June 20, 1884 — America’s First Roller Coaster Opens

🎢 Before screaming loops, 100-foot drops, or G-forces that make your face wiggle…
There was a slow, rickety wooden ride called the Switchback Railway.

And on June 20, 1884, it became the first roller coaster in America.

It had no seat belts. No safety bars. No upside-down twists.
Just hills, gravity, and some gutsy riders — and it changed fun forever.

Let’s ride back to where it all began.

🚂 A Ride Born from Coal Mines

The idea of using carts on rails wasn’t invented for fun — it came from coal mining.

In the 1800s, mine workers in Pennsylvania used gravity-powered rail carts to carry coal down hills.
Sometimes, just for kicks, people would ride the carts for fun.

Entrepreneurs saw this and thought:

🎡 Welcome to Coney Island

A man named LaMarcus Thompson had a big idea:
Build a “gravity pleasure ride” at a seaside resort in Coney Island, New York.

On June 20, 1884, he opened the Switchback Railway.

• It cost 5 cents to ride

• It went a whopping 6 miles per hour

• Riders sat in benches, holding on for dear life

• The ride was only 600 feet long — and had to be pushed back to the start!

It was a hit.

Thousands came to try it. And Thompson made back his $1,600 investment in just a few weeks.

🛠️ How It Worked

The Switchback Railway had two parallel tracks:

1. A train of carts rolled down the first track using only gravity

2. Workers manually pushed the cars to the second track

3. Riders got in again — and coasted back the other way

No motors. No loops. Just hills and momentum.
It was basic. And brilliant.

🎢 What Happened Next?

Roller coasters took off — fast.

Within years, more elaborate rides popped up:

• Curves and twists were added

• Tracks got longer

• Speed increased

• Safety systems evolved (thankfully)

By the early 1900s, roller coasters were a central attraction at amusement parks across the U.S.

And today? The fastest roller coasters hit over 140 mph, with drops taller than skyscrapers.

But they all owe their thrills to a humble wooden track by the beach.

🧠 What We Can Learn

• Great ideas often come from reimagining something ordinary (like coal carts)

• You don’t need high speed to make a big impact — just creativity and timing

• Even 6 MPH can make history

So next time you strap into a modern roller coaster and zoom through the sky, take a moment to thank a little ride in Coney Island…
Where America’s thrill ride obsession was born.