GhostRider (roller coaster) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids GhostRider
Knott's Berry Farm
Location	Knott's Berry Farm
Park section	Ghost Town
Coordinates	33°50′33″N 117°59′53″W / 33.84256°N 117.998056°W / 33.84256; -117.998056
Status	Operating
Opening date	December 8, 1998 (1998-12-08)
Cost	$24,000,000
General statistics
Type	Wood
Manufacturer	Custom Coasters International
Track layout	Double Out and Back
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift
Height	118 ft (36 m)
Drop	108 ft (33 m)
Length	4,533 ft (1,382 m)
Speed	56 mph (90 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	2:40
Max vertical angle	51°
Capacity	1600 riders per hour
G-force	3.1
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	3 (2 in operation) trains with 12 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
GhostRider at RCDB

GhostRider is an exciting wooden roller coaster located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. You can find it in the park's fun Ghost Town area, just south of the main entrance. It holds the record for being the tallest and longest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast of the United States.

The entrance to the thrilling GhostRider roller coaster.

History of GhostRider

This amazing ride was built by a company called Custom Coasters International, which is no longer in business. The construction of GhostRider happened very quickly. It was finished and opened almost six months earlier than planned!

In August 1999, a small incident occurred. A piece of wood from the track came loose. It was then thrown by a passing train into another car below. A few people had very minor injuries. The ride was temporarily closed for safety checks and to make sure the track was extra secure.

Major Updates and Refurbishment

On August 20, 2015, Knott's Berry Farm announced that GhostRider would get a big update. This was done to celebrate Ghost Town's 75th anniversary. The work started on September 8, 2015, and finished in June 2016.

The company Great Coasters International handled this refurbishment. They replaced and reshaped most of the track. They also removed the mid-course brake section, which used to slow the ride down. Plus, the old trains were replaced with brand new, smoother Millennium Flyer trains from GCI. These updates made the ride even better!

Your Ride Experience on GhostRider

Getting Ready to Ride

When you want to ride GhostRider, you'll head towards the entrance of the Ghost Town area. The line, or queue, starts inside a cool mining tunnel. This tunnel leads you into a mine-themed building where you wait. After waiting through both levels of the queue, you'll get to board one of the ride's three GCI Millennium Flyer trains.

The trains are colored like precious mining metals: gold, silver, and copper. The tunnel entrance used to be part of the "Pan for Gold" attraction. As of May 2016, "Pan for Gold" is back in its original spot. The GhostRider line now winds around it.

The Exciting Layout

Your adventure begins with a small drop into a ravine. Then, the train gradually sweeps to the right. After passing the transfer track, you'll climb the tall lift hill. At the very top, you'll plunge down a huge 108-foot (33-meter) drop! You'll turn left and rise over an "airtime hill," which gives you a floating feeling. Next, you'll make a big sweeping left turn.

After this turn, you'll go down another drop. Then, you'll rise up a gradual right-hand climb. The train then dives into the structure of the lift hill. It rises up into the ride's midway turnaround section.

The turnaround marks the start of the second half of your ride. You'll dive off a straight section where the old mid-course brakes used to be. Then, you'll go down a steep drop and make a left turn. You'll rise over another airtime hill before making a right-hand turn. This turn goes underneath the first half's turnaround. After rising over one more airtime hill, the trains enter a 450-degree downward spiral to the right. Finally, you'll rise over a last hill before hitting the final brakes.

The ride follows an L-shaped "double out and back" design. This means it goes out and then comes back, twice! Most of the ride is located in the parking lot area near the marketplace. The ride even crosses over Grand Avenue four times. This road connects Beach Boulevard to the parking lots. Two crossings are in the first half of the ride, and two are in the second half.

Shortly after GhostRider opened, a "scream shed" was added over the first drop. This metal cover helped reduce noise for nearby residents. At night, orange rope lights glow along the handrails of the ride, making it look really cool!

GhostRider's Trains

Over the years, the trains on GhostRider have changed their look a few times. The original trains were made by PTC. The Copper train was dark brown, Silver was a flat gray, and Gold was a light brown. All trains had the standard "Knott's" logo on the front. Later, ride logos were added, and the Gold and Copper trains got a metallic shine.

The third update added cool airbrush designs on the sides of each car. A special "Knott's GhostRider" logo was also put on the front. The Copper train was repainted to a more metallic orange/copper color.

Even though the ride has three trains, usually only two are running at any time. The third train is often being checked and maintained. It gets swapped out with one of the other trains during the year. Each train gets a full maintenance check every year. After the big update in 2016, the old trains were replaced with the new Millennium Flyer trains from Great Coasters International. As of November 2019, only the Gold and Silver trains were operating, while the Copper train was being maintained.

Awards and Recognition

GhostRider has been recognized as one of the top wooden roller coasters in the world! The Golden Ticket Awards, given by Amusement Today magazine, rank the best rides each year. Here's how GhostRider has placed in the "Top Wooden Roller Coasters" category:

Photo Gallery

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  GhostRider lit up at night.

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  The GhostRider station logo.

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  A view of GhostRider's lower level station queue.