50 Legendary Roller Coasters That No Longer Exist

The Rise and Fall of the World’s Most Iconic Roller Coasters

De: Nick Weisenberger

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

A Thrilling Tribute to the Greatest Lost Rides in Amusement Park History

+++Second Edition Released October 2025!+++

50 Legendary Roller Coasters That No Longer Exist is a nostalgic journey through time, celebrating the most iconic, groundbreaking, and unforgettable roller coasters ever built — from towering wooden giants to record-breaking steel marvels now lost to history. Each chapter dives into the story behind a legendary coaster: how it was designed, what made it special, and why it ultimately disappeared.

Discover fascinating details about coasters like The Crystal Beach Cyclone, notorious for its ferocity; The Big Bad Wolf, a suspended favorite that howled through the forests of Busch Gardens; and The Texas Cyclone, a wooden masterpiece inspired by the legendary Coney Island classic.

A legendary roller coaster is not necessarily one of the best roller coasters ever built. Indeed, they are more likely to be the most well-known ones remarkable enough to be remembered forever whether it’s for their good qualities or their notoriously bad reputation.

If a roller coaster is “legendary”, why is it torn down and removed in the first place? If it was such a special ride, why does it no longer exist? Roller coasters are multi-million-dollar investments that amusement parks spend countless dollars and time in designing, building, and maintaining. But lately it seems like we’ve seen more roller coasters and classic thrill rides closed and dismantled than ever before. Why are landmark roller coasters torn down? What goes into a decision to remove a multi-million-dollar investment, especially if it is a fan favorite?

Packed with vintage photos, engineering insights, and park history, this book is a must-have for roller coaster fans, theme park historians, and anyone who loves a good story about innovation, nostalgia, and the fleeting nature of thrill rides. Whether you grew up riding these legends or are just discovering their legacy, you’ll find yourself reliving the excitement — and mourning their loss.

Relive the thrill. Remember the legends. Ride through history.
Read 50 Legendary Roller Coasters That No Longer Exist today and rediscover the coasters that defined generations of thrill seekers.

***2ND EDITION UPDATE!***

The first edition was released in 2016. Second edition released in October 2025. Enhancements for the second edition include:

• More pages added meaning even more roller coasters
• More photographs
• Updated information and stats
• Recent remarkable roller coaster closures from 2016 - 2025 including Kingda Ka, Dodonpa, Superman: Escape from Krypton, and more!

Nick Weisenberger is the author of Coasters 101: An Engineer's Guide to Roller Coaster Design and The 50 Most Unique Roller Coasters Ever Built.