Thrill-seekers have a lot to look forward to in the way of exciting new rides to test out in 2023.
This year promises a new crop of adrenaline-boosting rides that will likely draw enthusiasts worldwide to the United States.
Here are 12 of the most anticipated new roller coasters from coast to coast in alphabetical order, as compiled by USA Today.
Aquaman: Power Wave at Six Flags Over Texas
Located in Arlington, Texas, the Aquaman: Power Wave launched on March 11.
The ride is unique for combining the elements of a water ride and a roller coaster — a nod to the marine superhero Aquaman. Guests are propelled forward and backward, reaching up to 63 mph. The experience culminates with a 90-degree dive into a massive splashdown.
Undertaken by the German company Mack Rides in 2019, the coaster, which is replacing the Aquaman Splashdown, was delayed and then redesigned to carry two boats instead of just one.
Located across from another superhero-inspired ride, the Justice League: Battle for Metropolis, Aquaman: Power Wave is the 14th coaster at Six Flags Over Texas.
Arctic Rescue at SeaWorld San Diego
Arctic Rescue is scheduled to open this spring at SeaWorld San Diego.
The ride takes guests on a thrilling adventure to save Arctic animals from poachers as the ice melts. Guests straddle faux snowmobiles for 2,800 feet of track at a maximum speed of 40 mph. It is the longest and fastest straddle coaster on the West Coast.
Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood
Opening in May 2023, Big Bear Mountain will be Dollywood’s longest roller coaster, featuring 3,990 feet of track that winds around Wildwood Grove in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Guests can enjoy onboard audio from Ned Oakley, the caretaker of the legendary Big Bear. The coaster will reach up to 48 mph speeds and is marketed as a family thrill attraction, appealing to kids and thrill-seekers alike.
Catapult Falls at SeaWorld San Antonio
Opening this summer, Catapult Falls is the world’s steepest and first-ever launched flume coaster.
The ride features the only vertical lift elevator in North America, raising riders six stories up before launching them through a water-filled chute. Guests will experience the swaying motion of a water ride combined with the rush of a coaster, reaching a maximum speed of 37 mph.
DarKoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
The newly opened DarKoaster is an all-indoor straddle coaster housed in Busch Garden Williamsburg in Virginia. The coaster pays subtle homage to the ride it replaced — Curse of DarKastle, a 3D roving animation — and features four launches.
Aboard the DarKoaster, riders race to escape a supernatural force on more than 1,400 feet of track around King Ludwig’s abandoned fortress. Outfitted with a switch track, riders are brought through the course twice — once in the dark — for double the experience.
Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia
This summer, guests standing at least 36” tall can enjoy Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster in either Cobb County, Georgia, or San Antonio.
Kid Flash is a racing coaster set in a colorful LED superhero-themed lighting display. Riders from two different cars on parallel tracks compete against each other, making it fun for the whole family. The paths cross over a dozen times, offering repeatable rideability with varying outcomes.
Pipeline: The Surf Coaster at SeaWorld Orlando
Surfs up at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida, where Pipeline: The Surf Coaster opens this spring. It is a truly unique stand-up coaster in which guests slip into state-of-the-art harnesses that allow them to experience the unparalleled freedom of riding a wave.
Clint Brinker, vice president of design and engineering at SeaWorld Orlando, told Spectrum News 13, “The track layout was really designed with the intent of giving the experience of different maneuvers that surfers do in the water.”
Bobbing up and down for nearly two minutes, riders reach speeds of up to 60 mph across 2,900 feet of track.
Primordial at Lagoon
Located at Lagoon in Farmington, Utah, Primordial is scheduled to debut on March 25.
While the project itself has been shrouded in secrecy since work began on it seven years ago, Lagoon spokesman Adam Leishman teased per the Standard-Examiner that the ride will have interactive features that will make it unlike any other.
The park has promised to release more details and images as the ride gets closer to opening.
TRON Lightcycle / Run at Walt Disney World
TRON Lightcycle / Run at Walt Disney World is a new roller coaster set to open on April 4 near Orlando, Florida. It invites guests to enter the grid and race against computer programs in futuristic light-cycle vehicles inspired by the TRON films and the arcade game.
The same ride opened in Shanghai Disneyland Park in 2016 to rave reviews.
Derek Perry, a roller coaster enthusiast who was able to preview the new attraction, told USA Today, “It’s almost like being in a dream or something.” The coaster can be found next to Space Mountain in Tomorrowland.
Wild Mouse at Cedar Point
Wild Mouse is a new coaster set to open at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, on May 6.
Inspired by the park’s original Wild Mouse attraction, this coaster promises a wild and quirky ride. It features six mouse-themed cars that chase one cheese-themed car across 1,312 feet of orange track. The number of riders will change how the cars spin while taking the dips, turns, and drops, making each ride unique.
Wildcat’s Revenge at Hersheypark
Wildcat’s Revenge is a new steel and wood hybrid roller coaster set to open in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in the summer.
It features an 82-degree drop, four inversions, and a track of 3,510 feet. But its greatest claim to fame is a counterclockwise 270-degree roll, the largest underflip in the world.
Zambezi Zinger at Worlds of Fun
Zambezi Zinger is a new coaster set to open in 2023 at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri.
It is a hybrid wood and steel coaster that reaches a peak of 74 feet — 17 feet higher than the park’s original Zinger. The park is celebrating its 50th anniversary by bringing this updated version of this classic ride.
Even Kansas City’s mayor, Quinton Lucas, is excited, as he tweeted, “The Zambezi Zinger is coming back! Thank you for letting us temporarily regain that little bit of childhood.”
