The Wooden Way: A Cross-Pennsylvania Pilgrimage to the Golden Age of Thrills

Long before massive steel coasters launched riders into physics-defying drops and corkscrews, Pennsylvania helped define the art of the wooden roller coaster. When they debuted in the early 20th century, many of the state’s classic amusement parks drew city dwellers to lakesides, river valleys, and wooded hillsides for fresh air and excitement. By the 1920s, innovative coaster engineers at local firms like the Philadelphia Toboggan Company were transforming timber into gravity-powered marvels that hugged ravines, climbed hills, and delivered stomach-dropping airtime. A true testament to the...