2018’s Revolutionary Roller Coasters

Now that we know what's becoming of Cedar Point's Mean Streak, it's time to look at the lineup of other new roller coasters that will break the skyline in 2018—and a few records, along the way.

Twisted Timbers

In the spirit of reincarnating favorite wooden roller coasters, Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, is converting Hurler into hybrid. Twisted Timbers will use the latest technology to combine wooden supports and steel track to give riders an experience otherwise impossible on a traditional wooden coaster. Riders will soar along 3,351 feet featuring a 109-foot-tall barrel roll drop, two additional inversions and a whopping 20 airtime hills.

Time Traveler

Say this five times, fast: The world's fastest, tallest, steepest, complete-circuit spinning roller coaster. Time Traveler will be offering thrills at Silver Dollar City in Stone County, Missouri, next spring. The 1880s-style theme park shoots ahead of its time with the world-record breaking coaster boasting speeds of 50.3 miles per hour, a 90-degree vertical drop from 10 stories, 95-foot tall vertical loop, zero-gravity roll and more. Time Traveler is Silver Dollar City's biggest attraction ever.

HangTime

Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, is debuting the West Coast's first dive coaster. The surf-themed HangTime will tower 150 over the Boardwalk area for a rad ride through 2,198 feet of steel track. HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill into a steep drop. At 96 degrees, it's the steepest drop in California. HangTime will also be only the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a negative-gravity stall loop. That's roller coaster speak for the eerie sensation of floating, mid-air.

Wonder Woman

Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio is adding another superhero to their DC ranks: Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster claims fame as the world's first single rail coaster. Riders will be immersed in the story of Wonder Woman's life from the moment they entire the ride queue. The ride features a thrilling 90-degree drop, two airtime hills, a 180-degree stall, a zero-gravity roll and overbanked turns.

RailBlazer

California's Great America in Santa Clara, California, is introducing a single-rail steel coaster for the 2018 season. It may not be the first of its kind in the world, but it's revolutionary for the West Coast. RailBlazer requires the rider to straddle the rail, creating a low center of gravity that amplifies every move and enables dynamic turns and rotations otherwise impossible on a track. Lifting riders to a height of 106 feet, RailBlazer then drops riders down at a 90-degree angle and through 1,800 feet of track featuring airtime, steeply banked turns, three inversions and zero-gravity roll.

Cedar Point's Steel Vengeance may be breaking a lot of world records next year, but it's not the only roller coaster that will be offering revolutionary rides. If your groups have a need for speed, 2018 is going to be a good year.

Written by Cassie Westrate, staff writer for Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.