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| Wooden Roller Coasters |
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| Wooden roller coasters were the first roller coasters. Wooden roller coasters have been operating in the United States since 1884. Several wooden coasters built during the 1920`s are still running. At Kennywood Park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, you can find three. The three coasters are the Jack Rabbit, the Pippin, and the Thunderbolt. |
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| Some people will tell you wood is what roller coastering is all about. While steel coasters come in many different varieties, there are just two wood variations. The reason for this is either because steel is capable of more acrobatics, or because wood is capable of accomplishing its goals without the gimmicks that steel relies on. |
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| Wooden coasters ride on metal rails supported by wooden boards like a set of train tracks. They are generally any coaster with laminated wooden rails, to which flat steel is attached. The supporting structure is usually also wood. The hills and curves rest on a huge frame of wooden beams. However, some coasters classified as wooden actually have steel structures. |
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| Wooden coasters are nicknamed "woodies." Again, they are the oldest kind of roller coaster. Many people prefer the old-fashioned wooden coasters. These people enjoy the creaking of the wooden frame and the clickety-clack of the car wheels running over the tracks. They enjoy a steep drop and a vicious curve. |
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