The 10 WORST & 10 BEST Defunct Coasters I've Ridden 

I see a lot of comments about Green Lantern, but that coaster is NOT defunct, it's just relocated. That's why it's not on this list.

Should have collab'd with Defunctland!

Dear Volcano and BBW... We miss you.

If I built a theme park, these are the coasters I’d bring back: Dueling Dragons (Both Sides) Volcano The Blast Coaster A RMC Hyper of Son of Beast Big Bad Wolf

Remember Knotts Boomerang is still around, sitting on top of a building today.

Me: *see the title* A moment of silence for big bad wolf and volcano...

my dad actually got to ride the original bat at king’s island in 1982 when him & his family visited. i’m honestly pretty jealous of him (because it’s one of the most infamous coasters ever made)

Something that probably should be known about Psyclone, it was built to be a smoother version of the Georgia Cyclone. And the ride apparently operated well for the first couple of years it was there. But then it suffered structural damage in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, and when they repaired it they decided to add a whole bunch of trim brakes that, coupled with the heavy trains, made the ride slow to a crawl. And those heavy trains actually made the wear and tear even worse. Also, Disaster Transport was originally an outdoor bobsled called Avalanche Run, but it would often close because breezes would blow sand onto the track. It was intended to solve this by enclosing it in a building and giving it theming similar to Star Tours, but the building was poorly maintained and over the years the special effects broke down with Cedar Point never bothering to update them. So the appeal of the ride dimmed quite fast, largely existing as an indoor attraction.

I went on Dueling Dragons back when they dueled and I agree with you the red side was a lot more forceful and intense than the blue side.

The only defunct coaster I’ve ridden was Python at BGT. A clone of KBF’s/Silverwood’s Corkscrew, it was really short and headache inducing, but it was also one of the first modern looping coasters, so it was still kinda sad to see it go.

I miss Firehawk. It was one of my favorite rides at kings island

Before watching,#1 is volcano or big bad wolf

Get this man to 40k he’s killing it right now

The only defunct coaster I’ve ever been on were Shockwave, Volcano and Hurler at Kings Dominion, Cyclone at Six Flags New England, Two Face at Six Flags America, Thunder Road at Carowinds, and Georgia Cyclone at Six Flags Over Georgia... I could’ve had Hypersonic XLC on here too, but I was like 10 years old and for some reason, that was the scariest ride in the park for me, so I never got on it. I regret it all the time, especially since I was there the last season it operated.

Lol I haven’t been on any defunct coasters 😂😂😂

The only defunct coaster I've ridden is one I found out about today. Cheetah at Wild Adventures, built in 2001 by CCI. When the park reopened in 2020, they kept Cheetah closed because they couldn't maintain proper physical distancing, probably due to most of the queue being enclosed by tall wooden fences. In January 2021, they announced its closure stating that something new and excited is coming in the following years. Hopefully this means they'll call in RMC to remake this coaster into a hybrid! Calling in GCI to give it their new hybrid track or a normal retrack is possible too, but given that they already invested in a retrack in 2010, that's probably not going to happen. They could tear it down and replace it with something else, but an RMC conversion would make more sense and be cheaper, and this is Herschend, not Six Flags, so this is likely going to happen! I'm glad I got to ride this coaster before it closed despite being so rough. I don't know how a CCI only 19 years old with a retrack in 2010 owned by Herschend could be so rough, but it was. Also, I hope they don't just retrack it because the layout isn't anything special. A 100 ft drop, only 2 small airtime hills, and the rest of this short ride is just banked turns. I'm excited to see what will happen with this!

This list is solid!! Love your choices and descriptions!!! I’m old af, I’ve been a coaster enthusiast since I was 5 (1988) I’ll just list the now defunct coasters I’ve ridden: vortex, son of beast, king cobra, Firehawk, meanstreak, wildcat (cedar point), disaster transport, mantis (sort of????), and screeching eagle and the serpent at Americana in Ohio. I did ride Chang before it was moved, but it’s still operating. I’m sure there’s a few at Kentucky kingdom that aren’t there anymore that I’ve rode but I can’t think of the names...

I nearly had a heart attack when you said Shock wave, because I thought you were talking about the absolute ICON shockwave from SF Over Texas

Thanks for showing love to the Scandia Screamer. I also remember riding Psyclone pre-northridge and to me it rode differently then after. Magic Mountain kept it going simply because it gave them the title of the most coasters in the park. Same reason for Flashback (as a kid i loved that jerky throw you around ride.)

My mom actually had a ride on Great American Scream Machine when she went to Great Adventure back in her day. I feel so bad that she can’t ride any coasters now.

I got to ride Firehawk during it's inaugural season at King's Island. I got the T-shirt, and fell in love with the ride. Vortex was my number 1, but Firehawk was a close second.

Luckily sesame place hasn't closed so both vapor trail and Oscar's whacky taxi on my list

The only defunct coaster I have been on is both sides of Dueling Dragons / Dragon Challenge.

One credit I'm super proud of and one of my favorite defunct rides is Ultra Twister at Six Flags Great Adventure. It was a really unique ride and lots of fun. Least favorite was Hercules at Dorney Park. I rode it in its opening season and it was awesome, my favorite woodie at that point. I rode it again in 2002 and it about knocked my teeth out it was so rough.

Solid list (love that Scandia Screamer made it), but there are some that predate or perhaps were outside your personal coastering that would have been on this list. Here's an earlier version/addendum based on my experiences: The good: 1. Avalanche (incredible little wooden coaster that easily destroyed anything at Mt. Olympus) 2. Steel Phantom (loved it, though many place it on the bad list) 3. Soap Box Racers (favorite coaster as a child, was gutted when I realized it was gone) 4. Hypersonic XLC (very few comparable launches, the rest was rubbish but worth it for the launch) 5. Dania Beach Hurricane (sleeper hit that most people never noticed- like Viper at SFGAm) 6. Ozark Wildcat (one of the weaker GCI's but really none of them are particularly bad from this era) 7. Texas Giant (faded quickly after opening, but unlike Mean Streak it was a world class coaster during the early years) 8. Thriller (or the bad list as Zonga - the g-force king) 9. Batman and Robin: The Chiller (that middle period after the OTSR's but before the zero-g rolls were removed made this a pretty great ride) The bad: 1. Hercules (the worst coaster I've ever ridden. epic drop that jackhammered and slammed so hard it should be illegal, followed by the most boring/shuffling/crappy layout this side of Rattler's helix - would certainly be an awesome RMC conversion). 2. Drachen Fire (was mesmerized by this thing as a young enthusiast, turned out to be hot garbage) 3. Rattler (Son of Beast before Son of Beast was Son of Beast) 4. Megazeph (never rode, but never heard anything good about it either) 5. Gwazi (had a decent layout and very unique- but nothing from that era of GCI ended up lasting) 6. Georgia Cyclone (apparently this was "good" at some point but I never rode it in that condition) 7. Cyclone (SFNE) (great/unique layout but simply too rough to deal with)

I visited SFWoA in 2003. Riding Batman Knight Flight over the water, next to the lake, what an incredible experience. That holding break on Superman was pure insanity.

I have quite a few special memories with X-Flight myself. When I was in 3rd grade, my best friend and I rode it at Geauga Lake. And I swear, I will never forget riding up that lift on my back, faced up to the sky.... and then suddenly, flipped over into the flying position! It was the craziest sensation ever, and I wish I could do it again! Best ride at the park, no question about it.

Thank you for showing Fantasy Island. I hope the buyers can reopen for next season. I love its small park feel and would hate to lose it permanently

I like how when he says that he'll also pick out the ten worst and it's a clip of mean streak😂

I rode mean streak (cp is my home park) and I really didnt mind it. It was boring, but it wasn’t rough. I even bought a shirt for it this year. Great video!!!

Even though I live (and grew up) about an hour from Kings Island, I only rode son of beast once. It was when the loop was still there. Even though I knew it had a reputation for being painful, I had a good ride, although there was no leg room. And even though there was nothing particularly great about it, I understand why you place such a high value on it. I mean, just seeing it from the freeway was a thrill. And all those years it sat there SBNO. Too bad there’s not an RMC (Iron Offspring? Puberty? Wet Dream?) sitting there now. I went to magic mountain in 1998, and I don’t remember even seeing flashback (or Psyclone). I remember going to Kings Island the year before Vortex was built. Near that walkway between Coney Mall and Rivertown they had a big board or something with a color drawing of what would be built there before the next season. It was insane to imagine a coaster with six loops. At the time I think there was one inversion in the park, on the screamin demon, if it was even still there.

Was not expecting Firehawk at 1, but I do miss that ride. I love Orion, but the park has so much land! I am so bummed that they had to remove it

*sees silver comet on the list* *grieves in Buffalonian*😭😭😭😭

Best Defunct Coaster: Dueling Dragons When it Dueled Worst Defunct Coaster: Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure Although my most proudest credits are the coasters at Six Flags New Orleans during my 2004 visit along with Son of Beast and Hypersonic XLC

Great Job Chris. Love the Content. Keep Up The Great Work Chris and Stay Safe

Had a great time at SF over Georgia and got to marathon Twisted Cyclone. Best ride for Great American Scream Machine was front row. On the camel back section great air time and not as rough.

I may be in the minority here, but I loved Mean Streak, and I was afraid they would tear it completely down, but Steel Vengeance absolutely blew my mind. Cedar Fair did a good job revamping my favorite ride in the park 👍

The Steel Phantom at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, PA. The inversions were removed and it was converted into a less aggressive coaster. Now called The Phantom's Revenge. And, The Laser Loop, also at Kennywood Park, it was removed for the Steel Phantom.

I went on Psyclone shortly before it got removed and it was so unbelievably painful. Even as a skinny kid, the restraints were tight and it tossed you around. It was so bad. I did enjoy it when Terminator Salvation was built! Apocalypse took the character out of it haha.

8:01 it really hurts to see this. My favorite inverts that I never got to ride :( R.I.P.

My only defunct coaster is Rolling Thunder at SFGAdv, which I rode in its final operating season of 2013. It was actually my 2nd credit ever. I remember it being a fun ride with good ejector. Seriously though, if they RMC’d it, an RMC dueling “Twisted Thunder” + El Toro would be the most amazing one two punch ever.

Hard to believe Son of Beast only made #3. So very sad Volcano is defunct. Absolutely loved it!

I actually liked Mean Streak 😅 I never found it too painful to appreciate just how long it was, I actually get more pain from Gemini or the leg restraints on Steel Vengeance than I did on Mean Steak lol. It was nice to have another ride to go on when you wanted something without inversions, which CP doesn't really have a lot of if you think about it nowadays. Only really MF, Dragstar, Magnum and Iron Dragon, and the lines on those could get long and slow lol (I know I didn't put Gemini, but I won't really ride it anymore. My kidneys throb every time)

Glad to see vortex on here my favorite coaster I miss it 😢 Kings island is my home park

Last time I rode Vortex was in 2018. You said it best Airtime Thrills; it was kinda painful, but it had a killer layout. I'm really gonna miss that coaster.

If Roar at SFA is any indication, Discovery Kingdom's Roar was probably running pretty rough. I really enjoy wooden twisters, so I hope it gets a GCI retrack. Your #7, Shockwave at KD, had this terrible headrest that played pinball with your skull. That's my home park, so I rode it many, many times, but you really had to hold your head off of those bars. Man, I miss Volcano...

I feel like flashback could be a decent ride if they re imagine it with the new technology and better restraints and whatnot

The best thing that ever happened to the headache inducing, teeth loosening Mean Streak was to become Steel Vengeance. I positively hated that ride until that point. Big Bad Wolf was terrific. Rode it a bunch of times when I had the chance.

Firebird should've been relocated. Vekoma still exists to maintain it. A smaller Cedar Fair park could've really benefited from that ride, while they give Kings Island a new B&M Flyer. I don't understand why Cedar Fair refuses to build new ground-up flying rollercoasters.

The only of the 55 coasters I’ve ever ridden that later became defunct is Volcano TBC. I rode it having no idea it had a launch, let alone two, and it was also my first inverted coaster and my 3rd favorite of all time. It has good reason to go, but that didn’t make it less sad. Edit: Wait, you put firehawk one step above Volcano? I rode batwing earlier this month and thought it was cool but not mind blowing. But to each their own.

Orient Express at Worlds of Fun to me was amazing, but it did have a couple of incidents before they tore it down in 2003 without having ridden nearly as many coasters it looks like it would fit around 5th-7th best

Jet Star (a Schwarzkopf original) in Särkänniemi was my favourite in the park since I was little. They removed it 8 years ago and I'm still salty.

Idk, for me thr blue side of dueling dragons holds in my mind, but that was a while ago. After that zero g roll (idk, might just be a barrel roll) when you're aimed straight at the wall, that got me.

I first rode Stealth at CGA back in 2001. Vekoma Flying Dutchmans are underrated IMO

My favourite defunct coaster that I've been on is Supere Manege at La Ronde. I know it wasn't that good but it holds a special place for me.

I only got to ride Volcano and Speed once, but I'm glad I did. I'm also a Great American Scream Machine apologist because of the memories I have on it. I can see why people hate it, though.

The only memorable thing about Hurler was that I rode it in the rain and nearly lost my sunglasses. Twisted Timbers is far better in every way

I've only been a "real" enthusiast for a few years, and I only have 152 credits, but I AM pretty old, so 13 of them are defunct: 1. Dragon Challenge, Islands -- we all know this has to be the top of the list 2. Rolling Thunder, SFGAdv -- why oh why wasn't this RMC'd? My favorite defunct, if not the best 3. Colossus, SFMM -- Pretty old when I rode it, but classic 4. Hercules, Dorney -- a huge old Dinn, was awesome when I rode it in its first season 5. Great American Scream Machine, SFGAdv -- when it was new, it was so smooth, so I'll rank it high 6. Laser, Dorney -- my first inverting coaster 7. Apocalypse, SFAm -- are we counting stand-up to floorless conversions? 8. Georgia Cyclone -- pretty rough in its last season 9. Viper, SFGAdv -- not good, but not the worst 10. Jumper, West Point Park -- a small wooden at a tiny family-owned park where I worked one summer 11. Stinger, Dorney -- an Invertigo, not particularly memorable, just glad I have the credit 12. Batman & Robin: The Chiller, SFGAdv -- with the original restraints, so painful 13. Shockwave, SFGAm -- the Intamin stand-up, so very, very painful

Fire hawk or screechin eagle at lesourville lake are my favorite. I also enjoyed disaster transport and wildcat a lot. SOB with and without loop and mean streak hurt

I was lucky enough to get to ride dueling dragons both before and after the retheming and all of my rides were when they were still dueling. The experience of having a dueling suspended coaster is wildly different from any other kind of racing or dueling experience. I may get called a heretic for saying this, but I found the theming after the conversion to harry potter to be better. The previous area felt disjointed with how it bounced around time periods; I interpreted the fantasy aspect to be a topic instead of a theme. As sad as I was to see the ride scraped, I was honestly not surprised. I can imagine that when buying/selling a coaster you need to consider not only the service costs but also past incidents as well. Considering the damage that was caused to the affected parties, I can imagine that there was some stigma surrounding the ride's reputation. Plus, given the ride's unique elements it was all but assured to happen again unless drastic actions were taken to check each and every rider. Furthermore, I don't think many parks would want to buy it considering you would need to buy BOTH sides for the layout to make sense.

I would never have predicted a flying dutchman beating out Dueling Dragons and Volcano.

MY Top 10 Defunct Coasters that I have been on are: 1. Dragon Challenge (Red) 2. Dragon Challenge (Blue) 3. Screamer (Scandia) 4. Shockwave (Six Flags Great America)- Similar to Viper for me. 5. Firehawk (Kings Island) 6. Z Force (Six Flags Great America)- We differ. I remember liking this as a kid. Maybe it got worse when it moved. 7. Speed the Ride 8. Tidal Wave (Six Flags Great America) 9. Jet Star (Casino Pier) 10. Georgia Cyclone (SFOG) A few that didn't make the top 10: Python (BG Tampa) Vortex (Kings Island)- Rode it in 2018 and I'm not a fan. That ones I wish I got a chance to ride are: Volcano Big Bad Wolf Son of Beast

It’s a good day when Chris uploads a video

Double loop and Villain were my very first coaster credits. RIP Geauga Lake :(

I LOVE Viper from when I rode it at Magic Mountain back in January of this year. Last park I visited before the pandemic. But I didn't manage to ride Superman Escape from Krypton. Was that a mistake? 😭

I'm surprised about Firehawk. I see a lot of people in my area are now wishing they had firehawk again I've never been a fan of it because I hate the vest restraints. But it was impossible to hate. Fun goofy ride experience, I really wish Kings Island would bring a B&M flying coaster to the park. But it's been forever since one of those have been built, I guess we gotta just cherish the flying coasters that are left. Sucks cuz it's my 3rd favorite model after giga and hyper

I had never ridden rainer rush but thank God I avoided it cause I heard that it was bad. Looking at you top fun rides.

My only defunct credit is Gold Rush at Wild Adventures, a Chance Rides Big Dipper. I don’t count Tiger Terror because that was relocated.

It would be cool if you did a Best Built in House Coaster list like The Beast or Cannibal.

I SOMEHOW got rides on both sides of dueling dragons while they dueled AFTER they stopped. Apparently they still lined up every now and then and i was lucky enough to do it twice

Have u been on infusion at englands blackpool pleasure beach, that is one rough rollercoaster it feels like ur in a blender and smashes your head from side to side

I have been an enthusiast since I was 8 years old (old enough to ride my first looping coaster. Canyon Blaster in LV) I am 25 now still an enthusiast!

Love love love firehawk it was #2 behind mystic timbers for me

lol. the life guards at hurricane harbor were confusing the cries of pain from flashback with the cries for help from drowning victims

Firehawk was absolutely phenomenal

love these videos, keep it up

It's wild how much better Hurler is than Hurler. I only know one person who said they jackhammered on it, but that was my GP friend, so it may have been an exageration.

I understand that one thing that made Psyclone so bad was the Northridge earthquake of 1994. Just totally messed up the way it ran.

Volcano only had the longest line because it didn’t have blocks which means they had to wait for the first train to stop at the final brakes before they could send the second one

I miss son of beast so much. I wish they would of done an RMC coaster that would of been awesomen

What about a coaster that is removed but is stored somewhere and it opens at another park again?

Kinda surprised Green Lantern from Magic Mountain wasn't at least an honorable mention

My best defunct credit is Dragon Challenge: Hungarian Horntail and my worst defunct credit is Georgia Cyclone

Dueling Dragons was pretty fun too. Almost lost my glasses on it though.

Also, Dueling Dragons was amazing when it dueled, I am sorry you never got to ride that

My heart is broken I never got to ride dulling dragons! I love Hagrid's but I wish I could have gotten at least one ride on each side!

I remember riding mean streak for the credit and felt like my ribs were gonna break. I might have ridden it one more but still hated it

#1 defunct coaster - Hercules, Dorney Park ☺️

It's interesting you mention that you have nothing against Rolling Thunder, I thought it was the WORST roller coaster I've ridden in my life. It was just so rough and unpleasant, honestly a path to Zumanjaro is a much better use of that terrain

Ahh yes finally someone that like vekoma flying dutchmans

I came a year late to ride dragon challenge and i wish i went a year earlier so as far as im considered nemesis is still my favourite invert

Where’s Batman & Robin. the Chiller?!

Breeze Jammer

Wait, the infamous Green Lantern used to be Chang???? People in Kentucky loved that ride!!! granted, our choices are pretty bare. Lol I only rode it once or twice back in the day because I was a wuss.

No!!! X-Flight/Firehawk. Do I ever regret my many many missed opportunities to ride that... I haven't been on too many defunct coasters. 8 or 9 I believe.

4:43 Wait. You. Like that. Lol that ride was so horrible I couldn’t do anything for the rest of the day I was in so much pain

Top 10 knotts coasters

15:34 They Fly Now!

I have been on Mean Streak perhaps to say It's rough for me

A few bolts? Try like 75% of them!