Guide's note: Roller coaster favorites are obviously subjective and invariably influenced by the coasters that the person doing the choosing has ridden. In my case, my home base is New England, and I freely admit to a right-coast bias.)
WOOD COASTERS
Boulder Dash
Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT
If this wonderful coaster was located anywhere else, it would still be a top favorite. Great airtime, smooth ride, relentless speed from start to finish: You name it, the out-and-back Boulder Dash has it. The fact that it is built into the side of a mountain and careens around trees and boulders pushes it to the top of the list.
Wildcat
Hersheypark, Hershey, PA
A fun ride from beginning to end, Wildcat is the best example of a modern twister coaster. The park's classic Comet is also a great coaster.
Shivering Timbers
Michigan's Adventure, Muskegon, MI
Built by the same company that designed Boulder Dash (Custom Coasters, Inc.), this is a similar out-and-back coaster with similar airtime and relentless speed. No mountain here, though.
GhostRider
Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA
Another Custom Coasters, Inc. creation. These people really know how to build new-age wood coasters. Most of their monsters seem to defy the laws of physics and somehow override the effects of friction to keep the coaster trains screaming until the brake run before the station. GhostRider is no exception.
Cyclone
Astroland at Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
Sure, there may be "better" coasters. But this is one of the originals and holds a special place in the hearts of fans. It's not the smoothest ride (one fan I know likened the first drop to riding down the steps of an 85-foot ladder). But the Cyclone is nostalgic, yet surprisingly vital after all these years.
