a seed of curiosity. What was it like to surrender to the thrill when I am afraid of heights?
These Experiences
Each of these experiences, scattered across from my youth, built the footers of my enthusiasm. What started as curiosity launched into a lifelong passion for me with no view of the final break run. Today, I chase coasters not just for the adrenaline, but for the nostalgia, the design, and the stories they tell.
Memories that Solidified my Enthusiast Stature
Giant Dipper – Belmont Park – San Diego, CA
My family and I used to pass by this wooden roller coaster on the side of the road during our summer drives to Mission Beach. At the time, it seemed massive, well “giant”, easily three times the size of the rides I was used to seeing at the annual Del Mar Fair. I often wondered how terrifying it would be to ride that “giant,” especially given my fear of heights and how fast it looked from the road.
Years later, I learned that the roller coaster, The Giant Dipper, a historic wooden coaster had originally opened in 1925. It operated for over 50 years before closing in December 1976 when Belmont Park went out of business. The coaster sat idle and unrideable for years and was nearly demolished at one point. However, a preservation effort led to the formation of the “Save the Coaster Committee.” They successfully campaigned to protect and restore it starting in 1987 when it was designated a National Historic Landmark. After a full restoration, it reopened to the public in August 1990. Over the decades, it has survived fires, earthquakes, and long periods of neglect. Today it remains a prominent and nostalgic roadside attraction for anyone traveling along Mission Boulevard in San Diego.
My first ride = 1990, years after my fear of it had subsided
Giant Dipper – My Thoughts of the Ride Today
- Retracking with RMC topper track would be an awesome upgrade
- I love the location and how accessible it is
- Still a ‘solid’ ride for being all alone in the park
Montezuma’s revenge– Knott’s Berry Farm – Buena Park, CA
While growing up in SoCal there was a chance that my family would go to the San Diego Zoo or Sea World San Diego once every year or so. We also, every four years or so, would go to Disneyland, though I had always hoped to get to Knott’s Berry Farm instead. Because that was the “coolest place ever” among my friends since they had roller coasters WAY BETTER than Disneyland has or would ever have.
When the chance arose to go to Knott’s with a group of friends from a church we went to, I was ecstatic… Arriving at Knott’s on that warm Saturday in 1987, brought us to a park that was still growing, yet oddly landlocked in the middle of a big city. Almost directly ahead of us, after walking through the entrance, was Montezuma’s Revenge which opened in 1978. It was made of a steel and went upside down, unlike The Giant Dipper. These two factors frightened me more than I had ever been while at a place built for fun and enjoyment.
My first (and only) ride on Montezuma’s Revenge = that Saturday in 1987
Check the irony of the City Name “Buena Park”, with SoCal’s nicest amusement park being there.
Viper – Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) – Valencia, CA
Now that I was out of high school and off into the real world, making some choices on my own, I wanted to venture to a park that my parents would never have taken me to. That place was what would become by self-proclaimed “home park” Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. All I could think of was, “this place is not for kids”, and in my mind only exists because of roller coasters. That was slowly becoming my kind of place, you see…
After entering the park on that extremely hot (95 degree) Saturday, in late summer of 1990 just months after Viper had opened, we proceeded-left upon entering directly to its queue. I vividly remember that immense looping steel roller coaster at the top of the hill ahead of us. It was like a monument in red and white (my two favorite colors) and the world’s tallest and fastest looping coaster at the time. With seven upside-down moments (later in my life learning these are called inversions) it seemed so ominous, especially the first loop that just appeared to be more than twice as tall as the one on Motezuma’s Revenge.
My first ride = late summer 1990 (and I get at least one janky ride, each time I visit the park)
Note: My gut keeps telling me there were misters on the hillside queue of Viper, though I just cannot place the time when that was. I also could not find a precise reference of these on the interwebs either.
Viper at SFMM – My Thoughts on the Ride Today
- The restraints are horrid and designed for anyone shorted than 5’10” (I am over 6’1” and these just do not work for me)
- The profiling of the ride has always been abrupt and janky because it was done onsite, by hand
- They should get new Vekoma trains for it and before deploying them, run the current ones backwards for a full year
- It needs another repaint, but keep it the same red and white
Goliath – Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, CA
In the news in late 1999 and early 2000, I could not help but hear that SFMM was getting a new roller coaster that was going to be the tallest full circuit one in the world with a lift hill. This coaster was going to be named Goliath (more on naming in future blogs) which opened in February 2000. I knew that there was no option but for me to go and experience this thing, no matter how scared I am of heights.
On a Saturday, about a month after the coaster opened, my buddy from college (Matt), my father, my stepmother, and I headed to the park. I still have no idea how I convinced my father and stepmom to go, but this was an event that I believed was never going to be topped (more on that later in another blog).
Manufactured of steel with very loud lift hill, it was mighty scary while standing next to it while in line. Though Goliath seemed strange to me because it didn’t go upside down like Viper or Montezuma’s Revenge. Key features that kept ringing through my soul was that it included a 255-foot drop and a top speed of 85 mph. Both of those facts sent chills down my spine before I even sat down in the seat and was buckled in to ride.
My first ride = Early March 2000 (I avoid this ride each time I am at SFMM now because it is boring)
Goliath at SFMM – My Thoughts on the Ride Today
- There is no ejector airtime, ugh why not?
- There is no floater airtime, damn that is what Hypers are supposed to be for
- The first drop is very shallow and boring…
- The initial turn around is a waste of space
- The midcourse brakes run brings you to a complete stop
- That 540-degree helix, that generates very high G-forces, makes me gray out more than any other ride at SFMM
- The track and profiling are very smooth
- The trains and restrains are comfortable
How those moments made me into an enthusiast
Looking back, each of these experiences played a pivotal role in transforming my curiosity as a child into passion as an adult.
- Nervously passing by the Giant Dipper as a kid
- Braving Montezuma’s Revenge with friends
- Seeking out a new thrill ride, Viper
- Forcing those close to riding the giant, Goliath
These weren’t just rides; they were milestones in my personal ‘ride’ of overcoming fear, embracing excitement, and appreciating the masterful engineering and artistry behind roller coasters.
Final Brake Run
What started as awe and apprehension slowly evolved into fascination. I began to notice the details like track profiling, various restraint systems, the g-forces at play, and even the historical significance of many coasters. These observations didn’t just entertain me as much as they educated me, challenged me, and ultimately inspired me to become a roller coaster enthusiast.
Today, I ride not just for the airtime (ejector and floater) or the speed, but for the appreciation of coaster design, legacy, and the sheer joy that coasters bring to me and people of all ages. After all it began with a few unforgettable moments that sparked a lifelong passion.