Thrill Seekers, Prepare for Takeoff: A New Wave of Record-Breaking Roller Coasters Debuts in 2025
Hold on tight, coaster enthusiasts! 2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for adrenaline junkies, with a fresh crop of groundbreaking roller coasters set to redefine the landscape of thrill rides across the United States. From innovative tilt coasters to heart-stopping launch coasters, theme parks are pulling out all the stops to deliver unforgettable experiences.
Derek Perry, communications director for American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE), the world’s largest club for amusement ride aficionados, shares the collective excitement. “I’m thrilled about the lineup,” he exclaims, adding that he and his twin brother, both seasoned riders, have conquered over 1,300 coasters each. "There are definitely many attractions that I want to get on, some we’ve been anticipating for a while, too.” Notably, several of these highly anticipated rides faced delays and were originally slated to open last year, making the 2025 debuts even more eagerly awaited.
Martina “Prime” Moore, a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie and the founder and CEO of Melanin Coaster Network, a club dedicated to coaster enthusiasts of color but welcoming to all, is equally enthusiastic. She highlights her top pick: "Top of the list, number one, Epic Universe Stardust Racers."
Epic Universe: A Galaxy of Thrills
Universal’s Epic Universe, the highly anticipated new theme park, will be home to several groundbreaking coasters, including Stardust Racers. Moore describes it as a thrilling "dueling" experience, reminiscent of the beloved Dueling Dragons at Universal Islands of Adventure. Guests will race against each other on separate, intertwining tracks, creating a competitive and exhilarating ride. At night, the coaster transforms into a dazzling spectacle, with illuminated cars designed to resemble comets zipping through the dark sky, enhancing the sense of speed and immersion.
"It looks like an awesome ride," Moore says, emphasizing its potential for "lots of air time," a coveted feature for coaster enthusiasts seeking that weightless sensation.
Another standout at Epic Universe is Siren’s Curse, poised to become one of the first tilt coasters in the United States. Cedar Point is billing it as the tallest, longest and fastest tilt coaster in North America. Perry admits a mix of excitement and trepidation: "I’ve never experienced a roller coaster like that, so I’m anticipating that I’ll be scared of it." However, he also expresses an irresistible desire to ride it repeatedly, anticipating that it will be "unlike anything else that people have experienced before."
Point-of-view video released by Cedar Point teases the heart-stopping moment when the ride vehicle, after ascending a long lift hill, appears to run out of track, before tilting forward like a seesaw. The park’s website describes this sensation as "forcing you to peer straight down with the hope your train will connect to the twisted track below." Moore marvels at the engineering feat: "I don’t even know how engineering people come up with this stuff."
Cedar Point: Classics Reimagined and Records Shattered
Cedar Point fans also have reason to celebrate the reopening of Top Thrill 2, a towering 420-foot behemoth that closed for mechanical modifications shortly after its initial debut last year. The revamped coaster is billed as "the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster," promising an unparalleled adrenaline rush.
Moore, who was among the first to experience the original version, describes the ride experience as "awesome," highlighting its intense launches that propel riders forward and backward at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour. Perry shares this sentiment, noting that when Top Thrill 2 reopens, "It’ll be like two brand new coasters for many people, which, you know, when does that ever happen at a park?"
Kings Dominion: Taking Flight with Rapterra
Kings Dominion is preparing to unleash Rapterra, a "launched wing coaster" that the park describes as "the world’s tallest and longest" of its kind. Moore notes the rarity of wing coasters in the United States, with only one existing example at Holiday World.
On a wing coaster, the seats extend outward from both sides of the track, providing a unique sensation of flight. "And then you have a launch. You’re not going up a traditional lift hill," Moore explains, adding, "Coaster fans, we love launches." Kings Dominion promises an acceleration from 0 to 65 miles per hour in just 4 seconds, guaranteeing a thrilling experience from the very start.
The Lost Island: Theming and Firepower Combine
The Lost Island Themepark in Iowa may not be as widely known as some of its larger counterparts, but it’s making a splash with the addition of Fire Runner, "Iowa’s first single rail coaster." Perry praises the park’s commitment to immersive theming, comparing its dark ride, Volkanu, to the standards set by Universal and Disney. He’s eagerly anticipating his return to experience Fire Runner, which the park describes as "inspired by the thrill of fire and speed."
Six Flags Great America: Dive Into the Abyss
Six Flags Great America is preparing to unleash Wrath of Rakshasa, a dive coaster promising to be "the steepest and most inverted dive coaster in the world." The ride will feature five inversions and "a cliffhanger hold," suspending riders face down at a 96-degree angle before plunging them into a beyond-vertical drop. Moore sums up the appeal of dive coasters, saying, "We love a good dive coaster. It’s like you’re diving into the earth from the clouds."
Six Flags New England: A Family-Friendly Launch
Six Flags New England is set to introduce Quantum Accelerator, "New England’s first dual-launch straddle coaster." Perry highlights that this will also be Six Flags’ first coaster featuring this particular style of seating, akin to a motorcycle.
"You’re going to ride on a motorbike-type thing, kind of like Hagrid’s at Islands of Adventure, but it’s from Intamin so it’s the same style as DarKoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg or Arctic Rescue at SeaWorld San Diego," he explains.
Perry identifies Quantum Accelerator as a family thrill coaster, designed to be enjoyed by multiple generations, bridging the gap between kiddie coasters and more intense rides.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg: A Beloved Classic Returns
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is bringing back a fan favorite with The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge. The original Big Bad Wolf, a suspended coaster known for its scenic route that took riders swooping over the Rhine River, was a popular ride that was closed in 2009. The park says the new coaster will be “North America’s longest family inverted coaster.”
With more than 2,500 feet of track, Moore enthuses, “Coaster fans can enjoy a long family ride with our legs and feet blowing in the wind! Very excited for the rethemed and revamped attraction.”
Carowinds: Snoopy Takes the Lead
Carowinds’ Camp Snoopy is expanding with a new family coaster and new raft ride. On Snoopy’s Racing Railway, Snoopy races to resupply Camp Snoopy’s mess hall, which has run out of root beer and pizza, according to the park.
“It’s a family launch coaster, which is fun because you don’t get too many launch coasters on family-size rides,” Perry said. The park says the ride will go from 0 to 31 miles per hour within seconds.
SeaWorld San Antonio: Saving the Seas with Thrills
SeaWorld San Antonio is opening a new family coaster, Beach Rescue Racer, as part of the park’s new kid-centered play area, Rescue Jr.
“They rethemed from Sesame Street to Rescue Jr., so all about conservation and inspiring kids to want to save the environment, save the oceans,” Perry said. Kids will board a beach Jeep to rush to the aid of stranded beach creatures on the ride.
Delayed Delights: Patience Pays Off
Coaster lovers are also eagerly awaiting the opening of several rides that faced delays last year, including Palindrome and Circuit Breaker at the new Circuit of the Americas theme park, COTALand, in Austin, Texas.
Similar to Siren’s Curse, Circuit Breaker will be a tilt coaster, while Palindrome will shuttle guests forward and backward. According to ACE, Palindrome will feature 1,230 feet of track, a height of 95 feet, and a top speed of 51 miles per hour. Details on Circuit Breaker remain scarce, adding to the anticipation.
The Flash: Vertical Velocity is also opening later than previously expected. When it debuts, it will be the first super boomerang coaster in North America and only the second worldwide, according to Six Flags Great Adventure. It will launch guests both forward and backward for two unique ride experiences.
“Can’t wait to experience the Zero-G roll inversion on this coaster,” Moore said.
Georgia Gold Rusher was also slated to open last year as Georgia Surfer at Six Flags Over Georgia. A regional spokesperson for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation told USA TODAY that they didn’t want to rush construction and pivoted to the new name as part of the company’s renewed investment in theming. The new coaster features a "first-of-its-kind free-spinning gondola riding experience," according to Six Flags Over Georgia’s website.
With such an impressive lineup of new and reimagined roller coasters, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for theme park enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned thrill-seeker or a family looking for a fun-filled adventure, there’s sure to be a ride that will get your heart racing and create memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready to experience the next generation of roller coaster thrills!
