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.
November 6, 2009 at 13:27
what about thunderhead?
and is next week the top 3 Roughest Woodies?
1. gwazi tiger fo sho!
November 6, 2009 at 15:55
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.
November 6, 2009 at 17:15
El Toro … back seat … right side … AWESOME!
November 7, 2009 at 14:17
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.
November 7, 2009 at 17:05
From the way it rides, I'd believe it!
June 25, 2010 at 19:42
It's not steel. It's laser cut wood.
http://rcdb.com/3183.htm?p=13856
The only steel pieces are those on the ends, where the pieces attach (I would guess those were removed in construction). You can clearly see the different layers of wood.
November 7, 2009 at 19:05
Is that even possible? How can you make steel look like wood by just painting it?
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November 8, 2009 at 04:12
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.
December 8, 2009 at 12:20
I never heard of a ride called twister a SFGAdv.
January 15, 2010 at 13:58
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.
January 16, 2010 at 04:48
How?
February 27, 2011 at 11:14
El Toro is definitely the smoothest woodie ive ridden. But the blue streak at cedar point was exceptionally smooth for such an old coaster and fun. I think it could be a runner up.
September 18, 2011 at 08:13
I found that Starliner at Cypress Gardens was pretty smooth, too short of a ride though, too bad it had to close.
October 17, 2011 at 12:47
I thought Gemini was smooth. And the first turnaround on El Toro is rough. Not bad, barely even noticeable, but still should make it lose the number one spot to Voyage. Voyage was crazy smooth