The oldest roller coaster still up and running is the Leap the Dips at Lakemont Park, Pennsylvania. Built in 1902, it features a height of 48 feet and reaches a top speed of 10 mph. The biggest drop? An impressive 9 feet. Completely restored in 1995 using most of the original wood, the coaster is now in the National Register of Historic Places and marked as a National Landmark since 1991.
Tallest and Fastest
The tallest (and fastest) rollercoaster on the planet is Kingda Ka, the new addition to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. Manufactured by Intamin, the designer of some of the most impressive thrill rides on the planet, it has become the ride for rollercoaster enthusiasts from around the country. After a failed opening on June 2005 (a piece of the launch track became dislodged, forcing the ride to close), Kingda Ka re-opened in August.
At 456-foot tall, Ka is taller than the Statue of Liberty and can be seen from 20 miles away. The ride is fairly simple – After a max acceleration of 0-128mph in 3.5 seconds thanks to a hydraulic launch mechanism, Ka climbs the first tower, and then drops straight down in a 270-degree spiral. The second hill, at 129 foot, is a breeze in comparison.
As they’re coming down from the first drop, riders experience four times the Earth's normal G force, which makes breathing next to impossible. Due to the height and angle of ascent of Ka's first tower, it is possible for the train to roll backwards before reaching the top. While this has not occurred yet (and will most likely never happen), the coaster has retractable brakes that will get a car to roll back safely into the launching station.
The second fastest and tallest rollercoaster is Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, Ohio. Also designed by Intamin, it tops at 420 feet and reaches a max speed of 120mph. Similar in design to Ka, it lacks, however, a second hill.