Where Did Roller Coasters Come From Dad?

It would be a stretch to say they came from Lamarcus A. Thompson, but not a huge one. He was born in Licking County, Ohio in 1848 and became a very successful businessman early in life through his inventions, mainly a device to manufacture seamless hosiery.

The history of the roller coaster probably started in the 17^th century when John G. Taylor obtained a patent for the Inclined Railway. Thompson however racked up almost 30 patents dealing with roller coasters during his life. And not for boring stuff, but for cool stuff like something called a Gravity Switch-Back Railway in December of 1885.

Thompson's Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway, often called the worlds first roller coaster, debuted at Coney Island in 1884 and traveled at a staggering 6 miles per hour and cost an ungodly 5 cents a ride. He built several across the country, and in Europe before his death in 1919.

Why is it important to us you might ask? Because the first roller coaster most Clevelanders had ever seen was the Euclid Beach Switchback Railway in the late 1890s. In operated until 1903 and stood 35 feet tall and ran for 350 feet. Almost comical now it must have been a terrifying state of the art roller coaster in 1900.  You can guess who designed it.

The oldest steel roller coaster still operating in its original location is in Parma, Ohio by the way. The Little Dipper is still running on the Memphis Road Kiddie Park, although some of the cars have been switch out. Seventy-two years and counting at this point.