A Look Back at the History of Roller Coasters at Knott’s 

Calling all thrillseekers! Can you name every roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm? How about every roller coaster Knott's has ever had? Now's the chance to brush up on your coaster history with this look back at the history of roller coasters at Knott's

Corkscrew (1975-1989) - The world’s first upside-down roller coaster to featured two 360 degree loops through which riders traveled up to 45mph 

Cycle Chase (1976-1980) - A remake of the classic Steeplechase ride, motorcycles raced over four tracks at over 40 mph.

Montezooma’s Revenge (1978- Present) - The first flywheel launched coaster in the world. Montezooma catapults passengers out of the station reaching its top speed of 55 mph through a 76- foot 360-degree loop to the top of a 148-foot tower, only to plunge riders back through the loop to the other end of the track.

Wacky Soap Box Racers (1980-1996) - Riders experienced racing over hills and through tunnels in soapbox derby-style cars

Timberline Twister (1983-Present) - Opened as the longest kiddie coaster in operation with a ride time of 1 minute.

Boomerang (1990-2017) - Boomerang dropped riders through an 11-story tower though two corkscrew turns and a vertical loop, taking them upside down three times. Riders then head up a second 11-story vertical tower to be plummeted down and take the whole trip again backwards!

Jaguar (1995-Present) – Knott’s first themed coaster takes riders from the Mayan temple loading station aboard feline emblazoned trains which carry passengers through 2,600 feet of track.

Windjammer (1997-2000) - America’s first major outdoor dual-track steel racing coaster.

GhostRider (1998-Present) - The Longest, Tallest, Fastest Wooden Coaster on the West Coast! Looming 118 feet over historic Ghost Town, GhostRider is the largest attraction at Knott’s Berry Farm and one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. Brave riders enter a mysterious mine and board gold, silver or copper mining car before being sent galloping along over 4,500 feet of twisting timber.

Xcelerator (2002-Present) - The world’s first hydraulic launch coaster. Xcelerator launches riders to an electrifying top speed of 82 mph in 2.3 seconds through a mind-numbing 205- foot ascent and immediate descent at a 90-degree angle all in flame-emblazoned `57 Chevys.

Silver Bullet (2004-Present) - Silver Bullet flips riders upside down and all around during a thrilling two-minute ride. The inverted roller coaster sends brave riders climbing up to a height of 146 feet before soaring back down with an initial drop of 109 feet into a track full of inversions. Riders will spiral, corkscrew, fly into a cobra roll, and experience overbanked curves as they find themselves upside down six times including the giant vertical loop of 105 feet. 

Sierra Sidewinder (2007-Present) - First Coaster with Multiple Free Spinning Cars, Sierra Sidewinder combines speed with spin. Each of the four cars takes riders through a series of nose-dives, banks, dips, and turns at a speed of 37 mph while continually rotating on its axis.

Pony Express (2008-Present) – Longest US MotoCoaster. Named after the famous Pony Express mail service, this roller coaster rides at speeds never imagined in the Old West! Passengers saddle up onto their “horses” and sit astride on this unique coaster. Riders are launched out of the station while reaching a top speed of 38 MPH in less than three seconds. 

Coast Rider (2012-Present) - Coast Rider gives guests the feeling of riding the California coast, but once they reach the crest of the 52-foot drop, it is a harrowing journey down the 1,339 feet of track filled with hairpin turns, twists and spins.

HangTime (2018 - Present) – The First Dive Coaster in California. HangTime towers 150 feet over the Boardwalk area, showcasing five gravity-defying inversions, mid-air suspensions and a beyond vertical drop- the steepest in California!