Every so often you’ll see a video uploaded online of a roller coaster’s track visibly moving or “swaying” as a train races over it. This swaying movement is very startling to those who have never...
In the race to build even more thrilling and unpredictable ride experiences, the RoboCoaster has emerged as one of the most dynamic ride systems out there. From stationary rides to state-of-the-art motion base attractions, RoboCoaster...
In the last edition of Coasters-101 we discussed how roller coasters are raised to their highest point via lift hills. Today we’re going to examine a more thrilling alternative to the traditionally slower lift hills:...
Welcome to the latest edition of Coasters-101: the definitive guide on roller coaster lift hills. What are lift hills? How do roller coasters reach their highest point? How do lift hills work? What angle are...
Welcome to another edition of Coasters-101, the series where we teach you all about roller coaster design. There is something quite remarkable about being able to defy gravity and part of the charm of roller...
A reader recently asked me for my thoughts on how roller coaster design is changing. Specifically, he wanted to learn more about growing trends and new technology. I decided I would share my response with...
In this edition of Coasters-101 we’ll answer the question: how does a 4D coaster work. A new 4th dimension roller coaster from S&S Worldwide, called Dinoconda, is opening this year at China Dinosaurs Park in Changzhou,...
How do you keep multiple trains on a roller coaster from running into each other? In order to have the highest throughput possible, most modern roller coasters operate more than one train at a time....
Welcome to the latest edition of Coasters-101 where we’ll answer the question how is roller coaster track made and explain what some of the latest track fabrication techniques. Tubular roller coaster track is typically formed...
Welcome to Coasters-101: Roller Coaster Wheel Design! A typical wheel used on a roller coaster is constructed by taking an aluminum hub and bonding a polyurethane tire to the hub’s outside diameter. This entire “wheel...
Welcome to another addition of Coasters-101. Today we’re going to discuss one of the most important and perhaps most overlooked components of a roller coaster-the foundations! It’s an exciting time when you go to your...
Welcome to the latest edition of Coasters-101, the series where we talk about how roller coasters are designed and built. Let’s talk about modeling a roller coaster track on the computer. There are many different...
Michigan’s Adventure – A Year Under Enchanted Parks
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Coaster101 Photo Contest 2026: Enter Your Photos
Sep 22, 2026
