The Tallest Roller Coaster in Each State

According to our friends at the Roller Coaster Database, there are more than 750 roller coasters operating across the 50 United States. If you’re a coaster enthusiast, you might be able to point out a few of the tallest roller coasters out there, like the 456-foot tall Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure or 420-foot tall Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, but what about some of the lesser known tallest roller coasters in each state? Did you know that the tallest roller coasters in certain states are less than 20 feet tall?

To save you a little research, we’ve compiled a list of the tallest (currently operating) roller coaster in each state. [Author’s note: For this article, we did not include mountain coasters.]


Alabama

Tallest Operating Coaster: Rampage, Alabama Adventure (120′)

Rampage was built at a cost of $4,300,000 and was built by the now defunct Custom Coasters International.

Alaska

Tallest Coaster: Aftershock, Alaska State Fair (40′)

Debuting in 2021, the first permanent roller coaster in Alaska stands a modest 40′ tall, but that doesn’t matter. If you’re only roller coaster in your state, you’re by default the tallest. (And also the shortest!)

Arizona

Tallest Operating Coaster: Desert Storm, Castles ‘N Coasters (90’)

Desert Storm is one of just 7 roller coasters manufactured by Panama City, FL ride manufacturer Hopkins.

Arkansas

Tallest Operating Coaster: X Coaster, Magic Springs & Crystal Falls (151′)

X Coaster is the only Maurer Sky Loop at a park in the United States.

California

Tallest Operating Coaster: Superman: Escape from Krypton, Six Flags Magic Mountain (415′)

The tallest complete circuit roller coaster in California is also located at Six Flags Magic Mountain. (Goliath – 235′)

Colorado

Tallest Operating Coaster: Boomerang, Elitch Gardens (116.5′)

With Elitch Gardens’ possible impending closure, the honor of Colorado’s tallest coaster could soon belong to Cyclone at Lakeside Park (80′)

Connecticut

Tallest Operating Coaster: Phobia Phear Coaster, Lake Compounce (150′)

Phobia Phear Coaster is a Premier Rides Sky Rocket II that opened in 2016.

Delaware

Tallest Operating Coaster: No Operating Roller Coasters

A Wooden Roller Coaster named Wildcat at Shellpot Park operated from 1925-1933, and was 65.1′ tall.

Florida

Tallest Operating Coaster (Tie): SheiKra, Busch Gardens Tampa and Mako, SeaWorld Orlando (200′)

Both SheiKra and Mako are owned by the same parent company, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.

Georgia

Tallest Operating Coaster: Goliath, Six Flags Over Georgia (200′)

There are 7 different roller coasters named Goliath in the Six Flags chain, and they are made by 5 different manufacturers.

Hawaii

Tallest Operating Coaster: No Operating Roller Coasters

 

Big Dipper, a Wooden Roller Coaster operated at the former Waikiki Park from 1922-1930’s.

Idaho

Tallest Operating Coaster: Aftershock, Silverwood (191.6′)

 

Aftershock was previously known as Deja Vu when it was located at Six Flags Great America in Illinois.

Illinois

Tallest Operating Coaster: Raging Bull, Six Flags Great America (202′)

Raging Bull is named after a ferocious beast that terrorized the citizens of the old Southwest Territory.

Indiana

Tallest Operating Coaster: The Voyage, Holiday World (159′)

The Voyage got its name from the Pilgrims’ Voyage across the Atlantic (and is located in the Thanksgiving section of Holiday World.)

Iowa

Tallest Operating Coaster: Monster, Adventureland (133′)

Monster features a lighting package from KCL Engineering, who are also located in Iowa.

Kansas

Tallest Operating Coaster: Unsure

There are only six roller coasters in the state of Kansas. All of them are kiddie coasters. Couldn’t find heights anywhere.

Kentucky

Tallest Operating Coaster: T3, Kentucky Kingdom (101.7′)

Louisiana

Tallest Operating Coaster: Ragin’ Cajun, Blue Bayou Dixie Landing (85′)

Ragin Cajun came to Blue Bayou from Hafan y Môr Holiday Park in Wales, where it was known as Boomerang.

Maine

Tallest Operating Coaster: Excalibur, Funtown Splashtown (100′)

Another coaster from Custom Coasters International on this list, Excalibur is one of just six roller coasters in the entire state of Maine.

Maryland

Tallest Operating Coaster: Superman: Ride of Steel, Six Flags America (197′)

The Six Flags America version of the Ride Of Steel is a mirroed version of the attraction at Six Flags Darien Lake.

Massachusetts

Tallest Operating Coaster: Superman: The Ride, Six Flags New England (208′)

Superman the Ride was known as Bizarro from 2009-2015.

Michigan

Tallest Operating Coaster: Shivering Timbers, Michigan’s Adventure (122′)

Shivering Timbers cost $4,500,000 USD when it opened in 1998.

Minnesota

Tallest Operating Coaster: Wild Thing, Valleyfair! (207′)

Mississippi

Tallest Operating Coaster: All American Coaster, Brookhaven Exchange Club Park. (8′ approximately)

There is no height listed online for the All-American Roller Coaster. A similar coaster at Deadwood, in NC is 8′ tall, so I’m guessing 8′ tall here.

Missouri

Tallest Operating Coaster: Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast, Six Flags St. Louis (218′)

Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast Features a LIM Launch that goes from 0 mph – 70 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Montana

Tallest Operating Coaster: No Operating Coasters

There is a Standing, But Not Operating Herschell Monster Mouse at the Amusement Park Drive-In. It has not operated since 2009-2011, per RCDB.

Nebraska

Tallest Operating Coaster: Unsure

There are two roller coasters operating in the state of Nebraska. A Wisdom Rides Go Gator in Omaha, and Safari, a Schiff Oval Coaster. Neither appears to be very tall (less than 10′), and I can’t find heights anywhere.

Nevada

Tallest Operating Coaster: Desperado, Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino (209′)

Desperado was designed by legendary roller coaster designer Ron Toomer.

New Hampshire

Tallest Operating Coaster: Canobie Corkscrew, Canobie Lake Park (73′)

Canobie Corkscrew operated at Old Chicago in Illinois from 1975-1980, and the Alabama State Fairgrounds from 1982-1986 before finding its home at Canobie Lake in 1987.

New Jersey

Tallest Operating Coaster: Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure (458′)

Zoomanjaro: Drop of Doom is attached to the structure of Kingda Ka, and is the World’s Tallest Drop Tower.

New Mexico

Tallest Operating Coaster: New Mexico Rattler, Cliff’s Amusement Park (80′)

CCI went bankrupt while building the New Mexico Rattler. Cliff’s Amusement Park then finished the construction on their own and the coaster opened late in the 2002 season.

New York

Tallest Operating Coaster: Ride of Steel, Six Flags Darien Lake (208′)

A mirror image coaster to the Superman coaster at Six Flags America in Maryland.

North Carolina

Tallest Operating Coaster: Fury 325, Carowinds (325′)

Fury 325 actually crosses State lines twice, but because its station is located in North Carolina, that is the state who inspects the ride annually.

North Dakota

Tallest Operating Coaster: Runaway Train, Superslide Amusement Park (Unkown)

Runaway Train is currently the only operating roller coaster in North Dakota, therefore making it the tallest, regardless of height.

Ohio

Tallest Operating Coaster: Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point (420′)

Top Thrill Dragster features a 0-120 mph launch in 4 seconds, good for third fastest roller coaster in the world.

Oklahoma

Tallest Operating Coaster: Silver Bullet, Frontier City (80′)

Silver Bullet is the lone operating Schwarzkopf Looping Star in the United States.

Oregon

Tallest Operating Coaster: Adrenaline Peak, Oaks Park (72′)

Adrenaline Peak opened in 2018, and was named in an online fan naming contest.

Pennsylvania

Tallest Operating Coaster: As of July 13, 2019, the honor belongs to Steel Curtain at Kennywood (220′)

Before The Steel Curtain opened, the tallest in Pennsylvania was a tie between Steel Force, Dorney Park and Skyrush, Hersheypark (200′)

Rhode Island

Tallest Operating Coaster: No Operating Coasters

The tallest formerly operating coaster in Rhode Island is Loop Corkscrew at Rocky Point Park, which operated from 1984-1995.

South Carolina

Tallest Operating Coaster: Swamp Fox, Family Kingdom Amusement Park (72′)

Because the park offices of Carowinds are located in North Carolina, it makes it a North Carolina park. However, Intimidator at Carowinds is located 100% in South Carolina, and technically is the tallest roller coaster in the state at 232′ tall.

South Dakota

Tallest Operating Coaster: Humpty Dumpty’s Great Fall, Storybook Land (13′ approximately)

Humpty Dumpty’s Great Fall is another lone operating roller coaster in its state. Similar models of this Zamperla Family Gravity Coaster elsewhere are around 13′ tall.

Tennessee

Tallest Operating Coaster: Wild Eagle, Dollywood (210′)

Wild Eagle was America’s first B&M Wing Coaster.

Texas

Tallest Operating Coaster: Titan, Six Flags Over Texas (245′)

Though it might look like a B&M, Titan is actually manufactured by Giovanola, one of three coasters they built.

Utah

Tallest Operating Coaster: Cannibal, Lagoon (208′)

Cannibal was built in-house by the Lagoon maintenance team.

Vermont

Tallest Operating Coaster: No Operating Coasters (Yet)

The former Jett Star coaster from Fun Land of Fredericksburg is being relocated to Quechee Gorge Village in 2019, and will become the tallest operating roller coaster in the state at 9′ tall.

Virginia

Tallest Operating Coaster: Intimidator 305, Kings Dominion (305′)

Intimidator 305 gets its name from the nickname of NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt.

Washington

Tallest Operating Coaster: Timberhawk: Ride of Prey, Wild Waves Theme & Water Park (75′)

Timberhawk is one of only 4 wooden roller coasters designed by S&S.

West Virginia

Tallest Operating Coaster: Big Dipper, Camden Park (45′)

Big Dipper celebrated its 60th Birthday in 2018.

Wisconsin

Tallest Operating Coaster: Hades 360, Mount Olympus (136′)

Hades 360 gets the 360 it its name from its inversion.

Wyoming

Tallest Operating Coaster: No Operating Roller Coasters

There are only Mountain Coasters in Wyoming.


Are you surprised by any of these numbers? Let us know in the comments below!

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