Roller Coasters

In its fourth edition, this exhaustive guide to roller coasters in the United States and Canada also provides a history of coaster evolution (from the 16th century) and a look into the future of coaster technology and design.
The book lists by state or province more than 700 coasters at more than 160 amusement and theme parks. Each entry includes contact information along with summaries of each coaster’s origins, features and history. There are six appendices: famous coaster designers, the longest wood and steel coasters in North America, a coaster census by state or province, a chronology of wooden roller coasters still in operation, interesting amusement park and coaster facts, and a guide to the alpine coasters at winter resorts in the U.S. and Canada.

Todd H. Throgmorton is a roller coaster enthusiast from Henderson, Nevada, who has ridden more than half the roller coasters in North America.
Samantha K. Throgmorton attends the University of Nevada and shares her father’s passion for history and roller coasters.

Todd H. Throgmorton and Samantha K. Throgmorton
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 300
Bibliographic Info: 359 photos, appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2015
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9597-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2211-8
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Acknowledgments  vi

History  1

Roller Coasters in the United States (by State)  23

Roller Coasters in Canada (by Province)  251

Appendix 1: Famous Roller Coaster Designers  269

Appendix 2: The Longest Roller Coasters in North America  272

Appendix 3: Numbers of Coasters per State and Province  273

Appendix 4: Chronology of Wooden Coasters Still in Operation  275

Appendix 5: Interesting Roller Coaster Facts  278

Appendix 6: Alpine Coasters  281

Index  285

“an exhaustive guide…well-done…provides a lot of interesting information”—ARBA; “the definitive guidebook…recommended”—Booklist; “fascinating”—American Libraries; “numerous historical and contemporary black and white photos of and advertisements for roller coasters…interesting facts…anyone who enjoys roller coasters and their history will enjoy the book”—Public Library Quarterly; “includes twice as many roller coasters as the original edition”—Midwest Book Review.