Ranking the GCI Coasters in America (Including Texas Stingray) 

When you get three videos a week for two weeks in a month... The Month Airtime thrills lost his mind (and we loved it)

"using seals on the final break run" for Wildcat made me bust a gut.

Renegade, Mystic, and Goldstriker are my top 3, RENEGADE IS THE MOST UNDERRATED COASTER EVER.

Kings island is my home park and when I found out that the new coaster was going to be wooden I was so frustrated. My son and I upgraded our season passes just so we could hit cedar point for the more aggressive rides but wow did I under estimate this wooden coaster. It has truly become one of our all time favorites. We had fast passes one day and road it 7 times in a row. People we’re giving us dirty looks after awhile but hey we paid the extra money 🤷🏼‍♂️. Love your videos and keep up the great work!!

If Californias Great America RMC's grizzly and puts in that B&M hyper they said they were building, it will low key be one of the best parks in the US.

It's a good day when Chris uploads.

I'm not a big enough enthusiast to be able to spot a CCI vs a GCI.

When Chris uploads. I know that I’m going to watch quality content.

Airtime: exists Texas Stingray: ｎｏ

Just rode Texas Stingray today and it was AMAZING! Since the park was dead today, I got some rides with just me in the back row and the airtime on that first drop was INSANE! This ride hauls like a truck and I love every second of it. #3 GCI for me

A night ride on Prowler is a must, I got a night ride during Winterfest and that was a great ride since it’s going through the forest and you can’t see where you’re going. I don’t usually get night rides but this and Screaming Eagle are the 2 coasters I wanted to ride at night.

Renegade is definitely Top 5 worthy; one of my favorite first drops on any coaster ever.

“But you know what happened” best way to say it lol

Roar will be at the top of the list easily

I can confirm that it's much better at night, went to Fun Spot America after a day of park hopping other non-Disney/universal parks and was amazing for the two hours I was there

During mystics opening weekend I remember being so hyped about the shed just to not give a f*** cause the ride blew me away that much lol. Definitely the most shocked I’ve ever been on a ride,

I agree, Mystic Timbers is my #1 at Kings Island by a long shot. It’s a monster, and I LOVE the airtime after the turn around: Floater, ejector, floater, ejector, floater ejector. BEAUTIFUL layout. Prowler and mystic share a VERY similar layout though. I need to ride Stingray bad. Mystic is my #2 wooden coaster behind El Toro though!!

InvadR was HAULING this year, and the double down gave some good airtime! I agree that in 2019 it was pretty forceless though.

I have been waiting for this video!! Keep up the good work

If there was a RU-vid Hall of Fame, I would nominate Chris

“GCI doesn’t make family coasters” *Wickerman wants to know your location*

My personal rankings, I’ve ridden 9 out of 13 currently operating in the U.S: 1.Mystic Timbers 2.Renegade 3.Prowler 4.Thunderhead 5.Lightning Racer 6.Roar SFA 7.American Thunder 8.InvadR 9.Wildcat

This is a really interesting one for me. My main park growing up was six flags America, I went to Hershey park a bunch growing up as well, and finally I ended up going to college in Orlando so I’ve been to fun spot a bunch. No roller coaster from those parks ranks higher than 8th on the list 😂. The good thing about having these woodies as my childhood coasters is that no other woody I’ve ridden (including both sides of original Gwazi) ever beat me up. I distinctly remember my friends avoiding the three wooden roller coasters at kings dominion because they were scared of how rough they thought the ride would be.

FFS Chris, airtime doesn't have to be flying out of your seat. if you're stapled you can still 'experience' the airtime, you just don't physically move out of your seat

Your videos just get better and better, keep it up 👍

Zero mentions of being stapled. Good job, AirtimeThrills! 🤣 But anyways American Thunder is my favorite GCI because for me it was so unexpected. Mystic Timbers I thought was a bit of a letdown.

I’ve ridden Renegade like 5 years ago, and I would put it in the top 5 on this list. Insane airtime and pacing, lots of crossovers, very smooth, a very cool station flyby, and the first drop is insane. 👍👍👍

Fun list...keep them coming

I’m very fortunate to have ridden arguably the 2 best GCI coasters in good striker and mystic timbers! Even though mystic is at my home park, I like gold striker better but both are insanely good!

Mystic is at my home park and if I’m being non biased it’s the best ride at kings island for what it accomplishes. I loved the hand chopper moment into the tunnel towards the end of Texas Stingray though. Mystic also gave me two snow rides last year ❄️

This video was awesome, thank you! Can you do your top favorite CCI Wooden roller coasters in America!!! ❤️👍🏻

Awesome Video!

I have rode Renegade multiple times...(best night ride of any coaster ive been on) And when you describe mystic timbers... your putting renegade right there with it. That ride is SO under rated. You will enjoy it. It will be in your top 3 if not #1. It is my second favorite coaster of all time.

As I'm watching this, I just got a back row night ride on Mystic Timbers about an hour ago. Definitely #1 in my home park!

I highly recommend Kentucky Rumbler - it's a little rough, but definitely in the good way.

Agree with all the rankings, but Boss is an absolute treasure.

Aw thanks I’m flattered :)

I was having a bad day Until I saw that you uploaded

2:50 About that, I went to Hersheypark in October of 2019, and they were running only one side.

OMG! You placed American Thunder at number 3! My home park! I mean It's pretty good though. I hope my home park adds something new soon though. Also, glad you like it! :D

My Favorite GCI ive done is Prowler because when I rode the ride ops were letting me do one click on the lap bar on all my rides so I was launching out of my seat on every little hill I even like it more then Mystic Timbers. I really want to get on Goldstriker and Renegade those look like some of the best Gci's also I was very unimpressed with American Thunder it was fun but it felt really slow on my visit. I'm the opposite I thought The Boss was way better. I really like the videos of ranking coasters from a specific manufacturer. Awesome video!

I hope to one day work for this company as soon as I get through College! The stuff these guys make is absolutely amazing

SPOT ON! 👌🏼Felt exactly the same about the bottom half! The front seat on Thunderhead blew me away tho! Top 2 if not number 1!

You nailed the rankings. I wouldn’t switch one thing!

Nice video and I hope the move was good

I rode white lighting at nighttime at jaunary of this year with my friends around 6 times, and even though it was my first woodie, and it being kinda forceless, it was a fun ride (but the drop caught me off guard because I was used to the straight drops)

You’re absolutely right about white lightning. I rode it this past December at around 11:30pm and she was absolutely hauling.

Coaster enthusiasts: "Lightning Racer is awesome!" Me: just casually walking over to the ride with a match and can of gasoline

I have only ridden a few, but Renegade is my #1 GCI!! I love it!

While I haven't been on Kentucky Rumbler, I have been on Renagade and judging from where you put certain GCIs, I'd guess you'd probably put it between 6 and 4. For me, I'm a huge sucker for GCIs plus my "list" is very different. For me, Renagade is one of my favorite GCIs up there with Thunderhead, Prowler, Mystic, and Goldstriker.

I love Mystic Timbers. The Beast was my favorite in the park but the first time I rode Mystic Timbers I was totally blown away. So many good elements.

I agree with all this except Mystic, it’d be in my 7-9 range. Also haven’t ridden renegade yet, stoked for that!

I actually rode Renegade at valley Fair and was very impressed on how fast it bolts out of the lift hill. I would actually put it at 2. But also Outlaw at Adventure land in Altoona Iowa is also a very fast coaster just like renegade. Just a little rough last time I was there.

Here is my Top 5 GCI's I have been on: 1. GoldStriker- For me the top 1 by a good bit. 2. Mystic Timbers- It used to be #3 but I got a back row night ride and I moved it up. Ran well this year. 3. Thunderhead 4. American Thunder -I actually have it right behind the Boss and Screaming Eagle in my overall rankings. 5. Apocalypse - I have it just behind American Thunder. I still need to get on Renegade (I expect it to be at least #2), Prowler , and Texas Sting Ray as those are the coaster that could crack the Top 5.

I've only ridden 2 GCI's so far. Those are Joris en de draak and Troy and i absolutely loved them. Troy's super intense and has a great out-of-control feeling and Joris en de draak is just pure fun with good airtime.

Rides are different at night. Happy you are pointing this out.

Sir, you definitely rode White Lightning at the wrong time! This ride is bananas in the back row, and there's great pops of air throughout. One of my favorite GCI's.

Good stuff.

FTR to everyone here! The 2 defunct GCI coasters were RMC'd! Roar at Discovery Kingdom is now The Joker and Gwazi in Busch Gardens Tampa is now Iron Gwazi. GCI clearly didn't like this because they recently came out with their own Iron Box system for retracking their coasters as an option instead of having to go to RMC. Check out White Lightning from Fun Spot America in Orlando on the subject! Specifically the retracking! Only 1 GCI coaster has been completely removed and that was at Celebration City which closed in 2008, called Ozark Wildcat. Wasn't even GCI's fault.

The Boss in STL is SCREAMING for an RMC conversion.

Wait... GCI brakes have the ability to sound like marine mammals? Why is Sea World letting this theming opportunity pass them by??

I just rode Renegade 3x on Labor Day and it was pretty aggressive. Lots of variety with the elements including some straight-hill, floater airtime moments which is something unique for a GCI. the first hill in the back row feels like it’s going to toss you out of the train FR. And the overall pacing is pretty insane. Also of note: My first two rides (which were back-to-back early in the morning) were sitting back row with “Renegade Mike” (after a short introduction between the two of us) and he was going for his 18,000th ride on Renegade that day!

You should do one for CCI now

Great Video Lmaoo I only have ridden 1 woodie (apocalypse)

Was waiting to see where renegade came in then remembered that parks are closed here :(

Mystic Timbers is at Mt home park. I rode it Twice last Sunday. Love her!

I got on renegade opening day last year for the first time and it was fantastic. First drop was cool with the double twist. Running quick even early in the day opening day of the season. I have it as my #3 behind prowler and mystic timbers as I prefer the out and back type on those 2. I'd say renegade is just above gold striker from my rides. Prowler is my #1 night ride over the 2 at KI.

Always enjoy watching your videos. Had me laughing at the seals joke and where is Mystic Timbers ranked on your overall rankings? Was it ahead of Banshee? I believe diamondback was still out in front. Orion up there too.

i think id rly like texas stingray cuz u said its focused on more low to the ground elements and i love good pacing

I haven’t ridden many other GCIs so I can’t compare it, but I’ve been to Beech Bend and ridden Kentucky Rumbler many times. It’s always fun, has a good and fast first drop and it keeps the speed through the whole course. It has decent airtime, and the layout is very windy and twisty. You definitely need to go ride it someday!

Dollywood did recently retract some of Thunderhead and it is riding great

Going to HallowFest tomorrow at SFGA. Gotta go straight back to El Toro to get some quality rides in the back.

Totally agree! Mystic is amazing, but like you said you should really get back on white Lightning.

It's been a few years since I've been out to Worlds of Fun, despite living about a 15 minute or less drive away. Because although WOF can be lots of fun going with some friends and family when they have the Halloween haunts going, going by myself during the summer I can do everything I want to do (or that my body will allow without getting a bad headache or nausea) in half a day. And I can compare it today with my childhood memories of it before it was a Cedar Fair chain park. Anyway, I can't say how smooth or rough Prowler has been running lately. But Prowler most certainly IS a great night ride. I'm sure it would be anyway, without the on-ride photo. But with the on-ride photo camera being like only a quarter of the way through the course after dropping off the lift hill, the strobe light flashing for the camera will wipe out whatever night vision you had, and it won't start to come back again until you're almost to the brake run.

You need that night ride on prowler, I got that night ride in the very back and that made me tear up in joy it was so amazing, the airtime the speed the everything is amazing 10/10 would recommend

Mystic Timbers is the only GCI in my top tier, so definitely agree there. I haven't ridden enough to compare American Thunder, but I definitely enjoyed it (but not as much as The Boss).

I rode thunderhead this year and it was phenomenal I’ve never seen a wooden coaster haul so much except for the other wooden coaster in the park it was phenomenal

One of my higher ranked GCI coasters is Wildcat at Celebration City. That thing was smooth and packed with airtime. Too bad it isn’t there anymore.

Would you love it if Intamin changed some of their bad restraints to good ones? (such as the U-brick restraints on Superman the Ride to Millennium Force’s T-bars and Skyrush’s thigh crushers to less painful lap bars)

I haven’t been to Beech Bend since ‘06, but I remember really liking Kentucky Rumbler. It’s compact, kind of like Roar, but it was so much better.

Prowler is so great at night. They just retracked it and it's better than ever. I was honestly very underwhelmed by American Thunder but I need to try it at night.

I am one of those people who loves lightning racer so it would be a lot higher for me, but I see your point

I rode White Lightning when the trains were full and it was warmed up, it’s airtime was alright, but it could be better, there were a few pops that were pretty mild, even for GCI, just FYI

I just Rode Wildcat tonight and there was no seal noise it made me sad its my favorite part of the ride, R.I.P WildSeal

My mom and I spent the weekend at Six Flags over St. Louis and American Thunder is definitely the best wooden roller coaster there especially at night. I also really like the Screaming Eagle and if they would just RMC the Boss I think it would so much better.

Renegade is the only GCI I've been on, but it's my favorite ride at valley fair. I'd say its up there with thunderhead.

I rode Mystic Timbers as my first GCI. I had very high expectations and took a ride in the back row. I rode it more in the morning so it was not completely warmed up and I was very disappointed. I was expecting some insane ejector but I got little to no airtime but insanely good laterals. The drop in the back row was really good too. But then I rod it at the end of the day. Just wow. This thing is really good. I got some very sustained floater and the op didn't staple me this time so it did not hurt my legs. Now this thing is high in my rankings and I have it 3rd in the park behind Orion. I'm starting to debate whether I should put it above Orion or not. I think it might be better.

Hershey Park Intamin's: Near the top of every list. Hershey Park GCI's: at the bottom of every list

I've ridden on the Texas Giant before it was RMC'd. There is a lot of jackhammering but, the airtime, forcefulness, and well-padded seats more than make up for the jackhammer. However, the RMC treatment has turned a good coaster into a great coaster

I live just down the road from Kentucky Rumbler. It’s good. It feels like a smaller Thunderhead

American Thunder is basically a “hidden gem”

Mystic Timbers is one of my favorite coasters of all time so I really wanna ride gold striker and renegade they look great

I've personally never had a problem with Wildcat. Although I haven't ridden it in recent years, every time I rode it before was a pretty fun ride. Nothing special, but pretty fun. I've gotten used to rougher coasters having binged Skyliner and Conneaut's Blue Streak several times. Not to mention, Thunderbolt at Kennywood ain't the smoothest either, but I heard they got some trackwork done during the 2019/2020 off season but I haven't been able to go this year.

Troy is also a great gci and Joris en de draak has a great outerback layout over the water

Thunderhead better be up there... Edit: four is respectable. Thanks Chris!!!

Mystic Timbers is the best coaster at Kings Island hands down! Even though Orion has grown on me, but Diamondback has been crawling this year and Banshee is rough! Great list

Rode Renegade at Valleyfair back in 2015 when I was mostly GP, and found it to be kinda rough. I might reride it though to get a feel for it because I probably got a bad ride.

_runs pretty smooth_

Chria: gci is the longest running wooden coaster manufacturer Ptc: hold my beer

I’ve only ridden Mystic Timbers and Kentucky Rumbler. Kentucky Rumbler is very good, but not great. I’d venture to guess you’d put it somewhere in the middle, around Apocalypse. It has that curving pre-drop similar to Apocalypse. I thought it had some decent pops of air and good speed, but it’s no Mystic Timbers. I also love the setting, just out in an open field. My dream would be to own a farm in the middle of nowhere and build my own personal GCI...that’s what KR feels like, lol.