Welcome to the Attraction Awards of the 2010s where we’re highlighting the best roller coasters and attractions that opened (or closed) over the past decade. Last month, we asked readers to nominate their favorites in each of these five categories:
- Best Steel Coaster
- Best Wooden Coaster
- Most-Missed Coaster
- Best (Non-Coaster) Attraction
- Most Innovative Attraction
The Coaster101 team gathered the nominations, narrowed them down and ranked them in a list of 10 for each category. Through the end of the month, we’ll be revealing each of those five top-10 lists.
Up first, we’re naming the top 10 steel roller coasters that opened over the last decade — from 2010 through 2019. Let’s take a look at the winners:
10. Steel Curtain (2019)
Kennywood – West Mifflin, PA
S&S Sansei Technologies shook the coaster world in 2019 with the announcement of Steel Curtain at Kennywood. Towering 22 stories above the park, Steel Curtain’s black and yellow structure pays homage to the local Pittsburgh Steelers football team that is deeply ingrained in the city’s culture. The coaster claimed several impressive records, including the most inversions on a coaster in North America (9) and the world’s tallest inversion at 197 feet. It’s one of the more unusual-looking coasters to open in the 2010s. And based on riders’ reactions, it’s rightfully earned a spot on this list.
Steel Curtain Stats
- Length: 4,000 feet
- Height: 220 feet
- Speed: 75 mph
- Inversions: 9
Read our Steel Curtain review here.
9. Cheetah Hunt (2011)
Busch Gardens Tampa – Tampa, FL
Legendary coaster manufacturer Intamin earns its first of four spots on this top 10 list with Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa. The multi-launch steel coaster hugs the ground for much of its 4,400+ feet of track, utilizing three launches to reach its top speed of 60 mph. Like many coasters at Busch Gardens theme parks, Cheetah Hunt’s layout blends seamlessly into the park’s lush landscape, allowing trains to dive in and out of trenches just as a cheetah would.
Cheetah Hunt Stats
- Length: 4,429 feet
- Height: 102 feet
- Drop: 130 feet
- Speed: 60 mph
- Inversions: 1
8. Banshee (2014)
Kings Island – Mason, OH
Photo © Kings Island
As one of only two new Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) inverted coasters to open in the 2010s, Banshee claims the title of the world’s longest inverted coaster at 4,124 feet. Built on Kings Island’s rolling terrain, riders experience a total elevation change of 208 feet as they progress through each of the coaster’s seven inversions, including an inline twist — an element not often found on these types of coasters.
Banshee Stats
- Length: 4,124 feet
- Height: 167 feet
- Drop: 150 feet
- Speed: 68 mph
- Inversions: 7
Read our Banshee review here.
7. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure (2019)
Universal’s Islands of Adventure – Orlando, FL
Photo © Universal Orlando Resort
With over 5,000 feet of track, a ride on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is almost as long as its name. Built in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of Islands of Adventure on the land formerly occupied by Dragon Challenge (Dueling Dragons), Hagrid’s features seven launches, a surprise indoor vertical drop track sequence, show scenes, onboard audio and much more. The Intamin “story coaster” keeps low to the ground, zipping through show buildings and carefully manicured landscaping.
Photo © Universal Orlando Resort
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Stats
- Length: 5,053 feet
- Height: 65 feet
- Speed: 50 mph
6. Twisted Colossus (2015)
Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, CA
Photo © Six Flags Magic Mountain
Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) worked their magic once again as the company transformed the aging Colossus racing wooden coaster into the dueling, steel-tracked Twisted Colossus. Though appearing to be a two-track coaster like its predecessor, Twisted Colossus operates on a unique “Möbius loop”-like layout where both trains share the same track. Between a computerized system to adjust lift hill speeds and carefully timed dispatches, trains are able to duel each another as one train starting on the blue-tracked side syncs up with a train entering the green-tracked side of the ride. It was an unprecedented feat and one of the most visually stunning coasters to open in the 2010s.
Photo © Six Flags Magic Mountain
Twisted Colossus Stats
- Length: 4,990 feet
- Height: 121 feet
- Drop: 128 feet
- Speed: 57 mph
- Inversions: 2
5. Storm Chaser (2016)
Kentucky Kingdom – Louisville, KY
As the first RMC hybrid coaster to be built outside of the Six Flags chain, the acclaimed Storm Chaser continued Kentucky Kingdom’s revival by utilizing the structure of the former Twisted Twins dueling wooden coasters and creating one of the smaller yet surprisingly intense entries in RMC’s impressive portfolio. With an inverting drop and hold-onto-your-seat ejector airtime, Storm Chaser is a deceivingly intense ride from start to finish.
Storm Chaser Stats
- Length: 2,744 feet
- Height: 100 feet
- Speed: 52 mph
- Inversions: 2
Read our thoughts on Storm Chaser from the coaster’s media day here.
4. Skyrush (2012)
Hersheypark – Hershey, PA
Intamin earns another spot on the list with the Skyrush hypercoaster at Hersheypark. Situated largely over a small lake, Skyrush was the first and only Intamin hypercoaster to feature wing-style trains where the two outer seats of the four-abreast row extends past the edge of the track, giving riders a flight-like experience. The coaster twists and turns over itself as it navigates the compact layout with low-to-the-ground turns and camelback hills providing laugh-out-loud airtime.
Skyrush Stats
- Length: 3,600 feet
- Height: 200 feet
- Speed: 75 mph
Read our SkyRush review here.
3. Intimidator 305 (2010)
Kings Dominion – Doswell, VA
Photo © Kings Dominion
Intamin’s first gigacoaster since Millennium Force at Cedar Point, I305 kicked off the decade in 2010 with a twisted, blistering-fast ride that is as intense as it is tall. While the coaster stands over 30 stories tall, much of its layout remains relatively close to the ground, packing a dizzying punch with high-speed turns and snappy transitions.
Intimidator 305 Stats
- Length: 5,100 feet
- Height: 305 feet
- Drop: 300 feet
- Speed: 90 mph
2. Steel Vengeance (2018)
Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH
Photo © Cedar Point
RMC makes its third appearance on this top-10 list with Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point. Built on the structure of the former Mean Streak wooden coaster — a coaster that gained notoriety for its rough and jarring ride — Steel Vengeance’s smooth-as-glass track allows riders to focus on the lightning-fast, merciless layout that seemingly never ends. The coaster’s imposing vertical drop makes another eye-catching addition to America’s Roller Coast.
Steel Vengeance Stats
- Length: 5,740 feet
- Height: 205 feet
- Drop: 200 feet
- Speed: 74 mph
- Inversions: 4
Read our extensive Steel Vengeance coverage here.
1. Fury 325 (2015)
Carowinds – Charlotte, NC
Fury 325 claims not only the top spot on this list, but it also earns the title of the longest, tallest and fastest of the 10. The B&M gigacoaster solidified Carowinds as a premier roller coaster destination and has received widespread acclaim from both the roller coaster enthusiast community and the general public. With unrelenting speed and a layout that crosses over and under Carowinds’ new entrance plaza, Fury 325 made an unprecedented mark on the park’s already impressive coaster roster and skyline.
Photo © Carowinds
Fury 325 Stats
- Length: 6,602 feet
- Height: 325 feet
- Drop: 320 feet
- Speed: 95 mph
Read our extensive coverage of Fury 325 here.
Stay tuned as we reveal the remaining four categories throughout the month:
- Best Wooden Coasters
- Most-Missed Coasters
- Best Non-Coaster Attractions
- Most Innovative Attractions
What were your favorite steel coasters that opened in the last decade? Do you agree with this ranking? Let us know in the comments section below.
Millennium Force should be on the list.
Michael– Millennium Force is one of the greats, but doesn’t qualify for this list which only includes coasters built from 2010 to date.
Hybrid Coasters shouldn’t be on this list.
Make a list for Hybrids!
I really can’t say much about the list (I’ve only ridden SV and Skyrush), but I really can’t imagine how Fury 325 would be ahead of either of those. I mean we really are splitting hairs here as all three are phenomenal coasters, but judging from other enthusiasts’ reactions I’d say SV and Skyrush are more thrilling rides than Fury (throw in I-305 and Lightning Rod as well).
steel curtain and hagrids, havent put enough time in to be considered in the top 10 steel coasters. Steel venegence yes because it has history but these other 2 no. I can name 20 better coasters that could take those spots easily. Crazy how Lech Coaster wasn’t mentioned and hagrids was