2009 Golden Ticket Awards: Best Roller Coasters of 2009
Once again, Amusement Today has announced the winners of their annual Golden Ticket Awards. Here are the lists of the top wooden and steel coasters based on the votes received by the industry publication.
Golden Ticket Awards – Top Wooden Coasters of 2009
There’s not usually a whole lot of movement in the annual top ten. But, this was a relative active year, there were two new entries in the Top Wooden Coasters. Ravine Flyer 2 (last year’s Best New Ride) entered at the #6 spot. And this year’s Best New Ride, Prowler entered at #8. So the two rides that were booted from the top ten were: long-time enthusiast favorite Raven at Holiday World and Lightning Racer at Hershey Park. Fittingly, The Voyage retains it’s spot at #1.
1 The Voyage* – Holiday World (Indiana) 1st in ’08
2 Boulder Dash* – Lake Compounce (Connecticut) 5th in ’08
3 El Toro* – Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey) 4th in ’08
4 Phoenix* – Knoebels Amusement Resort (Pennsylvania) 3rd in ’08
5 Thunderhead* – Dollywood (Tennessee) 2nd in ’08
6 Ravine Flyer II* – Waldameer (Pennsylvania) Not in Top 10 in ’08
7 Beast* – Paramount’s Kings Island (Ohio) 8th in ’08
8 Prowler – Worlds of Fun (Missouri) New in ’09
9 Hades* – Mt. Olympus Theme Park (Wisconsin) 6th in ’08
10 Shivering Timbers – Michigan’s Adventure (Michigan) 7th in ’08
*=Coasters that I’ve ridden.
Golden Ticket Awards – Top Steel Coasters of 2009
Superman Ride of Steel’s transformation to Bizarro hasn’t seemed to hurt its reputation as it held on to the top 
spot once again. Of course, there’s a good chance that those who voted for it are really voting for its previous form and not the new tricked-out Bizarro version. Kings Island’s Diamondback made a splash this year debuting at #7. I’m not too surprised to see another Ohio roller coaster on the GTA’s. Especially one that received as much praise as Diamondback.
No More Love for the Loopers
Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa was pushed out of the top ten which leaves the list loopless, possibly for the first time ever. Are looping coasters becoming less popular? Or is the group who votes for the GTA’s just more in to airtime than inversions? It’s probably a bit of both.
1 Bizarro (Superman Ride of Steel)* – Six Flags New England (Mass.) 1st in ’08
2 Millennium Force* – Cedar Point (Ohio) 2nd in ’08
3 Nitro* – Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey) 3rd in ’08
4 Goliath* – Six Flags Over Georgia (Georgia) 6th in ’08
5 Apollo’s Chariot* – Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia) 4th in ’08
6 Expedition GeForce – Holiday Park (Germany) 5th in ’08
7 Diamondback – Kings Island (Ohio) New in ’09
8 Phantom’s Revenge* – Kennywood (Pennsylvania) 8th in ’08
9 Magnum XL-200* – Cedar Point (Ohio) 7th in ’08
10 Top Thrill Dragster – Cedar Point (Ohio) 9th in ’08
*=Coasters that I’ve ridden.
Check out all of the 2009 Golden Ticket Award Winners
Also, take a look back at the 2006, 2007, & 2008 results.
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of this year’s Golden Ticket Awards? Do you agree with the top steel and wood coasters? Do you have any looping coasters in your top ten? Leave a comment below.
September 19, 2009 at 04:38
Im suprised that montu was knocked of the top ten, although ive never riden it, i thought that if dimmodback was added nitro or Apallo, i never thought that a looper wouldnt be in the top ten.
PS- you talking about golden ticket for the first time not having a looper i got an idea for a top3 thursday: top 3 loopers.
September 19, 2009 at 10:55
Not bad. I'd have to add a wrinkle to the looper list though because there are so many different types. Like terrain looper or shuttle loopers or something. I think I already did 'old school loopers.' Thanks for the idea.
January 7, 2010 at 02:50
You`ve also got top 3 inverted coasters.
January 9, 2011 at 16:23
Im suprised X2, Tatsu, or Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain is not on there.