Roller coasters are one of, if not the, most popular amusement park attraction(s). Originally made from wood, most of today’s roller coasters are made from high quality steel which allows thrill seeking riders to spin, twist, and flip through the air as they hold on for dear life; defying gravity in ways that seem almost unimaginable. While most riders are drawn to the fastest, highest, most innovative coasters these speed driven attractions can be as expensive to build as they are fun to ride. With costs to build, maintain, and theme, these powerful rides can cost parks millions of dollars. Here is a list of the most expensive roller coasters ever built.
5. Leviathan (Canada’s Wonderland – Ontario, Canada) – $28,000,000
Named after the Biblical sea monster, and clocking in at 92 mph, Leviathan, which opened in May 2012, is Canada’s tallest and fastest roller coaster and also boasts an average ride time of nearly three and a half minutes. Classified as a “giga coaster” this multi-million dollar monster features a 306 foot drop angeles at approximately 80 degrees.
4. The Smiler (Alton Towers – Staffordshire, United Kingdom) – $30,000,000
Opened in May 2013, the Smiler is a wild ride which features 14 various inversions including corkscrews and dive loops, putting it in the record books as the roller coaster with the most inversions. This coaster whips riders around at 52.8 mph and lasts for about two minutes and forty-five seconds.
3. Thunder Dolphin (Tokyo Dome City Attractions – Tokyo, Japan) $37,000,000
Originally opened in May 2003, Japan’s Thunder Dolphin was closed in 2010 when a large bolt felt from the ride; injuring a young visitor. The minute and a half ride was re-opened in August 2013 and clocks in at 81 mph as it passes through a hole in Tokyo’s LaQau building and through the world’s first center-less ferris wheel, Big-O.
2. Steel Dragon (Nagashima Spa Land – Mie Prefecture, Japan) $52,000,000
Opened in 2000, the Year of the Dragon, Japan’s Steel Dragon was once the world’s tallest roller coaster. Now boasting the title as the world’s sixth fastest coaster, The Steel Dragon moves at 95 mph and a ride lasts for about four minutes. Traveling through two tunnels, the ride holds the record for the longest track length at 8,133 feet.
1. Expedition Everest (Disney’s Animal Kingson – Lake Buena Vista, Florida) $100,000,000
The world’s most expensive coaster, Expedition Everest, opened in April 2006 and features an audio-animatronic Yeti figure who is hiding in Mount Everest. While this coaster clocks in at only 50 mph and includes a modest drop of only 112 feet, it is a unique Disney attraction because it operates on a track that moves both forwards and backwards.
(Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Parks via Getty Images)
