Riding roller coasters at night can make for a very different experience. If you typically leave amusement parks before it gets dark or just haven’t found yourself on a roller coaster at night then I suggest you make an effort to make sure you ride your park’s best coaster after dark. I had what I’d consider an all-time top two or three coaster experience during a night ride on the Kings Island’s Beast.
After hearing, “Enjoy your 4 minute and 50 second ride” we were off. The train took a smooth right turn out of the station and we approached the lift hill. As always, the lift hill built the anticipation of the drop to come, but on this particular ride there was an additional treat.
A large pink moon hung over the dark wilderness that lightly illuminated the forest below. Riders were awe-stricken by the beautiful sight and now we were about to be treated to an unforgettable night ride on the Beast…. At night the barely visible trees were accented with fireflies. This was one of the most remarkable sights I’ve ever experienced on a roller coaster. The cool air in the woods was a welcomed relief from the humid stickiness of the packed station.
Beast at Kings Island Review -August 2007
Speeding through the wilderness that night on the last train was something I’ll never forget. More recently, I was treated to an incredible view of the Smoky Mountains at dusk from the top of Dollywood’s Wild Eagle. The rest of the ride was enhanced a bit by darkness as well. As fall approaches, it’ll start getting dark earlier so now’s the time to visit your local park and get a night ride in before the season’s over.
What are some of your favorite night rides on roller coasters? Leave a comment below. Awesome image of Led Zeppelin – The Ride courtesy of CoasterImage
September 12, 2012 at 08:10
My favorite night ride is I305. Almost all of the ride is in complete darkness. You can only see a bit of light when you buzz the station. I can't even describe what it's like doing all the best parts of I305 in the pitch black darkness. You are completely blind through the first drop, both big camel humps, and all three twists. It is insanely fun and way scarier at night. I was also lucky to see the fireworks going off from the top of the lift…
September 12, 2012 at 20:10
I305 is pretty fun at night. I was lucky enough to get some ERT (exclusive ride time) on that at night with a Theme Park Review group. I basically rode it until my body said enough. It's dark back there.
September 12, 2012 at 20:35
Hey CC, Have you ridden I305 post trims yet?
September 13, 2012 at 22:31
Nope. Not yet. My only time on I305 was August or September during the year it opened.
September 14, 2012 at 12:09
I hope you get to soon. I can't wait to hear your post trim re-review, and to see if it changes your opinions about some of the showdowns etc. Maybe you could go back next year to also review the new "biggest Planet Snoopy" expansion. I'm sure your kids will love it.
September 12, 2012 at 11:26
At HoliWood Nights in June, it was sprinkling a bit. A friend and I rode the Voyage in the back half, which always offers an fun ride. I was wearing my sunglasses because of the rain. The trip back to the station was absolutely insane. If there was ever a time it felt like the train was going to fly off the track, that was it. That was definitely the best ride I’d every had on that coaster.
November 14, 2012 at 23:49
Dude…. I am so with you! I belong to Theme Park Review and we attend Holliwood Nights every year…and, I will never forget my first night ride on the Voyage. I arrived at the park earlier in the day and because I knew we had ERT (Exclusive Ride Time) on the coasters in the evening, I made the decision to wait to ride the coasters later. Of course, being an enthusiast, I couldn't wait — so I rode each coaster in the order that they were built: 1) Raven, 2) Legend and lastly, the Voyage. I was totally impressed by all three coasters and couldn't wait for the night time ERT. Needless to say, they met all my expectations, but the Voyage exceeded them, greatly. Because the regular guests were out of the park, they opened up all of the trim brakes on the Voyage. Dude, it was a totally different ride! Absolutely amazing! It was like we were totally out of control…there would be no way they would open those brakes for the general public. It was a beautifully brutal experience that I will never forget. Hands-up, my friend!!!!
September 12, 2012 at 12:44
I got to do my second ride of Alpengeist last month at BGW near closing time while the final fireworks show was happening. Definitely an awesome experience.
September 12, 2012 at 20:09
Roller coasters during fireworks are pretty awesome. I think that I've ridden something at Kings Dominion during fireworks, but I'm not sure. It was a long time ago.
September 12, 2012 at 16:13
Visiting Hell at night on Hades!!
September 12, 2012 at 17:18
Mantis at Cedar point are the best ride at night because everything look cool because u are riding above the water. They have alot of light like this picture.
September 12, 2012 at 17:56
I was on Steel Force at Dorney Park right before the park closed. My older brother was with me and we went front row seats. It was misting a lot and was very foggy. We were the last ride of the night and the mist felt like hail on our faces. It was the best ride of my life because of the weather. ALWAYS GO TO A PARK WHEN IT'S MISTING!!! MILLENNIUM FORCE IN MIST COMES RIGHT BEHIND but only because mist on Millennium Force hurts like crazy!!!!
September 12, 2012 at 19:28
MF and TTD are always great at night, especially in the front. If it's not raining, you get splattered with bugs!
October 10, 2012 at 15:50
So true!!!
September 12, 2012 at 20:07
Tatsu, front row at night is unexplainable. The flying feeling where you cannot really see the track leaves the mind free to wander of what's next. Now add that feeling to flying and you have a whole different world of thrills!
September 12, 2012 at 20:08
It sounds like Hades has gotten incredibly rough as the years have gone by. I just found the last third or so rough when I rode it, but it was 2006.
September 12, 2012 at 20:12
Powder Keg at Silver Dollar City. It is a total adrenaline rush being shot out of a cannon and not being able to see where you are headed!
September 12, 2012 at 20:18
I remember riding the Grizzly at Kings Dominion during the night. Because it's out in the woods and the whole area is darkened by trees, It looks like you are about to drop off into nothing at the top of the first hill.
September 12, 2012 at 20:21
Also, Big Thunder Mountain in Disney World's Magic Kingdom is a completely different ride at night. One of the ride ops, or I guess they call them "cast members" suggested I ride it at night. Not the world's most intense coaster, but the theming and layout makes this a fun ride.
September 12, 2012 at 20:33
Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce is just incredible at night. You ride along the terrain and its just amazing you cant see a thing….
September 12, 2012 at 20:36
Nice pick Cindy. I wished that I could have stayed at Lake Compounce long enough to ride at night, but I had to get back home. I can imagine that'd be pretty awesome.
September 12, 2012 at 21:14
Most memorable night ride was the hurler at carowinds. My wife and I were there for scarowinds. Coming down the first drop into the first turn and my wife gets a severe case of whiplash. I wouldn’t say it was our favorite experience, but it is the most memorable.
September 12, 2012 at 21:33
I got excited for a minute thinking you’d found some great seat on Hurler that I’d get to try out soon. Ah well. That does count for memorable
Speaking of Scarowinds, (Carowinds is my home park), I had such a great view of the park from Intimidator to finish my coaster season last fall during Scarowinds. They way that the park was lit up and how a kind of fog from the smoke machines and spooky theming hung over the park was amazing! It would have made an awesome post card for the park. I’ll have to talk to them about that….
September 12, 2012 at 21:21
Me and a few of my friends went to Kings Dominion for about 3 days over the summer, and when the sun went down each nite, we found ourselves rushing to Grizzly. The front seat of the back car is where we camped for probably 30 minutes at a time. The experience was amazing! It's smooth, fast, and the ejector air in the back row is so ridiculous!
September 12, 2012 at 21:35
The Beast, The Beast, The Beast and The Beast! … especially with a new moon. Nothing like screaming through the darkened woods so fast that the mid-course brake run causes you to lurch in your seat. Speaking of seats, my favorite is the next-to-the-last seat. Not only are the night rides themselves great, but the frenzy that builds in the station really sets the mood for a unique ride.
September 12, 2012 at 23:21
Good point Judy! I forgot about the atmosphere in the station that night. I love Charlotte and it's nice having a growing park like Carowinds here, but all this Kings Island talk makes me wish that was my home park!
September 12, 2012 at 21:37
Hands down I'd have to go with The Beast. What I found to be a relatively tame ride in the morning turns into an amazing ride at night, especially the helix finale. It's pitch black and I was fortunate enough to ride with an almost full moon which made the experience even better. If you've only ridden it in the day and were underwhelmed, take another spin on it night. You will not be disappointed.
September 12, 2012 at 23:19
I'm sure the moonlight enhanced my Beast ride a bit too.
September 12, 2012 at 21:50
My favorite was Disneyland Thunder Mountain during the fireworks show. The BOOMING explosions of light and shadow made for an extra thrill. Everyone clapped at the end of the ride.
September 12, 2012 at 23:16
I rode both the Beast and the Diamondback at night; I have to say, being on the last train of the night for Diamondback was a bit more memorable of a ride than the one the Beast gave me at night. Maybe it was because of the lights on the second lift hill? I don't know, but when Diamondback takes you to the back of it's circuit, it's dark; too dark to see anything when you enter the valleys between hills. Rising up over the treeline on those camel-backs and seeing a jagged, pine-tree shaped horizon line between the inky blackness bellow and the Deep Dark Bluish Purple of the night sky was amazing. Plus, with all B&M Hyper-coasters, the feeling of free-falling and flying enhances the whole thing tremendously. Not seeing exactly what was ahead, and than being blinded by the sudden flash of the on-ride camera was pretty memorable. I think my night ride on the Beast would have been more memorable had I not taken that night ride on Diamondback. Nothing against the Beast.
September 12, 2012 at 23:54
Rode the Beast this past Labor Day during Hurricane Isaac. They shut it down for a bit but when they reopened it was misting and eery. The tracks were slick and fast. It was at night during the Blue Moon. Was a great experience. Epic!
September 12, 2012 at 23:58
Also rode Firehawk at Kings Island at night. Not as good as the Beast or Diamondback but the feeling like you’re flying at night is not bad either.