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The article discusses amusement parks, the first of which was developed in Europe 400 years ago. The first ferris wheel was introduced by George Ferris in 1893; it held 60 people and revolved four times per hour. Information on the history of roller coasters, as well as interesting facts such as the fastest and tallest roller coasters in the world, is also included.

The article offers information about amusement parks. Today's parks feature bright lights, food, fun, and lots of thrilling rides. But the first amusement parks, which appeared in Europe over 400 years ago, were very different. Attractions included flower gardens, bowling, music, and a few simple rides. The first real roller coaster in the U.S. was the Switchback Gravity Pleasure Railway. In 1893, the George Ferris Great Wheel was introduced in Chicago, Illinois. In the 1920s, some of the best roller coasters of all time were built. In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.

The article presents facts about amusement parks and rides. The biggest park is Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The park with the most rides is Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, England. The parks with the most roller coasters are Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The oldest ferris wheel is Wonderland in Gaultier, Mississippi. The tallest ferris wheel is the London Eye in London, England.

Amusement parks have their own lingo. Airtime is the feeling of rising out of your seat while riding on a roller coaster. Hyper coaster is a roller coaster with at least one drop of over 200 feet. Inversion is part of a roller coaster ride that turns riders upside down. Inverted coaster is a roller coaster that travels underneath the track.

This entry provides facts about amusement parks. The largest amusement park is Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The park with the most rides is Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, United Kingdom. The park with the most roller coasters is Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The oldest operating ferris wheel is at Wonderland in Gaultier, Mississippi. The oldest operating merry-go-round is the Flying Horses in Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluff, Massachusetts, built in 1876.

Amusement parks today are filled with bright lights, food, fun, and thrilling rides. But the earliest amusement parks, which appeared in Europe more than 400 years ago, were very different. Some of the attractions were flower gardens, bowling, music, and a few simple rides. By 1884, amusement parks began to get more exciting. That's when the Switchback Gravity Pleasure Railway came to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1920s, some of the best roller coasters of all time were built. Many large cities had as many as six amusement parks. But the stock market crash and the Great Depression in the 1930s caused many parks to close. In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.

Amusement parks today are filled with bright lights, food, fun, and thrilling rides. But the earliest amusement parks, which appeared in Europe more than 400 years ago, were very different. Some of the attractions were flower gardens, bowling, music, and a few simple rides. By 1884, amusement parks began to get more exciting. That's when the Switchback Gravity Pleasure Railway came to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1920s, some of the best roller coasters of all time were built. Many large cities had as many as six amusement parks. But the stock market crash and the Great Depression in the 1930s caused many parks to close. In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.

Amusement parks have their own lingo. Airtime is the feeling of rising out of your seat while riding on a roller coaster. Hyper coaster is a roller coaster with at least one drop of over 200 feet. Inversion is part of a roller coaster ride that turns riders upside down. Inverted coaster is a roller coaster that travels underneath the track. A multi-looper is a roller coaster with several inversions. A theme park is a place in which the rides, attractions, shows, and buildings all have the same theme or subject.

People have found ways to whoosh down hills since the 1400s, when ice slides were built in Russia. In the late 1700s, Catherine the Great, Russia's ruler, placed wheels on sleds so that she could coast during the summer. The first roller coaster came to the United States in 1827. "Gravity Road," in the mountains of Pennsylvania, was 18 miles long and dropped more than 1,200 feet. It was made to carry coal from a mountaintop mine to boats along the canal below. But fascinated crowds clamored for rides. In 1884, La Marcus A. Thompson built the "Switchback Railway" at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Roller coasters are made of steel as well as wood, and some have loops that turn riders upside-down. The world's fastest roller coasters are Superman: The Escape in Valencia, California, the Tower of Terror on the Gold Coast of Australia, and the Steel Dragon 2000 in Mie, Japan. The world's longest roller coasters are the Steel Dragon 2000, The Ultimate in North Yorkshire, England, and The Beast in Cincinnati, Ohio. The world's tallest roller coasters are Superman: The Escape, Tower of Terror, and Steel Dragon 2000.

The largest amusement park is Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The park with the most rides is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The park with the most roller coasters is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, 14 roller coasters. The oldest operating ferris wheel is at Wonderland in Gaultier, Mississippi. The oldest operating water ride is The Old Mill at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The oldest operating merry-go-round is the Flying Horses at Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluff, Massachusetts.

Presents a list of the world's highest roller coasters, with Millennium Force in Sandusky, Ohio the highest.

Presents a list of the world's longest roller coasters, with the Ultimate in North Yorkshire, England the longest.

Presents a list of the world's fastest roller coasters, with Millennium Force in Sandusky, Ohio the fastest.

This article provides information about rollercoasters. The first roller coaster came to the United States in 1827. "Gravity Road," in the mountains of Pennsylvania, was 18 miles long and dropped more than 1,200 feet. The highest, longest roller coaster ever built, it was made to carry coal from a mountaintop mine to boats along the canal below. In 1884, La Marcus A. Thompson built the "Switchback Railway" at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. This was the first roller coaster built purely for fun.