Theme parks are gripped by a roller coaster ‘arms race’, with three rival parks debuting terrifying new rides, including one that launches riders 400 feet into the air at 120 mph

Theme parks are in the grip of a rollercoaster ‘arms race’ as three rival parks debut terrifying new attractions, including one that will launch riders 400 feet into the air at 120 mph – making it the tallest and fastest ride will ever make.

At Six Flags Over Georgia, “The Georgia Surfer” will debut, in which riders are launched backwards up a 140-foot tower while spinning in circles.

Meanwhile, at Pennsylvania’s Dorney Park, “The Iron Menace” will “leave riders suspended 160 feet in the air before plunging down with a 95-degree drop beyond vertical.”

The ‘Top Thrill 2’ at Cedar Point in Ohio will push rides upwards of 400 feet and reach speeds of 120 miles per hour, earning it the spot for the tallest and fastest ride.

The Top Thrill 2, opening next year at Cleveland’s Cedar Point, will launch revelers 450 feet into the air, park presidents said in a statement, before falling backward and then forward again at 125 mph.

At Six Flags Over Georgia, ‘The Georgia Surfer’ will debut, in which riders are launched backwards up a 140-foot tower while spinning in circles

At Pennsylvania’s Dorney Park, ‘The Iron Menace’ will ‘leave riders suspended 160 feet in the air before plummeting down 95 degrees beyond vertical’

The ride, which is based on Top Fuel drag racing and consists of three segments and is classified as a ‘triple-launch’ roller coaster, will also feature a launch track designed like a drag strip, where instant speeds are ready to to surprise the most seasoned enthusiasts.

The “record-breaking next-generation motorsports machine races on a course unlike any other in the world,” according to the ride’s description. “Sleek, aerodynamic vehicles launch you not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES as you race through the air in an epic competition to reach the finish line.”

To experience the highly anticipated ‘Top Thrill 2’ at Cedar Point, guests must meet specific safety requirements, including having three functioning limbs, as stated on their website

The ride is powered by linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology. Riders will also experience the unique thrill of a guaranteed rollback as their racer briefly reverses back to launch from the existing 400-foot tower.

Riders in Top Thrill 2 will also experience the unique thrill of a guaranteed rollback as their racer briefly reverses back to launch from the existing 400-foot tower

Dorney Park is preparing to introduce ‘The Iron Menace’, the North East’s first dive roller coaster.

Scheduled to launch in 2024, this thrilling ride will see riders suspended 50 meters in the air before being plunged into a more than vertical 95-degree drop – with four mind-boggling inversions and speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, Six Flags Over Georgia is preparing to debut “The Georgia Surfer,” another terrifying attraction that combines a roller coaster with unique water features.

While it may seem simple, this roller coaster provides a thrilling experience as riders traverse nearly 550 feet of U-shaped track and reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour before splashing down a scenic water path.

According to the National Institute of Health, there were 1,299 injuries in the United States due to amusement park accidents in 2019, with approximately four deaths caused by roller coasters each year.

Just last year, the first roller coaster in history to reach 200 feet tall suffered a mechanical problem that brought it to a complete stop and forced guests to make the terrifying walk down.

The first roller coaster in history to reach 200 feet tall suffered a mechanical problem last year that brought it to a complete stop and forced guests to make the terrifying walk down

The revamped Top Thrill 2, opening next year at Cleveland’s Cedar Point, will launch partygoers 450 feet into the air, park presidents said in a statement, before falling backward and then forward again at 125 mph.

The incident, which was captured on video, took place on the Magnum XL-200 roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

A mechanical problem caused the ride to stop near the top and video showed riders having to slowly walk down the rickety stairs with nothing but a thin metal handrail to hold on to.

At the time, Tony Clark, a spokesman for the amusement park, called it similar to a “check engine light” in a motor vehicle.

Although he called it a “standard trip stop,” it could not be restarted and therefore had to be evacuated, Fox News reported.

When the Magnum XL-200 opened in 1989, it was celebrated by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest rim height in the world.

It was also, at the time it debuted, the fastest and steepest full-circuit roller coaster in the world, with a top speed of 75 miles per hour.

It was the first ride to go over 200 feet and was given historic landmark status in 2004, according to the park’s website.

The ride, which lasts approximately two minutes and 45 seconds, is also known for its views of Canada’s coastline.

Cedar Point, which opened in 1870 and is the second-oldest amusement park in the United States, also faced bad publicity earlier this summer

Opened in 1870 and the second-oldest amusement park in the United States, Cedar Point is bringing back an updated version of what was once the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world – after the original closed when a waiting guest was injured by a malfunction.

It’s the second time Cedar Point has made headlines in one week last year – after the park unveiled an updated version of a roller coaster that shut down after a woman was seriously injured on it in 2021.

In 2021, a guest was seriously injured by a metal brace while standing in line outside the roller coaster, and the park’s previously untarnished reputation took a hit.