All About Inverted Roller Coasters

Inverted roller coasters have become a staple in theme parks worldwide, offering thrill-seekers a unique experience with their legs dangling freely beneath the track. Unlike traditional coasters, inverted models place riders below the track, providing a sensation of flying through loops, twists, and turns.

This design innovation has redefined the roller coaster experience, blending intensity with a feeling of weightlessness that continues to captivate enthusiasts.

History of the Inverted Roller Coaster

Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) conceived the concept of the inverted roller coaster in the early 90s. The design placed riders below the track with their legs dangling from their seats. This created a more immersive experience than traditional roller coaster cars.

Batman: The Ride, was their first inverted coaster which debuted at Six Flags Great America in 1992.

Following the success of Batman: The Ride, inverted coasters quickly gained popularity, leading to the construction of similar rides at parks around the globe. B&M continued to dominate the market, with innovations such as floorless trains, zero-g rolls, and intricate track layouts. Other manufacturers, like Vekoma and Intamin, also entered the scene, adding their own twists to the inverted coaster design.

Over the decades, these coasters have evolved, offering longer, faster, and more complex rides that continue to push the boundaries of thrill-seeking.

The Different Flavors of Inverted Roller Coasters

Since the opening of the first inverted coaster, other roller coaster manufacturers have put their own spins on inverted coasters.

Intamin, known for their launched coasters, have installed inverted coaster trains on some of their coasters. An example of one of their products is the Impulse Coaster. This is a more compact inverted roller coaster that can launch the coaster back and forth.

Condor, at Walabi Holland, was opened in 1994 as Vekoma’s first inverted style coaster. Vekoma has manufactured roughly 35 different inverted roller coasters to date!

In 2014 Mack Rides created Arthur – The Ride at Europa-Park. This is their only inverted coaster at this time. Then Gerstlauer created Storm – The Dragon Legend for Tusenfryd in 2023.

Gerstlauer is also working on a 2024 inverted coaster called Infinity Inverted Coaster which is set to open at Parque del Cafe.

Examples of Inverted Roller Coasters

Below you’ll find a chart of inverted coasters in operation around the world. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list as there are over 200 in operation around the world. If you believe an inverted coaster belongs on the list below, please mention it in the comments!

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