Buzz
For thrill-seekers, roller coasters remain a go-to option for a safe yet exhilarating adrenaline rush. Whether racing at speeds over 100 mph or climbing steep hills exceeding 300 feet, these engineering marvels deliver unmatched excitement. However, when breaking height or speed records becomes costly, some manufacturers turn to unconventional designs to attract attention.
A prior list highlighted ten roller coasters that pushed creative boundaries, offering riders unique and peculiar experiences. Yet, ten is merely a starting point. Here’s another list of ten mind-bending coasters that defy expectations and seem almost unbelievable.
10. Eejanaika
California’s X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain is often hailed as a groundbreaking and bizarre ride by coaster enthusiasts. This 4th Dimension Roller Coaster features seats mounted on the sides, rotating independently from the track, creating a disorienting and thrilling experience. However, X2 isn’t the sole example of this innovative design.
Eejanaika, constructed in 2006, stands as a towering 76-meter (249-foot) 4th Dimension Roller Coaster located at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan. (For comparison, X2 has a maximum drop of 66 meters or 215 feet.) This coaster, reaching speeds of 125 km/h (78 mph), spins its riders in chaotic flips and was not built by the same manufacturer as its Californian counterpart. X2 was initially developed by Arrow Dynamics, a company that went bankrupt during the ride's completion, leaving the coaster, originally named X, in need of improvements.
S&S Sansei, the manufacturer that acquired the 4th Dimension Coaster patent, built Eejanaika in 2006 and later refurbished X in 2008. They also created a third coaster of this type in 2012: Dinoconda, located in China Dinosaurs Park, which reaches a height of 69 meters (226 feet)—still an impressive feat.
9. Rag-Time Reverser
Unlike the futuristic design of Eejanaika, the Rag-Time Reverser offers a nostalgic journey to the past. Built in 1915, this wooden coaster, also known as the Reverser, operated for only ten years at Utah’s Saltair amusement park before being destroyed by fire. It featured side friction cars, which relied solely on side wheels for track interaction, unlike modern coasters with up-stop wheels. However, its most distinctive feature lies elsewhere.
Designed by Frank F. Hoover, the Rag-Time Reverser introduced a unique track element. Split-track sections would reverse the train’s direction, flipping the cars to face backward. This mechanism, similar to railroad car maneuvers, could occur multiple times during the ride, making it the only coaster in history to include such a feature.
8. Daidarasaurus
The third coaster on this list, unfortunately, is no longer operational, having ceased operations in 2007 after a remarkable 37-year run. Daidarasaurus was a distinctive ride located in Japan’s Expoland and was one of only four coasters ever constructed by Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd. However, its uniqueness extends far beyond its manufacturer.
Upon its debut in 1970, Daidarasaurus featured five parallel tracks that raced against each other, akin to a dual-track coaster. While not all sections operated simultaneously, the five tracks intricately intertwined throughout the ride, creating a harmonious experience reminiscent of a musical fugue. Over time, three tracks were removed, transforming the steel coaster into a standard two-track ride. By 1999, the remaining tracks were merged into one, briefly making Daidarasaurus the world’s second-longest roller coaster.
Tragically, Expoland shut down in 2008 following a fatal accident on another ride, Fujin Raijin II. Daidarasaurus stood idle for a year before being dismantled entirely.
7. Round About/Paradise Fall
This next entry features another discontinued roller coaster. Round About operated briefly at South Carolina’s Freestyle Music Park before being stored and later relocated to Sun World Danang Wonders Park in Vietnam, where it was renamed Paradise Fall. Unfortunately, its second life was equally short-lived, lasting only two years without ever opening to the public. While its journey is intriguing, its most distinctive feature lies elsewhere.
The ride itself is relatively conventional, with six-seater cars moving along a steel track devoid of inversions. What sets Round About apart is its lift mechanism. Instead of a traditional lift hill, it employs a Ferris Wheel-like device to elevate riders to the starting point. This innovative feature, created by Premier Rides, remains unique in roller coaster history, as the manufacturer has not replicated it since.
Round About’s brief existence wasn’t due to technical issues. Freestyle Music Park, also known as Hard Rock Park, faced financial troubles and declared bankruptcy within a year. The rides, including Round About, remained idle before being sold off. Interestingly, the Hard Rock Café branding was dropped early in an attempt to save the park. Round About even had an earlier name: Maximum RPM!
6. Butterfly
The Butterfly barely qualifies as a roller coaster by conventional standards. If defined as a gravity-powered, tracked amusement ride, it just makes the cut. Standing at a mere twenty feet tall, this shuttle coaster carries two passengers up a small lift hill and gently rocks them back and forth until momentum fades. It lacks inversions, high speeds, or any thrilling elements—just a simple, twenty-foot ride.
The Butterfly isn’t just a single roller coaster; it’s a model produced by Sunkid GmbH, a German ride manufacturer. With eighty-eight installations worldwide, most are found in Europe. While some versions exceed twenty feet in height, the majority are identical replicas.
Sunkid GmbH primarily focuses on the Butterfly model, with only one other coaster type in their portfolio: a standard steel alpine coaster designed for one or two passengers, offering scenic mountain descents.
5. Axis Coaster Test Model
This next coaster stands out because it hasn’t yet been installed in any amusement park. S&S Sansei, the renowned roller coaster manufacturer, recently unveiled the Axis Coaster, a new design they aim to market to parks. Rather than just releasing a promotional video, they constructed a small-scale test model at their Utah facility to demonstrate its capabilities.
Constructed in 2019, this prototype combines elements from two of their existing coasters. It incorporates the independent seat-spinning mechanism of the 4th Dimension Coaster and the gyroscopic seat movement of the Free Fly model, even when the track inverts. Unlike the family-friendly Free Fly, the Axis Coaster can flip riders upside down within their seats. Additionally, unlike the 4D model, the trains aren’t fixed to the ride’s sides.
The Axis Coaster Test Model consists of a single loop with off-axis banked turns and inversions designed to highlight its unique capabilities. The test track also includes a launch feature, demonstrating another potential element for amusement parks considering this innovative model.
4. Pipeline Express
Our next stop takes us to Canada, though this roller coaster, unfortunately, closed in 2008. Pipeline Express, located at Sauble Beach Fun World in Ontario, stands out due to its unconventional construction. Unlike most coasters built from wood, steel, or a mix of both, Pipeline Express features a track made primarily of plastic, supported by a steel framework.
Bailey Rides, the manufacturer, specialized exclusively in the Pipeline Express model. This coaster, designed for single riders, uses a track made of PVC pipes. Six versions were built for small family parks in Canada and the U.S., often simply named “Pipeline Express.” Like the Butterfly model, it stretches the definition of a roller coaster but meets the criteria of a gravity-powered ride.
The Sauble Beach Fun World installation is notable as the only version with a recorded track length of 700 feet. No details on height or speed are available, though the manufacturer claimed the ride could stretch up to 1,000 feet from a 50-foot tower. The last of these six plastic-and-steel coasters ceased operations in 2019.
3. Swiss Toboggan
The final entry on this list resembles a carnival ride that could double as a torture device. Designed by Chance Rides, the Swiss Toboggan transports riders up a 14-meter (45-foot) enclosed vertical lift hill, then plunges them into a relentless spiral around the hill, completing six rotations. After navigating a jarring bunny hill, the ride returns to the station—all while passengers remain confined in a caged, single-person car.
Of the thirty-one Swiss Toboggans ever built, only one remains operational today. Located at Little Amerricka in Wisconsin, this ride has been in operation since 1993. However, it originally debuted at Arkansas’s Dogpatch Park in 1969 before being relocated to Indiana’s Seven Peaks Water Park Duneland from 1988 to 1990.
While the Swiss Toboggan is a standout, it’s not the only unique model from Chance Rides. The manufacturer is also known for its acclaimed Hyper GTX model, which offers a more traditional roller coaster experience. A new version of this ride is currently under construction at Mattel Adventure Park in Arizona.
2. Migfer
Migfer, another Wild Mouse-style coaster with an extreme appearance, is a compact and peculiar ride currently located at Wonderland Eurasia in Turkey. It originally operated in the Netherlands at DippieDoe Attractiepark before its relocation.
Migfer boasts two striking features that seem too intense for its carnival-like design. First, it includes a tight, compact loop immediately after the initial drop, appearing forceful enough to induce headaches beyond the reach of painkillers. Second, it features a beyond-vertical drop that transitions into a vertical plunge after an inward dip. This drop is rumored to be the steepest on any coaster globally, though no official angle has been confirmed.
Migfer has yet to open to the public, remaining at its current site since 2019. This delay isn’t due to the coaster itself but rather its home park, formerly known as Ankapark. Conceived by Ankara’s then-mayor Melih Gökçek, the park was deemed a poorly planned use of public funds and faced bankruptcy almost immediately. Few details about the park’s financial collapse are publicly available. The video above also features a tower coaster located in the Netherlands.
1. Twist Coaster Robin
Constructed by Sansei Yusoki Co., Ltd., the creators of Daidarasaurus, Twist Coaster Robin is another unique ride from Japan. Opened in 2014 at Yomiuriland, this compact coaster resembles a Wild Mouse design and includes two inversions. However, its true oddity lies elsewhere.
Twist Coaster Robin is another defunct roller coaster, but its claim to fame lies in its abrupt closure. The ride operated for just a single day before being shut down indefinitely. While no official explanation has been provided, it’s believed that a malfunction in the anti-rollback lift hill system caused a car to roll backward into the station. Although no injuries occurred, the park immediately closed the ride as a precaution.
Twist Coaster Robin stood idle for two years before being dismantled and removed from the park. It holds the distinction of being one of the shortest-lived roller coasters to ever welcome riders.
