ROLY COASTERS:
MAPPING AMERICAN ROLLER COASTERS
The Future: Now
Roller coaster technology is on the brink of many new developments. The advancement of virtual reality technology has been the latest fad in amusement parks, with rides such as Kraken in SeaWorld Orlando adopting headsets to enhance the ride experience.
Many avid coaster enthusiasts see this as an unwelcome intrusion upon their realm, but many others see it as a way to immerse guests in roller coasters like never before. Only time will tell what virtual reality will bring to coaster fans!
Pictured: Kraken at Seaworld Orlando in Florida, one of the first VR-enabled coasters
Other designers are trying to unite the idea of a roller coaster with that of a dark ride, such as Universal Studios with their Escape From Gringotts coaster. By utilizing rotating ride cars and a track that can shift in place and create motions previously thought impossible, attractions such as these are moving the idea of a roller coaster into yet another new light.
As entertainment moves into an age where guests are searching for more immersive experiences, these new hybrid rides could be the next big thing for coasters.
Pictured: Escape from Gringotts at Universal Studios Orlando in Florida. The shifting tracks and rotating carts on this ride make it feel like the dark rides of old while providing a coaster thrill!
As technology evolves, so do the things we entertain ourselves with. As long as humans find new ways to bring together technology and creativity, we will always have new roller coasters (not to mention other forms of entertainment). The 2020's will soon be upon us, and if roller coaster history teaches us anything, it is that the eras we know begin every couple of decades. That means that in our lifetimes, we may very well see the world of coasters evolve many times over!
