Las Vegas Sun
Twenty four members of the parachute team The Flying Elvi take the ceremonial first trip on the new rollercoaster Speed - The Ride at the Sahara hotel-casino April 28, 2000.
Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 | 12:34 p.m.
Weeeeeeeee! Always looking for an excuse to celebrate something, the Weekly has learned National Roller Coaster Day is Monday, August 16. Supposedly that is the day the first roller coaster was patented in 1898, though other similar patents were in existence such as the “roller sled,” “pleasure coasting course” and “electric pleasure railway” (exciting stuff). Mere technicalities. Here’s where to ride the rails for an excellent escape from a case of the Mondays.
Desperado: Primm Valley Resorts
Tipping us off to National Roller Coaster Day in the first place, @Primmvalley announced free coaster rides for all Nevada residents in honor of the occasion. Plus it appears Terrible’s Resorts at state line are the only ones acknowledging the sorta-special day. So make a day out of it and take I-15 S toward California, catch a free ride on the Desperado, maybe buy a few tickets to the Log Flume or some of the other attractions out there, stock up on designer duds at the outlet mall and buy a lotto ticket at the little stand that’s technically in California. You probably didn’t feel like going in to work on Monday anyway. Coaster operates Monday from 12:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m., weather permitting.
The Roller Coaster: New York New York
What’s in a name? Does it matter? The Roller Coaster at New York New York is a fixture on the Strip as it twists and turns around the hotel/casino. Heck, you can even make plans to get married at 67 mph. Individual tickets $14, $25 for an all-day pass. Open 10:30 a.m. to 12 midnight, weather permitting.
More
- Buy tickets from Vegas.com
- Desparado
- The Roller Coaster at New York New York
- Adventuredome
- Speed the Ride
The Canyon Blaster: Adventuredome at Circus Circus
The Canyon Blaster is touted as the world's only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew coaster and clocks in at 55 mph. Plus, you can ride other attractions such as the Rim Runner, Chaos and more at the climate-controlled shiny pink dome. Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to midnight. $7 per premium ride such as the Canyon Blaster, or $24.95 for an all-day ride pass for all attractions. Nevada residents receive $2 off all day ride passes Monday-Fridays.
Speed — The Ride: Sahara
None of that “click, click, click.... are we at the top of the hill, yet?” for this thrill ride. The ride begins at the hotel’s NASCAR themed café and launches the coaster like a bullet from a gun thanks to electromagnetic forces, topping out at 70 mph and pulling 3.5 Gs in just a couple of seconds. After reaching the steep incline, riders then follow the path in reverse. Open Monday through Thursday: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday to Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., single ride $10, all day attraction pass including the Cyber Speedway $22.95.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy