Which of the World’s Oldest Roller Coasters Would You Ride?

There is truly no amusement park ride more thrilling than a roller coaster. For many of us, we think back to our childhood amusement park visits with joy and nostalgia, still remembering the building anticipation in our stomachs as the coasters climbed higher and higher — and then dropped. In today’s world, roller coasters are becoming even faster, taller, and more intense — designed for adventurers and people who just enjoy that stomach-dropping feeling. Canada’s AlpenFury, a 164′ tall steel roller coaster that’ll max out at over 70 miles per hour, is currently in development and set to potentially open later in 2025; this would be the fastest and “wickedest” roller coaster in the nation. In California, Legoland is currently developing a $90 million indoor roller coaster to supposedly bring its offerings “to new heights.” Everywhere you look, roller coaster innovation is underway — and our inner thrill-seeker is loving it. (Roller coasters are even on cruise ships nowadays. Here are the 12 wildest onboard activities you’ll find on modern cruise ships.)

But while many people are looking for the next best roller coaster, there are still plenty of riders who love to try the coasters that’ve lasted through the test of time. Some roller coasters across the globe have been operating for over one hundred years and continue providing a fun, enjoyable, and just-slightly-terrifying experience. Here, 24/7 Wall St. set out to learn more about the world’s oldest roller coasters that are still active. To identify the oldest operating roller coasters, we used a variety of sources including the National Amusement Park Historical Association, the Roller Coaster Wiki, and Coasterpedia. We also independently verified that all coasters are still operating today. The coasters are listed in ascending order from “newest” to oldest.

This previously published article was updated on March 28, 2025 to reflect updated operating data, as well as cover some of the innovations happening in the industry. 

Why It Matters Today

The oldest roller coasters represent significant historical value and a strong brand identity for amusement parks. Older coasters can attract nostalgic visitors, driving consistent attendance and revenue. That’s why even when an amusement park reports losses, these old roller coasters stay open while smaller, less profitable rides are closed. We saw this at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which houses one of the coasters on our list — while the theme park saw a £2.7 million loss in revenue, the park announced in March 2025 that it would close five small rides but that its famed roller coaster would still be open for public use. Old roller coasters have an established presence and enduring appeal — not just for the riders who want to be part of history, but for investors looking for a good bet. 

7. Big Dipper

• Name: Big Dipper
• Location: Blackpool, England
• Year Opened: 1923

Head to Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool, England to ride this incredible 102-year-old roller coaster. This wooden out and back coaster cost just £25,000 ($32,415.12 USD) to make at the time. The ride tops out at 35 miles per hour and lasts about three minutes per ride. Each hour, the Big Dipper can handle around 672 riders, taking them through five drops and many twists and turns. The coaster was reconstructed in 1934. 

6. Lagoon Roller Coaster

• Name: The Roller Coaster
• Location: Farmington, Utah
• Year Opened: 1921

Simply named “The Roller Coaster,” this amusement ride was built at Lagoon Park in 1921 and has been a staple ever since. Maxing out at just 45 miles per hour, The Roller Coaster can hold just 24 riders per train. A fire destroyed part of the coaster in 1953, though this was rebuilt the following year. Since the roller coaster is now over 100 years old, Lagoon Park also frequently checks it for safety and rebuilds parts of the coaster as needed. 

5. Scenic Railway

• Name: The Scenic Railway
• Location: Margate, United Kingdom
• Year Opened: 1920

Although it shares a similar name to another roller coaster on our list, the Scenic Railway was set up years later. This coaster is located in the United Kingdom at Dreamland Margate, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country. Admittedly, the coaster has not been continually operating — it ceased operations between 2006-15 to be restored following an arson attack. 28 riders can travel on each train. 

4. Jack Rabbit

• Name: Jack Rabbit
• Location: Irondequoit, New York | West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 
• Year Opened: 1920

1920 was a popular year for the name Jack Rabbit. Two roller coasters, both with this moniker, burst onto the scene this year: one at Seabreeze Amusement and the other at Kennywood. The wooden coasters, manufactured and designed by John Miller and Harry Baker respectively, are eerily similar, though the Kennywood coaster runs a bit faster (45 mph) than the Seabreeze Jack Rabbit (42 mph). The Seabreeze Jack Rabbit has a 75-foot first drop and a tunnel, while the Kennywood Jack Rabbit has a 70-foot double-dip drop. 

3. Rutschebanen

• Name: Rutschebanen
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark 
• Year Opened: 1914

Located in Tivoli Gardens, Rutschebanen is considered the world’s third oldest roller coaster. First opened in June 1914, this wooden roller coaster is known for its speed, maxing out at 60 miles per hour. The coaster has five trains with three cars per train. In 2023, American Coaster Enthusiasts recognized Rutschebanen as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark. The roller coaster has lasted through several significant historical events, including when saboteurs bombed Tivoli Gardens and part of Rutschebanen during World War II. Believing it was important for citizen morale and happiness, the roller coaster was rebuilt in just 20 days. 

2. The Great Scenic Railway 

• Name: The Great Scenic Railway
• Location: Melbourne, Australia
• Year Opened: 1912

The Great Scenic Railway at Luna Park Melbourne is the world’s oldest continuously open roller coaster. At 100+ years old, that’s quite an accomplishment. According to reporting by Westcoaster, the roller coaster did not even cease operations during World War II — even though Luna Park itself was closed. The wooden coaster maxes out at 37 miles per hour and runs three trains that can hold 20 riders each. The Great Scenic Railway is also one of just a handful of coasters worldwide that still requires a brakeman to stand in the train to control the speed. 

1. Leap-the-Dips

• Name: Leap-the-Dips
• Location: Altoona, Pennsylvania
• Year Opened: 1902

First opened in June 1902, Leap-the-Dips is a wooden, figure-eight roller coaster with a maximum speed of just eighteen miles per hour. The ride, located in Lakemont Park, is the only surviving side-friction coaster in the United States and was designated as a national landmark in 1993. Although Leap-the-Dips is technically still functional, financial issues at Lakefront Park prevented the ride from operating in 2024. We’ve got our fingers crossed that it’ll reopen at some point in 2025, though it is still “temporarily closed” at this time. 

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