The Cyclone

Coney Island, New York,  is home to what is almost certainly the world’s most famous roller coaster, the Cyclone. Built in 1927, this classic wooden roller coaster may not have the gravity-defying loops or super high speeds of contemporary steel coasters, but it can’t be beat for character. And the Cyclone is no slouch in the thrills department. It boasts 12 drops, the first more than 80 ft. at a 60° angle; six 180° turns; and a top speed of 60 mph. Charles Lindbergh said that a ride on the Cyclone was more exciting than his historic first solo flight across the Atlantic. The Cyclone also made headlines in 1948 when Emilio Franco, a mute, reportedly regained his voice after riding it. His first words? “I feel sick.”

The historic Cyclone in New York  sits on a site previously occupied by an even older roller coaster—the world’s first, called the Switchback Railway. Built in 1884, this early New York thrill ride reached a riveting top speed of 7 mph and had to be pushed up a small hill at the end of each ride. When the Cyclone opened, it immediately drew huge crowds to Coney Island, and it was soon copied in amusement parks around the USA. Today, it’s a National Historic Landmark, owned by the City of New York and operated by the New York Department of Parks and Recreation. A ride on the Cyclone is still an awesome one minute and 50 seconds.

Check out the Coney Island  Cyclone the next time you're traveling in New York City.