Southern California Amusement Parks

Insider's Guide to Southern California Home Page

Visit our new Bookstore!

BRUSHES WITH DEATH: Our Picks for the Top 10 Southern California Thrill Rides! Updated for 2000!!!

Images courtesy of Joyrides.com

Click on images for full-size pictures.

Well, it's time to dust off our 10 best rides in Southern California list. Time, because there's some new kids on the block knocking some others off the list. Dropping off the list this year is the Giant Dipper in San Diego due to its very listless ride...I felt like I could get off and walk. Viper drops off...it would now rate number 11. What's taken their places? Read on...

Of course, this is a work in progress and several new rides at our friendly local parks are still in need of riding, but as of January 2000, here's our pick for the top 10 rides:

Number 10

RIDDLER'S REVENGE - SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Sorry, no photo available (anyone want to donate one?)

Magic Mountain's new stand up...which unfortunately makes it inaccessible to those who can't...coaster is huge. It has huge loops, corkscrews, and mega drops. It's a blast. Why doesn't it rate higher?

Frankly, it's just too smooth. Fear and anticipation give way after the first drop to "why can't this thing go faster?" Still, it's a good effort and Magic Mountain has finally learned how to do good theming, following the excellent (and low maintenance) scenery of Batman with the Riddler's disco at the loading station. I loved standing in this line!

Station is accessible through exit but you must be able to stand to ride.

Number 9

SCANDIA SCREAMER - SCANDIA

Scandia is one step above a traveling carnival. The usual suspects are here, a hammerhead ride, gravitron, merry-go-round, and more. What separates Scandia from other family fun center/mini golf centers is an honest-to-goodness, full size, heartbeat inducing roller coaster.

I'm not a roller coaster expert. I'll just tell you that it looks like a wooden coaster but it's made out of steel. It's basic. Steep drop, turn around, steep drop, twist through, and do it again a few times. Many times it looks like you'll lose your noggin but somehow manage to avoid it.

If you're in the Ontario area, give it a try. It's fun and it won't set you back near as much as a day a Disneyland will.

Number 8

TIMBER MOUNTAIN LOG RIDE - KNOTT'S BERRY FARM

The first and still the best. This was the very first thrill ride introduced at Knott's over 30 years ago to keep interest in the park as all the Ghost Town fans started to age. This is also the first log ride, built by Bud Hurlbut who now runs Castle Park in Riverside.

First, there's enough theming to give the folks at Disney a run for the money. Woodsy dioramas intermingle with operating sawmill machinery and wild (stuffed) animals hunting their prey.

Doesn't sound very thrilling? Well that's just to keep you busy between thrills. A teaser is first as a spout of water dropping RIGHT into your path stops at just the nick of time. Then the first drop in complete pitch darkness comes out of left field to take your breath away before you see a stunning underground waterfall off in the darkness. At last, a final drop back to the log pond below with a sudden view of Ghost Town to help take your breath away.

Number 7

SUPERMAN, THE ESCAPE - SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Boy, the hype was in overdrive for this ride when it opened. I still can't figure out exactly what the man of steel is supposed to be escaping from. Well, theming isn't Magic Mountain's strong suit. Thrills are.

It's a record breaking ride. Over 400 feet tall. Over 100 miles per hour. Over 6 seconds of weightlessness.

I'll tell you right off the back. The propulsion out of the station to 100 mph in just a few seconds is something every thrill seeker needs to experience. It will knock your socks off. After that, the rest of the ride seems rather tame in spite of sending you up to what seems the upper atmosphere.

Number 6

BATMAN - SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN

This multiple looping coaster delivers all the thrills that Viper promises.

Dangling in your seat, the coaster is suspended from above, you quickly zoom through 5 loops...through the outside of the loop! This is certainly a new feeling for all you loopsters out there.

Make sure you where shoes...I had to go bearfoot because I wore sandals. Anything and everything not secured will come off on this ride!

Number 5

SPACE MOUNTAIN - DISNEYLAND

This is a classic indoor coaster themed as only Disney can. The basics of the ride are that you enter a futuristic space port, board your rocket, blast off into outer space, zoom around in the dark, blast back into the station. It seems just about everyone has tried this coaster by now. Most are already used to the superb special effects.

Perhaps sensing this, Disney re-engineered the ride a couple of years ago. Inside, it seems darker than ever (that's a good thing) and best of all is the computer synchronized Dick Dale guitar soundtrack blasting through speakers in your headrest that give this old classic a brand new, kickin' soundtrack.

Number 4

MONTEZOOMA'S REVENGE - KNOTT'S BERRY FARM

Another classic that celebrated it's 20th year in operation in 1998. Built during the first wave of looping rollercoasters back in the 1970's.

Knott's has a long history with loopers. They installed the first coaster to turn a rider upside down, the long gone Corkscrew. It was a fun ride, but kind of slow. After the novelty of being upside down wore off, people realized the rest of the ride was ho-hum. Time for Montezooma's to appear.

What was needed was good old-fashioned speed coupled with that loop. Montezooma's does this by using the same technology aircraft carriers use to fling their planes off of the short flight decks...a catapult. There is no lift hill on Montezooma's. The cat shoots you instantly out of the station at 55 miles per hour right into the loop. Gravity takes over on the runoff hill on the other side then you plummet back down again backward through the loop and fly through the station to another runnoff hill on the other side before you stop in the station. Not at any time until the ride ends is the coaster touched by brakes. Total ride time is less than a minute but worth every second.

Number 3

NINJA - SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN

I admit it took me a long time to try this suspended coaster. First, Magic Mountain had undergone a serious decline during the late 80's & early 90's. After a particularly bad day there, I was in no hurry to go back. It was about this time that Ninja was introduced. I remember at the time the commercials for it really left me with a feeling that this was one wimpy coaster.

Several years later new management, new rides, and a good price enticed me back. Jr. had Ninja on the top of his list to try. Why? I don't know, I think he just liked the name. Good for him.

After being extra securely strapped into to your horse collars, you're in for one wild ride as Ninja zooms down the hill seemingly just missing trees, poles, and skimming the surface of a small lake. Being suspended, you don't see the track and have no idea which way you'll head next. An awesome coaster beating many newer & supposedly better coasters that have come since.

Number 2

SUPREME SCREAM - KNOTT'S BERRY FARM

Finally, a new ride that lives up to it's hype. I've been on several free-fall type rides over the years. Free Fall and Superman at Magic Mountain and Tower of Terror at Disneyworld leap to mind. All are good, especially Tower of Terror. But none made me get that acid in the pit of my stomach feeling...before the drop...that Supreme Scream accomplished.

I never really considered myself afraid of heights. But Supreme Scream gave me this feeling - If you've been there, close your eyes and think of being on top of Yosemite...Glacier Point, Half Dome...think of what it would feel like to lean over the edge with no rail looking straight down. If you can imagine that, you can see what it feels like to ride up the tower of this ride, your legs dangling in mid-air and no support in sight. It's tall enough that I could literally see ships out at sea (remember Knott's is not by the ocean). This is all before the drop...

After sitting atop the tower for a few seconds feeling my breakfast squirming around, my deepest fears hit as we suddenly drop 30 stories. Instantly, I come 6 inches off of my seat a float weightless until we hit the bottom. In one second you go from negative G's to 4.0 G's as you shoot back up the tower to do it again. I loved this ride but I was happy when it was over...I needed the rest.

NUMBER 1

GHOSTRIDER - KNOTT'S BERRY FARM

The Ghost with the Most, Ghostrider

When Cedar Fair took over the park, this ride was just starting construction, the last ride the Knott family bought. Cedar Fair at first wanted to cancel it. Thank god they didn't.

The perfect coaster is now at SoCal's best park. Coaster enthusiasts the world over have named this one of the top 10 coasters and the top woodie. This ghost with the most is wowing them daily while also putting the spotlight on the heart of the farm, Ghost Town.

The stats are over 4,000 feet of track, 118 foot first hill, 56 mph top speed (although ride operators have told me that the trains...especially the gold one...have been clocked at up to 70 mph). The experience adds tons of airtime (you would fly out if not buckled in), head chopping visuals, extreme laterals...especially the reverse camber turn..., and extreme dissorientation - I challenge you to know where you are while riding this coaster. While there are trim brakes about 1/3 of the way into the ride, I have never seen them used. This coaster flies!

10 rides have not dulled the senses - this ride really rocks. After years of over-hyped carnival rides and extra-tame coasters, the farm has roared back with the top two rides in Southern...maybe all of...California

Viper. Enter through the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. All riders must be at least 54" tall.

Scandia Screamer. Enter through the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help.

Timber Mountain Log Ride. Enter through special door next to regular line. Look for the handicap symbol...it's hard to spot but directly across from the shooting gallery. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help.

Superman, The Escape. Enter through the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. All riders must be at least 48" tall.

Batman. Enter through the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. All riders must be at least 54" tall.

Space Mountain. Enter through marked handicap entrance near the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. Age (3 years old) and height requirements apply.

Montezoom's Revenge. The hardest ride on our survey for disabled passengers to ride. Rider must, without the help of staff, climb two flights of stairs at the exit of the ride. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. Height requirement: 48".

Ninja. Enter through the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. All riders must be at least 48" tall. Note: This ride is at the top of the "mountain" and requires a pretty hard hike up to the top if you're not used to it.

Supreme Scream. Enter through the exit. Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. All riders must be at least 52" tall. This ride requires more than the usual upper body strength and disabled riders will be evaluated by the crew leader before being allowed to board.

Ghostrider. Special access entrance in middle of station with elevator (across from Ghostrider gift shop). Rider must be able to board car independently or have an assistant willing to help. All riders must be at least 48" tall. This ride is extremely popular and reservations are made with the ride operators for disabled patrons. Wait at elevator for a crew member. This can take up to 15 minutes (just to make a reservation).