It is not certain, however, if any were actually built by their inventors. There are a number of early roller coaster patents, both switchback and circular, dating as far back as 1872. While there is no doubt that he built Coney’s Switchback Railway, it doesn’t mean that he invented, or built the first - rather, he was the best at promoting and improving it. La Marcus Thompson is often credited as the “father of the roller coaster” building a switchback railway at Coney Island in 1884. The Promenades Aeriennes both featured wheeled cars securely locked to the track, guide rails to keep them on course, and higher speeds.Īlthough, the groundwork for the invention of the roller coaster was laid in Europe, the ride as we know it today developed in the United States. This roller coaster was said to be constructed in Paris in 1812. Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville (The Russian Mountains of Belleville). Other historians believe that the first roller coaster was built by the French. The roller coaster was built in the Gardens of Oreinbaum in St. Some historians say the first real roller coaster was built under the orders of James the 3rd.

There is some dispute as to when wheels were added to carts for year-round operation. Catherine II of Russia was such a fan of these attractions that she had a few of these slides built on her own property. Built in the 17th century, the slides became popular with the Russian upper class. These were specially constructed hills of ice located especially around Saint Petersburg, Russia.

The oldest roller coasters descended from the so-called “Russian Mountains,”.

Roller capster