The Strange History of the World’s First Roller Coaster

When you’re strapped into a modern roller coaster, hurtling through a series of impossible twists and loops, the last thing on your mind is 17th-century Russia. However, the story of how we ended up with these gravity-defying machines is far stranger and older than you might expect. The world’s first roller coasters weren’t the product of amusement parks or thrill-seeking entrepreneurs. Instead, they were born from the frozen pastimes of Russian aristocrats.

From Icy Sledges to the Roller Coaster

The modern roller coaster has a strangely humble and freezing origin: 17th-century Russia. In the frigid winters, the wealthy elite built towering structures they called “Russian Mountains.” These were massive wooden constructions. They were meticulously covered in a thick layer of ice and reached heights of up to 70 feet.

Riders would climb to the top, sit on simple sledges, and launch themselves down the steep, icy incline. The speeds during this must have felt terrifying. Getting back to the top meant climbing a long flight of stairs. While incredibly popular, these ice slides had one major flaw: they disappeared by spring. The desire for a year-round version of the thrill led Russian engineers to a crucial innovation. They fitted wheeled carts onto grooved wooden tracks, laying the groundwork for the modern coaster.

France Refines the Idea

The concept of the Russian Mountains eventually made its way to France. It was refined into something much closer to what we’d recognize today. French engineers were so captivated by the idea that they began building their own versions. The most notable of these was Paris’s Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville, which opened in 1817.

Unlike the simple sledges, its cars had wheels that were locked onto a dedicated track. This innovation was a game-changer, as it allowed for more complex layouts and provided a safer, more controlled ride. The French didn’t just imitate the Russian design. They perfected it, transforming a seasonal ice slide into a permanent, commercialized attraction that drew crowds of paying customers.

The American Takeover

By the mid-1800s, the roller coaster crossed the Atlantic. The first truly American coaster is widely credited to LaMarcus Adna Thompson. He was an entrepreneur with a moral mission. Thompson’s Gravity Switchback Railway, which opened at Coney Island in 1884, was promoted as a “wholesome” pastime.

In an age when urban life was seen as stressful and filled with vice, Thompson positioned his coaster as a family-friendly alternative to the saloons and gambling halls. These venues dominated other forms of entertainment. The ride itself was simple: a car would descend a track at a slow six miles per hour. Then, it would be switched to a parallel track for the return trip—but its appeal was undeniable. The public responded enthusiastically, cementing the roller coaster’s role as a staple of American amusement parks.

Those early rides may seem primitive by today’s standards, but they set the stage for all that followed. This includes the first loops, the immense drops, and the steel tracks. These now twist and soar through the sky. Every time we climb aboard a coaster, we’re not just chasing an adrenaline rush. In a way, we’re also participating in a 400-year-old tradition.