Roller Coasters That Scare Us
What are the scariest roller coasters we’ve ridden?
When you visit an amusement park, there’s a good chance a roller coaster is present. When approaching a coaster, not only do you see the massive structure and possibly a train flying around the track, but the screams of riders can be heard throughout the area. The reason behind those yelps and shouts is rather simple, roller coasters are designed to thrill guests. Elements like large drops, twisted helices, and inversions all cause a rush of adrenaline for riders, making the ride scary. We all know someone who absolutely refuses to ride some roller coasters due to their frightening nature for many reasons. It’s too fast, too tall, or it goes upside down, are just some of the many things people fear on rides.
For coaster enthusiasts, instead of running away from the fear many are drawn to it, seeking an extra thrilling experience. Some go as far as to not being dazed by the sight of giga and strata coasters, the behemoths of amusement rides. However, there are some rides that while they may not say no to riding, they could be a little uneasy about them for a reason or two. For us, we each have a ride that gives us those butterflies in the stomach sensation as we lock ourselves into the ride vehicle. Which are the scariest roller coasters we’ve been on?
Harry - Der Schwur des Kärnan at Hansa Park
“If we go back a few years ago it was always Oblivion at Alton Towers that would scare me the most. Every time we got near to the drop I'd get slightly nervous. But as soon as the train crested the top of the first drop I was fine. By the time we hit the tunnel I'd be loving every second of it. Sadly, the more I rode it the more that scared feeling went away, and now it's completely gone. The most recent ride to give me that feeling (well that feeling times by at least 10) is Der Schwur des Kärnan at Hansa Park. I remember climbing the first hill, up beyond 200ft 61m high, vertically in classic Gerstlauer fashion. The worst thing at the time was my relatively loose restraint. I was so spooked the first time I rode it I practically stapled myself on purpose before we got to the top. It's the combination of lift hill and drop that are the scary parts for me. The lift hill builds anticipation so well, and then it's time for the hyper coaster level 90 degree descent, the first part of which occurs in total darkness. A few seconds later, you shoot out of Kärnan's towers and feel a sustained g-force, somewhere between 4 and 5g. The first valley of the ride consistently caused me to begin to grey out and I still fear it to this day. But it's a good fear, a happy fear. Der Schwur des Kärnan is my favourite roller coaster because it is that crazy and I wouldn't want it any other way.”
Andrew - Skyrush at Hersheypark
“Over my time exploring roller coasters, I have encountered rides that at first put me off. My first looping coaster Laser at Dorney Park and my first launch coaster Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure had me shaking boarding them, but now I am able to ride similar rides with no trouble. However, the one ride that I have not fully accepted is the Intamin mega coaster Skyrush at Hersheypark. Anticipation builds in the station as I am secured in the very minimal lap bar. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue on any other ride, but Skyrush is something different. This is a ride that takes the aspects of a normal coaster and cranks it up to the next level with ridiculously strong forces. The combination of the restraints and forces, especially the first drop, make the first ride each day a bit frightening. Once the clear is given, it is only seconds before I find myself towering over the park with just the one bar holding me in. As the train crests the drop, I always find myself bracing a little before getting launched out of my seat as the airtime spikes. From here on out my fear vanishes and I enjoy the ride just like any other, but those first few moments of Skyrush never sit well with me. It is unlike anything else I have experienced on a coaster, but despite my hesitation I still find Skyrush among my favorite roller coasters I have done. It is one of the most absurd coasters out there, but sometimes being absurd is what is needed to produce a thrill.”
Joel - Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion
“Everyone who I talked to about it before my US trip spoke about how intense the forces on Intimidator 305 are, and having experienced the uncomfortably high g-force spike on Olympia Looping, I was starting to wonder if I was even going to enjoy it. Then the day came when I rode it. As soon as I entered the rides plaza I realised how much this thing really lives up to its name. Intimidating is the perfect way to describe how the huge, minimalistic arch of it’s massive 305 foot lift hill towers over you. No other coaster at Kings Dominion even comes close to it’s height, making it all the more imposing. We were told by one of our friends that our first ride HAD to be on the front row, so we did that. The lift hill is scarily quick, pulling you up to that massive height in just a few seconds. Then you crest the top of the lift and see it. 300 feet below you is just a turn. Flat against the ground. And then before you know it you’ve plummeted down the drop, are traversing the turn, and are losing the ability to see. And yes, I blacked out almost every time I rode this. There’s a small section of the ride that I basically have no memory of because I was blinded every time the train was going through it. After I crest that first huge airtime hill I suddenly started to realise how fast we were going, and that’s where the real ride begins. Those intense back to back turns and lightning fast transitions are what make I305 my number one, it’s an incredible rush. I decided it was my number 1 after a single ride. To me I305 feels like a test. If you can handle the first turn, you’re rewarded with all the fantastic elements that come after it.”
Aron - Skycoasters
Professor Dilbert’s Frontier Fling at Cedar Point
“To be completely honest, I have never really felt nervous or scared of any ride; be it a flat ride or a roller coaster. Whenever I get ready to board an attraction I just get filled with excitement and anticipation. However, there is one ride that I will probably never get fully comfortable with; sky coasters. Just the feeling of being completely out of control and not knowing when you will be dropped will always get my heart beating. I suppose the experience starts with the way you get fully strapped in. You essentially lay down into what seems to be a human burrito that feels restricting despite having your arms free. You’re slowly pulled up backwards which, while giving a great view of the park, seems to be never ending. Suddenly you’ve reached the top and you attempt to mentally count down in the hopes of getting the timing exactly right. During these seconds my nerves definitely reach their top point as you await the sound of your harness dethatching from the cable. But, from that point on, it’s just pure enjoyment. As you soar through the sky you feel freer than ever. The first drop might still be a little scary but after that it’s just pure enjoyment. And to be fair, the anticipation while being pulled up makes the ride complete. To me, it’s one of the most effective ways to build up excitement prior to a ride. Sky coasters never fail to deliver a great and memorable experience to me!”
Zoe - Stealth at Thorpe Park
“If you had asked me to write this about five years ago my answer would have been: every single ride. But, after repeated exposure to bigger and more intense roller coasters over the years, most of them don’t scare me anymore at all. In fact, some of them I’ve even grown numb to - which is something I wouldn’t have even thought possible before. However, there is still a part of me that is terrified of coasters - especially very very tall ones. One such roller coaster is Stealth at Thorpe Park. I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve ridden it and that’s because it really scares me being up that high. I just don’t appreciate the feeling of being blasted 62m into the air and to be honest, that’s all the ride has to offer (it’s literally 18 seconds long - not worth it). I’m also low-key scared of coasters that inflict great pain on my body when I ride them. Some examples: literally any Vekoma coaster, Hero at Flamingo Land, Colossus at Thorpe Park and the wooden coasters like Grand National at Blackpool. Humans are psychologically and physically built to fear and avoid pain, so why do people enjoy rides that hurt them? I can’t get my head around it! Having my head rattled in an over-the-shoulder restraint until I get a headache or being bashed about in my seat until my whole body hurts is not something I enjoy. Those kinds of roller coasters really scare me.”
While we may love riding roller coasters and thrill rides, these are just a few examples of how some can cause us to question our decisions to ride. However in many cases, we still enjoy these attractions, and some of them are even people’s favorite coaster. Perhaps enthusiasts enjoy these rides more as they produce a sensation of thrill that is often lost as they ride more and more attractions. Every enthusiast has had that moment of rush when they approach a ride that is unlike anything else they have done. In fact, it may be the reason why many of us travel to parks, to find that next rush of adrenaline. Let us know in the comments what rides, if any, make you a bit nervous before riding them!
- Andrew and the Coaster Bot Team
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