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  • Top 3 Smoothest Wooden Roller Coasters

    Written by The Coaster Critic 11 Comments
    Last Updated: November 6, 2009

    Top 3 Thursdays!

    Top 3 Thursdays is back by popular demand! Everyone knows that wooden roller coasters have a reputation of throwing riders around like rag dolls. But what about those few exceptions. Wooden roller coasters that are buttery smooth? Believe it or not they DO exist. In this late edition of T3T, I’m going to countdown the Top 3 Smoothest Wooden Roller Coasters that I’ve ridden.

    #3 Raging Wolf Bobs at Geauga Lake
    Believe it or not this defunct woodie that was formerly at Geauga Lake when it was a full-fledged amusement park was exceptionally smooth and fun. Its reputation wasn’t the greatest, but there was a re-tracking towards the end of its run. And, in the Fall of 2005, when I rode it with my wife we had a great time. Save one slightly rough point towards the beginning it was surprisingly smooth and fun. My wife who typically avoids wooden coasters wanted to re-ride and we ended up riding it 3 or 4 times that cool, drizzly October day. We also had the train to ourselves which may have helped because the train was likely a lot lighter than normal. I was sad to see Raging Wolf Bobs get scrapped when Geauga Lake transitioned to a water park.

    #2 Rampage at Alabama Adventure
    Rampage has found the fountain of youth. It’s over 10 years old and it runs like its brand new with speed and intensity without roughness. It offers both ejector (in the back seat on the first) hill and moments of floater air throughout. Rampage was surprisingly smooth while still offering that out of control feeling you want in a woodie. Read my full Rampage review.

    #1 El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure
    Prefabricated wooden roller coasters like El Toro are so smooth that their controversial. Woodie faithfuls deride El Toro and other prefabs because they don’t have the typical bumpy, herky-jerky ride. Instead, El Toro is glass smooth and packed with airtime. In fact, it’s much smoother than many steel roller coasters I’ve ridden. I wish theme parks would order more Intamin prefabricated coasters so that more people could experience this type of wooden roller coaster. When we returned to the station, the riders were so elated and likely surprised by the thrill, airtime, speed, and smoothness of El Toro. Read my full El Toro review.

    What’s Your Take?
    What are some of the smoother woooden roller coasters that you’ve ridden? Leave a comment below. Read more Top 3 Thursday posts.

    Related Posts with Thumbnails

    Related Posts:

    1. Best Wooden Roller Coasters of 2009
    2. Best Wooden Roller Coasters in the World Announced
    3. Top Wooden Roller Coasters of 2007

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11 Comments

  1. #1 JaMeS says:
    November 6th, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    what about thunderhead?

    and is next week the top 3 Roughest Woodies?

    1. gwazi tiger fo sho!

    Reply
  2. #2 QB3 says:
    November 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

    Finaly, the Return of Top Three Thursdays. i was one of the few who who commented on El Toro`s not feeling like a woodie, but don`t take that as a sign that it falls low on my list, it strickes a 5 on my Fav. scale (see discussion page) and even though it dosen`t feel to muck like a woodie, it`s great, and nearly strikes a star,

    PS-Wild One at SFAm is realy smooth.

    Reply
  3. #3 Judy P in Pgh says:
    November 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    El Toro … back seat … right side … AWESOME!

    Reply
  4. #4 DoD3Brian says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    Not many people know this but El Toro is actually a steel coaster painted to look like wood, kind of like Twister (Top Spin) at SFGAdv. ;)

    Reply
  5. #6 CFC says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    Is that even possible? How can you make steel look like wood by just painting it?

    Reply
  6. #7 Quil says:
    November 8th, 2009 at 8:12 am

    Well some one invented this new type of plastic coating that looks like wood. it`s probably unlikeley though seeing as it`s more expensive than the real thing. But then again, how else would they of been able to pull it off.

    Reply
  7. #8 Quil says:
    December 8th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    I never heard of a ride called twister a SFGAdv.

    Reply
  8. #9 Prof. BAM says:
    January 15th, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    El Toro does sound smooth. but, if B&M did wood coasters, they would be smoother. Oh, and it’s too small. RCCA did SOB and it’s close to being torn down. RCCA also gave SOB the first wood inversion. A vertical loop.Intamin could create a wood corkscrew, and a wood Cobra Roll.

    Reply
    • #10 Quil says:
      January 16th, 2010 at 8:48 am

      How?

      Reply

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